Anyone familiar with an original Zaxxon trigger stick?

[spidermonkey]

I currently have an 8-way heavy duty trigger stick from Happ on my cp. After numerous failed attempts of trying to aquire the translucent blue tron trigger stick shell to replace my black one, I have all but given up on this stick. The stick is too sensitive (totaly different feel than the original leaf switch Tron stick) It looks  like a Tron stick but is far from it. Anyway I have a chance to get a trigger stick from an original Zaxxon machine The guy doesn't have pictures of the stick nor does he know anything about joysticks. His late father was a game owner/operator and he is cleaning house and the only thing left is a supposedly mint Zaxxon control panel. Has anyone had any experience with Zaxxon triggersticks? They seem to be completely overshadowed by Tron sticks as far as popularity. I don't think I've ever heard a single mention about these sticks on this website. Did the stick use leaf switches? Was the stick a restricted 8-way or was it just a 4-way turned on a 45 degree angle like Q-bert? How do you think it would play with Tron? I know I know, its not a kickass glowing blue Tron stick but it is an authentic  triggerstick from an 80's classic and just might replace my lousy Happ/Tron wannabe stick if I decide to take a chance and buy it. As you all know Zaxxon was a 3D angle game like Congo Bongo ect... and I just don't know if it was some kind of oddball design for controlling a 3D platform or its just a standard 4/8 way stick that would work with most games that required a triggerstick. Anybody have any ideas?

[Carsten Carlos]

I only know it from photos in a book unfortunately - what I sure now,
it's 8way and there is a LED on the top which lightens up each time you shoot. Ever wonder if anyone would notice this during gameplay? But cool, though not emulated in MAME. This would at least a purpose for the third keyboard-LED!  

There is also a photo at KLOV, but I'm not sure if this is the original stick there, I just remember it different. I'm currently at work, so I can't get the book to have a look now.

[Tiger-Heli]

Was the stick a restricted 8-way or was it just a 4-way turned on a 45 degree angle like Q-bert? How do you think it would play with Tron?

Sorry for the late reply. . .

I'm just making some educated guesses based on playing the game a few times in the arcades.  The stick was not on a 45-degree angle.  The way the game was set up, there was no reason to keep you from going forward and left at the same time, so I would expect 8-way rather than 4-way operation.  Based on it's age, I would think leaf switches are more likely, but that's just a guess.  

As far as tron, I would expect it to work for the 8-way portions of the game and maybe to have problems on the 4-way light cycle parts.  You could maybe modify the actuator or you could use Oscar's restrictor plates for this part.  Just guessing here also, though.

FWIW!!!