Half a Control Panel

Having a taken a look around the different common control panel layouts (http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html) and feeling confused and overwhelmed, here's what I have decided upon for layout;

Although I might be going against convention I've decided on a left hand and a right hand control since although I'm right handed I prefer joystick control either left or right depending on the game - For most commodore games I'm used to right hand control, whereas Sega and Nintendo joyspads had directional control on the left, so it's a kind of best of both worlds.

I measured out the positions on the MDF by re-creating the lines shown in the diagram with a ruler and pencil.  I pre-drilled the holes with  a small wood drill bit.  Using a 28mm spade bit and a borrowed drill I have so far cut six button holes and one joystick hole.  It's kind of pain in backside job which takes more time than you expect.  I called it a day for tonight as the battery on the drill was low anyhow.  Due to the thickness of the wood the joysticks are shortened by quite  a bit but it's easier to mount them neatly under the control than it is above the control panel.  If it becomes an issue I'll simply add joystick shaft extenders.



Don't forget to subscribe and comment!

Joystick Testing

The goodies from Ultracabs arrived yesterday (Sat) so spent a bit of time playing around (testing, ahem) to make sure that everything works.  Once I had the correct wires connect to the correct switches everything was good.  Made use of an old box to experiment with layout, think I prefer joystick on the right, might build the can with one left, one right...the glass of red wine is for medicinal purposes of course.

The other bits and bobs like the keyboard,  LED strip and wheels also turned up, just need the flippin' MDF to show up now!

Don't forget to subscribe & comment!

More Kit Ordered!

Joysticks, Buttons and USB Controller

Have been unsure what colour buttons and joysticks to get to go with my Bobble Bubble theme, had thought of blue for one player and green for the other but most suppliers I could find of the Happ style buttons couldn't colour match the Joysticks, and I'm fussy like that :-)

In the end decided upon white for everything.  Next decision was whether to get normal buttons or illuminated LED ones.  In the end thought that LED one's would look cool for about five minutes and then get distracting / annoying when playing games (which is the whole point of this project!).

Checked out a few suppliers and Arcade World UK came highly recommended but when it came down to it Ultra Cabs came in about £15 cheaper.  May not be the same level of quality but hopefully will be good enough for my purposes.

For £43.99 they are supplying;

2 x White Ball Top Joystick

16 x White buttons

1 x Player 1 button in white

1 x Player 2 button in white

1 x USB adapter with cables

Placed the order on Wednesday night and this morning (Thursday) received a message to say they had been dispatched - good impressions so far!

Mini USB Keyboard and Mouse

In white from eBay for £10.99

50 x Carcass Screws

Supposedly suited for screwing into MDF without splitting the wood - we will see!

£1.95 from eBay

4 x Castors

In black from eBay for £9.99

Don't forget to subscribe & comment!