Wico longer handles and control panel

[IreM72]

Hi

I want to build a control panel and have have the longer handle version of the wico 4 way and 8 way joysticks (4" handles ). Will the extra length be enough if I just attach the wico's straight to 3/4" plywood without routing out a recess under the panel?

[NoOne=NBA=]

That will mostly depend on your taste.
I've always felt the standard ones are a bit long when mounted directly to a metal CP.

The longer handles add 1/2", and the CP subtracts 5/8" (assuming the original was 1/8" metal).
That will give you a 1/8" reduction to the handle length if you don't rout the panel.

Standard handles, with a 3/8" rout, will give you 1/4" reduction from what a metal panel would have.

[mrclean]

if using a metal panel 3.5'' shafts

if using a 3/4'' wood panel then go with the 4.0'' shafts

*although very tough to find NOS wico's in red 4''.

This is based off of personal prefrence.

[CheffoJeffo]

if using a metal panel 3.5'' shafts

What about Robotron ?

 

[mrclean]

the original robotron 2084 from williams uses a wood panel, so 4''.

[CheffoJeffo]

Ah, but the magic of the 4" handles is not the height of the ball above the panel, but rather the height of the ball above the pivot point in the stick base.

I can't speak for everybody, but I know that my hands don't touch the panel when I am playing Robotron, so the height above the panel doesn't come into play.