In a real pickle.....[HELP]

[DataWest]

I plan on going to HD tomorrow to get all my supplies to start building my cab. I sat down last night and actually did the math with my wife (math is her thing). I found out something that sucks...

Im using a big 32'' LCD tv in my cab. My doors inside my home cant fit anything more than 30'' through them. "No big deal" I said to myself, Ill just build a slim cab and be able to turn it sideways and roll it through. Well that's fine, but after we did the math on how deep it needs to be for the angle of the tv, I have FOUR inches left over to support my 17'' deep 4 player panel.

Now I am trying to figure out a way to build a support for the hangover of my CP that I can add on inside the house.

Anyone had this problem or just some advice would help. And if you have pics of what you are talking about that would be great. Im a woodworking n00b.

[Donkbaca]

Build the CP, as a separate box, attach it to the cab later.  I am building a slim cab, its 20 inches deep.  You can make slim cabs REALLY slim.

[DataWest]

Build the CP, as a separate box, attach it to the cab later.  I am building a slim cab, its 20 inches deep.  You can make slim cabs REALLY slim.

I always knew I was gonna have to attach the CP box later. My problem is a 4" deep area won't support a 17" deep CP box.

I'd like one that slim...but I still want a slight angle on the LCD.

[Donkbaca]

Have you seen my build?  I think the angle is just fine. If I remember right, the base of my cab is 16 inches deep, at the base, flares out to 20 inches where the CP attaches.  I have 8 inches supporting my CP, the monitor area on my cab is only like 6 - 8 inches deep.  I think my CP is about the same size.

My design is based on the Knievel wooody, but I designed the bottom differently, and I put more of an angle on the monitor area:

http://members.shaw.ca/knievelgod/woody/woody%20dimensions%20large.jpg

[Donkbaca]

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=110118.0

Here is what my half built cab looks like, I need to update it with some more pics.  If I were to do it again, I would not angle the top, it makes mounting the marquee more of a pain.  Anyhow, my CP box is something like 30 inches wide and 20 inches deep or something like that.

I am using a 21.3" 4:3 LCD. 

I think you definitely need a deep CP, since a 32 inch screen will be pretty big.  As a general rule of thumb, you should be 1 inch away for every inch of screen.

Let me know if this helps...

[DataWest]

Thanks for the info. I think what Im going to have to do is have the Cp and its base be a separate part from the main cab. Like a showcase but closer.

What angle (degrees) is your LCD set at?

[Vigo]

You can actually leverage quite a bit heft of a control panel into your cab using control panel latches. I can't give details on how you would install them in your case since I have no idea what style cab you are going with, but bet with four latches, they can hold your panel rock solid.




Bob Roberts sells them 2 for $8.00

[Donkbaca]

I don't know off hand. I know that it starts out being like 12 inches and I think at the top it narrows down to around 4 inches or so.  Its not super slanted, but its more slanted than the woody.  It sets up pretty well.  In my opinion, the screen on a slim cab doesn't have to be as slanted as on a traditional cab, because the screens are usually mounted higher.  On most CRT Cabs, the screen starts just above the CP, on Slim cabs, they usually mount higher.  There is a 4 inch admin panel above my CP, and the bottom of my screen is 4 or 4.5 inches above that admin panel, so its more or less Eye level, so, no need to angle it much, because Its comfortable to look straight ahead, versus on a CRT cab, where you are looking down at the screen.

A Showcase type cab might make sense given the size of your screen.  The first thing I would do is run some games on it and see what is a comfortable viewing distance for you, then build around that.

The problem with showcase cabs is that they are kind of ugly.    If I were to go that route, I would just make a pedestal with the guts of the machine in it, and mount the tv to a wall.

[Vigo]

A Showcase type cab might make sense given the size of your screen.  The first thing I would do is run some games on it and see what is a comfortable viewing distance for you, then build around that.

The problem with showcase cabs is that they are kind of ugly.    If I were to go that route, I would just make a pedestal with the guts of the machine in it, and mount the tv to a wall.

+1 on the pedestal recontamination if going the showcase route, but I do think a 32" is not too terribly big that a showcase is needed based on screen size. If you don't mind it being closer to a 30" deep cab instead of a 20" (not including CP), It would probably be very comfortable. It's all preference.

[Donkbaca]

The number one rule in cab building is you build your cab around your screen.  Most of the craptastic machines have screeens that are too small, or too big, or the wrong proportion. 

[DataWest]

With the TV leaning at a 70 degree angle ( I think this is the best) its already a 27'' deep cab   thats why I was concerned about mounting my 17'' CP in the remaining 4 inches.

I think Ill be fine if I build support for just the cp and attach that once its indoors. So I guess it could be a showcase ( but I do agree, they are ugly) but the cp will be pushed flush to the cab.

Is 20'' away from a 32'' Tv all that bad?   I dont know, if its tilted it cant be that bad. And I suppose I could just move the CP away a little if it bugged me.

What do you all think about this plan?

Thanks for all the comments so far.

[yotsuya]

I like this guy's design. It seems modular in some ways and might be something you could pull off.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=107081.0

[DataWest]

I like this guy's design. It seems modular in some ways and might be something you could pull off.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=107081.0

I agree. Thanks

[Vigo]

Have you considered mounting your LCD vertically? I think others have done it. The screen is big enough for horizontal game to play fine, and vertical games are all the bigger. Cabinet width wouldn't matter anymore. Just an option to think about.

[DataWest]

Have you considered mounting your LCD vertically? I think others have done it. The screen is big enough for horizontal game to play fine, and vertical games are all the bigger. Cabinet width wouldn't matter anymore. Just an option to think about.

Yeah I have. I actually decided to give myself barely enough room to take the TV out and turn it vertical sometimes. Thats part of the reason its so tall. I love me my shmups.  So it will be able to do both.

[DataWest]

Well I made an early Saturday morning trip to HD and got everything.

This afternoon I cut the 2 sides out. It all went good and I'll start a project thread tomorrow sometime with pics