Planning a control panel, help needed^^

[starplayer]

Hello there.
Some time ago, I had the "original" ideia of building two control panels, so that me and my girlfriend could play arcade games. She never played them in the arcades, so I though it was a good ideia. As it was, I searched on the Internet for instructions and such, and immediately bumped on this forum, which I have been reading for quite some time now. I hope you help, and I'm sure the answers to these questions have already been answered somewhere, but believe me I already searched for them^^ So...:
1-Anybody knows any European sites that sell Arcade parts? I know Suzo's one, www.arcadeshop.de, and ultimarc, but none of them had great variety of parts and such, and it's always good to be aware of more sites.
2-There's nothing wrong with response time about gamepads soldered to the buttons, right?
3-From what I've understand, pressing a leaf switch is like pressing something soft, like a pillow or such . Am I right?
Hope you help me

[psychotech]

Well, hello.

1. Yes - http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/arcadeparts.htm
2. Right.
3. Yes, like your girl's nipple when I'm not around... 

Anyway, all  the best and have fun

[starplayer]

Well, hello.

1. Yes - http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/arcadeparts.htm
2. Right.
3. Yes, like your girl's nipple when I'm not around... 

Anyway, all  the best and have fun

lol, that wasn't funny
Thanks, but that site has only happ pushbuttons (except for the japanese ones, which I don't want), that, from what I've read, aren't the better option.
Anyone knows more sites?


BTW, what does the HQ in the name means here?:
http://www.arcadeshop.de/Action-Buttons-Pushbutton-HQ-red_257.html
Do you guys think the plastic part is anything good?

[weisshaupt]

1-Anybody knows any European sites that sell Arcade parts? I know Suzo's one, www.arcadeshop.de, and ultimarc, but none of them had great variety of parts and such, and it's always good to be aware of more sites.
2-There's nothing wrong with response time about gamepads soldered to the buttons, right?
3-From what I've understand, pressing a leaf switch is like pressing something soft, like a pillow or such . Am I right?
Hope you help me

What sort of Buttons are you looking for? I have never had any problem with my Happs. I have since bought lighted buttons from GroovyGameGear (well worth the shipping cost, even to Europe) which are also plastic and work just fine...

I would buy the parts from the person that has the one you want. I bought my IPAC4 from Andy and shipped it across the ocean so I could have the number of inputs I wanted.. bought electirc ICE buttons From GGG because I like them and GGG is the one that sells them and so on...

 Andy Warne  has a great selection of parts now (I bought an original IPAC fromhim back when) and offers the MUST HAVE joystick, so I am wondeirng what you are looking for that you are not finding?

I am not sure the leaf switches have a whole lot to deal with the feel. They have slightly less resistance, but most of the resistence in the button is provided by the spring anyway... I think the major improvment with leaf switches is they are largely silent. Microswitches make a very distinctive click.

Why are you using game pads?  Sure they will work, but getting a Keywiz or IPAC sure is a lot less work...

[starplayer]

1-Anybody knows any European sites that sell Arcade parts? I know Suzo's one, www.arcadeshop.de, and ultimarc, but none of them had great variety of parts and such, and it's always good to be aware of more sites.
2-There's nothing wrong with response time about gamepads soldered to the buttons, right?
3-From what I've understand, pressing a leaf switch is like pressing something soft, like a pillow or such . Am I right?
Hope you help me

What sort of Buttons are you looking for? I have never had any problem with my Happs. I have since bought lighted buttons from GroovyGameGear (well worth the shipping cost, even to Europe) which are also plastic and work just fine...

I would buy the parts from the person that has the one you want. I bought my IPAC4 from Andy and shipped it across the ocean so I could have the number of inputs I wanted.. bought electirc ICE buttons From GGG because I like them and GGG is the one that sells them and so on...

 Andy Warne  has a great selection of parts now (I bought an original IPAC fromhim back when) and offers the MUST HAVE joystick, so I am wondeirng what you are looking for that you are not finding?

I am not sure the leaf switches have a whole lot to deal with the feel. They have slightly less resistance, but most of the resistence in the button is provided by the spring anyway... I think the major improvment with leaf switches is they are largely silent. Microswitches make a very distinctive click.

Why are you using game pads?  Sure they will work, but getting a Keywiz or IPAC sure is a lot less work...

Yeah, but I really can't order overseas, as the customs here in Portugal are very "mean". And by mean i'm saying very nasty. Very. But I guess you're right, the sites I have are more than enough. Guess I was being picky.
I'm using gamepads since they are the cheapest option to me, and since then I can connect them to various console, if I feel like it (with converters). I really don't mind the extra work.

I'm thinking about ordering J-stick and the pushbuttons with cherry microswitches from Ultimarc. They're okay, right?
Thanks

[weisshaupt]

The U360s seem to be the joystick of choice at the moment, as they can be programmed to deal with analog, 4 way, 8 way, 4 way rotated, 49 way etc etc ... Use it with the right frontend and it will all happen automagically. Oh yeah, you pay for it too :>)

I like Andy's E-sticks too, as toy can rotate between 8 and 4 way just by lifintg up on the joystick ..  Bottom line, easy  4 way to 8 way conversion is nice , as you wil do it a lot.  I have a modual panel, so i pop the panel out, rotate the switch and put it back when I want to change, but if you have a fixed panel, this is less fun.

J-sticks will be fine as well. All depends on what you want and how much you are willing to spend $$$

It seems that a little extra given to the right person at customs would make them less nasty, if you really wanted something from overseas -- its just a  cost of doing business in  some places.. (or find someone in Spain who will handle it for you and take a little drive etc..) ..
 

[_) (V) (-)]

I got a bunch of used leaf switches and buttons if you want em.
Might have to send some happy pills for your posties though.

[starplayer]

The U360s seem to be the joystick of choice at the moment, as they can be programmed to deal with analog, 4 way, 8 way, 4 way rotated, 49 way etc etc ... Use it with the right frontend and it will all happen automagically. Oh yeah, you pay for it too :>)

I like Andy's E-sticks too, as toy can rotate between 8 and 4 way just by lifintg up on the joystick ..  Bottom line, easy  4 way to 8 way conversion is nice , as you wil do it a lot.  I have a modual panel, so i pop the panel out, rotate the switch and put it back when I want to change, but if you have a fixed panel, this is less fun.

J-sticks will be fine as well. All depends on what you want and how much you are willing to spend $$$

It seems that a little extra given to the right person at customs would make them less nasty, if you really wanted something from overseas -- its just a  cost of doing business in  some places.. (or find someone in Spain who will handle it for you and take a little drive etc..) ..
 

Thanks for the help, but you bet that's too expensive for me. Maybe later I'll buy those sticks. For now I'll stick with the j-stick and buttons from ultimarc .
Yes, that should work, but I don't kn ow anyone on spain nor can I go to lisbon to do that "tricks" 

I got a bunch of used leaf switches and buttons if you want em.
Might have to send some happy pills for your posties though.

Thank you, but importing from overseas is something really "risky" here . Thanks anyway.