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Things you would do differently ?
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Aceldamor:
Actually put a full back on my cab vs. an open half back, so my cat couldn't use it as a toilet.

Sealed the wood better, so the MDF wouldn't blister because of the sweat from my palms resting on the CP.

Been a little more adventurous with the creation process, instead of playing it safe with a generic cab design.

Done dual monitors, so I could use J5 while a game was up so I wouldn't get hammered with the "which buttons do what" questions constantly.

LED buttons...see reason above.
doctorhifi:
-Painted the cabinet before routering the slot for the t-moulding and messed up the paint as a result
-Bought a cheap t-moulding bit which went dull after just one edge (blame the MDF)
-Used MDF instead of lighter alternative
-Didn't plan on a keyboard drawer from the get go and had to add one
drventure:

--- Quote ---Actually put a full back on my cab vs. an open half back, so my cat couldn't use it as a toilet.
--- End quote ---
:laugh2:

Hmm, lessee. Where to start?
1) Not hinging my dang CP top (Originally, i'd intended for it to be a "all in one semi portable cp" but that plan morphed into something completely different
2) Spraying clear enamel on formica to protect hand stamped cp art. it lifted like a mofo. Had to scrape it all off and start over.
3) thinking onboard video would work. Actually it's fine for mame, but as soon as I fired up Future Pinball, yikes.
4) not hinging my dang CP (oh wait....)
5) Should have used heavier reinforcements on my CP sliding/lifting mechanism. It all works and it's reasonably solid, but it "gives", not much but it's noticeable, which can be a tad disconcerting.
6) building the CP before I figured out what I was going to put it in.
7) putting a flight stick on, sigh, oh well, if you're gonna do frankenpanel, better do it up real good!
8) not putting at least 2 spinners (i really wanted to put 4 for Warlords, but that would have been even trickier, not to mention even more frankenpanelish, as if that's possible with my rig :) )
9) not hinging my....


How bout what's worked...
1) spray painting the buttons, then using 3 coats of Future to protect them. So far, even with heavy 5yo abuse, they still look great, no wear at all.
2) Using a Dell 2405WFP. Excellent screen, great angled viewing characteristics for an LCD.
3) Altec lansing computer speakers and sub. Turned out way better than I thought they would.
4) ELWIRE. This stuff is just too cool.
5) Stealth mode. Fold it up, put a vase on it and no one batted an eye at the arcade cabinet sitting right there in my formal dining room  :afro:


Thenasty:
Find a wife thats into Arcade Stuff....  :banghead:
KapnKerfuffle:
1)  Should have made a less generic design.  Little less bulky.
3)  Would have checked for the little direction arrow on the router telling me how not to put it on backwards!
4)  Put 2 linear and 2 swivel instead of 4 linear because I was afraid it would move around.  An MDF cab will NOT walk around, on carpet especially.
5)  Put the CP panel locks on the inside of the CP box before putting the back panel of the CP box on.
6)  Made the CP box about an 1" taller to fit the long and complex assemblies for my rotary joysticks.  Had to cut holes in the bottom.  Need to redo.
7)  Probably going with the rotary controllers.  I think I will go with some U360s for a new panel.  (Really wanted to play Victory Road to the end though.  :( )

Things I'm glad I did.

1) Building the cab.  Great father-son project with my dad. 
1) Used a fly-cutter for cutting the trackball hole.  They don't make a hole saw in the exact size you need so I used a fly-cutter.  Trim bezel fits perfectly.
2) Went with bright red t-molding.  Paid a bit more for it, but looks great.
3) Used a good quality oil enamel paint.
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