Author Topic: Found: a good 4-way joystick for a wood CP (Read 5545 times)

wakerlet · « **on:** September 15, 2004, 08:18:56 am »

All,

about a month ago I ordered a trackball from Betson and while on the phone I asked the rep if he had any 4-way joysticks like the Happ Ms Pac-man/Galaga reunion stick. He told me that they had just received "approval" from Namco on their own version of this stick.

Then...he said that they also have a Qix/Space Invaders 4-way stick.

I said "What is the difference?"

He said "Oh the shaft is taller"

"How much taller?" I asked

"Not sure" he said.

Long story short, I said what the hell and ordered the "longer" joystick. Since my control panel was going to be wood, I knew the Pac/Galaga stick wouldn't work well.

I'm happy to say the 4-way Qix/Space Invaders stick from Betson works great. Mounted on my 3/4" CP, the ball sticks out about as far as the Pac/Galaga would out of a metal CP.

I'll take some pictures this weekend of the CP so you can see what I'm talking about.

This could be a great option for those looking for a dedicated 4-way in a wood CP.

-Todd

Bgnome · « **Reply #1 on:** September 15, 2004, 10:00:32 am »

how long is the shaft from top to bottom?

wakerlet · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2004, 10:04:51 am »

Quote from: Bgnome on September 15, 2004, 10:00:32 am

how long is the shaft from top to bottom?

I'll get the measurements for you this weekend. Would you like to know the measurements from the c-clip grove to the bottom of the ball top?

Bgnome · « **Reply #3 on:** September 15, 2004, 10:11:19 am »

i would appreciate that

i am trying to establish a height for the ball tops i am making. if you could also measure the height from the top of the wood too, it would be very helpful. is the base similar to the reunion sticks, more wico-like, or is it more like the happs super/comps style?

rampy · « **Reply #4 on:** September 15, 2004, 10:58:24 am »

oooh oooh post pictures, post pictures!

rampy

Goz · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2004, 12:29:56 am »

Very interested in the shaft legnth and pictures as well.

Sounds like a great find.

Bgnome · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2004, 12:04:28 pm »

please keep us posted!

Lilwolf · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2004, 12:21:38 pm »

I have a wico 4 way leaf. I like it. I've heard their microswitch 4ways stink.

but..

I would buy a Mspacman anniversary 4way and a mounting plate if I could do it over. I used one and it was GREAT! Definately a great joystick... but it DOES require a mounting plate.

wakerlet · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2004, 10:14:48 am »

Picture of top

wakerlet · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2004, 10:15:43 am »

Another of the top showing the height.

wakerlet · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2004, 10:17:03 am »

Picture of base. Looks very close to a super base but notice the diamond shape of the opening.

wakerlet · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2004, 03:35:20 pm »

I've had a few questions about the part # and price from Betson.

The part number is # 47-9075-07 and I paid $19.95 plus shipping for it.

-Todd

nathan118 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 22, 2004, 05:30:31 pm »

Quote from: wakerlet on September 21, 2004, 03:35:20 pm

I've had a few questions about the part # and price from Betson.

The part number is # 47-9075-07 and I paid $19.95 plus shipping for it.

-Todd

Just ordered one for myself, thanks Todd!

KrawDaddy · « **Reply #13 on:** September 22, 2004, 06:37:19 pm »

I just ordered TWO!

warreng · « **Reply #14 on:** October 07, 2004, 03:29:12 pm »

Is this a micro or leaf switch joystick? I don't have enough experience to be able to tell the difference from the pic that is posted. I havent seen either in person so I don't know what to look for.

-warren

Tommy Boy · « **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2004, 04:00:40 pm »

Based on wakerlet's photo of the underside, it is definitely a microswitch stick. I don't think anyone currently makes leaf switch sticks. Everything being sold today on ebay is either used or new old stock

Bgnome · « **Reply #16 on:** October 07, 2004, 05:13:18 pm »

Quote from: Tommy Boy on October 07, 2004, 04:00:40 pm

Based on wakerlet's photo of the underside, it is definitely a microswitch stick. I don't think anyone currently makes leaf switch sticks. Everything being sold today on ebay is either used or new old stock

you can buy chinese wico bootlegs here: http://www.centsibleamusements.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=415
as for quality, i believe there is a review on these posted somewhere..

Tommy Boy · « **Reply #17 on:** October 07, 2004, 07:41:33 pm »

Quote from: Bgnome on October 07, 2004, 05:13:18 pm

Quote from: Tommy Boy on October 07, 2004, 04:00:40 pm
Based on wakerlet's photo of the underside, it is definitely a microswitch stick. I don't think anyone currently makes leaf switch sticks. Everything being sold today on ebay is either used or new old stock

I stand corrected

you can buy chinese wico bootlegs here: http://www.centsibleamusements.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=415
as for quality, i believe there is a review on these posted somewhere..

CGRemakes · « **Reply #18 on:** November 18, 2004, 12:34:25 pm »

Does anyone have the phone number to call betson? I can never get their site to work (it is http://www.betson.com/ isn't it?). There hasn't been too much feedback on these joysticks. I've narrowed my choice down to an Ultimarc J-Stick and the Betson Qix/Space Invaders 4-way, but have never used either to be able to compare. I don't need the 8-way option, nor do I want to route to be able to mount it in a wood CP, so the Betson would be my first choice if it works well for most classic 4-way games.

neuromancer · « **Reply #19 on:** November 18, 2004, 12:54:40 pm »

Quote from: CGRemakes on November 18, 2004, 12:34:25 pm

Does anyone have the phone number to call betson? I can never get their site to work (it is http://www.betson.com/ isn't it

website sucks, but here's a link to their catalog:

www.betson.com/images/betson_parts_catalog_2004.pdf

Bob

paigeoliver · « **Reply #20 on:** November 18, 2004, 01:45:19 pm »

Quote from: Bgnome on October 07, 2004, 05:13:18 pm

Quote from: Tommy Boy on October 07, 2004, 04:00:40 pm
Based on wakerlet's photo of the underside, it is definitely a microswitch stick. I don't think anyone currently makes leaf switch sticks. Everything being sold today on ebay is either used or new old stock

you can buy chinese wico bootlegs here: http://www.centsibleamusements.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=415
as for quality, i believe there is a review on these posted somewhere..

NO NO NO NO NO. The quality of those is crap. They have crappy switches and they are a combination of the 4-way sticks and the 8-way sticks. Stay totally away from those. They reproed a stick that was a 4-way stick that someone stuck an 8-way actuator on, and then they used crummy leaf switches instead of the quality ones the originals had.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #21 on:** November 18, 2004, 01:46:02 pm »

Also, I have used the Qix stick, it has a different feel, longer throw from the longer handle.

CGRemakes · « **Reply #22 on:** November 18, 2004, 02:45:30 pm »

Quote from: paigeoliver on November 18, 2004, 01:46:02 pm

Also, I have used the Qix stick, it has a different feel, longer throw from the longer handle.

Do you have a preference between the Qix and the Ultimarc? Or does it depend on the game.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #23 on:** November 18, 2004, 03:46:18 pm »

I couldn't even BEGIN to compare the 2. I have only used the Qix on the Space Invaders/Qix machine, and my T-Stick plus is still sitting in a box of parts, having never actually been installed.

Between Qix and Ms. Pac, I say Ms. Pac.

Also, you can swap Happ Super handles into the Ms. Pac base, works perfectly, but it obviously has a longer throw from the longer handle. Good option if you want all your sticks to match. You MIGHT be able to order them from Happ that way if you asked.

spiffyshoes · « **Reply #24 on:** November 18, 2004, 05:07:54 pm »

Would it be possible to just order the longer shaft from the qix stick and use it one a Hap Ms.Pac?

Matt Berry · « **Reply #25 on:** November 18, 2004, 05:31:16 pm »

On the open market like on ebay, how can you tell an imitation chinese wico from a real NOS wico. Sure they will say NOS on them but what should you look for in the pictures, or if you have one already that is supposidely NOS how do you know?

paigeoliver · « **Reply #26 on:** November 18, 2004, 05:41:47 pm »

Quote from: spiffyshoes on November 18, 2004, 05:07:54 pm

Would it be possible to just order the longer shaft from the qix stick and use it one a Hap Ms.Pac?

They are already the same stick with different length shafts.

Happ doesn't actually make them, iL makes them.

spiffyshoes · « **Reply #27 on:** November 18, 2004, 05:45:41 pm »

Well for one most of them will say "Wico style joystick" rather than just "Wico joystick". Also make sure you can see the leaf switches on the joystick. If they are attached with screws like the one on centsibleamusements then they are not wico. The wico joystick's leaf switches should just clip on rather than have screws.

This one is an imitation.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=6131087525&rd=1

And this one would be an actuall wico.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=6129575462&rd=1

can you see the difference in how the leaf switches are attached?


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