Equipment List Correct?

[Totallyout2lunch]

Hi there, I hope this is in the correct forum, as its not really a project announcement yet. If you deem it necessary please move, and I already feel chastised... LOL.  

I have read the nOOb forum posts, and cant find a check list, so before I make my order to the various companies for the bits and bobs that I think I need, I just want to check that I have all that I need. Not including wood, screws etc. So if I have forgotten something please let me know...

Question 1.

1 x 4 Way Super J-Stick
2 x 8 Way Competition J-Sticks
1 x 3" Track Ball
1 x Spinner
Assortment of Horizontal Microswitch various colours from Happ.
1 + 2 Player Buttons from Happ
.187 Connectors (2 Bags)
Marquee Bulb/Fitting

Question 2.

Wire - Would Cat5 wire be suitable for the CP, its already colour coded, and I have masses of it?

Question 3.

From reading it seems that the Hagstrom KE72 is hard to set up with both Track Ball + Spinner, also costs $135 for the kit. Where as the IPAC4 + OptiPac seems to be the better choice, and is a little cheaper. Is that correct? Answers on a postcard please...


Thanks for the help in advance...

[paigeoliver]

You should not need an I-Pac 4 with the list of controls you just specified. I-Pac2 should be fine. I personally skipped the optipac and just got a PS2 trackball to begin with. Specfically the 4-way you will want is the Ms. Pac/Galaga replacement one.

Other people have successfully used cat 5, I have personally had trouble with it.

[pointdablame]

I second paigeoliver's entire post. The Ms. Pacman/Galaga stick looks amazing and everyone here seems to adore it.

Also, my control panel *in progress* is practically identical to yours, depending on the number of buttons you are using, and I have plans to just get an Ipac2. Unless you're building a 4player CP or want like 12 buttons per player  

I've also heard mixed results using Cat5. If I were you, I'd just get a few spools of wire from Radio Shack. After spending the money on controls, whats 10 bux more. I think 18-22 guage is the correct sizes and it seems 20/22 is most popular around here??? Please correct me if not.

I can't help ya with the encoder since I have no first hand experience yet, but it seems with some work you can get anything to work. There doesn't seem to be a "bad" one of the bunch. I personally am going with an Ipac2/Optipac. Good luck.

One last thing: Make sure you have the mounting plates for all your controls. Some come with them, some don't. Specifically, you'd prolly need the trackball plate most, unless you are builiding a metal CP, in which case forget this entire sentence

[Totallyout2lunch]

Thanks for the info...

I was planning on 6 butons for P1 / P2, not that fighters are especially my forte, but dont want to be limited.

I will definetly go with the Ms. Pac/Galaga, for the 4 way, I guess im building the cab to play Galaga, and Tempest more than anything else.

Cheers...

[zzsprade]

I am sorry to highjack this thread a little, so my appolgies. Having read the review from Bob Roberts I was under the impression that it was not possible to mount in a wooden CP (say 3/4 thickness) a Ms. Pac/Galaga replacement joystick. Is this true or am I mistaken? I am a little curious myself.

-Alex

[paigeoliver]

I am sorry to highjack this thread a little, so my appolgies. Having read the review from Bob Roberts I was under the impression that it was not possible to mount in a wooden CP (say 3/4 thickness) a Ms. Pac/Galaga replacement joystick. Is this true or am I mistaken? I am a little curious myself.

-Alex

I have two of them mounted in wooden panels. What you do is mount it on a piece of sheet metal, then cut a hole in the panel, and mount the sheet metal onto the panel.

It WILL not work without a mounting plate, unless you are some sort of router master who can flush install it so that it drops through level, and then that would be a weak installation.

[Totallyout2lunch]

Does anyone have a few photos on how this is done? Or a link to a thread that talks about it?

Thanks...

[paigeoliver]

Does anyone have a few photos on how this is done? Or a link to a thread that talks about it?

Thanks...

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=10653

Another photo is included there. The sheet metal square I used was found in home depot, in what I believe was the fence section. Only other info you really need to know is that you cut a hole in the wood just slightly larger than the joystick base.

[paigeoliver]

Oh, and if you plan on using multiple short handled sticks (Wico's, etc) then you can cover your entire wooden panel in sheet metal, and cut out holes for each joystick.

Thin sheet metal like that is fine for mounting plates, but is not strong enough to just be the panel, but you can have all the advantages of both wood and metal panels by covering a wooden panel with sheet metal.

[tmasman]

Yeah...
I recently saw an original Gauntlet 4-player control panel and was done like that... (Metal over 3/4 wood.).
The entire area under the buttons & sticks (leaf switch & Wicos) was cut out & the controls mounted in just the metal.  It was a really neat idea! I think I might do this with my ...hmmm... How many will that be?... 3rd project... (I'm converting a cab to a Neo-Geo, Maming an old messed up Atari Cab, then planning on building from scratch)

Anyhow, using a solid sheet of metal would allow for a clean install of everything (no routing out for TB mounting plates & short sticks). And would allow you to basically have whatever stick height you want regaurdless of the stick you are using! (Mount under wood, rout out a little wood, or just cut the wood out of the way!)

And Cat5 is the wiring I used on my stand alone CP & it worked great for me. Just be carefull & don't bend it back & forth too much while you're doing all your wiring.  But I liked it because it pretty much stayed in place wherever I put it, & it was thin enough that my rat's nest doesn't look too bad. (It's just a temp CP, so I didn't take that much time & care keeping it neat & tidy).

[pointdablame]

hmm... why can't you route out the bottom of your CP to the size of the joystick base and then use a mounting plate? or are you saying there AREN'T mounting plates for the Ms. Pac/Galaga stick

I ask because I want my CP flush so I can put artwork on it, and this is going to screw that up. How can I mount it so that its flush ?

[JODY]

If it is stranded Cat5 should work easily.  If it is solid...may the force be with you because you're going to need it.  It breaks too easily.

I'd go with the IPac / OptiPac.  Great stuff.

[paigeoliver]

hmm... why can't you route out the bottom of your CP to the size of the joystick base and then use a mounting plate? or are you saying there AREN'T mounting plates for the Ms. Pac/Galaga stick

I ask because I want my CP flush so I can put artwork on it, and this is going to screw that up. How can I mount it so that its flush ?

Well, if you have a router, then route down the thickness of the plate. Or, you can just cover the entire panel in sheetmetal, which isn't too difficult to do.