Reproduction Tron Joystick Handles

[andrewonawall]

Aparently, Tom, the man making the Tron reproduction handles, has decided to stop making them for personal reasons.  

I myself lack the knowledge to create these myself. If someone else picked up the ball, I personally, would fork over my cash right away if they were of excellent quality. I created this poll to assess the potential market for these, so that it may convince a capable party to begin manufacturing them.

If you don't know what I am talking about, here are pictures from the 1UPArcade website of the previous reproductions.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I would buy TWO in a heartbeat--IF they start making them in the red color that 1-UP has.

[MinerAl]

I'd be a purchaser, if somebody would make the whole widget.  I'd like a wired, switched, attached to a compatible-with-X joystick shaft Tron Joystick handle.

[Jakobud]

This guy "Tom" whoever that is, who used to make them, does he own some sort of plastic injection molding forms for these handles? Because the molds would be by far the most expensive part about convincing anyone to manufacturer these things. If we could get the molds... then....it would be easier.

[Stormy151]

Interesting timing, this topic.

I'm actually working on acquiring an original Tron handle to do this very thing.  I originally wanted a set for myself, but when I discovered how hard they were to find, I decided why not make them availiable to everyone- that way BYOAC'ers weren't hacking up original grips to put on cabs, and owners of original Tron cabinets could get replacement handles.

I don't know if Tom was injection molding his- injection mold tooling usually isn't cheap.  A group of friends and I are pretty experienced in different molding materials and casting resins- I was going to give it a go.  I was planning on offering the blue and red, as well as triggers.  I don't know about ready to go, wired sticks.  

I was trying to come up with an adapter so you could fit the grip to a standard Happ joystick, but I'm going to have to wait until I get the grip.

So I dunno.  I have to find a grip first.

I thought about offering reproduction Star Wars yoke handles too, but a whole yoke is hard to find, let alone the grips.  Anyone wanna loan out a set?

[Sasquatch!]

Just so ya know, it's kinda poor etiquette to image leech from someone else's site.

[MinerAl]

The handles on Happ's Heavy Duty 8-way trigger stick are Tron handles.  They're pretty inexpensive, and for molding purposes would serve the same purpose as an actual Tron stick.  (Happ's part #s 96-2526-00 and  96-2527-00, cost is $5.98 each, $11.96 for the pair)

As for SW grips, you'd have to find an original to make those.

"Tom" was using a flexable (nylon?) mold that deteriorated after a few castings (or so I understand).  I think, at this point, Happ is the only place that has injection molds of these handles.

There was another recent thread about 1UP working on this very project.

[andrewonawall]

Just so ya know, it's kinda poor etiquette to image leech from someone else's site.

Never heard that before, so sorry. In my defense, I did cite the source, and that was the understood past rule in every other community I have been a part of. Guess the BYOAC is different, so I won't be doing it again.

Also it was merely for illustrative purposes of the poll. If I had some, I would have used my own........but then I wouldn't have started this poll.

[Sasquatch!]

Never heard that before, so sorry. In my defense, I did cite the source, and that was the understood past rule in every other community I have been a part of. Guess the BYOAC is different, so I won't be doing it again.

Also it was merely for illustrative purposes of the poll. If I had some, I would have used my own........but then I wouldn't have started this poll.

It's just a guideline, so don't sweat it.

[Stormy151]

The handles on Happ's Heavy Duty 8-way trigger stick are Tron handles.  They're pretty inexpensive, and for molding purposes would serve the same purpose as an actual Tron stick.  (Happ's part #s 96-2526-00 and  96-2527-00, cost is $5.98 each, $11.96 for the pair)

Yeah, I have a set on back order.  

As for SW grips, you'd have to find an original to make those.

Those things are my Holy Grail.  I'm hoping to find someone willing to loan some out, I'd only need them for a week.  Probably once I get the Tron grips going someone will step forward.  I understand how no one would want to loan something valuable as gold to somebody they don't know from Adam, especially when I have nothing to offer in return except copies.

"Tom" was using a flexable (nylon?) mold that deteriorated after a few castings (or so I understand).  I think, at this point, Happ is the only place that has injection molds of these handles.

Probably silicone.  It's the most common thing to use- depending on the quality of the rubber, they usually will "crap out" after 20 or so pulls.  Then you just make another mold.

[ErikRuud]

Silicone molds will last a lot longer if you use a barrier coat on them.

Silicone molds degrade over time because the chemicals from the resin seep into the silicone and react with it.

Price-Driscol makes three different versions of their Par-Film.  One is for polyester, one is for polyurethane, I forget what the third one was, epoxy maybe.

A barrier coat will slow down the degradation and you should be able to double the life of the mold.

I used to get about 20 to 30 pulls from a mold.  Now I get twice as many.

[Stormy151]

You have to watch it with some barrier coats, because if you apply it too thick, it will obscure fine detail because it will "fill in" those pits in the mold.  The Tron stick has that fine pebbled texture that I don't want to lose.  I use a spray called Ease Release 2300 that works pretty well- but I'll have to experiment.

You can boil molds in water too, that brings the silicone oils back out and you can get a few more pulls.

[ErikRuud]

You have to watch it with some barrier coats, because if you apply it too thick, it will obscure fine detail because it will "fill in" those pits in the mold.  The Tron stick has that fine pebbled texture that I don't want to lose.  I use a spray called Ease Release 2300 that works pretty well- but I'll have to experiment

That is why I reccomended the Par-Film, you cannot even tell it is there.  In addition it is paintable and does not need to be cleaned off the finished part.  Of cousre painting is not an issue for Tron handles. As far as I know ease-release is si,ilar, but I'm not sure if it can be painted over.

[Grasshopper]

I probably wouldn't buy any Tron handles, at least not at the price that Tom was originally selling them for. They look cool but I'm just not into Tron.

However, if someone started manufacturing reproduction ball top handles with stainless steel shafts again then I'd definitely buy some.

The quality of the Wico handles is a bit hit and miss, and the chinese clones are even worse.

I know that Ultimarc and Groovygamegear are now selling ball top handles but Tom's were apparently very high quality indeed, and he offered other options such as transparent. I regret not buying some from him when they were available.

[dirt]

As for SW grips, you'd have to find an original to make those.

Those things are my Holy Grail.  I'm hoping to find someone willing to loan some out, I'd only need them for a week.  Probably once I get the Tron grips going someone will step forward.  I understand how no one would want to loan something valuable as gold to somebody they don't know from Adam, especially when I have nothing to offer in return except copies.

i have a set you can use. pm me your address and i'll get them to you. they dont have the outer covers but its better than nothing

dirt

[Stormy151]

dirt- SWEET!  Pm sent!

ErikRuud-  I'll have to look into this Par-Film stuff.  Do you know where I can order it?

[Brax]

Aparently, Tom, the man making the Tron reproduction handles, has decided to stop making them for personal reasons.  

Personal reasons?
His molds disintegrated after a few uses and the labour wasn't worth it.

If you're going for it then make a more permanent mold.

[Xphile]

Personal reasons?
His molds disintegrated after a few uses and the labour wasn't worth it.

If you're going for it then make a more permanent mold.

I was under the impression it was health reasons...

There was a post on r.g.v.a.c about why he wasn't doing *any* repro work anymore (and wasn't responding to emails and posts..), but damned if I kept it..:-(

maybe Peale remembers..<?>

[Xiaou2]

 Id like a set of handles too... but it has to be about 50$ or less.

 Id also like to see a Happs style push button (concave, but with the underside supports like the older leaf ones - so as not to be able to see directly to the switch), that is in the same translucent blue as the tron handles..  AND...  

   -  Happs Competition Bat handle
   -  Balltop For Wico 8ways
   -  DOT Spinner Knob  (tron red : )  

 A few colors selection like red, orange, blue, and green would be nice.

 I was just thinking... that if the plastics were tough enough,  they wouldnt need a metal shaft - instead, just a plastic one so the light could reach the tops... or... you could make a hollow shaft so an LED
could be placed inside the tubes..

  Please make a poll for these, as Im sure they would sell like hotcakes.  Who wouldnt want a matching lit up control panel?  ^_^

 

[RetroBorg]

Interesting timing, this topic.

I was planning on offering the blue and red, as well as triggers.

I know this would be a low demand request but any chance of doing two in green.

[ErikRuud]

The web-site for Price-Driscoll is:

http://www.price-driscoll.com/ultra_parfilms.htm

When you click on the "order" button, it will take you to another screen.  The par-films are in the middle of the list.  Click on the "Go to RFQ" tab and fill out the form to request a price quote.  More than likely they will send you a free can as a sample.  It would not hurt to mention that I referred you.

The Par-film is also available from a number of resin suppliers on the net, but I have not dealt with them.

[Stingray]

Wouldn't resin be too brittle for arcade controls? I'm only speaking from experience with resin Sci-Fi models, which are fairly fragile. This could possibly be a different type of resin altogether.

-S

[Stormy151]

Thanks for the info.

A matching control panel would be pretty cool- but I have to get the Tron grips figured out first!    Other colors are a possiblity though....

Stingray- Depends on the resin.  Sometimes if you use too much catalyst it can get brittle.  A friend of mine was using a clear casting epoxy that's tough as nails, which is what I was considering for the Tron sticks.  I was planning to thicken up certain areas inside the grip shells too, for reinforcement, and also as a "tell" so no one would mistake the copies for NOS grips.

But I know what you mean about the old sci-fi garage kits.  Especially that honey colored stuff. Bleah. :p

[andrewonawall]

Aparently, Tom, the man making the Tron reproduction handles, has decided to stop making them for personal reasons.  

Personal reasons?
His molds disintegrated after a few uses and the labour wasn't worth it.

If you're going for it then make a more permanent mold.

I don't know anything about the molds disintegrating, but was told that it was for complications in his personal life. Of which kind? I chose not to repeat it because it was irrelevant.

[ErikRuud]

That is correct, there are a large number of resins out there.  On top of that the Tron handles are relatively thick and should be stronger.  

Most resins are mixed from two parts that harden after mixing.  If the mixture is not exact, you will get different reults.  I have had slot car bodies come out as brittle as a potato chip, and I have had a few come out as rigid as a fruit roll up.