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Modular controls panel discussion
NoOne=NBA=:
I'm still working on mine at the moment.
I opted for a little simpler approach than the one you are planning.
I layed out all my "must-have" panels, and started going nuts with the spacers etc...
I then started simplifying, and decided that I could do everything I wanted without a huge number of spacers.
My CP area is exactly 24" wide.
Using that area, I decided that I could do most of the modules 6" wide.
The trackball modules, one T-stik plus module and the Tron stick modules will be 12" wide.
That will let me do just about every game I can think of near-perfectly.
The modules necessary for it are:
(2) 2-button (Asteroids left side)
(2) 4-button (Asteroids right side/Star Trek buttons)
(1) 4-button diamond layout (Vanguard)
(2) T-stick Pluses (on 6" modules)
(1) T-stick Plus (on a 12" module to center perfectly for games like Pac-man/Donkey Kong)
(2) Top-fire Happs (needed for tank games, etc...)
(1) Repro Defender Stick w/Reverse Button (Can't do Defender justice without it)
(2) Tron Sticks (need two for games like Vindicators/Sarge)
(1) DOT Spinner
(1) Model 3 Spinner (need two spinners for Blasteroids)
(2) Trackballs
(2) 6" Spacers
I don't play fighters, but (2) 7-button panels would cover that as well.
As far as how I'm mounting them, I'm using Connecting Bolts to screwed into T-nuts to hold the modules down.
The screws have an allen-wrench head on them, and I bought a bit for my cordless screwdriver to make the swapover faster.
I'll post some pics after I get it to a more finished state.
Valence:
Here is my
Project thats modular
I use an L bracket in the front that slides in to hold them down.
I need something still for the back but I found these pushbutton lock that are almost flush.
paigeoliver:
Ok, I am going modular on my latest project.
Also, quick suggestion about yr track and field/spinner panel. I would suggest changing it to a dual 5 button layout to properly support Space Duel, and other 2 player vectors (also the dual 5 button layout would nicely support Stepmania in Pump mode).
I currently only have ONE panel completed (which is keyboard hack for now), but I am going to move over to a JAMMA fingerboard system for all of them. All panels are stock Defender sized panels, and are attached in the standard manner for a Defender.
Here are the for sure panels.
Defender panel. Completed. Slightly non-original. Has NOS Willis brand Defender overlay, very nice (but technically incorrect) 2-way, and all NOS illuminated leaf switch buttons.
Tac/Scan (Spinner) panel. I have FINALLY managed to get the darned spinner off the stupid panel it was on (only took me 8 months). I am going to attempt to remove the overlay as well so I can reuse it. Even without applying any heat it seems like it is going to peel off pretty easy, so I should be able to salvage it undamaged using a blowdrier.
2 player panel. Standard 2 player 6 button layout. Going to use half of my Road Fighter overlay for it (overlay is large enough to cover 2 panels). I may or may not use Wico sticks on this one. I prefer them, but I am out of them, and NOS ones have been getting harder and hard to find. I might just go with perfect 360s.
Trackball panel. Using my 3" Imperial PS2 trackball, and the other half of my Road Fighter overlay.
4-way panel. Using a Willis Q*Bert overlay and a used Q*Bert stick mounted in the standard manner, not in the Q*Bert manner. (at least I THINK it is a Q*Bert stick, it is 4-way, and its nonstandard center hole deally sure matches up with the overlay). I MIGHT possibly use a Happ's Universal in 4-way mode instead though, since those can easily be rotated 45 degrees for Q*Bert mode.
Asteroids panel. Using up another NOS Willis overlay for this one.
I am also mulling over a dual 49-way panel (I have a complete Arch Rivals panel that even fits my cabinet), a mechanical rotary panel (I have ONE, buy I am not sure if it actually works), a Baseball panel (I have a couple of those spring loaded analog baseball sticks), a 270 steering wheel panel, and a Stepmania panel.
I really want myself to care about Tron enough to do a Tron panel, but the fact is that I only played that game ONCE in the arcade, and maybe twice in Mame since then. It just doesn't grab me.
DougHillman:
Paige, sounds more like you're going with swappable panels. Modular is having seperate pieces for things like your buttons, sticks, etc and the assembling them in whatever order you need at the time. Here's a view of the seperate pieces I plan on having, along with the CP cutout which they will fit into. SO I can have all those different layouts without having to store a half dozen full sized panels. I only need to make room in the cab (or wherever) for the small seperate pieces that aren't being used.
Is anyone familiar with Dzus type 1/2 turn fasteners? Are they available in depths deep enough that they'd be usable on a CP?
Lilwolf:
btw, it think modular control panels are pretty cool
before you finalize your design... shouldn't you consider the COMBINATIONS of controls you have?
It should be pretty easy to swap... why would you have a spinner and trackball with a flightstick AND 7 buttons? What are you trying to take care of?
IE, you might have 4 modular plates... forget about different size spacers... or random locations for those spacers. Because hopefully you will be setting up your controls for the games... not tyring to come up with a bunch of generic solutions..
I liked someones approach (sorry forgot who?) who had a joystick with two buttons next to it... and then the next moduler had 4 on it. So you can have an 8way with 6 buttons or trackball with 4... ect... they where all the same size
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