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A new project of 360 TwinSticks *NOW COMPLETE*

Posted: 14 Jan 2011, 04:16
by Fredo
Yup, as I will soon recieve my Virtual On 4 force copy (I JUST CAN'T WAIT X3) I will definitely need a second pair of twinstick, just in case I'd play with a partner.

So here is what I'd like to do:

1) As I do no longer play VOOT on dreamcast, I'd get rid of my external boxes system and make my TwinStick fully autonomous on X360 with an Xbox Guide button and a Headset jack.

2) I would like to buy a Saturn TwinStick, so I can transfer some parts to the Dreamcast on and make it look better (the DC TS would be my Main TwinStick)

3) My Dreamcast TwinStick would have black handles, red buttons and triggers (from the Saturn TS), a yellow START button, and the case painted in black. I will keep the grey faceplate and maybe the grey dustwashers. (looks awesome in my head)

4) All pieces taken from the DC Twin Stick would go to the Saturn TwinStick, wich will be plugged using a PS360 PCB, no need for a headset jack, just drilling holes for a START and Xbox Guide Buttons.

I just need a Saturn Twin Stick and a few spare parts to start.

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 14 Jan 2011, 14:14
by MentholMoose
Good luck, I can't wait to see the result!!

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 16 Jan 2011, 06:36
by Fredo
I've just ordered my Saturn TwinStick for around 90€

Here are some previews I quickly made with Paint:
Image

I would like to make the TRULY BAD-ASS one.
If I belive the Half-Bad-ass one is good enough, and would be too risky to paint the case, I'll keep it.
RNA and DNA look great, but would imply buying even more TwinSticks xD
the venom is pretty cool too, but I would not do it.

Feel free to use this if you feel like changing your TS colours.

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 16 Jan 2011, 11:29
by Testament/Seven7
This is just personal opinion, but i think "trully bad ass" would look better if instead of painted silver, it had some kind of mirror plate.

I have no idea how you'd go about doing that though.....

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 16 Jan 2011, 11:39
by Fredo
Yup, I see what you mean. Something a bit like that:
Image

Interesting idea, I hadn't thought about that. It would not be too hard to paint the faceplat in silver grey.
I may take this in consideration, making it SUPER BAD ASS :lol:

Thanks !

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 16 Jan 2011, 20:53
by Testament/Seven7
I was thinking something like the kind of finish you get from polished diamond plate, for example...

but again, i have no idea how to do so...except maybe cutting out a metal plate and shining enough to get a mirror finish....

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 24 Jan 2011, 22:36
by Fredo
My spare parts have arrived and I've been quite surprised to notice that the "START" button on the DC TS is in fact MUCH more unique than it looks.

In fact, it was specifically disigned for the TS, as it was made to fit the very slightly curved surface of the TS.

Replacing that button by a regular one would not fit perfectly. Maybe I'll give up about that.

Ho, and my Saturn TS is waiting for me at my parent's house, I'll grab it this week end !

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 27 Jan 2011, 23:26
by darksakul
Nice Project, I love to see the finished results.

I would recommend vinyl dye instead of paint, since the dye takes better on plastic than paint. Since vinyl dye seems into the plastic and dyes the material instead of sitting on the surface the way paint does.
It means for you, no flaking or peeling and if you ever scratch that plastic you colored, the original color will not show though. The one downside is its irreversible.

I also recommend the Mad Catz Street Fighter IV fight pad for the Xbox PCB since is easier to install than a regular xbox 360 PCB, and no trigger inverts are necessary.

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 29 Jan 2011, 00:58
by Fredo
Thanks for the infos about the vynil dye, I'll try to find out more informations about that !

My DC TS is already wired to a fightpad PCB and it will remain so because I want a head-set jack. The SS TS is for a potential Player 2 and does not need a head-set so a PS360 PCB will be plenty enough.

Here's a picture of "Step 1 toward awesomeness"
http://img98.imageshack.us/f/imgp0218k.jpg/

Those black shafts are sooooooooooooooo beautiful ! and I didn't expect the grey ones to fit so well with the SS TS overlay !
There is still much to do but this is really promissing !

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 22 Jun 2011, 12:37
by Fredo
Hey

It took a bit of time before I really started working on my TwinSticks but the first one is now finished !

http://imageshack.us/f/835/dsc3436c.jpg/

it features:
-fully autonomous internal PCB, no longer external
-Xbox Guide button behind the case
-Headset jack
-pure awesomeness

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 23 Jun 2011, 00:37
by MentholMoose
Wow, nice and clean. I like it!

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 23 Jun 2011, 02:43
by Fredo
Oh thanks !

You should try painting your Arcade TwinStick in black too :D

Ok now I've got to mod my Saturn TwinStick.

I'll have to drill a hole trhough the metal plate for the Special Button, kinda like this:
Image
The problem is I don't know how to drill such a big hole through metal. Any hints ?
Ho, and don't understand how to dismantle the sticks from the plate. I fear like I'll have to get rid of the artwork, am I right ? is it risky ? will I be able to glue it back when finished ?


And add the 4 buttons ABXY to ease the navigation in menus for noobs, kinda like this:
Image

I think I'll try to keep the yellow Start Button active, but that'll require to sacrifice the Saturn PCB. Though I don't own the Saturn game nor the console, it'll be a painful thing to do.

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 24 Jun 2011, 06:25
by Billkwando
I wouldn't dismantle the sticks or get rid of the artwork.

I'd just tape over them on the inside with some plastic bags (I assume your concern is dust from drilling getting on them?), and maybe masking tape the artwork on top, then use a hole saw, a spade bit, or a forstner bit to drill through the tape. You could also use a step drill bit. I would recommend 24mm sanwa or seimitsu snap-in buttons. That's what I'm using on my custom build. You can get them cheap at lizardlick.com

I think the general consensus is that spade bits are better for wood (though I love them on ABS plastic) and hole saws are better for metal.

When I was briefly considering modding my Saturn twin stick for 360 (just can't bring myself to hack it up since I still have VO Netlink Edition) I wasn't gonna take anything out of the case. I was just gonna make with the drilling.

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 24 Jun 2011, 13:58
by Fredo
Huh, I have examine the plate and I can feel by touch that the Sticks à screwed to the metal plate, and the artwork is glued over le screws' heads.

My problem is that I need to work on a plane surface to drill, so with the sicks screwed, it will be hard.

I also consider that there is a risk of damaging the artwok when drilling, and that would ruin all the stuff, so getting rid of the artwork, and then of the sticks would be great, if only I was shure I could take the artwork off without risking of damaging it, and by being sure I could put it back easily.

Ho, and the smallest hole-saw I have is very VERY slightly too wide for 24mm buttons, wich in fact is a huge failure because it enables them to rotate in the hole.

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 24 Jun 2011, 14:15
by Billkwando
Fredo wrote:Huh, I have examine the plate and I can feel by touch that the Sticks à screwed to the metal plate, and the artwork is glued over le screws' heads.

My problem is that I need to work on a plane surface to drill, so with the sicks screwed, it will be hard.

I also consider that there is a risk of damaging the artwok when drilling, and that would ruin all the stuff, so getting rid of the artwork, and then of the sticks would be great, if only I was shure I could take the artwork off without risking of damaging it, and by being sure I could put it back easily.

Ho, and the smallest hole-saw I have is very VERY slightly too wide for 24mm buttons, wich in fact is a huge failure because it enables them to rotate in the hole.
Well I suggested the masking tape to protect the art while you're drilling it, but if you're REALLY worried about it, take a thin piece of wood (or plastic...a coaster?) and press that down over the artwork, and then drill through that. It will sandwich the artwork so there's no possible tearup around the edges. This is similar to the technique some use to drill plexiglass.

Also, for my 24mm I had to use a 5/8 spade bit, then widen the hole with a dremel.

Now what's this about a plane surface? You're not using a hand drill?

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 14 Aug 2011, 01:16
by T1BillionX
Those color schemes make me want to buy two more DC twin sticks and paint them.

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 12 Sep 2011, 11:31
by Fredo
Hey guess what, it's time for an update.

So, thanks to Billkwando, I went into drilling the faceplate of the Saturn TS, and guess what ? it screwed everything. This faceplate is horribly strong and I'm not equipped for drilling through that. The faceplate became unusable so I choosed to cut a new one in plexiglas. It enabled me to put more space between the shafts an to put a Special button between, I've also been able to put an artwork under the plexiglass. The plexi is not as tough as the metal, so the faceplate curves slightly when you move the sticks (like during a Jump Cancel)

In addition of this, I drilled several holes for the A B X Y and Start buttons.

This is a preview, I will change some things and all the electronics has to be made.
http://imageshack.us/f/14/imgp0307o.jpg/

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 13 Sep 2011, 21:31
by MentholMoose
Sorry to hear about the damage. The update looks quite cool so far, though.

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 13 Sep 2011, 21:56
by chunkypuff31
Fredo wrote:The plexi is not as tough as the metal, so the faceplate curves slightly when you move the sticks (like during a Jump Cancel)
I'm not familiar with the assembly of the DC Twinsticks, so this might not help at all, but couldn't you make the holes for each Twinstick slightly bigger? By giving the sticks clearance, shouldn't that allow the sticks to move without disturbing the plexiglass?

Anyway, looking good! Hope to see how this looks once it's done.

Re: A new project of 360 TwinSticks

Posted: 14 Sep 2011, 02:29
by Fredo
MentholMoose: Thanxs, yeah it looks much better now than what I first expected to do with the original faceplate. Damaging it was not such a bad idea x)

Chunky: In fact the sticks are screwed directly on the plexiglass so I don't think I could do anything to prevent the faceplate from curving =/


Here is a new picture with a better printed artwork and a 30mm Special Button (instead of the 24mm one wich was to difficult to reach)
Despite all of my efforts, I didn't manage to make the artwork perfectly flat under the plexi, too bad >.<
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/851/imgp0309y.jpg/

Any way it looks really great, I love it !

I'd like to add that the Saturn TwinStick and the Saturn Virtua Stick share the nearly exact same case and faceplate so you can easily find a Virtua Stick template and use it to make an artwork for the TwinStick. The faceplate is very large and gives a lot of place for the hands and you can easily put some extra buttons above the faceplate (where I drilled the A B X Y). In addition, the case itself looks like a miniature Astro City panel. This makes the Saturn twinStick and Virtua Stick very interesting cases to mod for real awesome arcade sticks or TwinStick ! That's why I've just bought the case of a Saturn TwinStick from a guy who took off the sticks for an arcade panel, to build a new arcade stick.