Ball top joysticks

[Jack]

The ball top 4-way sticks I see at happ are for metal control panels.  Is there any place to buy them for a wood panel?  Or can I route my wood panel to make the ones from happ fit?

Thanks,
Jack

[Garvv]

I don't know about the happs ball tops, but I have a wico leaf-switch ball top mounted in my routed mdf control panel.  I used my 1 1/8" forstner bit and drilled numerous side-by-side holes to do the routing for it.

[Jack]

nt

[pyrobrit]

Check out Andy's site:

http://www.ultimarc.com

He has a new range of joysticks including ones with ball tops that can handle a thick wooden panel.

Regards

Nick.W

[BASSOFeeSH]

Yup.  I just ordered one along with a 56 input I-PAC!

[Jack]

Thanks alot guys.  The J-Stik is perfect.  I just ordered one along with a wiring kit.  

I recently finished my cab construction and am now on to the control panel.  I forsee MANY questions in my future  

[TaskMaster]

The problem with the ones for wood panels is the travel is long.  You need one for a metal panel so the travel is shorter.  I have a longer travel one on my CP (put it on a couple weeks ago) and don't like it.  I am going to get one for a metal panel and make it work.  The long travel sucks for pacman and whatnot, drives me crazy.

[CthulhuLuke]

Hey, when you guys recieve your j-Stik's can you please post what you think about them?  I'm curious to see how they feel for fighting games, because I used those same type of ball top joystick when I went to japan in the arcade, and they worked really well, so I want to see if I should order a pair of those J-Stiks or not.
 -thanx a lot
   -CthulhuLuke

[1UP]

Hey, it said that the Jstick had 2 adjustable settings for length of travel.  Have you tried these, and do they improve things any?

Lookit those rotating restrictors...  

[hyiu]

Hi All:

I also saw the J-stik yesterday and am very interested in it also.... So, I send Andy an email and asked some details... and he is very quick in response... I'm posting the email below since it seems like some people are also interested in the J-stik...when you guys have tested the J-stik, can you post some feedback ??

thanks,

- Henry.


Hi Andy:

I visited your website from a link from BYOAC and I'm interested in your joystick products.

I'm interested in the J-Stik (Japanese) Ball-Top but I would like to know more details about it.
Can you tell me how long is the shaft (the stick itself) ??

70mm to the top of the ball.

How about the screw distance in the 4 corner holes ??

Same as Happ super, which you can see a drawing of on their site.

Is there a spec somewhere on the web where I can read from ?? Is it mainly for metal control panel ??

All sticks are made for wood panels. The correct way to mount these is to recess the front plate into the top of the panel and use an overlay with a single 10-15mm hole. Many people don't use an overlay though and mount the stick under the panel. This means the panel can't be too thick though, and the large plastic washer is left floating on top if it's fitted.

(because I'll probably use 3/4" oak wood for my cabinet... I would like the stick to come out more....)
also, how big do I need to drill the center hole ?? These are 8 way only joysticks, right ??

They are 4-8 way.

And for the ones above, (the Thumb candy ones and the T-Stik (Toggle-switch
stick) which are 4 way / 8 way interchangable), do they have the same mounting spec

The T-stik is non-standard mounting. I'll try to get a diagram of this done.
The E-stik is single hole 27mm mounting.

Hope this answers.

Andy

Thank you,

- Henry.

[Jason_]

I totally agree with the comments about long throw joysticks. This is an important issue that rarely seems to be discussed.

I haven't used the J-Stiks. However I have bought some Sega joysticks from Suzo (UK) and from the pictures they appear to have a lot in common with the J-Sticks. The joysticks I have are the ones used in the Sega Virtua cabinets. The shaft length is designed for metal mounting unlike the J-Sticks. However the Sega joysticks come with metal brackets that enable them to be embedded about 1/2 inch into the underside of a panel. This means they should be wood mountable.

Externally the Sega joysticks look identical to traditional early eighties ball top sticks. However they definitely don't feel traditional, the throw is too long, and the spring is fairly weak. I think they'll be o.k. for Pacman however the long throw means they probably won't work well with very fast games like Defender. Having said that they are very well made and I'm sure they'll work well with modern games. But if you want to play the early games you're probably better off looking elsewhere.

Incidentally I had a chance to try the T-Stik at a trade fair a few months ago and was very impressed. I think this joystick would be a better bet if you are interested in playing early games. If only it was available with a ball top.....

[sam]

>But if you want to play the early games you're probably better off looking elsewhere.

I know this has been brought up before, but there really isn't anywhere else...

I've been looking for a wood mountable 4 way balltop for a while now. Video connect is out. Wico doesn't make them anymore. None on ebay. No responses to posts on usenet.

I was hoping Andy's were the answer. But this throw issue could be a problem.

Waiting to here people's experiences...

[BASSOFeeSH]

Well, I should have mine by the time I get back from a work-related trip next saturday....I'll let you all know by then.

[Jason_]

>But if you want to play the early games you're probably better off looking elsewhere.

I know this has been brought up before, but there really isn't anywhere else...

It is a problem. Perhaps you could buy a Wico 8 way joystick (they are still available from Video Connection, unfortunately only in blue and black), and then make your own restrictor plate.

[k-spiff]

I think these look nice myself.. as I'm looking for a ball-top with short travel (4-way for Pac-Man, etc., and maybe a 2-way as well for perfect Galaga, Cosmo Gang the Video, etc.):

http://www.arcadeshop.com/parts.htm#Joysticks

Referring to the 4-way ball-top and 2-way ball-top joys.. price isn't too bad, either, considering they're more of a specialty item.. if only Oscar would put out the 2-way restrictor plates now.. these look to be about the right size.

k-spiff

[Andy Warne]

Actually the travel of the J-sticks is less than the Happ Super, but this is due to the stick being shorter. The angle of movement is exactly the same. The switch-travel of the J-stik is completely adjustable owing to the long switch actuators which can be bent. The Happ Super is fixed.