Tron joystick handle molds

[Rhetro]

Hello!

I've been looking for Tron Joystick grip molds. I know that there some people out there that have made their own. However, I don't know who these people are.

there was one in particular by the name of Tom who was on the 1uparcade site, but I haven't heard anything from him, and I'm thinking that his link my no longer be in use.

I've checked e-bay as well, but they only come along once in a while.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

take care!

[pocketbikez]

you could try happcontrols.com. their trigger stick joysticks are the exact same as a tron handle but made in black. maybe talk to someone higher up in the company and they will tell you where they get them. then ask that manufacturer to sell you some molds or make some colored handles.

[Stormy151]

Workin' on 'em.

It'll be a couple months though.  The Happ grip is identical, but black- which is what I'm using for a master to make molds.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Don't forget translucent RED ones....hint, hint

[Bumblebounces]

you could try happcontrols.com. their trigger stick joysticks are the exact same as a tron handle but made in black. maybe talk to someone higher up in the company and they will tell you where they get them. then ask that manufacturer to sell you some molds or make some colored handles.

The guys at Happ weren't too helpful when I contacted them regarding getting some parts for my TRON stick.  I won an auction on Eaby for a TRON stick (actually, it was half TRON and half Satan's Hollow, red and blue -- and it had a light board inside it that was printed with GORF as the game it was out of) for about $40 but when I got it, the optical pickup portion at the bottom was hosed.  So I called Happ about oprdering some of the part numbers on their exploded diagram to convert it to microswitches.  The sales girl told me she wanted me to speak to a tech to be sure the parts would be compatible.  The guy I spoke with flat out denied that the joysticks were even similar much less compatible, parts wise.  I think they may have some kind of license agreement with Bally/Midway that they will not in anyway promote their stick as a replacment for a TRON/GORF/Satan's Hollow stick, for parts or full replacment.  I dunno if this is actually the case but he was sure in a hurry to get off the phone with me.  He nearly hung up on me.  Maybe the guy was just a jerk having a bad day.  Who knows.  Anyway, I called the sales girl back and ordered the parts anyway.  I managed to install them with a few slight alterations and it works absolutely perfectly.  I love it.  A TRON stick for $40 plus $20 in parts from Happ.

Also, the Happ unit is not an exact copy as the Happ version has a funky 15 degree forward bend in it.  The Bally/Midway unit has a straight pipe in it.  Since this thread was about the molds and the shape of the grip halves, it doesn't really effect anything but I thought I would share...

Cheers

Bumble

[Rhetro]

Thank you gentlemen!

Calling Happ was then next thing I was going to do. But I'm going to save myself the trouble.

I'll be keeping an eye out for when you guys may have some available. Aside from Red and  Blue, I also heard about flourescent green!?? Pretty cool under a black light.
Wow, the possiblilities are endless I suppose. But I'll settle on Blue for now, Tron style!

Are there any e-mails that I should jot down? I don't want to bother anyone unless they're ready to sell!

Anyway, Take it easy and thanks again for everyone's help!!

[NoOne=NBA=]

The forward bend is proper for any of the games that used thumb switches, notably Xenophobe (which is what Happ classifies their stick as).

Without that forward bend, it's harder (though not by any means impossible) to use the trigger and thumb switches simultaneously.

[Bumblebounces]

Actually, now that I think about it, I think I remember something about repros of TRON stick grips being made somewhere.  There was a guy that was talking about whether there would be enough intrest to place an order to have some made.  I know it wasn't here because I haven't been a member here very long and it was probably well over a year ago.  I used to lurk almost daily at alt.games.mame.  You might go over there and post about needing TRON grips.  One of the regs there may remember and be able to point you in the right direction.

Good luck

Bumble

[SirPeale]

It was a guy in RGVAC, not alt.games.mame

[Bumblebounces]

It was a guy in RGVAC, not alt.games.mame

But I've never been to RGVAC so it must have been at least mentioned in AGM.

Bumble

[SirPeale]

I'm sure it was.