Should I try and modify the existing cabinet, or build a new one?

[shredso]

I have a Double Dragon cab that was converted to a MKII.  I finally finished my control panel, now I'm torn on what to do next.  I would like to continue building, but I have a perfectly good cab.  I'm sure at this point the cab is virtually useless gutted and I would hate to throw it away.  Plus I'm moving and don't have the time to build too much more.  Any suggestions on how to modify the cab to take my new (from the Project Arcade) control panel?

[ScottS]

I, personally, think it would be easier to build a new cabinet than to try to modify an existing cabinet to handle a control panel it was never designed to use in the first place. After all, how difficult is it to build a cabinet once you have the control panel? Two sides, a top, a bottom, and a back are all you need...

[Malenko]

still have the MKII boards? Im lookin for a set

[BobA]

You would have to notch both sides of your cab to allow your new CP to fit into the old CP space.  Supports would be needed at the front because your new CP is much deeper then the existing CP.  Overall it would probably look like heck and you would not be pleased.  All the cab does for you is hold the CP up and the monitor in place.  You can do something much nicer when you get moved if you start from scratch.  Old cabs are great to renovate if you can use the existing CP space. They are not so good if a much larger CP is desired.

[severdhed]

that pic is dark, and my monitor is about dead, so i can barely see anything in that pic, but i'd say it all depends on the tools at your disposal and your woodworking skills.

I have very few power tools, so building a cabinet from scratch was pretty much out of the question for me.  i got a gutted cabinet that was a generic midway cabinet, 23" wide inside with a metal control panel. I notched out the sides of the cabinet, built a control panel box that is 30" x 12" and mounted it with pretty good results.   although your panel looks like it might be a good bit bigger than 30x12.

here is what i am talking about..



i dont know if that will work for you or not, but that is how i did it.

[shredso]

es, I have all the guts of the MKII.  What do you think it's worth?  I was thinking of ebaying the board.

[paigeoliver]

There is a simple rule of thumb about mounting larger than stock control panels to cabinets, and that rule of thumb is "don't do it".

That is the short answer. The long answer is a bit more complicated.

If the original cabinet had a separate control panel box then building a larger one is just fine. But don't overdo it. Adding depth is almost never needed (one of the most common BYOAC mistakes is making a panel that is too deep), but you can usually add 6" of width safely to a machine that had a pre-existing box type panel.

If the original cabinet did not have a separate box style control panel than the answer is NO. Every one in a while I see someone pull this off in an almost acceptable manner, but the rest of the time it is horrible, and often dangerous, and rarely works right.

If you absolutely MUST have more controls than will fit on your panel than fill the existing panel and build yourself a little freestanding box that you can place directly in front of the machine to put more controls on. It should ideally be the same width as the original cabinet and put the panel at the same height.

Doing a 2 player to 4 player conversion is usually a bad idea.

[Chris G]

I agree.  I just finished building a new control panel for the cabinet I converted.  It worked out great and looks good, however, it originally had a separate box.  I think trying to meld together the two pieces you have would be extremely difficult.

[shredso]

Thanks for the input guys, thats kinda what I figured.  Now, what to do with the Double Dragon cab and MKII guts?  Any idea on the value?  Maybe I should post in the for sale section.

Ed.