Howdy-
Currently, my Frankenpanel has dedicated Robotron Wico 4" leaf sticks, 2 Ultimarc Mag-Stik Plus 4-way/8-way top-switchable sticks, & 2 mechanical rotary sticks (Happ 50-5618-00, I think...these were an installed upgrade on my SlikStik Quad panel when I ordered it in 2006). See pic #1.
I use the black bat sticks for 99% of my game-playing, but I'm tired of the bat feel--I'm too old for bats. I'm of the ball generation, & I like my balls red.
So, I think that these are my options:
1 - To convert the Ultimarc Mag-Stik Plus from black bat to red ball, I think I need the $14 "Ball-Top handle for Mag-Stik. Long Length." (as seen on
http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/section.php?xSec=6). My question to Andy: I just want to confirm that I'm picking out the correct product--I think I am, since my sticks are mounted to the bottom of a wood panel, but I want to be 100% sure. Pic #2 shows my current black bat stick, with my calipers revealing that the stick, tip-to-tip, is a bit over 6" long.
2 - To convert the Happ mechanical rotary sticks to red balls, I don't see any product available for an easy swap. Happ says "Available in black knob only":
http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/rotary_optical_joy.htm . But, heeeeyyyy, check out the Mag-Stik Plus shaft next to the Happ Rotary Stick shaft (pic #3). Close match (when putting the chrome plastic sleeve on the Mag-Stik Plus shaft). To convert a Mag-Stik Plus shaft to fit in a Happ Rotary stick assembly, It should just be a simple manner of lopping off the threaded tip & making a small adapter sleeve to thicken the portion next to the threaded tip so that the plastic rotary assembly will fit nicely on the shaft. I think I'll be ordering FOUR shafts from Ultimarc & making 2 simple adapter sleeves on the lathe to bring that .470"-long .309" OD up to .393". If there's demand for this, I would consider making extra parts (it wouldn't be cheap--I'm not set up for any sort of production & these would be very small quantities...) or at least making & sharing a drawing for people to take to their local machine shops. Andy, do you/will you also sell me the chrome plastic sleeves if I buy some shafts?
And no, before anybody asks, I am *not* going to change my cabinet name from "Infernolab" to "Great Balls of Fire"!
Thanks,
-Jason