repro star wars handles...

[Flinkly]

i've been looking around at all the star wars yoke options available to me and i was beginning to wonder, does anyone do repro handles or how expensive would it be to do that?

[paigeoliver]

Well, there is a big difference between molded plastic and metal. I don't have any yokes anymore, but they might have been machined and not molded.

I have used both styles of handles, and the style shown on the repro prototype is technically a bit superior.

[Flinkly]

yeah, i was thinking about the metal thing too...also, after reading the thread about the gamecab yoke, it seems like look is one of the bigger worries in a look-alike star wars yoke, which is why i'm asking.

[Tailgunner]

The original yoke grips are die castings. To do a proper reproduction you'd need to have four mold sets machined at around $1500 to $2000 per set. From there it's a matter of how many you think you can sell to order enough to get a reasonable price on the castings.

[Lilwolf]

I think a set of good hard plastic would be a good option...

You probably will not sell enought to make it worth the initial 6k figure...

Is there any more expensive to make solutions with a cheaper initial setup?

[Tailgunner]

The grips are always the biggest stumbling block to doing an affordable repro yoke. Plastic reproductions are possible, though you still need some fairly expensive equipment to do them properly.

[Flinkly]

i guess to me the handles is where one should start when looking to make a repro yoke, since this is the only part you see, so it should be nice and at least close.  and as for people buying it, if you could recreate the handles, the mame community, as well as collectors, would come to get your handles since they would fullfill alot of different group's needs. 

also, i'm just bringing up this subject to talk it over with you guys, i'm not looking to enter the market with any repro handles any time soon.  and thanks for the opinions and input guys.

[Major Rock Hardy]

bump - I've been tossing around the idea of getting molds made from my SW yoke.  Anyone have ideas as to quantities or pricing for repro handle sets?

Rock

[Flinkly]

wow, i've grown up so much since then, at least in byoac maturity.  are you going to cast in metal?  you could do plastic, but it just wouldn't be the same for people who have used the real thing or who are looking for replacements.

as for any of your other questions, i don't know.

[Major Rock Hardy]

Yes I would plan to do them out of metal - someone here posted that they are cast aluminum, I believe.  I'm not sure - I would have guessed something else... If I do this I would plan to do them as close to the originals as possible - which should be, er, possible.  The question is, how practical.  I have a complete yoke, so I don't really need repro yoke handles.  I would be doing this for everyone who doesn't have a complete yoke and wants the authentic feel.

Clearly it would be ridiculous if my cost came out to be so high that it is still a better deal for people to buy a used yoke on ebay for $200.

So I suppose I'd need to make the triggers and thumb buttons as well?  Or are there sources for those?

[Flinkly]

triggers would be nice, but they are just plastic.  as for thump buttons, they are turned out of aluminum by a guy online.  their nice too.  i'd love to have some replacement handles for my yoke if they turned out nice and didn't cost more than 50 for a set...you might want to start a new thread though to get more people interested.  good luck.

[Kremmit]

I think the thumb button guy quit.  Arcadeshop may have some left.