Considering a bigger cabinet for my project - suggestions?

[cmoses]

I have reached a crossroads in my project and am looking for some suggestions.  I purchased a Taito cabinet that was in very bad condition with the intent to MAME it.  I have completed stage I of this build and have learned a lot and am really enjoying the process.  The machine is up and running MAME and I am enjoying it a lot.  I would like to some more player buttons, a trackball and spinners to allow me to play more games.  I purchased a spare control panel and would use it to start planning the additions.  The main issue is that the Taito is on the small side.  So I am debating between staying with the Taito and giving some additions up or getting a little larger cabinet.

I would like a cabinet that has a separate control panel box.  This way I could build it to size and configure it with the components I wanted.  Ideally I would like a 2 player CP with 6 or 7 buttons per player, a centrally located trackball and a spinner for each player for racing games.  I am looking for some suggestions on cabinets that would meet this criteria.

I have seen the Midway cabinets that were used for NFL Blitz and Mortal Kombat and like them.  I like the separate CP boxes they have and would probably design a CP somewhere between the 2 player Mortal Kombat size and the 4 player NFL Blitz size.

Are they other cabinets out there that anyone can suggest that would also fit these needs?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I have searched for projects with the Midway cabinets and there are a lot to use for suggestions.


 

[Jimbo]

Ideally I would like a 2 player CP with 6 or 7 buttons per player, a centrally located trackball and a spinner for each player for racing games.  I am looking for some suggestions on cabinets that would meet this criteria.

If you're looking to build your own panel, check out my project (link below)... what you mentioned is exactly how I have my CP, so it might help you with spacing of controls etc.

 

[Hoopz]

How about something like a Dynamo Showcase cabinet?  I have one and it seems something that you may want to check out.

http://www.americanvending.com/html/amusement/misc/cabinet/showcase.htm

[Paul Olson]

I used one of the blitz type cabs for mine, and it has been great. I originally had a 2 player cp with a trackball and spinner. Everything was spaced well, but if you add anything else, it will get cluttered really quick. I ended up going modular which was easy to implement because of the seperate cp. The cp is 34 inches wide, which feels perfect for 2 full grown (even overgrown) adults to play side by side. It doesn't feel too big when I have a single player layout on there either. I originally planned to build a cab, but this one works so well, I would probably just copy it, so it doesn't seem worth the effort. 

[daywane]

i agree with pcolson
modular or swapable

[cmoses]

I don't wish to do modular or swapable.  I could accomplish that with my exisiting cabinet.  I am looking to go bigger so that I can have everything I want in one. 

I am still trying to stay average in size, so a showcase is also out of the question.

Jimbo, I have seen yours and like the design a lot.  If I could find something that wide I could make it work as well. 

My Taito cabinet is only about 24" wide, so it is very tight.  I have determined that 2 players 6 or 7 buttons each, a trackball and 2 spinners will satisfy my needs.  I just think I need to find something with more room on the CP.  Need to find something that I can convert, not ready to build my own as of yet.

[severdhed]

you could always cut out a notch in the sides of the cabinet, and build a control panel box like you are looking for.  without seeing your cabinet, i dont know how well it would work, but that is what i did with mine.  it was 24" wide, so i cut out the sides a little and built a control panel box that is 30" wide, and now it fits everything.  here is what i am talking about, i have since built a nicer control panel, and better MALA layout, just not taken pics of it yet.




here it is with the new control panel box

[Paul Olson]

Here is mine before the modular project:



That is 34" wide, and all of the controls fit nicely.

I always suggest modular panels, but I realized you weren't asking about it. I was saying that the with this type of cab, you will be able to do what you want. I think the size of the CP is just about perfect for anything, which is why I made the modular panel to match it exactly. The panel is not awkwardly deep either. The whole panel is removable with 3 bolts so you can fit the cab through doors.