Groovygamegear joysticks question.

[paigeoliver]

I also emailed this to them, but I figured someone here might know.

I just got 4 joysticks and some other assorted stuff from groovygamegear.com

The sticks (3 top fires and a 2,4,8-way switchable) seem nice, but they have a raised bezel on the base that is supposed to poke through the panel. Does anyone know offhand the size of that little bezel?

I figure if I can get an answer today then I will be able to stop at the hardware store on the way home and buy the correct holesaw needed to cut the hole. I already have the right right holesaws for buttons/standard joysticks, and 3" trackballs, but I know both of those are wrong for these sticks.

[paigeoliver]

Ok, got an answer, it is 1.75

Just posting here in case anyone else was wondering.

[2600]

Paigeoliver,
When you get a second would you mind showing how you are mounting the top fires.  I've got one myself I was thinking of adding to my existing CP.  I don't have the GroovyGameGear mounting plate and have been trying to think how to mount it and still look good.  Pictures afterwards would be great too, but I'll take what I can get.

Anyone know if the top fires would work with Osars Mounting Plate?

[JoyMonkey]

Paigeoliver,
When you get a second would you mind showing how you are mounting the top fires.  I've got one myself I was thinking of adding to my existing CP.  I don't have the GroovyGameGear mounting plate and have been trying to think how to mount it and still look good.  Pictures afterwards would be great too, but I'll take what I can get.

Anyone know if the top fires would work with Osars Mounting Plate?

There's a photo of these sticks mounted in a metal control panel here

[paigeoliver]

Mine are going to be mounted on a metal panel, so there is not going to be any special mounting tricks needed.

[2600]

Damn you all and your metal CP's  

Anybody have any other examples or advice for a wood CP.

[slicer_d]

you could route down from the bottom or top of the wood to either raise the stick or lower it.  Or just cut a hole and use a custom piece of metal to mount it on.

[Sasquatch!]

God bless groovygamegear.com, but it's pretty difficult for me to actually FIND stuff on his site.  Where are the top-fire joysticks?  Or for that matter, doesn't he offer the OmniStick with a more "classic" balltop?  Help me out please, 'cause I ain't seeing either.

EDIT: Never mind, I see now that you have to click on the shopping cart button to actually see all of the products.

[Tiger-Heli]

Damn you all and your metal CP's  

Anybody have any other examples or advice for a wood CP.

Snowbird had some good advice in this thread:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=11929;start=msg93085#msg93085

(Was talking about the STC 500, but applies to the Omni-Stik:

I would like to jump in and say the the Suzo (STC) 500 can be mounted on a wood panel fairly easily:
- Drill a 1 3/4" hole 1/4" to 1/2" deep from the bottom of the panel with a Forstner bit (be careful not to drill through the panel).
- Drill a second concentric hole 1" or 1 1/8" diameter through the panel.
- Those 2 holes should create perfect a cavity for you to mount the STC 500 from the bottom (you have to remove the handle to fit it through the panel).
From the top you will only see the smaller 1" hole which if you prefer, can be covered by a plastic washer (like Happs).

Or use a metal plate, FWIW!!!

[2600]

Thanks guys.  I've read the info on mounting the STC 500, but was trying to find a picture of a completed install to see if the washer was necessary.  Currenly, I'm thinking yes unless I want to try to modify the top fire by combining it with the prodigy for a switchable 4 to 8 way top fire, but that's another project .

They do look good in the metal CP's though.

[paigeoliver]

I have both a top fire, and the bottom switchable stick, and it doesn't really appear that they could be combined. The bottom part is all different.

[2600]

Yeah, there isn't as many pictures of things so it was all theory, but let me know if I am wrong.  My terminology is probably all wrong, but I think you will understand my point.

I was assuming a lot of similarities between the top fire, stc 500, and the prodigy.  All I was really  trying to do was take the prodigy and replace it with the top fire shaft.  Then I would just have to figure out a way to get the top button to work which could be done a couple of ways.

Since you have them, what do you think is it possible or should I be banned from BYOAC for even thinking of such an idea.

[paigeoliver]

Well, there ARE a lot of similarities in the sticks, but I believe the reason the top-fires are not switchable in the first place is because the top fire assembly at the bottom precludes the rotation of the restrictor plate.

How many 4-way top fire games are there anyway? Assault, Assault Plus and ?

[Tiger-Heli]

Yeah, there isn't as many pictures of things so it was all theory, but let me know if I am wrong.  My terminology is probably all wrong, but I think you will understand my point.

I was assuming a lot of similarities between the top fire, stc 500, and the prodigy.  All I was really  trying to do was take the prodigy and replace it with the top fire shaft.  Then I would just have to figure out a way to get the top button to work which could be done a couple of ways.

Since you have them, what do you think is it possible or should I be banned from BYOAC for even thinking of such an idea.

It's probably doable.  I was planning to add a trigger stick handle to a regular Omni-Stik and that was workable.

[Tiger-Heli]

How many 4-way top fire games are there anyway? Assault, Assault Plus and ?

Half of TRON!  (Tanks and light-cycles)

[Stingray]

doesn't he offer the OmniStick with a more "classic" balltop?  

Once again I feel the need to charge the defense of this stick. The handle may look a little odd, but it really is fantastic in gameplay. I like it much better than a standard ball top.

-S

[2600]

Paige - I wasn't really planning on using the top fire button in 4 way mode.  I have one of those control panels with 2 8-ways and a 4-way up top.  I wanted to switch out the dedicated 4-way to something a little more versatile for games where I have to use the spinner and still allow me to play 4-way games without adding another dedicated joystick.  (Does that paragraph even make sense   )

Tiger-Heli thanks for the info hadn't even thought about a triggerstick, but that's probably because I have the top fire.

[paigeoliver]

There is quite a difference between a triggerstick and a top fire. A triggerstick has the switch inside the handle, and just has wires poking out the bottom, while a top fire has the switch underneath the joystick at the very bottom.

[2600]

Not sure who your comment was directed at Paige, but I know the difference I was just trying to thank Tiger Heli for chiming in and that it was somewhat related to the topic.

BTW, are you still on the stance that the shafts can't be switched?

[paigeoliver]

I am sure you could switch the shafts. I just think mouting the button press assembly would be difficult at best.