RackGaki wrote:I would like you to post up more specs of that sweet-ass stick. Where did you pick up the parts? I understand the installation process from a purely academic point of view (never opened one up myself), but what was the process you used to create a new cover for the stick? Unbelievably awesome, and yes, I'm jealous.
Ok rack, the parts I bought from lizardlick, I highly suggest them, decent prices, and very fast shipping.
As far as the Process goes, I did a bit of reading of Shuryuken(sic) forums, and then cracked the puppy open, from there a lot of people have different methods, there is a u shaped pcb holding the last 4 switches I just cut it right off as all it is a a trace board anyway. I cut off all the feat that held the origonal stick in place, removed the metal plate from the Sanwa stick, cut off the 2 side feet on the sanwa stick, and broke all the traces on the Sanwa pcb with a exacto knife, because Hori can't be nice enough to use common grounds. I reused the Hori switches that live on the main controller board, because my solder sucker could not get them loose so I end up basically destroying the damn original buttons to get them free. After that I basically solder all the Sanwa switch's to the wires off the right side that used to connect to the U-shaped pcb, and wrapped and solder each of the 4 Omron switches that are on the stick to the old wires that were on the Hori stick. As far as art goes there a nice indesign/pdf file of the Hori EX art template that is nearly perfect, if you want to do it I suggest laminating it first, I didn't and now I'm going to clear coat the art set which will work but wont look as good I think. One other thing of note is the Sanwa JLF stick is too long for the Hori case, the guys over at Shuryuken figured out how to mix and match to get it to fit, but I didn't want to compromise so I cut a 1/2 inch hole in back plate, I can't see it and the stick doesn't rub do to the rubber feet on the case itself so for me problem solved. I lacked Then drilled 2 holes you could do 4 and I might still to mount the JLF, but i lacked nuts and bolts of the right size so I have those screws sticking up until I get my lazy ass to the hardware store.
Here some more info.
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=140160
And the Art template.
http://www.donovanmyers.com/arcade/
All in all it took me about 3 hours, and is a pain in the ass, but it works nice, honestly though when you think about it if you figure the new cost of a EX2 and the cost of the Sanwa and your time, it's like over $100 basically, you are almost better buying an HRAP2/3(though only the HRAP2:SA uses real sanwa buttons/switchs) or EX Pro or whatever already done, that is unless you are poor like my ass, or love to tinker.
On a final note sadly changing the art pretty much requires every step except the custom stick mounting so if you want to do that you might as well do the whole job. Finally I'm getting used the feel of Japanese stick, been playing my whole life on HAPP/IL parts, both have thier advantages I still think fighting games feel better on HAPP.
