Crappy pics of my first stick build!

Square King · Post by **Square King** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:31 pm

Got it about 95% done...gotta attach the top and bottom as well as install the circuitboard and wire it up. Annnd paint touch up. It's Seimitsu LS-32 and PS-14-KN buttons from Lizard Lick (quick shipping!)

I'm trying to decide whether to keep the bubble top on the joystick or just go with the plain white:

vs.

And a shot from the back

I'm pretty excited! Turned out pretty good. It was a bitch drilling the holes for the buttons. I discovered it's impossible to find a metric drill bit anywhere. And plywood is hard to file.

In other news, I need a fucking GOOD camera. I'm going to say these are shots from my cell phone and not my cheap-ass Samsung. These pics actually make it look pretty shitty.

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:50 pm

Good Job, SK!

Got anymore details on the building of it? Like how you did cut the plywood & drill the holes.
What kind of paint did you use. Great face by the way.
What are the dimensions? Why only 3 buttons? Where are you getting the PCB? What kind of wiring will you use?

Tell me Damnit!!!

Im in the process of building my own & Im way interested in how you did this...

Square King · Post by **Square King** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:05 pm

doodude wrote:Good Job, SK!

Got anymore details on the building of it? Like how you did cut the plywood & drill the holes.
What kind of paint did you use. Great face by the way.
What are the dimensions? Why only 3 buttons? Where are you getting the PCB? What kind of wiring will you use?

Tell me Damnit!!!

Im in the process of building my own & Im way interested in how you did this...

Thanks! I used a Sega template from the Shoryuken forums for the buttons and I found the Ikki image and reversed it. For the wood, I came up with some measurements (in this case, 9.75" x 5.75" x 2.5" overall) and drew out the 6 pieces on a sheet of .75" plywood. I used a ruler and pencil to draw out the pieces. I cut them out with a jigsaw. For the holes, I got a 1" circular drill bit and then had to file out the rest with a circular file (1" is ~ 28mm and the buttons are 30mm. Needless to say, the circles for the buttons are not perfect

).

For paint, I used some automotive spray paint I found in the garage. I sprayed the graphic (a sticker printout from Kinko's, cut w/ an X-Acto knife) with 4-5 coats of Krylon crystal clear acrylic.

I went with three buttons because the majority of shmups I play require 2-3. For the odd 4 button shmup, I figured I could map it to buttons 2 & 3 simultaneously, but we'll see what happens.

The PCB is coming from across the pond from forumite mojo (his website's here > http://joystick.world3.net/)

I'm hungry.

Udderdude · Post by **Udderdude** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:12 pm

Very nice looking. I'd buy one if someone was actually making them for sale >_>;

Square King · Post by **Square King** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:25 pm

Udderdude wrote:Very nice looking. I'd buy one if someone was actually making them for sale >_>;

That could be arranged...

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:05 pm

SK you are an inspiration!

Can you post some pix of the inside as well & keep posting your progress as you finish it up.

There are several members trying to build their own sticks & it would be very helpful.

Good luck...

Square King · Post by **Square King** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:09 pm

doodude wrote:SK you are an inspiration!

Can you post some pix of the inside as well & keep posting your progress as you finish it up.

There are several members trying to build their own sticks & it would be very helpful.

Good luck...

Sure thing. I'll try to get some up later today. I'm moving back into my apartment and I might have access to a better camera, so it'll be worth the wait.

bitkid · Post by **bitkid** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:06 am

Cool. That's a good stick for a first, definitely better than the first one I made!

I follow the stick building threads over at SRK and I was wondering if people over here built their own sticks too. I build a Happ Competition stick for SF games and I am planning on building a Sanwa or Seimitsu 6-button stick next, also for fighters. But I have also been thinking about building a stick for shooters, certainly with Japanese parts.

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:34 pm

bitkid wrote:Cool. That's a good stick for a first, definitely better than the first one I made!

I follow the stick building threads over at SRK and I was wondering if people over here built their own sticks too. I build a Happ Competition stick for SF games and I am planning on building a Sanwa or Seimitsu 6-button stick next, also for fighters. But I have also been thinking about building a stick for shooters, certainly with Japanese parts.

I know there are a few folks interested in building their own sticks here yet they arent very vocal about it.

When you start building your new stick please post your progress as I for one would like to see it...

Post by **spadgy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:24 pm

doodude wrote:
bitkid wrote:Cool. That's a good stick for a first, definitely better than the first one I made!

I follow the stick building threads over at SRK and I was wondering if people over here built their own sticks too. I build a Happ Competition stick for SF games and I am planning on building a Sanwa or Seimitsu 6-button stick next, also for fighters. But I have also been thinking about building a stick for shooters, certainly with Japanese parts.
I know there are a few folks interested in building their own sticks here yet they arent very vocal about it.

When you start building your new stick please post your progress as I for one would like to see it...

Here's me vocalising! I'm gagging for any info. Between me and Doodude we've collected (I say We. Doodude's provided far more!) plenty of links to great info for first time stick builders like ourselves. Once it's all done, it's surely worth a thread with a first post listing them all. I'm sure there's already something like that here, but this could be far more up to date.

Aleanil · Post by **Aleanil** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:40 pm

Shoryuken is the place... seriously. They know more about stick building than any of us here have ever imagined. Paik4life still hangs around here, but he's on SRK more often (as an example of an experienced stick builder). It *would* be nice to have a thread with a shmup bent here, but most basic building tips have already been covered in WAY more detail over on SRK.

That said, a thread here on what parts and what tips for shmup specific sticks would be great. I know I agonized over whether to use a Sanwa or a Seimitsu stick for shmups, and ended up building two sticks (one with each). A discussion thread on the merits of one stick design over another, or the type of stick, or buttons, or whatever, would be nice. But for the basic stuff a stick builder's first reference ought to be shoryuken's tech forums.

Post by **spadgy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:03 pm

Aleanil wrote:ut for the basic stuff a stick builder's first reference ought to be shoryuken's tech forums.

Exactly where I've discovered a wealth of info - can't recommend it enough...

Sinfreealex · Post by **Sinfreealex** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:40 pm

Man, that thing looks really good. I like the bubble top and the buttons. Keep it up. Makes me think I need to add one more project to my already full list.

Square King · Post by **Square King** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:29 pm

Sinfreealex wrote:Man, that thing looks really good. I like the bubble top and the buttons. Keep it up. Makes me think I need to add one more project to my already full list.

Thanks for the kind words. And I agree with the above posters -- the shoryuken forum is chock fulla goodness.

Here are some betterish shots:

And how much I fail at anticipating terminals on the stick:

Closeup/blur of failure:

In retrospect, I wish I had scaled the pic to the actual size of the board. I made it slightly under for reasons unclear to me now. As soon as I find a paintbrush, I'm going to touch up the sides and then I'll glue/nail the top and bottom together. As for that terminal so close to the wall...failure. I'll figure something out.

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:03 pm

I agree that SRK is the #1 source for my stick info & education. All HAIL SRK!!!

Now, that thats outa the way...

Id still like to, as its been suggested, hear of other in house Shmupers efforts, mistakes, advice, successes, failures, near misses, tips, rants & raves.

It would be cool if those future builders, of which I consider myself one, would post this info along with pix of their progress from beginning to end & sort of let us all share in their building of these sticks to be.

After all, it takes a village to raise a joystick!

Sinfreealex · Post by **Sinfreealex** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:20 pm

I had forgotten all about SRK. What a great site!

Square King · Post by **Square King** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:36 pm

mojochan's pcb controller came in today...I wired the sucker up and fired up Perfect Cherry Blossom, Hitoga Happa and DDP in MAME.

Wow.

Seimitsu parts > ASCIIWare's Fighting Stick SN for the SNES. Really great stick response (I was expecting instant/at the slightest nudge, but it's still excellent) and the buttons are like butter. The maddest of mad props go to Paul (mojochan) for his help, knowledge and overall awesomeness. Once I get it completely ready for gaming, I'll take some gut shots.

Big Pockets · Post by **Big Pockets** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:38 pm

Nice stick. Do you have plans on making another one? It seems like once you make one you are destined to try and outdo yourself.

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:37 am

ASCIIWare's Fighting Stick SN for the SNES, huh!? Ive got one of those too & Ive always liked its control even if it is a bit small. But that just allows it to sit on my desk top without taking a lot of space.

And you can get them on ebay for next to nothing...

Thats still a great stick SK, good job!

Square King · Post by **Square King** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:39 am

Big Pockets wrote:Nice stick. Do you have plans on making another one? It seems like once you make one you are destined to try and outdo yourself.

Probably, but not for a while. This one's more than adequate for me at the moment.

Square King · Post by **Square King** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:39 am

doodude wrote:ASCIIWare's Fighting Stick SN for the SNES, huh!? Ive got one of those too & Ive always liked its control even if it is a bit small. But that just allows it to sit on my desk top without taking a lot of space.

And you can get them on ebay for next to nothing...

Thats still a great stick SK, good job!

It is a really good stick for the money. I snagged one on ebay on your recommendation.

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:50 am

Square King wrote:
doodude wrote:ASCIIWare's Fighting Stick SN for the SNES, huh!? Ive got one of those too & Ive always liked its control even if it is a bit small. But that just allows it to sit on my desk top without taking a lot of space.

And you can get them on ebay for next to nothing...

Thats still a great stick SK, good job!
It is a really good stick for the money. I snagged one on ebay on your recommendation.

Oh, were you the one that posted saying you bought that!? I remember, now...

Yep, Im thinking of getting a couple more & using one to build a mame stick now from your recommendations. Sorta ironic, dont cha think?

Was it easy to install? Solder?

Square King · Post by **Square King** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:09 am

doodude wrote:
Oh, were you the one that posted saying you bought that!? I remember, now...

Yep, Im thinking of getting a couple more & using one to build a mame stick now from your recommendations. Sorta ironic, dont cha think?

Was it easy to install? Solder?

There wasn't any soldering, actually. Just plug onto the terminals on the stick and buttons and you're golden. You could rip apart one of the ASCII sticks and probably fit new parts in there, but definitely measure it all out first. If I made another stick, I'd probably mod an existing case, not build one from scratch.

I'll post some updated pics in a few days.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:14 pm

Square King wrote:mojochan's pcb controller came in today...I wired the sucker up and fired up Perfect Cherry Blossom, Hitoga Happa and DDP in MAME.

Wow.

I'm so glad you said that, cos I am waiting for the same parts to arrive for my own stick mod

Square King wrote:The maddest of mad props go to Paul (mojochan) for his help, knowledge and overall awesomeness.

Glad to be of service sir! You have put me on to so many good shooters, I'm eternally grateful

t0yrobo · Post by **t0yrobo** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:50 am

How do you like it with the stick mounted a little lower than t normally would be? I've been planning a wood top stick similar to yours, but I was rethinking my plans after reading this on SRK

...referring to the standard stick mounting height. 23-25mm from bottom of the ball to top of the case. Seimitsu LS-32 sticks are ment to be mounted under a 1/8" thick piece of plexiglass or metal. For under mounting you should be using the LS-56 or a Sanwa JLF. The shafts are longer and will work better for a true arcade feel.

It doesn't seem like it'd make much of a difference though. The throw distance is still the same, the ball would just be a tiny bit lower.

RGB · Post by **RGB** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:07 am

It does make a difference in handling, there just not enough room on the shaft for your fingers, making it a bit uncomfortable. That's why there is a nice selection of sticks to choose from + various mounting plates.