First Cabinet Project - Many Questions!

[dsheinem]

Hello BYOAC forums! I hate to barge into a new forum and just ask a bunch of questions, but I have spent several hours pouring over this website and a few other places online and haven't found satisfactory answers...you all seem like a very friendly lot, so I thought I'd ask here.

I am building my first MAME cabinet with a 27" CRT TV and a Nettop PC.  The PC side of things is in pretty good shape (though I am still deciding on a frontend) and I am using a VGA>S-video adapter (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00351VWKI) to get the picture to the TV. That's the easy part.

I have started looking for plans on the web and the plans that seems to be the best fit for what I want to do is the first set of plans over here: http://www.arcadecab.com/ (specifically: http://www.arcadecab.com/Intro.htm). However, there are some differences between what he did and what I want to do, and I can't seem to find a set of plans to account for these differences.

What I would really like to find are easy to follow plans for a 27" TV  and the X-Arcade Tankstick and Trackball.  Since I haven't found them, though, here are my questions:

---I am planning to start out with the X-Arcade Tankstick + Trackball controller until such time as I feel like tackling the wiring for a custom CP (not my strength).  X-Arcade doesn't list the dimensions for this stick - is it the exact same as the Tankstick standalone that was used in the plan on arcadecab.com? If not, what adjustments do I need to make to those plans?

---Speaking of adjustments, the plans on that site suggest that only the monitor shelf dimensions need to be adjusted for a larger TV...but wouldn't the part of the cabinet sides where the screen lines up to also need to be adjusted?

---I like that he used birch instead of MDF board for the bulk of the cabinet.  Would cabinet-grade pine (which is about 30% cheaper) work just as well?

---Some of the folks over on the Racketboy.com forums tried to scare me away from the X-Arcade Tankstick+trackball...is there a better plug and play alternative or anyone who does custom CP's for the same or less cost?

Anyway, thanks for reading - I'll keep you posted and will be happy to answer follow up questions.  I am trying to get the project to the woodworking stage this week, so I will be eagerly anticipating your thoughts!

[dsheinem]

hmmm..no replies.  I thought this would be the best area of the forum for this.  If not, can a mod please move it elsewhere?

[BobA]

Too many questions.   I don't think anyone wants to analyze your whole message and actually figure out exactly what you are asking.

1.  I do not think you will find an exact set of plans that will fit what you are doing.  You will always have to adjust and make mods.  Even TVs are not all the same size so it depends on if you are decasing it or if you want it to sit on the shelf in its case.

2.  Attached is a tankstick template from another thread.   You will need AI to view ut.

3.  When using plywood for a cab you can play around with the type of wood but the most important thing is getting a good quality ply with NO VOIDS.

4.  Some people hate the xarcade stuff and call it cheap but it does serve some people very well.  It is a great way to get multi console interfaces.

Good luck