Happ 3 vs 4.5" ball

[Elkor]

I am going to buy a trackball from happ for a new cab I am doing (my first!) and I see that almost all the trackballs that other people have used are 3" models.

I seem to remember trackballs being bigger than 3" when I was a kid (MC?) and I noticed that happ does have a 4.5" TB (that seems about right) and it's even cheaper! (well, it's sans wiring harness but as I will most likely use an optipac that should not be a big issue anyway.)  It looks like I may have to fab my own mounting plate as well.

Has anybody used this hardware?
were trackballs bigger?
will there ever be a mounting plate that fits?!?!?

tune in next time!  (or, preferably, reply with an answer!)

thanx

-C

[RacerX]

Trackball size varied by game.  For example, Missle Command was a big trackball (about 4 or 4.5 inches), while Centipede was about 3", or maybe even a little smaller.  I got the 3" because it seemed about right for most games.  I love Centipede, and I just couldn't bring myself to play that with a 4.5" trackball.

It's just a matter of personal preference.

[Billabong]

With the Happs 4":
The ball is seperate from the actual mechanism. You need to order both.
55-0226-00 is the 4 1/2" trackball "without ball" (need this)
Then pick one of these:
55-0300-00 is the red ball.
55-0300-02 is the blue ball.

They do have mounting plates here: http://www.happcontrols.com/trackballs/55110100.htm

Later,
Billabong

[Elkor]

With the Happs 4":
The ball is seperate from the actual mechanism. You need to order both.
55-0226-00 is the 4 1/2" trackball "without ball" (need this)
Then pick one of these:
55-0300-00 is the red ball.
55-0300-02 is the blue ball.

They do have mounting plates here: http://www.happcontrols.com/trackballs/55110100.htm

Later,
Billabong

Thanks for that!  The site is a bit misleading in the fact that the picture is the mech&ball and the links at the bottom lead you to believe that you can buy it (as a whole) with either a red, blue, or without any ball.  Did not see the 4.5" mounting plate on that list though, only 3", 3" highball and below.

-C

[Lilwolf]

I might be wrong here... but I dont' think any classic arcade (or any new ones I can think of) used the 4.5" trackball.  I think it's a new thing.

Centepede used the 2 1/4 and missle command used the 3" I'm pretty sure.

But if you can afford it, I'm sure you will love it.  I don't think it's really worth it since you could get multiple instead (ESPECIALLY if you go wico)

[RacerX]

I might be wrong here... but I dont' think any classic arcade (or any new ones I can think of) used the 4.5" trackball.

[kjc]

Actually Missile Command (upright) and Atari Football used a 4 1/2" trackball.  Millipede and Crystal Castles a 3" and Centipede a 2 1/4".  The cocktail versions and cabarets of Missile Command also used a 2 1/4".  Newer games like Golden Tee tend to use a 3" trackball.

Playing Missile Command with one of the smaller trackballs isn't quite the same but I imagine Centipede with the 4 1/2" isn't either.  I'll give it a try and let you know.  

Thanks, Lilwolf.

[ErikRuud]

I was playing Missile Command last night with my 3" Crayola Kids ball.  It seems pretty good to me.  

I also tried it with Atarti Football,  forgot how exhausting that game could be!