Advice on spinner & other controls for MAME control panel

[DavidInvenio]

Greetings - I am new to the arcade DIY world - and looking for advice on which controls would work for a couple specific games.
I already own an X-Gaming Tankstick, so I have those parts to work with if necessary, but I am more than willing to purchase additional interface components as needed.  I am planning on building a new box, and adding new controls to what I have with the Tankstick, as well as replacing a few of the existing ones (like the joysticks which I have already done).

Here is my question - I need to know if the following exist (and where to find them if they do):
1: a "spinner" control for Tempest & Tron
2: a joystick+trigger control for Tron & Gorf
3: and a trackball for Missile Command (same size as the original) 
Since I am using MAME on a pc, I would obviously need to interface them preferably using USB.  And please pardon my newbie-status here and feel free to point me to "DIY arcade for dummies" if one exists!    I realize there's going to be an interface board and wiring along with the control - if I can combine the controls with 1 interface card that's great - if not, that's ok too.  I have seen the interface card in the Tankstick, and have already replaced the entire top of the unit along with several of it's controls.  I am assuming that to add additional controls I will have to likely get another (1 or more) interface cards.

As for the controls - I do NOT need original controls, or perfect replicas - and I am more interested in the functionality than the appearance.  Cost is not my primary criteria either.  In other words, if it PLAYS and FEELS like the original game, or as close as a replica can get, that's great!  I don't care about the color or internal led lighting or decals.  HOWEVER, for the trackball, it must be the same size and weight as the original Missile Command.  I already have a 3" trackball with the Tankstick but I want the larger ball for Missile Command.  Also, while I am certainly willing to do some assembly, tinkering, wiring and even some soldering - I am definitely no hardware engineer!  (In fact I have a handicap in that regard - I am a software engineer, so I break lots of hardware just by touching it! LOL)  So I'd prefer something that is mostly ready to use out of box, and would pay more for that than one I had to build from parts.

Again please forgive me if this is obvious stuff or frequently covered - I have done a fair bit of reading existing posts - but I am still very new to the world of the home arcade.  Thanks in advance for any info offered!

Peace!

[Hoopz]

Welcome to the forums.

Check out this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Project-Arcade-Build-Your-Machine-ebook/dp/B004KAABVY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389367737&sr=1-1&keywords=project+arcade

It was written by the owner of these message boards.  It's a great place to start.

For your questions, there are multiple vendors that sell the items you need (spinners, trackballs, joysticks, interfaces etc).  Among them you'll find a lot of support for Ultimarc, Groovy Game Gear, etc.  GGG has Tron handles like what you mentioned.

Depending on how quickly you want to move on things, reading the book may be a great starting place.  If not, jump in the Buy/Sell/Trade sub forum and check out the vendors that are stickied there.

Good luck!

[PL1]

Here is my question - I need to know if the following exist (and where to find them if they do):
1: a "spinner" control for Tempest & Tron
2: a joystick+trigger control for Tron & Gorf
3: and a trackball for Missile Command (same size as the original) 
Since I am using MAME on a pc, I would obviously need to interface them preferably using USB.  And please pardon my newbie-status here and feel free to point me to "DIY arcade for dummies" if one exists!    I realize there's going to be an interface board and wiring along with the control - if I can combine the controls with 1 interface card that's great - if not, that's ok too.  I have seen the interface card in the Tankstick, and have already replaced the entire top of the unit along with several of it's controls.  I am assuming that to add additional controls I will have to likely get another (1 or more) interface cards.

As for the controls - I do NOT need original controls, or perfect replicas - and I am more interested in the functionality than the appearance.  Cost is not my primary criteria either.  In other words, if it PLAYS and FEELS like the original game, or as close as a replica can get, that's great!  I don't care about the color or internal led lighting or decals.  HOWEVER, for the trackball, it must be the same size and weight as the original Missile Command.  I already have a 3" trackball with the Tankstick but I want the larger ball for Missile Command.

Check out Groovy Game Gear and Ultimarc for parts.

A good TRON stick needs a special 4/8way hybrid restrictor (Encryptor sells them here) and a Happ Heavy-Duty 8-Way Triggerstick. (Divemaster127 sells them here)

The 4.5" Missile Command trackball is the hard part -- you will need to get a used one (probably on KLOV) and possibly a rebuild kit.
**DO NOT go with RAM Controls for this.**

In addition to Saint's book, take a look at the new FAQ Felsir and I have been working on.  Let us know if anything needs clarification.


Scott

[mgb]

Hello and welcome to the forums,
 
As already said, there are a few good vendors to go with.
Groovy game gear has a few of the things you're looking for
such as the spinner.
Your definitely gonna have to find the track ball used.
You will see the Ram controls has the 4.5" trackball,
but as PL1 already said, don't go there. People have been robbed
many times.
The board that connects from your controls to the PC is the encoder.
There are multiple cheap ones online.
You could check out Ultimarc for great products and encoders.
A third popular vendor is Paradise Arcade Shop. They carry
IL, Sanwa and seimitsu parts.
Also divemaster carries happ stuff. I believe his site is
Arcadeemulator.net

[Bambam1963]

Greetings - I am new to the arcade DIY world - and looking for advice on which controls would work for a couple specific games.
I already own an X-Gaming Tankstick, so I have those parts to work with if necessary, but I am more than willing to purchase additional interface components as needed.  I am planning on building a new box, and adding new controls to what I have with the Tankstick, as well as replacing a few of the existing ones (like the joysticks which I have already done).

Here is my question - I need to know if the following exist (and where to find them if they do):
1: a "spinner" control for Tempest & Tron
2: a joystick+trigger control for Tron & Gorf
3: and a trackball for Missile Command (same size as the original) 
Since I am using MAME on a pc, I would obviously need to interface them preferably using USB.  And please pardon my newbie-status here and feel free to point me to "DIY arcade for dummies" if one exists!    I realize there's going to be an interface board and wiring along with the control - if I can combine the controls with 1 interface card that's great - if not, that's ok too.  I have seen the interface card in the Tankstick, and have already replaced the entire top of the unit along with several of it's controls.  I am assuming that to add additional controls I will have to likely get another (1 or more) interface cards.

As for the controls - I do NOT need original controls, or perfect replicas - and I am more interested in the functionality than the appearance.  Cost is not my primary criteria either.  In other words, if it PLAYS and FEELS like the original game, or as close as a replica can get, that's great!  I don't care about the color or internal led lighting or decals.  HOWEVER, for the trackball, it must be the same size and weight as the original Missile Command.  I already have a 3" trackball with the Tankstick but I want the larger ball for Missile Command.  Also, while I am certainly willing to do some assembly, tinkering, wiring and even some soldering - I am definitely no hardware engineer!  (In fact I have a handicap in that regard - I am a software engineer, so I break lots of hardware just by touching it! LOL)  So I'd prefer something that is mostly ready to use out of box, and would pay more for that than one I had to build from parts.

Again please forgive me if this is obvious stuff or frequently covered - I have done a fair bit of reading existing posts - but I am still very new to the world of the home arcade.  Thanks in advance for any info offered!

Peace!

You are delving into the expensive end of the BYOAC pool 

Here are my personal preferences:

Spinner - Spintrak from Ultramarc - http://www.ultimarc.com/SpinTrak.htm

Happs Heavy Duty 8-way from Happs - http://na.suzohapp.com/amusement_products/joysticks/50-9975-00?SS=ON

Tron handle, which can be modded to the Happs Heavy Duty 8-way http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=319

Satan's Hollow handle, which can be modded to the Happs Heavy Duty 8-way http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=327

3' trackball can be obtained here http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=363 or here http://na.suzohapp.com/amusement_products/trackballs/56-0300-16

Go here for the Tron/Happ Heavy Duty 8-way conversion instructions http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=78233.0

Good luck and welcome.

John

[mgb]

Just beware on the happ parts, you may not wanna order them right from suzohapp due to cost and shipping.
Divemasters shop, arcadeemulator.net is a better source.