Mounting options for Happ Analog Joysticks

[NeeBick]

I recently acquired the "Analog Joystick With Trigger Guard Handle" off of ebay for $10.  Hooked it up to my AKI and it works beautifully.  It has great feel to it.  Of course, now I must redesign my control panel to include it. 

My trouble is that it has a large mounting plate that is about the same size as the one for my trackball.  I don't know how to fit it in.  Looking at the base it appears that it could be mounted like a traditional joystick once it is removed from the mounting plate.  Unfortunately, I have not received my tamper resistant bits yet. So I can not remove the handle to try.

I was wondering if any member has tried this method to mount a Happ analog stick.  I am worried about the increased torque created by the taller handle.  I doubt I would shear a hole in panel but even a crack would worry me.

[mdoggie]

Heya, I just bought a very similar Happ Analog joystick with trigger, too. I'm also wondering how this is done. I was HOPING to either be able to remove the mounting place, or hide it underneath the control panel. My panel is made from a fairly thick wood, so this may get tricky.

Oh, and I bought the db15 gameport version, but have no gameport. Anyone out there with the happ analog DB15's use a gameport to USB adapter successfully? If so, does it need to be a specific one? I've seen them on amazon for about 20 bucks, and if they work, I'm more than happy to put that into the mix. I see people talk of Mayflower brand USB adapters on here, but could not find immediately any successful use of the Happ analog joysticks on a mayflower gameport adapter. Just waiting for someone else's go ahead before I pull the trigger.

[mdoggie]

Would anyone mind to comment on either of these? First, is there a possibility on putting the mounting plate UNDER the control panel on many of happ's analog trigger joysticks.

Two, for those who've bought one and used the db15 100K pot version, what USB adapter works? I was looking at mayflower ones on amazon, and wondering if those have been successful. Thanks.

[mdoggie]

I wanted to reply to my own questions here since I wasn't able to get any answers. One, mounting the Happ analog trigger joysticks underneath a control panel seems like a really tough feat. If you cut a hole big enough to slide the joystick piece through the panel, you'd definitely need some form of a giant washer so you wouldn't crack the panel, which pretty much defeats the purpose of what you are trying to do; might as well just suck it up and mount the metal plate. It also uses secure torx, so you'd have to buy a special bit to take off the handle... also seems like a really tough feat since there are wires underneath the plastic piece. I ended up just mounting my plate on top of the panel; I wasn't happy about it, but it seemed like the only choice. I'm hoping that once I add graphics/poly-whatever over it, it'll re-hide the plate enough.

Two, a Mayflash gameport to USB adapter worked just fine for me on my Win 7 x64 system. I didn't have to go digging for any drivers, either. Once I plugged it in, it detected just fine. I set the mode to "stick", and once calibrated it works great. As much as I love my u360's, games like Tron, DOT, and After Burner just NEED one of these to play more faithfully. I got a good deal on eBay for mine (around 30 after shipping), so I'd highly recommend one of these things if you are on the fence about adding one to a cabinet.

Oh, and they are built like absolute tanks, too. Happ may charge an arm and a leg for a new one, but the quality of the build is never in question. They are designed to take absolute punishment and not flinch.