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Need control suggestions to match certain games

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nick3092:

--- Quote from: YllabianSpaceGuppy on June 18, 2011, 10:57:05 pm ---As far as the joysticks go, I think I want to try out the leaf switch sticks available at GGG. I believe they haven't been available for very long and I've not had much luck finding posts comparing them to the older leaf sticks. Can anyone provide feedback or links to reviews?

--- End quote ---

I bought the LeafPro with the 4-way restrictor.  I can't really give you a comparison to original/older sticks, as it's been many years since I have played a machine with them.  But I can tell you it has a nice short throw and the 4-way restrictor rolls nicely.


--- Quote from: YllabianSpaceGuppy on June 18, 2011, 10:57:05 pm ---If it's possible to get an original Williams 2 way though, I would like to. Can anyone point me to somewhere where I could buy one?

--- End quote ---

If you don't mind it being a repro vs. an original, Arcade Shop sells these:

http://www.arcadeshop.de/Joysticks-2-Way-Williams-Reprostick_1034.html

YllabianSpaceGuppy:
scofthe7seas:

You must have missed my stated intention of creating a modular cp. The smell of a frankenpanel turns my stomach!

nick3092:

Thanks for the feedback on the LeafPro. I think I'm going to give them a try. They certainly won't break the bank either.

I definitely don't mind a repro Williams 2 way. My only sticking point on that stick is price. Google is telling me that 49.95 euros is equal to $71.50, and that's before shipping! If I can't find anything for under $50 or so, I may try a homebrew approach first. Thank you for the link.

Paul:

I've found the thread on your modular cp (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=68892.0). Did you ever get around to creating the documentation site you described there? I would like some more information on your design. I'm new to unistrut. I gather that it is some kind of metal channel that you can fit nuts into and slide them back and forth? Then you have to line your bolts up and screw them in? The first modular design I saw was Doc's (http://www.beersmith.com/mame/index.htm), which is very cool, but I'm not totally sold on it. I've also found this one (http://members.cox.net/mikesmodularmame/) which is the same but with the addition of hook & eye latches (not going there). I also saw a dovetail attachment idea in a thread here that was interesting but I don't think it's workable. Finally, I've seen velcro, which I don't like. Your attachment idea is the best I've seen so far IMO, but like I said, I don't fully understand yet. I'll be making a trip to Home Depot/Lowe's to try to examine the parts first hand. I would like the attachment process to be even simpler than screwing it down (with a motorized tool, of course!) but could live with it. I'm not going to be having large groups of people over insisting that I immediately swap controls every five minutes! I'm a programmer by trade and I'm searching for the "elegant" solution ;) I had an idea for using butterfly latches (typically seen on instrument cases, they just use a half turn to lock down) but they aren't mounted on perpendicular surfaces so I don't really think they would work out. Would you mind describing your system again (as if you were talking to a 3 year old)? Thanks!

Paul Olson:

--- Quote from: YllabianSpaceGuppy on June 19, 2011, 12:14:58 am ---scofthe7seas:

You must have missed my stated intention of creating a modular cp. The smell of a frankenpanel turns my stomach!

nick3092:

Thanks for the feedback on the LeafPro. I think I'm going to give them a try. They certainly won't break the bank either.

I definitely don't mind a repro Williams 2 way. My only sticking point on that stick is price. Google is telling me that 49.95 euros is equal to $71.50, and that's before shipping! If I can't find anything for under $50 or so, I may try a homebrew approach first. Thank you for the link.

Paul:

I've found the thread on your modular cp (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=68892.0). Did you ever get around to creating the documentation site you described there? I would like some more information on your design. I'm new to unistrut. I gather that it is some kind of metal channel that you can fit nuts into and slide them back and forth? Then you have to line your bolts up and screw them in? The first modular design I saw was Doc's (http://www.beersmith.com/mame/index.htm), which is very cool, but I'm not totally sold on it. I've also found this one (http://members.cox.net/mikesmodularmame/) which is the same but with the addition of hook & eye latches (not going there). I also saw a dovetail attachment idea in a thread here that was interesting but I don't think it's workable. Finally, I've seen velcro, which I don't like. Your attachment idea is the best I've seen so far IMO, but like I said, I don't fully understand yet. I'll be making a trip to Home Depot/Lowe's to try to examine the parts first hand. I would like the attachment process to be even simpler than screwing it down (with a motorized tool, of course!) but could live with it. I'm not going to be having large groups of people over insisting that I immediately swap controls every five minutes! I'm a programmer by trade and I'm searching for the "elegant" solution ;) I had an idea for using butterfly latches (typically seen on instrument cases, they just use a half turn to lock down) but they aren't mounted on perpendicular surfaces so I don't really think they would work out. Would you mind describing your system again (as if you were talking to a 3 year old)? Thanks!

--- End quote ---

I was looking for an elegant solution as well, but MDF is incredibly weak on the ends. It is the paper on top that gives it good strength, but it is definitely not an all-purpose material. I tried a lot of different locking mechanisms, but if you don't want to use screws from the top, you will run into the weakness of the inner material (sawdust and glue). I didn't want the expense of metal panels, and I wanted the panels to be really flat. MDF is the only wood that I know of that stays flat all of the time. Even plywood can warp a bit. I finally just went with bolts through the top because there was no cost effective alternative.

If you have any questions, shoot me a PM. I can take some video to show you how it all works. It is pretty simple, but the build has to be pretty precise. The unistrut was the closest commercial product to the design I came up with...and it is cheap, which was the main reason for using it instead of trying to fab something. It has nuts that slide in the track when you push down on them, but hold position otherwise. I just put enough of them in there so they main panel configurations bolt down without having to adjust anything. They can be moved if needed though, so there is a lot of versatility. Again, the cost to performance ratio is high. I have been using it for probably 5 years or more, and it is all still functional. One panel is ugly now because I dropped it an it dinged up the corner, but they are all otherwise still looking pretty good. I have a whole stack of blank panels, but I haven't put any together in years. The arcade in the garage takes up way too much time.

IF you want to go with metal panels, search for telengard's thread. His is basically the same, but he used rack panels instead of wood. Out of my budget for the amount of panels I want to have.

I agree on the joysticks to a point. I still recommend the wicos though. It sounds like all you really played were the old games, and I think you will notice the difference. I tried a lot of sticks before listening to everyone about the wicos. They were right.

He might still have one of the Williams sticks. I bought 2 of these: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=111354.msg1191916#msg1191916, and they are NOS and look great. They are going to be installed on my Moon Patrol and Defender when the overlays show up. I have used non NOS versions of these sticks on the MAME cab and they are great. I think it is worth the cash to buy NOS though. They should last you forever under home use.

The Ikari sticks show up on here, KLOV, and eBay. I even had mine up for sale for a while when I needed cash, but they didn't sell for $50. I am keeping them now though since the money crunch is over.

scofthe7seas:
Telengard has a pretty sweet modular control panel. I think his panels are made of aluminum. It looks like madness to me, but a nice sort of madness.

http://home.comcast.net/~bsturk/mame/controls.html

nick3092:

--- Quote from: YllabianSpaceGuppy on June 19, 2011, 12:14:58 am ---The first modular design I saw was Doc's (http://www.beersmith.com/mame/index.htm), which is very cool, but I'm not totally sold on it.

--- End quote ---

I built mine based on Doc's design, but instead of trying to drill holes and line up the dowel pins, I just used industrial strength Velcro.  It works really well.  If your interested, I can take some pics or video for you.

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