Missile Command trackball reproduction project

[Daviea]

I've cut up the aluminum plates and the acrylic plates for the 4.5" and 2.25" MC trackball units. I still need to add the bevel to the large hole in the top plate and the countersinks to the top plate and upper plate. Here's a stack of 200 top plates for the 4.5" units to look at: (I have another 300 boxed up for a total of 500)

These are LASER cut and within 0.001" tolerance.

Anyone have spare TB units they want to donate for my use? I need to compare OEM to get exact countersinks and chamfer/bevel.

Thanks

Dave

 

[johnvv]

Wow, those acrylic plates look great!! All the 4.5" original parts I've ever seen are all cracked, yellowed, and beat up.

Looking forward to completing my trackball rebuilds with these.

 

[joeycuda]

They look great. These will be available a la carte, correct? I have a Football project, and I'd like to buy the rebuild parts, but not a complete trackball unit.

Thanks..
Joey

 

[Daviea]

I'm making enough spares to go around. Sure, every last piece will be available separately so people can maintain and repair their existing controllers.

Wait until I finish up the line grain process on the aluminum plates - they'll look very slick! As soon as I have them ready, I'll take some pics and share.

I'm still going to need at least one (but, I'd prefer two for good measure) OEM controller to compare against so I'm sure to get those countersinks absolutely spot-on.

Stay tuned. So many projects going on and much much of my attention devoted to them. We should get through some serious progress this year.

Thanks guys!!

Dave

 

[ELutz]

Dave,
Did you get the Missile Command 2.25" TB assembly I sent you back in Sept? I've got more 2.25" if you need them.

Edward

 

[88mph]

Hey Dave,

I have some 4.5" units that I removed from a CP I found in junk pile a while back. They should be good for measurements, assuming that the units used on Basketball were the same ones Atari used on everything else. They look identical to the one in my Missile Command.

 

[Daviea]

Got it. I'm actually good on this one as I still have it exactly where it's supposed to be. I'll show some pics of those parts sometime soon, too. I don't know if there will be *ANY* demand for this controller, but I'm running off 500 of them anyway, just for good measure.

Dave

Dave,
Did you get the Missile Command 2.25" TB assembly I sent you back in Sept? I've got more 2.25" if you need them.

Edward

 

[Daviea]

If you have spares, I could use exactly TWO of the 4.5" trackball units. Yes, the ones in Basketball are the exact same as the ones used in MC.

Thank you!!

Dave

Hey Dave,

I have some 4.5" units that I removed from a CP I found in junk pile a while back. They should be good for measurements, assuming that the units used on Basketball were the same ones Atari used on everything else. They look identical to the one in my Missile Command.

 

[pmichelsen]

If you don't find one let me know, I can send you my whole TB assembly from my upright MC.

 

[ELutz]

Got it. I'm actually good on this one as I still have it exactly where it's supposed to be. I'll show some pics of those parts sometime soon, too. I don't know if there will be *ANY* demand for this controller, but I'm running off 500 of them anyway, just for good measure.

Dave

Yeah, I thought you were crazy when you asked for it!

IIRC, I (think) it has a different bolt pattern than what became the TB standard.....so, this will be good for anyone needing a TB for their Missile Command mini or cocktail (did Atari use this 2.25" TB on anything else?). No hacking new holes into their control panels....not to mention replacement parts.

Edward

 

[Daviea]

I think that one of the requirements of doing reproduction arcade parts is being a little bit crazy. Who else would sink this kind of money in such a venture? Not many! LOL

As far as I know, the only games that used this exact controller were the MC cabarets and cocktails. The bolt pattern is unique. If there are any other games that use it, I would certainly like to know about it, especially when it comes time to sell them.

Dave

Yeah, I thought you were crazy when you asked for it!

IIRC, I (think) it has a different bolt pattern than what became the TB standard.....so, this will be good for anyone needing a TB for their Missile Command mini or cocktail (did Atari use this 2.25" TB on anything else?). No hacking new holes into their control panels....not to mention replacement parts.

Edward

 

[Paul Olson]

After rebuilding the one in my mini last week, I am glad it was not widely used. The plastic versions are a lot easier to work on. This one does look cool though.

I haven't seen them used in anything else yet. Was there even a 2.25" trackball game made between the MC mini (and cocktail) and Centipede?

 

[ELutz]

I haven't seen them used in anything else yet. Was there even a 2.25" trackball game made between the MC mini (and cocktail) and Centipede?

I don't think so....If the 2.25" was used on anything else......it'll probably be somnething before Missile Command....the black & white era.

 

[KillerKades]

I need one of these... badly. Just disassembled my TB to put in your new rollers and ball and found the plate to be cracked and thus rubbing against the ball. Now get cutting the bevel so I can get my TB working.