My $4 arcade stick mod

[jay_red]

Hey guys, this is my first mod and wanted to show my progress. This all started when me and my Fiance picked up 2 tekken 6 joysticks for playing Marvel vs. Capcom 3. We really love them and feel that it has helped our playing a ton.

I was browsing my local used record/game store and they had a ps1 arcade stick for 8 bucks, but I had enough store points to get it half off, so I figured that for $4 I couldnt go wrong even if it was crap. It turns out it wasnt so bad and it felt good on Capcom vs. SNK 2 on ps2. So i decided to give it a new look and plan on getting new buttons and a stick. I also ordered an adapter to make it work with my PS3.

The wiring surprised me, as it was all point to point, and generally messy inside. I plan on making it a bit tidier when i put it back together.

How it began: (it was an Interact PS arcade)


I didnt like the ridges on the sides, so I filled them in, and after a ton of sanding and my first coat I have this:



I am going to sand it tomorrow and give it one more coat, then possibly do a wet sand and buff depending on how it lays down tomorrow.

If this one comes out good, these sell on ebay for around $10. I will keep this updated.

[CRTGAMER]

Not my ideal color for a controller, but very nice job filling in all the ridges. Smart popping off the blue ring around the stick, a good contrast when you pop it back in place. So why purple, is there a game color connection?

[Ziggy]

I see in the second pic that you propped the shell up on some kind of plastic container. I do the same thing!

[jay_red]

Not my ideal color for a controller, but very nice job filling in all the ridges. Smart popping off the blue ring around the stick, a good contrast when you pop it back in place. So why purple, is there a game color connection?

haha no real reason for the color, was at the store and that one seemed like the most unique, it was either this or super bright green. I plan on painting that blue circle black, the blue would not match well IMO. Unsure of what color buttons to get for it yet.

[vlame]

are they switch or pcb button, you might be able to drop real arcade parts in there.

[jay_red]

Ok so I sanded it and got my final coat on it and its looking pretty nice. The finish is nice and glossy but with a bit of orange peel. This is by far the nicest finish i have gotten with a rattle can, and want to really make it look good. If i wet sand it with 1000 grit to knock down the orange peel, is it possible to polish it back to a shine? or do i need to clear coat it? This is a step that I have never gotten right when painting something.

[scarper]

Waoooh... You gave it a very nice glossy finish.

[jay_red]

Just snagged another off ebay for 10 shipped, I will paint that one as well, but i might leave the ridges because they were a pain to fill... Though I do like the way it looks without.

[Niode]

Put a thick clear coat on it and then wet sand using finer and finer grit until you get a mirror finish.

Jeffro11 posted a little how-to on how to do it in more detail. You can get a very good finish with a little work, it'll almost look like automotive paint.

Edit: Here it is: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=26220&p=334023

Also, one example of the finished article: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SabxiZskYjc

[cornacchia]

You did a great job painting that. Did you change the buttons to different ones or did you just paint the original ones. It would be nice to see a finished controller.