RetroBlast! - Ultimarc Mini-Pac Review

[RetroJames]

Alan did everything but crawl up inside Andy's encoder for this one -

http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/Ultimarc_Mini-Pac-08132006-01.html

[brophog]

I see retroblast still won't go the full nine for us........

[jcoleman]

Does Alan have the plans for his control panel available anywhere?  Better yet, did he purchase it?  I'm tired of swapping out panels on my Pac-Man conversion...PS when are you reviewing the Ultimate 360 already?!?!

[RetroJames]

Got word from Kevin the 360s have arrived, he is working on them now!

[KevSteele]

By "working on them" he means: I just got the 360's and am still in the "oogling" phase: i.e., "Ooo, cool...pretty..."

I'll be playing around with them  for a few days, then posting my impressions. Then comes the full-blown review.

Can't wait to try them with Robotron...

[alank2]

Does Alan have the plans for his control panel available anywhere?  Better yet, did he purchase it?  I'm tired of swapping out panels on my Pac-Man conversion...PS when are you reviewing the Ultimate 360 already?!?!

Hi,

I actually still have my word document template, you can download it here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~alank2/cp.doc

I started with a blank steel control panel from www.mikesarcade.com.  I don't think he stocks them, but he got me two of them as I screwed up the first one by cutting it upside down (I hope you don't make that mistake!).  Mike is a great guy and it may take him a few weeks to get you one because he has them made and then powder coated.  These are reproductions on mspac/galaga style CP's, so I would think they would work on a conversion.  You might ask him to be sure.

I then used some Greenlee (or is it Green Lee?) chassis punches to punch out nice clean holes in the steel.  You can get these off ebay pretty cheap and then resell them when you are done, that is why I did.  You drill a small hole in the steel to center the punch.  Then you hook both sides up and start cranking it with a ratchet until it cuts a nice clean hole.  A little oil will help it cut cleanly.  Drill the smaller hole at slow RPM with oil.

I covered the metal CP with some rough texture sticky vinyl.  It is fairily durable as long as you keep metal tools away from it.  I've got a couple nicks in it from being careless.  I simply stuck the vinyl all the way around it and then used a swiss army knife to cut downward into the metal holes to give a nice clean edge.  Buttons cover over the hole with overhang, but the trackball doesn't so you want to take your time with a nice sharp blade when cutting it so it will look good.

I got the bolts and hardware from Bob Roberts.

You might need to alter the doc file if your joystick has different mounting holes, or you can't get a Vortex spinner.

Let me know if you need more info or would like some closeup pictures.

Thanks,

Alan

P.S.  If you want your CP background to be black, I've got a bit of left over I'd be willing to ship to you if you pay for shipping.

[RetroJames]

The only thing I have to add is that my sig is better than Kevin's.  That is all. 

[KevSteele]

The only thing I have to add is that my sig is better than Kevin's.  That is all. 

Oh, sure, but whose graphics are those? And who's slogan is on the new BYOAC tokens? 

It's hard to get good help...

[RetroJames]

I'm supposed to help? That explains a great deal actually.

[Texasmame]

Alan did everything but crawl up inside Andy's encoder for this one -

http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/Ultimarc_Mini-Pac-08132006-01.html

Damn fine product.  The size is incredible!  Think a Kit-Kat, cut in half the short way.  Small!!  No problems with the install and the wiring harness is WELL WORTH the money.  One small question that Andy answered via email within 12 hours. 

BIG THUMBS UP!