Rip your Pelican Apart

First of all, big thanks to the roker and Shapermc. If they hadn't posted in this thread with good info (esp. Shapermc's gaming journal entry) i probably wouldn't have fucked with my joystick. My only additional advice would be to think about soldering instead of using the quick-connects, cuz the small wire gauge made it a bitch to get the connects to stay attached to the wire, even with a crimping tool.

So i got new parts and painted the fucking thing, cuz when i bought it i was terribly disappointed with how shitty the stick and buttons were. I have almost zero experience with anything involving soldering or electronics, but this was a super-easy way to learn with a simple project. Hell, i'm proud of myself; maybe that's why i'm posting...LOL. Anyways, I highly recommend modding the Pelican...if i can do it, you can too.

http://home.comcast.net/~tjdalis/pic...ck_side_sm.jpg

next to teh bawks for size comparison:
http://home.comcast.net/~tjdalis/pic...ick_top_sm.jpg

Now i feel leet like a motherfucker. Until i get a cab, this (or a MAS stick, which is way more expensive) is the next best thing...

You are 1337 like a mother fucker - that's pretty sweet, man. What kinda xbox is that?

Forget the stick, that white Xbox is nice.

You can tell he's a gamer, take a look at the floor on the second picture! 3 controlers and at least the makings of a system from what I can tell.

Nice mod, btw.

Dude, damn nice work. You replaced the buttons as well as the stick with Happ parts I take it? Also, the existing parts sucked that much? They felt alright just moving them around in the store. A friend of mine just bought a MAS no more than two days ago. We drove down to them directly and had it custom built...and he's already having problems with it. The PS2 to Xbox converter was fucked up from the start, gettting signals crossed. Yet to find out if it's possible to solder the cable directly into the stick. When I get around to it though, I'm just gonna hack a new style AES stick, those things feel smooth as fuck and much less expensive. Nice paint job by the way, you paint the Xbox too?

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Originally Posted by Tony_N

Forget the stick, that white Xbox is nice.

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yeah i bought it from ViceMikey, a member here. He's the one that modded it and painted it and shit, so he gets the credit. I agree it's pretty pimp.

@Shirt in a Can- Yeah the parts are Happ. I ordered them from their website which was a little more expensive than Bob Roberts, but i could use a credit card. They did take a while to pick and ship the stuff though (understandable for such a small order, but still kinda annoying...).

I kinda fucked up the joystick paint job, but it still looks alright. I was gonna do white stripes ala the MVS overlay, but i got lazy. I should just try to find an SNK sticker or something...

I was going to start a new thread about this, but I guess I might as well post it here. I bought this stick not too long ago and I'm pretty satisfied with it, except for one thing. Whenever I do an up or down movement when I've pushed the stick to the right, it seems to almost get caught or something. It doesn't move easily at all. If I move the stick in a circular motion, there aen't any problems, but this really gets in the way during gameplay. Does anyone else have this problem?

That being said, I'm pretty much convinced that I want to replace the stick and maybe the buttons, as I've had it for a while ago and I don't have the recipt to return it. My question is, what kind of skills are required to replace them? Keep in mind that I'm a complete newbie to all arcade parts. Is there any soldering involved? Basically, I just need someone to list the parts and skills necessary to do this.

I'll go ahead and read Shapermc's guide now.

Very nice work, by the way. I'm planning on doing something very similar. I take it you peeled off that thin, black plastic layer before you painted?

How much did the stick and buttons run you including shipping?

Hmmm...maybe I shouldn't trade mine. :spock:

Oh man, I thought this thread was going to be someone blowing up a Pelican (the bird).

+one

I was going to do this for the fuck of it since Happ is about 10 or 15 mins from me :D

Only problem though, Dallas or anyone else who uses the Pelican, dont you find that the stick is too far from the buttons? It just seems to me there is too much space between them and almost giving the stick a feel like a lever you might use in a mech game, no?

Thats the one reason I havent done this yet, cant decide if that bitch is too far apart.

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Originally Posted by NeoFight

I was going to do this for the fuck of it since Happ is about 10 or 15 mins from me :D

Only problem though, Dallas or anyone else who uses the Pelican, dont you find that the stick is too far from the buttons? It just seems to me there is too much space between them and almost giving the stick a feel like a lever you might use in a mech game, no?

Thats the one reason I havent done this yet, cant decide if that bitch is too far apart.

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Yo, NeoFight i thought the distance between the stick and buttons are perfect. it's not much of a prob. me personally, i dont like the stick and buttons too close to each other.

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Originally Posted by Neon_Sonic

IWhenever I do an up or down movement when I've pushed the stick to the right, it seems to almost get caught or something.

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that's what mine did too, plus a few buttons stuck. It was usuable but i just didn't like the feel at all. I'm sure quality varies from stick to stick, but overall the parts are cheap as hell, and aesthetically speaking, the thing looks like shit.

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Originally Posted by Neon_Sonic

My question is, what kind of skills are required to replace them? Keep in mind that I'm a complete newbie to all arcade parts. Is there any soldering involved? Basically, I just need someone to list the parts and skills necessary to do this.

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Read shapermc's page. It helped me out tremendously and the few parts that may seem a little light on the details become way more apparent when you have the stuff in front of you. Basically though, you don't need to solder anything if you buy the .187 quick terminal disconnects to attach the wires to the button/joystick microswitches (but you NEED a crimping tool; pliers won't get them solidly attached to the small guage wire).

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Originally Posted by Neon_Sonic

I take it you peeled off that thin, black plastic layer before you painted?

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Yep. It's some sort of shitty particle-board type substance under there though, so i sanded it real well and primed it before painting.

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Originally Posted by Shirt in a Can

How much did the stick and buttons run you including shipping?

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$35.85. Not as cheap as i had hoped...

@Neofight: The stick and buttons are kinda far apart, but for me it just took a bit of getting used to. I've never felt that they are so far apart that you feel like you are doing seperate things with your left and right hands (like in a mech game as you said).

What Arcade Stick needing game uses 8 Buttons?

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Originally Posted by DARK_ANDY

What Arcade Stick needing game uses 8 Buttons?

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None that i know of. But 8 holes=8 buttons.

Also, with the eight buttons you can go 4 across for a Neo style layout or 3 and 3 for CPS1/2 games.

Makes sense, but I've always preferred the 2 rows of 2 buttons for the 4 button games.

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Originally Posted by slerch666

You can tell he's a gamer, take a look at the floor on the second picture! 3 controlers and at least the makings of a system from what I can tell.

Nice mod, btw.

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Yeah...and 2 of the 3 controllers are old systems (Genesis & SNES) so he's obviously been gaming for some time and possibly enjoys playing the classics occasionally. :glee:

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Originally Posted by Sundance

Yeah...and 2 of the 3 controllers are old systems (Genesis & SNES) so he's obviously been gaming for some time and possibly enjoys playing the classics occasionally. :glee:

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I spy, with my little eye... a USA GBA game box above the 3-button Genny controller, right?

Regardless, very nice mod, makes me want to buy and mod the GC version...


EDIT: http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dan...&.dnm=d039.jpg
Note the red "IMPORTANT" box and accompanying text, and next to that the text saying you can only sell it in North America.

I read Shapermc's guide and this is looking a lot easier than I anticipated. As a little summer project, I'll probably be ordering the parts sometime soon and trying my hand at not screwing this up. If I'm feeling adventurous, I might do a slick paint job, as well.

I opened up mine out of curiousity earlier and saw what the problem was with the joystick. On the main "shaft" there's a spot where the plastic goes out a bit and the metal that the stick pressed on was sliding off of that and getting caught. It wasn't easy to get to, but I put some electrical tape around it and it feels infinitely more smooth. I'll probably end up still modifying it, though.

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Originally Posted by BeefJerky

Oh man, I thought this thread was going to be someone blowing up a Pelican (the bird).

+one

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Came for the bird guts, stayed for the +1

Here's mine. I got one of the universal ones used from Gamestop. I put a new control panel overlay on it and changed out the stick and buttons. I actually like it better than the MAS sticks now and it's a heck of a lot cheaper then a MAS too.

http://www.digitalcrack.net/subscrip...bm/pelican.jpg

Pelican universal = $50 at Gamestop

Happ part plus shipping = $35

total = $65

Yep, cheaper than MAS.

Is it worth the extra $30 for the MAS. No fucking clue.

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Originally Posted by Shirt in a Can

Pelican universal = $50 at Gamestop

Happ part plus shipping = $35

total = $65

Yep, cheaper than MAS.

Is it worth the extra $30 for the MAS. No fucking clue.

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I think your math is a little off there.

But then again I havent gotten a college credit for math yet...

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Originally Posted by Shirt in a Can

Pelican universal = $50 at Gamestop

Happ part plus shipping = $35

total = $85 <<<fixed!

Yep, cheaper than MAS.

Is it worth the extra $30 for the MAS. No fucking clue.

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yeah . . .

Anyway 85 is a bit expensive, if you're in the market for one system, but considering it'll be useful for 3 systems, then 85 is actually a good deal.

X-Arcade = overpriced

MAS is expensive, but there's no taking away from the nice heavy bulkiness of it. But I paid 100 bucks for a Neo Geo Stick that has no applications on any other system, so I'd say this is the most cost effective way to go about it.

and btw, it looks gread D5

Oops, I was SO fuckin drunk a couple hours ago (just got home). Anyway, only makes me question even more.

Wow, all I did on mine was replace the joystick with a Happs super (the stock buttons I got were great). Damn that does look incredibly nice though.

Another +1 for this stick, it's so friggin perfect!

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Originally Posted by Shirt in a Can

You replaced the buttons as well as the stick with Happ parts I take it? Also, the existing parts sucked that much?

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I did the same thing with mine, and from personal experience, the existing parts were shit. Replaced them all with happ parts, plus it took me one evening to get it all up and running.

Even if you don't have good soldering skills, a project like this is easy because you aren't working with a very small spot. :)

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Originally Posted by DARK_ANDY

What Arcade Stick needing game uses 8 Buttons?

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It acutually just makes it really easy to customise for any kind of fighter. The 4 across the to for SNK style. The 3 all the way to the left (The Red, Black and White on the first pic) are in perfect arangement for VF4. You can also option for a more straight or a more curved lineup on 6 button fighters. Very versitile. Also the single system sticks are really awesome. The 3 system sticks have a very slight delay (My friend noticed it on GGXX) but he got use to it quite easily.

Also, I prefer this to the MAS that I used.

Alos, huge props for those willing to take on this project. It is really simple and fun. You will also save quite a bit of money if you use Bob Roberts. I would also recomend soldering now that I have gotten better with it. That article I wrote was quite a while ago.

Anyways, now I have two of these. The Universal that I got had much better buttons than the PS2 one that I initially got. Sill overall crap, and those sticks are horrible. The thow on them is like 5 inches.

Another benifit to the single ststem sticks are that the cords are really long as opposed to the super short 3 system sticks. I have the 3 system stick currently only for player 2 untill GGXX#Reloded comes online :)

Thanks for giving me credit on this too :) I should probably write up a new guide. I did not think that this many people would use it.

Ugh, I don't even remember posting that last night. The math error was pretty funny though.

Anyway, it doesn't surprise me that this would possibly be better than the Mas stick. That's why I'm looking into hacking the AES new style stick for Xbox. Anybody done that (already gotten some help on this, but just trying to get as much info as possible.

This is looking more and more appealing. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to take the plunge shortly. However, I have a few concerns.

I'm planning on changing out the joystick in favor of a Competition Stick along with Competition Pushbuttons. I plan on keep the same colors as on the original stick, but I want to paint the actual wood something else. However, I can't really decide on anything. The red paintjob does look great, especially by the Xbox, but I don't really want that. I could just do black, but well, that would be kind of boring. Any suggestions?

As for getting the black plastic layer off, how do you do it? The only way I knew what it was is because it was peeling at one spot. I'm not really sure how to go about getting this off so I can paint it.

The really big issue for me is these crimp-on connectors. Now, I've never used these before. Are they difficult to work with? Also, can someone find me a picture of what the kind I need look like? I looked around RadioShack.com and, as most of the items had male and female parts, I wasn't sure if the pictures I was looking at were male or female, thus confusing myself even further about the logistics of this. Maybe a simple explanation of how to use them, as well?

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Originally Posted by Neon_Sonic

?

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Figure out your own paint job, you uncreative fuck! :tickled:

Just kidding man. First off, I just tore that plastic shit off. I guess you could use a razor or something, but i didn't need to. Just make sure you sand that shit good and use a primer (technically you might not have to, but why risk it looking shitty?). I liked using glossy paint; gives it that arcade shine.

As for the connectors, they are .187 female quick disconnects:

http://www.gamecabinetsinc.com/Merch...connectors.jpg

They're easily available in any decent hardware store. They slide on to the button microswitches (well, they don't literally slide, pliers help in getting them on). You need to strip the end of the wire a bit, slide the exposed end into the disconnect, and crimp like hell. I think the smallest they make are for 18-22 gauge wire and this is where the problem lies. THe wires in the Pelican are definitely smaller than 22, so it's difficult to get the disconnect to stay attached to the wire. Plus the small amount of space between the microswitches makes it harder to deal with these things hanging off the end of the wires.

I would seriously think about soldering if you have access to an iron. I was intimidated by it at first, but after soldering the few wires that i couldn't get with the disconnects, i wished i had done it for the whole thing. There is a lot of space on the microswitches and you don't need to be too neat or precise. It's definitely possible to do this shit without any soldering (cuz i did), but it's almost MORE of a hassle.

Hope this helps.

Thanks a lot. I thought about soldering, but I would have to buy the iron and a quick search for "soldering for dummies" quickly scared me off. I'll try doing this first with the crimp-on disconnects and if that doesn't work, I can always go out an buy the soldering stuff.

I had to do some soldering for my MAS stick when I realized the dumb shits use vertical mounted switches for their american style buttons (concave). So I got a hold of bob roberts and soldered the buttons I wanted.

Joysticks are a beautiful thing, and I'm really temped to undertake a Pelican mod for my impending Xbox purchase (I mean seriously, who can skip out on SFIII3s online?)

Ph34r my l33t Photoshop, err... GIMP skills.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/...uturestick.jpg

I'll be doing basically this with the button colors like they are on the original stick.

...or I may just chicken out and do black or leave it.

I working on something like that myself. Lately, I've been assembling both parts and information, the latter I'll share with you now:

Parts supply places

• Bob Robert's (no Pay-Pal I can understand, but no CCs = teh_suck)
• Happs (just look around, but buy from someone else because the're a wholesaler and they charge a lot for small orders)
• Centsable Amusements (based out of South Florida for you east-coast type humans)

Tools/materials guides

• Soldering (a good guide for non-trained people, it's very gentile to teh_n00bs and easy to understand)
• Crimping
• Wood (for making your own custom box out of pretty hardwoods)
• Plexiglass (for that truely authentic arcade feel and to protect pretty artwork (although, you'll have to add the cigerette burns and spilled soda yourself))

FAQs, for general information and ideas

• http://members.cox.net/joysticks/
• http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jdpyle1/design.htm
• http://www.arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm
• http://users.bigpond.net.au/paj/index.html

Also, go here: The Supergun Repository and more specificly here. Post pics of your work-in-progress and finished stick, we want your input.

Since there seems to be alot of good knowledge being tossed around here I will just go and mention a few things that have not been mentioned.

1) Painting on wood that is not super smooth will take a while if you want it to turn out really nice. I would recaomend that you set aside a fair ammount of time for sanding smooth and then more time for a few coats of primer and paint. I highly recomend that you do not use spray paint (you can use a paint sprayer through ;) ). Instead I recomend a foam roller.

2) Happs sells this really nice vinyl that I have been starting to use for my projects. While expensive to ship if you only want a small ammount it is not too bad if your getting a fair sized order. They have a few options.

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Originally Posted by the roker

Joysticks are a beautiful thing, and I'm really temped to undertake a Pelican mod for my impending Xbox purchase

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As I had said previously, if your just getting this for one system (well at least primaily) I recomend the single system sticks. There will be no lag and the cord will be longer. This will really give you the advantage over someone using a 3 system stick (like me) when you go online ;)

I also thought about this.
I feel the X-arcade is overpriced as well.
Stumbling about their site I found that they sell parts.
http://www.x-arcade.com/arcade_parts.shtml
I'm most likely going to get either A Happ or Swanna (sp?) stick, But they sell buttons cheap (20 for $10!!)
http://www.x-arcade.com/arcade_buttons.shtml
I was wondering if anybody knows if these are ok?
I know their are better buttons out there but if these are ok their are enough of them to do bolth of the projects sitting on my desk.

On topic,
That stick looks DAMN good.

Fact is, from personal experience. MAS SUCKS.
They used to make sticks as bad as wood staples, they would easily fall apart. I had to reinforce mine with nails. These came with my Super Nova.

They are ugly to, they get in the way, the paint job is usually shoddy on them.
They use happ parts. I hate these parts, I like sanwa and only sanwa in competitive play.

Bunch of crap. Stick with building your own.

Wow, this is some great information. I've been wanting to mod my Pelican stick for awhile and it seems that this would be a very good start. Thanks for the great info D5. I'm not well versed in such mod jobs, but it seems simple enough to get started and cheap enough to afford. Thanks again.

I replaced all the buttons and joystick on my PS2 Pelican stick but it died last month (very light use). I think the on board pcb is fried. I will never buy another Pelican controller, they have some QA issues.

I have one of the universal ones but I have to admit I haven't had any problems with it whatsoever. While the idea of modding it does sound pretty cool I have to remember the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Maybe I got one of the "good" sticks that actually works well. Heck i've been playing some some great stuff on teh romz box and SF3(PS2) with no problems at all and have be. Still, the instructions here seem simple enough for even me to do this if/when mine decides to die on me.

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Originally Posted by HellioN

I also thought about this.
I feel the X-arcade is overpriced as well...

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If you buy an cheap buttons or parts you will pay for it. The quality is very sub-par. If your willing to accept that have fun.

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Originally Posted by thundr51

I have one of the universal ones but I have to admit I haven't had any problems with it whatsoever. While the idea of modding it does sound pretty cool I have to remember the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

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I promise you it is broke. At the very least I beg you to put a new stick in there, esp if your playing fighters. I might work in the most basic sence of the word, but it was build broke.

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Originally Posted by Shapermc

I promise you it is broke. At the very least I beg you to put a new stick in there, esp if your playing fighters. I might work in the most basic sence of the word, but it was build broke.

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Incidentally, exactly what IS the problem with it? Is it hard to do certain motions with it? I can pull off all the basic ones with no problems and I can do fairly decent combos. Too short, too long, not durable enough? Why would you consider it broke? I'm not really an arcade player so that may be why I don't have any problems with it.

Well, i'll look into that when my MVS is finished. However, at this point, I've been playing SF3 on the PS2 and had absolutely NO problems, actually, i've gotten BETTER at the game since I switched. When I first got it I was running through all the fighters that I could find just to try it out and I was very happy with it's performance. Maybe i'd think it was "broke" If I were an excellent-great VS fighter that had at least been in a tourney and could hold my own with the likes of SonGohan and Beezle but since i'm constantly getting beat down on VF, SSF, SF3 and SFA I figure this is good enough for me. For what I paid, i'm happy with it...at least for now.

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Originally Posted by thundr51

Incidentally, exactly what IS the problem with it? Is it hard to do certain motions with it? I can pull off all the basic ones with no problems and I can do fairly decent combos. Too short, too long, not durable enough? Why would you consider it broke? I'm not really an arcade player so that may be why I don't have any problems with it.

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Yeah, I have an universal Pelican that seems ok and nothing wrong with it. But I was planning on modding it in the future anyway.

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Originally Posted by Shapermc

I promise you it is broke. At the very least I beg you to put a new stick in there, esp if your playing fighters. I might work in the most basic sence of the word, but it was build broke.

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I concur. I just got done modding my pelican three weeks ago and man, it is a completely different device.

A quote from the thread starter: "This is the equivalent of if Fisher Price was to release a 'My First Arcade Stick'. This stick was designed to be hacked. This was designed to have all the buttons torn out and replaced with good buttons and a new good stick."

You can easily get it all done in inder $40 and three hours. The hardest thing to do is crimping the disconnects. (That shit hurts after a while, but you only have to do it once)

well I used this little ditty to wire a happs stick onto mine
I crimped quick connects onto the wires and used a dot of solder to keep them on (those are some thin wires) best fucking stick for the price
I reconfigured the buttons to my liking
I left the stock buttons alone since I have concave buttons and I'm going to order some convex to see what I like better before I redo the buttons
I think i'm going to buy an x box only stick (since the one I have is universal) just to use the extra happs stick I have. The stick feels solid and the 3+3 feels great for SF3. I'll post picks once I get the buttons done but even with a new stick it feels 200% better.

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Originally Posted by Dallas_Five

First of all, big thanks to the roker and Shapermc.

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since my name was mentioned, I give this thread a big http://www.neo-geo.com/ubb/icons/icon14.gif

10/10

yes, I'm a narcissist

nice job what did you use for the paint job???

http://ebay.s0rmania.com/fob/pictures/bluejoystick.JPG

http://ebay.s0rmania.com/fob/pictures/redjoystick.JPG
Original thread: http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97786

FatGuy you still need Convex buttons? I'll sell you mine for t3h_ch3ap :mr_t: