Hello everyone! So many choices?

[tyson171]

Hello everyone, new to the site, just wanted to drop in and say Hi!  I'm so confused on which direction to take my mame building?  I would like to build my own cab, but i don't have any wood working experience at all, so I can't see investing the money into the tools "yet".  I did buy saint's book, just waiting for it to come in the mail.  So i think the best direction to go is to find an empty cab for cheap that used to be pre-fit with a 27" arcade moniter, problem is that i'm having troubles finding the right cab (just looking for a two player 27" moniter style cab)build my own controls, and go from there?  I want to build my own cp, should i just try the woodworking for a cp, or go with a mameroom style prefab and wire it myself?  I guess my biggest concern with finding an empty cab is how hard it will be to fit a custom cp to the cab?  The more i read, the more I change my mind, and the more i get confused!  Btw i live in Martinsburg, WV if anyone is around the area (or has the cab i'm looking for)  Once again its nice to meet everyone, and o yea my name is Tyson! 

[CheffoJeffo]

Welcome!

The more i read, the more I change my mind, and the more i get confused! 

 

My advice is to make a list of what you want to do with this cabinet -- how many players ? what games ? are there any games that are "must-play-properly-with-proper-controls-or-I'll-die" ? From there, you can get a handle on what you need on your control panel and how big it will need to be. Then, you'll be able to tell if a particular existing cabinet can be adapted to your needs.

A '90s Midway cabinet might do very well, particularly if you wanted to add on a big CP:



Don't forget the Link to FAQ and bookmarks of interest and the BYOAC Wiki -- there is lots of info in there (I know, it can be a bit overwhelming, but take your time).

[tyson171]

Thanks for the reply m8! I'm thinking about a virtua fighter 2 cab i found locally for 200 dollars. Just looking for a 2 player cp (two 8-way sticks, 1 4 way, and track ball). Want to play all games anywhere from donkey kong to street fighter to metal slug . Wonder if I could fit a 27" moniter in the virtua fighter cab? And also curious how hard it would be to retrofit a new cp?






. 

[severdhed]

first of all, welcome to the forums.  the virtua fighter cabinet looks pretty nice..although i dont know what size of a monitor it would take.    depending on what you are looking for, you may be able to find an empty cabinet for alot less than that.   are there any places with arcade cabinets in your area?  if so, talk to the owner..see if they own the cabinet, or if it is from someone with a local route or something.  i found a local amusements place..this guy has cabinets in several local businesses around town and he maintains them..i got an empty cabinet for $20...it wasnt exactly what i was looking for, but with a little time and effort, i made it work for me. 

woodworking isnt too hard if you have the tools...when i first started, i had only a jigsaw, drill, and a dremel...and that was enough to get the job done.  now that i have a few more tools, i am getting ready to redo my control panel....my point is, don't expect to do it once and be 100% satisfied.  i'm getting ready to build my 6th control panel...each step it gets a little closer and closer to what i wanted it to be...but as you use it, you will more than likely find things you would like to do differently.

take your time, plan everything out.  make a cardboard mockup of your panel before you make the actual panel...and be prepared to build a new one in a few months.  i'd probably hold off on the control panel artwork and things until you use your panel for a while. 

if you are worried about space...the ultimarc u360 sticks can work as both 8 and 4 way, so you dont need a dedicated 4 way stick


good luck

[Malenko]

A '90s Midway cabinet might do very well, particularly if you wanted to add on a big CP

I was thinking the same thing, maybe like an NBA Jam since it already has a big enough CPO he could mod.

I have 3 of them, and they are freekin heavy, even without the monitor!

Also, I dont think youre going to see much difference between the 25" in that cab and a 27" monitor

[vidmouse]

Unless you have to pounce on that cab right away (and
the deal doesn't sound ThAT good that you have to), I'd
wait at least until your book comes in and  you have a chance
to read and get an idea of what you're in for and what to
plan out.

Also recommend you look at example of control panel boxes
posted here.

[SavannahLion]

Besides your comment about lack of wood working skills, it's difficult to judge what your skillset is. That in turn makes it difficult to give you appropriate advice.

To build up your woodworking skills, try taking a woodshop class. Many schools offer beginner courses and there are many community centers with offerings as well. A beginner class gives you two distinct insights. First, you'll learn what tools you can do with or without. The second is that it gives you a much needed boost in your skill set to accomplisht the bare minimum of projects without tearing your hair out.

I'll echo the others sentiment, wait for the book.

[isucamper]

Lack of skills is no reason not to attempt any of this arcade building stuff.

I can tell you first hand, it is possible to build a cabinet from scratch even if you've never picked up a saw in your life. 

What you lack in skill, you can make up for with dedication, research, and hard work.

[Dexter]

Just an alternative view....

I'm doing this 10+ years and have zero woodworking skills, zero space to work with wood properly and zero time to take classes. Best advice I can give personally is that if you can only see yourself doing one or two cabs for your own use and you're not handy with wood, try buy a second hand cab and refit it. The money you spend on woodworking related stuff would probably cover the cost of the second hand cab plus its nice to save them from the scrap heap.

I've rescued two midway style cabs, a showcase, assembled 2 cocktail cabs (3rd pending), and mamed a sega naomi uni. My woodworking skills after 6 cabs? Cutting air vents and speaker/button holes.

[tyson171]

Thanks for the input everyone! The virtua fighter 2 cab has some problems with it anyways (cracking vinyl and bulging at the bottoms), so i'm going to hold off on that cab and just keep my eyes peeled.  Like someone else mentioned an empty cab would be a much better and cheaper choice.  (also just had to spend 400 dollars to fix my car today.....one of belt tensioners bearings went out, and they don't make that replacement part, so there went 400!)  Also going to wait until saint's book comes in and see what I can learn from that.  Thanks again for the input, seems like a great group here and glad to be joining!

[AtomSmasher]

Lack of skills is no reason not to attempt any of this arcade building stuff.

I can tell you first hand, it is possible to build a cabinet from scratch even if you've never picked up a saw in your life. 

What you lack in skill, you can make up for with dedication, research, and hard work.

Agreed.  When I built my first cab, the entirety of my wood working experience was from a single highschool woodshop class I had taken about 10 years earlier (in other words, virtually no previous experience).  I used borrowed tools and had to recut a couple of the first pieces I did, but it turned out great and was a very rewarding experience.  I now have my own tools and a great new hobby