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Defender using Turnarcades bartop kit (Finished!)
TOK:
--- Quote from: Turnarcades on April 30, 2011, 08:51:59 am ---Personally I'd have sought a 2/4-way stick simply to expand the potential range of games the machine can play, but well done on getting everything to fit under there with such an unusual joystick housing. Good call on the 24mm Sanwas; standard 28mm would've looked out of proportion with the scaled artwork.
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His stick choice actually makes the install easier. I did what you said and went with a regular Sanwa stick so other games could be playable. Due to how skinny the Williams 2 way is, you need to trim a standard stick to get the button spacing right.
The penciled area is what I had to hack away from the mounting plate and I also had to trim some plastic underneath. The standard Multi-Williams layout puts the Reverse button far enough away to use a standard stick without cutting it. Moving it that extra half inch out kills the feel of the game for me.
Turnarcades:
I guess you gotta be a big fan of the game to notice that though, and Ive never cared that much for Defender. I got to play on the first original Defender cabinet for years a few weeks ago and the stick felt so alien, probably due to only handling similar 4-8way sticks so often these days and also probably as it's been so long since I played this game as an original.
LeedsFan:
I did consider a regular joystick at first. But I knew the mounting plate could cause the issue as outlined by TOK above. I think the Seimitsu LS33 has the thinnest mounting plate and I probably could have got away with that. I don't think it's any wider than the base of this repro stick, and it would have been quite a bit cheaper. (Repro was EUR 50 and LS33 is about £18)
However since I built my Neo-Geo box I've not been too fussed about my projects playing more games, as the Neo-Geo covers all I would ever want and more. I've kinda stated getting into the original controls now. If my projects don't look as close to the original I'm trying to get them to at least feel/play as close to the original. That's why I got a repro Nintendo 4-way from MikesArcade for the DK bartop and took out the U360.
I think I will stop short of actual arcade cabinet collecting though. I simply do not have the room. Or funds!
LeedsFan:
OK it's update time. I finally finished the Defender panel and it plays great! Here's a finished pic of the underside.....
Craig mentioned earlier about using a different joystick to allow the bartop to play more games. I didn't want to compromise the original "feel" of the Defender panel. But I did buy three used original Wico sticks from QuarterArcade. I didn't really have a plan for these sticks other than make some sort of Robotron panel for either this bartop or my Neo-Geo box. In order to make up the $50 minimum international order from QA I had to buy three and not just two ($16 dollars each plus shipping). My original plan was to take a good look at them and then take apart/re-assemble to make up the best two sticks for a panel, as I had no idea what condition they would be in.
I did get one pleasant surprise on arrival.... I had gotten 2x 8-ways and a 4-way. I was expecting 3x 8-ways. I'm pretty sure that's what I ordered but it's worked out fine anyway. Because at that point I realised I could make a panel similar to my Neo-Geo box with an 8-way next to the 4-way using a toggle switch for choice (switching the gound), two action buttons for the classics and the second 8-way for Robotron/Smash TV. ;D
Here are the disassembled Wicos.....
On inspection the ball tops weren't in too bad shape, but certainly not mint. The springs were the worst part. One was stretched and all were rusty. The grommets looked fine but one was a little softer than the others. The leaf switches were not bad either with only one switch in particular looking bent and damaged. But it did work OK after some straightening up.
I decided on a refurb with parts from Arcadeshop.de. They have the Wico shafts complete with new springs, e-clips and actuators for EUR 5.00 each. Unfortunately they didn't have any in red so I had to settle on black. I also got 3x new grommets. These feel much stiffer than any of the three used ones. Couldn't get any leaf switches though. But I reckon the used ones will be fine after a bit of TLC.
The shafts all came with new 8-way actuators so I will need to clean up and use the old 4-way actuator.....
(Oh and those new dust washers are for Seimitsu LS40 which fit the Wico shafts great)
I'm really looking forward to trying out Robotron and Smash TV with the correct controls. :laugh:
leapinlew:
--- Quote from: Turnarcades on April 30, 2011, 10:05:21 am ---I guess you gotta be a big fan of the game to notice that
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I think you'd be surprised. It makes an immediate difference to even a novice player. I been longing to play some defender again.