Build your own

Lots of good info over at BYOAC. www.arcadecontrols.com

+1

This forum is (mostly) dedicated to restoring original games. Although plenty of members have built their own cabinets. So no shame there.

Are you wanting to build a replica of a classic game, or build a custom mame setup?
 
+1

This forum is (mostly) dedicated to restoring original games. Although plenty of members have built their own cabinets. So no shame there.

Are you wanting to build a replica of a classic game, or build a custom mame setup?



Thanks,

Honestly at this point I think I'd like to build a replica of my original ms pacman cocktail. I haven't downloaded it yet but I found zip files for plans at Mike's Arcade? The word replica might be misleading. I'd put a modern display in it and possibly a multi-cade. I just hate how the modern more generic cabinets look vs the more original... I'd probably just build it and sell it to a friend or something because I've heard a few interested in such a thing. Just so I could put a few bucks towards a restore of one of the originals I want. Hope that makes sense... It's an expensive hobby so finding ways I can learn, enjoy, and put more money into it for the originals I like without going broke...lol.
 
Well, once you get done building it, it might not be as cheap as you think...
 
Ha, ha... I've thought of that too but if things go sour then I'll be happy with the learning experience. Then it's just a matter of finding a good excuse to my wife for the latest addition...
 
So... I've been locating parts and prices for the build. It looks like nobody makes the original ms pacman coin doors anymore. Just people refurbishing etc. is that right? If so, is there a recommended alternative?

Thanks
 
So... I've been locating parts and prices for the build. It looks like nobody makes the original ms pacman coin doors anymore. Just people refurbishing etc. is that right? If so, is there a recommended alternative?

Thanks

I don't think Midway doors are that expensive used unless you're hellbent on making everything brand new. Otherwise then there's companies that make brand new coin doors that look nothing like it, like Happ, but I think they have a minimum order of $100 now.

Looks like you'd be pretty close...:

https://na.suzohapp.com/products/coin_doors/40-0707-00

Or the X-gaming one, although I don't like it (that place is like MAME central), you might!:

https://shop.xgaming.com/products/arcade-coin-door-with-coin-mech-ships

Marcospecialities.com has mostly pinball stuff but one of those doors would work too, although it may look a bit weird.

Honestly you're probably way better off buying a nice used one or refurbished one. Otherwise you're going to be paying 2-3 times more for something uglier and less original looking. I personally don't see the point.

As stated, www.arcadecontrols.com is probably the place to go for this kind of stuff, for a better response and help for this stuff particularly. :) We'll be able to help out much more when you're back with your first 'real' machine, as all of us are much more experienced in that department as opposed to this. Not necessarily because we dislike it, but rather because a lot of people here don't spend their time around that end of things, as close as it gets is building new cabinets for high-end restorations but then things like old beautifully-refurbished coin doors are still used unless reproduced like the Nintendo doors.
 
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I'm not bent on anything to be honest. Just learning my options, where the secret places are to find parts are, what's a common way of doing things or not etc. Its mostly important to be that it's the highest quality that I can make, is new or refurbished by myself or someone enough to pretty much pass as new, and externally looks like the original.

I appreciate all the information and tips :)
 
unless you want it to look exactly like a midway coin door.
I really, really like the $35 1 slot coin door from Holland Computers.
With shipping it comes out right around $50.
Works great, looks nice and decent quality.
 
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