Short Joysticks for a Galaxian Sitdown

[kayoteq]

Okay, I'm recovering a Galaxian cocktail from a Trivia whiz conversion, designed my own new overlay and everything..
(that's just a paper prototype to check my layout.. only off a bit)

but there's no room under there for a standard wico/happ joystick!;
 in fact, I'm going to have to re-order some buttons because the ones I have are too tall.. agg!

Fortunately, my purchases along with the cabinet included a box of varied controllers, and I studied the designs,
and with a few washers spacers and springs..I put together this: (the green one)



I know,the acutator thingy is upside down, just figured it out taking the pictures

So far in theory this will work, a bit stiff, but I can move it and it seems to trigger the switches decently..

once I mount it on the panel somehow. I have two of these short joystick shafts, so it might work out.

The alternative is opening up the area below the cp to fit the standard controller, but that would be tricky to pull off and look right.

Anyone know of a shallow joystick that's kinda made for this purpose?
I've looked at the nintendo ones, but can't really be sure of it. looks a bit too tall. there's not much room under there!
If anyone has a nintendo control out and can compare it height-wise to the standard happ.. much appreciated.



So.. keep going with this? next step is making a plate and mounting points on the metal CP,
and I don't want it to have even _more_ holes in it than it already has ..  Then do it again for the other side.
Teh only physical mod other than the holes to hold the joystick in is shaving off the original toggle controller shaft for the galaxian cp..

Purists may scream, but it'a already mangled from the 5 extra holes they put in for the triva whiz. Why not put in a L-R control like the galaxian? well, I'm putting in more than Galaga in the thing, I just like the game so it's the theme for this side anyway.

[MrMojoZ]

Top mount a Sanwa JLF?

[kayoteq]

Top mount a Sanwa JLF?

Good call! that's thing looks like a match for the size..  I think, though, I may use some scrap metal pieces and finish up this 'micro' stick and see how playable it is. I kinda enjoy making something weird out of spare parts.. but if ain't playable, it defeats the point,  especially (shudder) if I ever decide to sell this thing..

[kowal]

galaxian:
players 2
nplayers 2P alt
controls 2 way joystick
buttons 1
coin slots 2

LS32 is shortest 

[kayoteq]

Thanks for the tip on that too; That 32-01 looks tempting, but not quite arcadeish enough without spade connectors..

The ideal finished product will look like some lost 1980's transition version between Galaxian and Galaga.. As if for some reason they'd  put two buttons, maybe some separate firing for the galaga ships.. ?

It's kind of odd these control panels.. they each have the OEM P1 P2 small holes, I guess they used the same panels.
Annoying though that they hacked 1/4 inch of wood out to make room for those TW buttons. but it's still tight in there.
I could always recreate the original galaxian paddle, but that would make pac-man a bit more challenging.

[zorg]

Galaxian cocktail does not use joysticks

it uses something like the folowing picture (thoose are for Space Invader cocktail)

see also the pic

[kayoteq]

Galaxian cocktail does not use joysticks
I know.. That's why I'm having such trouble fitting joysticks into the control panel.. But this will be resolved shortly.

[Level42]

And another classic gets hurt.....

[csa3d]

That Bastard!
-csa

[zorg]

thoose ones will fit without any problem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Galaxian-Cocktail-Joystick-Set-NOS_W0QQitemZ350017100403QQihZ022QQcategoryZ13718QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

galaxian control panel is designed to host them.

[kayoteq]

And another classic gets hurt.....

It was already 'hurt'. I'm recovering it.  Some things are lost to the conversion, but a re-conversion back to a faux  jamma Galaxian is better than nothing..
that was the first game run through the system.  a bit different than the original, but original panels can always be put in place of my new panels.


Here's what I ended up doing on this: 2 rebuilt wico leafswitch joysticks, mounted directly to the metal plate,
with molded plastic overlays.. metal bending plates+heatgun+patience= custom molded panel covers that look like they're supposed to be there.
All designed so it goes back together exactly like the orignal panels, no modifications to the cabinet that weren't already there from the Trivia Whiz mod.
I have the white panels that are missing in the pictures.. this was just an initial 'testing install'.


Cabinet stays original, and the original panels are otherwise still original other than the button holes.
and the 4 small screw holes to mount the wicos to the panels. big mess o' technology, but it fits, and is playable.
just need a fresh set of centering grommets.



Still haven't re-arranged these to a neater formation..

Player 2..


And with all the bits set together (still need a glass top)


contemplating getting a custom set of overlays printed to put on the plasitc part. That, and a better set of start buttons.