Here’s a project that started small but soon escalated into something seriously ambitious. Originally only trying to hook up some controls for my Naomi’s Jamma, it became a project to build a universal and high quality control panel. The end product incorporates parts from all over the world: China, Japan, Britain, US. It all started with this:
The Blaze Twin Stick
gutted and revealed NOT JUST ONE but 6 PCBs. Well, desoldering fun
PCB removed.
At this point I have no buttons to replace the stock yet… So I just wired the loose buttons to my Naomi! But guess what, my roomate was able to Hadouken with it:
Capcom vs SNK 2
Here’s the panel after removing everything. Nice and black
First thing I did was simple: adding the artwork. Way I did it was probably quote unorthodox. I glued the printer-printed paper onto the panel, and then cover it with an adhesive plastic firm. This will create an absolutely water-proof and scratch-free overlay. Another add is if needed, it can be easily replaced.
What you see is the first iteration of the art. But then I discovered that in that layout one of the buttons will be right on the UD girl’s face… So that was changed (see later pics)
Not work done for a week or so, until the Ultralux buttons finally arrived from the UK (not that the shipping was slow, its my decision process)! Chrome trimmed and transparent, and comes with LED too! Plunger quality may not be the top, but well they use Sanwa switches, so, no complaints
Line up and count…
Since the plungers are clear the idea is to have inserts under them that would fill the holes on the panel. Here the plunger is removed…
And the insert is added!
Temporarily fitted 3 buttons to get a feel of it
Make sure they fit the art
Time to test the LEDs. They require 5v of power, which surprises me because they are much brighter than some other 12v lamps I’ve seen. Another 1-up to Ultimarc
Notice how some of them are dimmer in this pic? Physics question lies ahead: Which lamps are connected in parallel, which are in series, in this picture?:looney:
All buttons primed and inserted for player 1…
and player 2.
How the bottom looks like. Anyone notice a problem? The blaze is too short for the Ultimarc buttons. In fact, it will prove to be too short for the LS-32s that I’m gonna put in. But more on that later
At this point I only have the 16 Ultimarc buttons… So the start button is, for a long time, a separately wired stock Blaze. PRESS START BUTTON
Next I began wiring the lighting for the buttons (I’ve yet to acquire a Jamma harness for the Naomi at this point…). Self-made daisy-chain, 0.25’’ disconnects that takes an N-type DC plug as input. So if I don’t want the light, I can just unplug it.
Wired up and see the flame!
Internal wiring at this point. No wiring for buttons yet, and there won’t be any for some time, 'coz it was Spring Break!
SideQuest
Made a half-cabinet out of wood during the break! Put on table for a stand-up setup or on a stand (on top of the cab in pic) for sit-down setup!Panel put on to see how it looks.
Sticks finally arrived… 3 weeks after I’ve decided to get them. Damn you, Lizardlick, damn you for being always out of stock
The whole area has to be dremeled in order to fit the stick.
For the other side. And even after so the area is cramped. The rumble motor holder is in the way and the LS32 legs have to be bent. So if anybody is modding this stick as well, make sure you get the -01 variants.
Fitted! I didn’t bother to redo the art to cover the screws, because I actually think they are nice decorations to go with the chrome buttons:bgrin:.
Feeling Ikaruga already (My Naomi is running fighting games at this point)! But then, the idea is to swap the balltops…
with bubbletops! Thanks to Akihabarashop for sending them straight from JP!
Another look with the lights off
Seimitsu clear plunger white buttons for start and select (coin??) buttons. Inserted with Chinese characters, they look real good. (Maybe kind of late to mention this: There is English, “No Refuge”, as well as Japanese quotes from Ikaruga on the art. So there are a total of 3 languages…
Seimitsu buttons with swapped plungers. Red/Black (to imitate the black bullets in Ikaruga) for player 1
And blue/white (white bullets) for player 2
Wired up!
Frontal view.
To make the wires organized, as well as to make the stick potentially universal, I decide to use a DB25 plug to connect the wires (The Blaze has no space for PCBs anyway). This also make the stick detachable so I can bring it to my friends:bgrin:
The DB25 and pins
Wired on the Jamma side
And the panel side. Out of the 25 pins, the Blaze uses I think 21… Crimping hell. Oh and at this point I refitted the rumble motors and wired them as well (slightly visible in the picture), and, guess what, they actually work, through the Blaze PCB.
Organized wiring (two main streams)
A closer shot on one side. Now you see the motor (and how it neccessitates bending the LS32 legs…)
Temporarily rescrewed the metal plate
Huge height difference. What will be done next will be to wrap a piece of plastic around the panel to cover the extra height, but before that…
SideQuest
The Blaze PCBs have been lying bare for who-knows-when. Time to give them a new home - a project box. Wires soldered to the button points
DB25 crimp pins
And there, inserted and done. Now I can use my modded stick on my computer!
Finished! Plastic bent and glued!
“Clear” acrylic… all cloudy due to the glue… Anyone know how to make it clear again will be appreciated…
So, it’s finished! Or is it…? There maybe something else that I want to do with it… like, CHOP IT INTO TWO 
. Seriously, first thing will be to clean the plastic. Then, maybe add an LED into the balltop. But well, if I had time…