Various Reproduction Projects @ RAM Controls

Daviea

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I just wanted to give everyone a quick update on several of the projects at RAM Controls.

The Star Wars yoke controller is on schedule for being released on time at the end of the month. We're wiring them up right now. Yeah, it's about time, huh?

The Lunar Lander thrust controller is also near completion. We're assembling them now.

The Tempest spinner is getting close - still need to run off encoder boards and knobs. Everything else is done.

The 720 controller is getting close, too. I'm still working on the upper and lower housing parts. Everything else is done. In fact, I'm going to put together a couple of rebuild kits and sell them here on KLOV, hoping to get some feedback on the quality, etc.

The Assault controller was doing good, but I had a setback. We're still waiting on the upper and lower housing parts which is being worked on at the same time as the 720 upper/lower housing parts. But, the setback was with two of the inner components - the shaft and the reinforcing plate. I accepted measurements from someone who had a controller in their possession. Unfortunately, several of those measurements were clearly OFF. Good thing I only ran off a couple of each part to make SURE. Anyhow, before I move forward with this project, I absolutely must have an OEM controller in my possession so I can get the measurements correct.

Analog Gimbal Joystick (Food Fight, Red Baron) - I'm still trying to get some more pre-orders for the Centering Bellows. I'm close, though. I've cut some sample aluminum top plates and brackets. I'm trying to see how the controller will behave once it's made from stronger parts.

Anyhow, here are some pictures of the most recent items I've made:

DSC06209.JPG



DSC06210.JPG



DSC06211.JPG



DSC06212.JPG



Ok, that's all for show and tell for today. Like I said, I'm putting together two 720 rebuild kits today. They'll include the handle (shaft/knob), pivot ball, lower ball, roller, bushing, encoder disc and centering disc. The kits will be $75ea. Only TWO kits. Once I get some feedback, I'll make more available.

Dave
 
You got it. The Logo stick parts are coming along quite nicely. I've been putting a lot of effort into getting the various logo-stick type shafts completed (Assault, Standard LOGO, Peter Packrat, etc). I still need to measure up and draw the Xybots shaft (which is also based on the Logo stick base). I need to redo the Assault shafts because I had a bad measurement on it, but it's an easy fix. I'm still working on the cushion rings and the 4-way and 8-way plates.


Yeah, so the actuators and actuator balls are completed as depicted in the photo. I'll start offering them for sale shortly and I'll probably add them to various rebuild kits as well.

Dave


The white pieces at the top appear to be the rest of the Atari Logo stick wear parts. Sweet.
 
Dude that stuff is so nice it almost makes me want to buy a 720 just to have em lol. Kick ass news! Drop me a line I'd like to hear how the "other" stuff is going ;)
 
I didn't mention it in the original post, but the parts shown in the pictures above are: Assault main shaft, logo stick actuator, logo stick actuator ball, 720 bushing, 720 lower ball, Red Baron/Battlezone switch bezel, Battlezone plug, 720 roller, Tempest repro pillow block, food fight/red baron gimbal stick mount plate and brackets (made from aluminum instead of nylon).

I've kinda taken a bit of creative license on the food fight/red baron gimbal stick parts. I don't know how many times I've seen one of those controllers with broken plastic parts - it's quite annoying. Anyhow, my upgraded parts are intended to alleviate those issues.

The same goes for the Tempest spinner. I've taken some creative license on that one as well. Instead of the small polymer (plastic) bearings, I've replaced them with actual ball bearings. The result is a SMOOTH spin. No more BBBBbbbbBBbbrrrRRrrrrrRRRrrrr. I never could stand that about Tempest spinners. So, those "pillow blocks" are a custom made part to go along with my version of the Tempest Spinner. The upside is that ALL of the actual repro parts for this controller (except for the frame) will work with an original controller without any modification.

All of the other parts are pretty much dead-on reproductions of the original OEM counterparts made by Atari....so there's not much to say about them. :)

Dave



Dude that stuff is so nice it almost makes me want to buy a 720 just to have em lol. Kick ass news! Drop me a line I'd like to hear how the "other" stuff is going ;)
 
Dave,

Have you ever thought of reproducing certain Atari machine control panels, e.g., the ones that had the artwork screen printed directly to the CP rather than using an overlay (like Asteroids and Missile Command)? I know there are overlays available for these games, but it is not a very authentic option.
 
As a matter of fact, yes. Already doing Battlezone, Missile Command (upright and cockpit), Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe and Lunar Lander control panels which will have the artwork screened directly onto the panels themselves. In addition to those, I'm also making Major Havoc, 720 and Paperboy panels, but those need control panel overlays.

I know that this exact subject has been discussed somewhat recently here on KLOV, but I don't know where the thread is. LOL

I have a massive number of open projects being worked on, so things are moving a little slow. However, if you have not noticed, I've been completing a a lot of parts these last few months. In fact, it's kind of crazy just how much I've been getting done.

Dave

Dave,

Have you ever thought of reproducing certain Atari machine control panels, e.g., the ones that had the artwork screen printed directly to the CP rather than using an overlay (like Asteroids and Missile Command)? I know there are overlays available for these games, but it is not a very authentic option.
 
As a matter of fact, yes. Already doing Battlezone, Missile Command (upright and cockpit), Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe and Lunar Lander control panels which will have the artwork screened directly onto the panels themselves. In addition to those, I'm also making Major Havoc, 720 and Paperboy panels, but those need control panel overlays.

I know that this exact subject has been discussed somewhat recently here on KLOV, but I don't know where the thread is. LOL

I have a massive number of open projects being worked on, so things are moving a little slow. However, if you have not noticed, I've been completing a a lot of parts these last few months. In fact, it's kind of crazy just how much I've been getting done.

Dave

That's awesome. I'll want a Missile Command one. What artwork file are you using for the Missile Command? If I had a 300 DPI-or-better (600 DPI is ideal) scan of an original Missile Command CP I would trace it myself. I'm a stickler for accuracy when it comes to tracing, going so far as to trace individual letters at 3200% zoom if I can't find an exact font match. I don't know how accurate the existing files out there are because I've never seen a good scan of an original to compare it to.

Regarding the black base color, were the originals painted or powder coated? Are you able to match the texture of the originals?
 
I'm using my own files. I recreated the artwork using an original panel I had access to. I've found that most of the "files" that are available out there are flawed in one way or another, so I decided early on to just recreate my own artwork (if I couldn't get the original films) using Adobe Illustrator. This way, I have complete control over the quality of the art itself. If you've ever looked at my repro parts, you'd know how much attention I pay to fine details.

Original panels were powdercoated, no question about it. Texture is easy to match.

Dave

That's awesome. I'll want a Missile Command one. What artwork file are you using for the Missile Command? If I had a 300 DPI-or-better (600 DPI is ideal) scan of an original Missile Command CP I would trace it myself. I'm a stickler for accuracy when it comes to tracing, going so far as to trace individual letters at 3200% zoom if I can't find an exact font match. I don't know how accurate the existing files out there are because I've never seen a good scan of an original to compare it to.

Regarding the black base color, were the originals painted or powder coated? Are you able to match the texture of the originals?
 
I'm using my own files. I recreated the artwork using an original panel I had access to. I've found that most of the "files" that are available out there are flawed in one way or another, so I decided early on to just recreate my own artwork (if I couldn't get the original films) using Adobe Illustrator. This way, I have complete control over the quality of the art itself. If you've ever looked at my repro parts, you'd know how much attention I pay to fine details.

Original panels were powdercoated, no question about it. Texture is easy to match.

Dave

Excellent.

And yeah, a lot of existing artwork files floating around out there have significant errors. I've even seen some actual reproduction pieces that look like they were printed from a file that wasn't even made by tracing; but rather, it looks like someone just glanced at an original and then drew up an approximation of it from memory.
 
As a matter of fact, yes. Already doing Battlezone, Missile Command (upright and cockpit), Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe and Lunar Lander control panels which will have the artwork screened directly onto the panels themselves.

!!

Any idea what you'll be looking to get for a Missile Command? Sounds great!
 
Dave,

Are the I,Robot stickers and control panels going to be ready by Oct. 31. Just wondering since I ordered a couple of each a while back. Sent an email to find out and never got a response.

~e
 
Dave,

Are the I,Robot stickers and control panels going to be ready by Oct. 31. Just wondering since I ordered a couple of each a while back. Sent an email to find out and never got a response.

~e

Wait, he's making those too? Oh man, I'm gonna have to make a big order once everything is for sale...
 
Whoa, I, Robot parts! I had no idea you were making these... what's the progress on these, and how long will the pre-orders be continuing?

(I've got a Choplifter-converted I, Robot, so I'll be picking up a harness and a handful of cosmetic pieces at least)
 
I'm definitely missing my target dates on the I, Robot parts. I've been putting a lot of focus into the SW yoke project to complete it on time, plus I made some last minute design changes to the IR control panel to make it better than the original. The problem is that the reproduction were PERFECT reproductions, down to and including all of the original flaws. Seeing as it's something *I* am making, I couldn't approve those flaws, so back to the drawing board.

We're not far off, though. I recently produced my fourth prototype control panel and it appears that the flaws (super thin/weak walls on some of the edges) has been overcome AND without any detriment to the form/fit/function of the item. It's takes some real time and effort to make these completely transparent upgrades while maintaining the original look/feel/intent of the part in question.

BTW, I should have some news on the Major Havoc GLASS marquees sometime soon. Who was it that wanted them, again? As always, the product will be far superior to any version produced before it. :)

Dave

P.S. That reminds me, does anyone have the exact dimensions for the glass on the space duel conversion marquee? Or any space duel/gravitar/blackwidow marquee?
 
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You mentioned a Xybots joystick shaft. Any possibility at all that we might see a repro decal for the top of the joystick? I'm missing *one* and it's the only thing my machine is missing to be 100%. :)
 
Hey Dave....

Any possibility of making an extruder mold for the original white Nintendo T-Molding?

There is someone in the hobby that has access to a t-molding manufacturer and did a run of SW Cockpit T-molding.



..
 
BTW, I should have some news on the Major Havoc GLASS marquees sometime soon. Who was it that wanted them, again? As always, the product will be far superior to any version produced before it. :)

Dave

P.S. That reminds me, does anyone have the exact dimensions for the glass on the space duel conversion marquee? Or any space duel/gravitar/blackwidow marquee?


If you are doing the Major Havoc/SD conversion marquees on glass, I am in for one.

The SD marquee is 23 11/16" x 6 1/2"
 
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