Whilst selling my dedicated Bosconian board to a forum member I got an idea to enable me to relive its delights on the cheap. I saw a Namco TV-console come up for £10 and wondered how easy it'd be to hook it up to the control panel I use for my SuperGun; it turns out it's very easy! Cheaper then a multi-board too.
I challenge anyone to get RGB out of these instead of the in-built composite (go on... I dare you to do it!).
Take 1 battery powered Namco TV console (doesn't have to be turned 90 degrees):
If you want to keep the front sticker then simply slit it horizontally across the join. I opted to completely remove it at the end but you might want to keep it for aesthetics. The top and bottom halves of the console will shortly be separated.
Carefully peel back the 4 corners of each side sticker and take out the 4 hidden screws on each side with a philips screwdriver:
Pull off sides and remove the two white clips holding the top and bottom halves together.
Carefully pull the top away from the bottom and you'll find the back plate also comes away separately.
Open it up and marvel at how accessible everything is:
Take a closer look at the PCB and how easy it'll be to solder on a few new wires:
Prepare wires and D15 for soldering. I recommend using solder-paste and taping down the D15:
Start the soldering task with a handy reference nearby. Keep in mind you're soldering from behind the pinout of a male D15:
For reference I soldered all 4 joystick directions, button 1 as fire, Start as reset, and the GND pin. I didn't bother with the 'L-Reset' contact as the console didn't use it:
Desolder the battery wires from the bottom half of the console so that you can take the bottom half away and cut a D15 sized hole in the front of it. Remember to allow space for the screw either side or for glue gun madness. I also needed to file away a small part from the front of the top half as it protruded into the space of the D15. Solder the battery wires back on.
My wires were a little too long! I also opted to glue gun the D15 into the bottom half:
Put the two halves back together, add the two white side clips, place the sides back on and finally screw back the 4 screws on each side. Liberally apply pritt stick (other glue sticks are available) to the corners of the stickers you peeled back and press them into place once more.
Admire your handy work:
When i've finished my SuperGun controls I'll give it a play test and upload the video here.
I challenge anyone to get RGB out of these instead of the in-built composite (go on... I dare you to do it!).
Take 1 battery powered Namco TV console (doesn't have to be turned 90 degrees):
If you want to keep the front sticker then simply slit it horizontally across the join. I opted to completely remove it at the end but you might want to keep it for aesthetics. The top and bottom halves of the console will shortly be separated.
Carefully peel back the 4 corners of each side sticker and take out the 4 hidden screws on each side with a philips screwdriver:
Pull off sides and remove the two white clips holding the top and bottom halves together.
Carefully pull the top away from the bottom and you'll find the back plate also comes away separately.
Open it up and marvel at how accessible everything is:
Take a closer look at the PCB and how easy it'll be to solder on a few new wires:
Prepare wires and D15 for soldering. I recommend using solder-paste and taping down the D15:
Start the soldering task with a handy reference nearby. Keep in mind you're soldering from behind the pinout of a male D15:
For reference I soldered all 4 joystick directions, button 1 as fire, Start as reset, and the GND pin. I didn't bother with the 'L-Reset' contact as the console didn't use it:
Desolder the battery wires from the bottom half of the console so that you can take the bottom half away and cut a D15 sized hole in the front of it. Remember to allow space for the screw either side or for glue gun madness. I also needed to file away a small part from the front of the top half as it protruded into the space of the D15. Solder the battery wires back on.
My wires were a little too long! I also opted to glue gun the D15 into the bottom half:
Put the two halves back together, add the two white side clips, place the sides back on and finally screw back the 4 screws on each side. Liberally apply pritt stick (other glue sticks are available) to the corners of the stickers you peeled back and press them into place once more.
Admire your handy work:
When i've finished my SuperGun controls I'll give it a play test and upload the video here.
