Bacteria's Multi-Console System: Screen+Case+N64 - FINISHED

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:57 pm

Sure mate, thanks for the supportive comments.

I will probably use hinges for the battery compartment, not decided yet. I have some time tomorrow to devote to the project, I am hoping to get the case finished and at a stage of painting it - all depends on how long the battery compartment takes to complete.

project_failure · Post by **project_failure** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:02 pm

I will probably use hinges for the battery compartment

I'm am interested in seeing how that would turn out.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:25 am

project_failure wrote:
I will probably use hinges for the battery compartment
I'm am interested in seeing how that would turn out.

Me too, might get an hour or so this afternoon to experiment. I will post pics of it when done. Sort of thinking of two hinges on one side (longer side) and catch on other side; not sure yet, will need to see what bits I have to utilize. I have some small hinges from an old jewelry box my wife didn't want anymore. Before throwing things out these days, I salvage any interesting bits first - excellent idea when it comes to small screws, etc!

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:44 am

This is how I am making the rear of the battery cover - two hinges and the part of the N64 controller to keep the memory card inserted in place!

After dremeling with a circle wheel and sanding wheel, I got:

I intend to use that bit as a catch on the opposite side to the hinges. Pic below shows the hinges:

Perspex on, trimmed the perspex down where the hinge joins between the compartment and the top piece, hot glued the hinges onto the lid and used UHU glue to stick the other part of the hinge to the compartment. I will conceal this so they won't be visible; but first stage first!! The hinges will only be visible on the inside of the battery compartment by the time I finish this. Looking neat!!

Neildo_64 · Post by **Neildo_64** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:25 pm

Indeed looking very neat! Very nice, as usual. You know, since you've been working on this for so long and showing us so many pics and getting us all excited, we all get to play it when it's done! I got second dibs.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:39 am

Neildo_64 - Pleased you like it.

Update time

The section concerned needs to me made prettier - the catch at the bottom will be smoothed with some Polyfiller to make it look integrated to the case, the top will be painted and the hinges outside the case will be concealed.
Here is a short video with my much improved battery compartment, working. For the first time you can also hear the voice of Bacteria! (

). I sound a bit like a geek (must be a reason for that!).

I think this will look very nice indeed. It is easy to insert the batteries, I can remove them either by turning the system upside down or pulling on the wires (when the catch is disengaged). More work to make it look nice, but it shows my hinges and catch (from the memory card holder spring bit in the N64 controller) works. I also need to put some foam in the battery compartment lid to make sure the batteries don't move when the system is being played.

project_failure · Post by **project_failure** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:47 am

I like the battery Idea. Pure genius.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:29 am

Thanks project_failure. I think it looks nicer and is far better than before.

Update time - thought I would put the update as a video update for a change - enjoy...

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:51 am

Nice little update to share - case finished, covered it in paper (to give paint chance to stick to the perspex, and also fill in cracks and gaps), system seems airtight now, so airflow can properly come into the case from around the game cart and over the expansion pack and out via the fan, after the air has passed the N64 mobo. As planned.

System section fits tightly into screen section, locks securely and properly. I used two pieces of ribbon so I can pull out the cart slots on both sides of the system and as such remove the N64 system, so I can put in another system (when I make more!). This works effectively and doesn't interfere with using or holding the system at all.

System tested, seems to all work nicely. I mis-wired a few wires so I only got mono sound and one of the shoulder buttons didn't make contact - resolve this and all works perfectly now.

I played several minutes of Doom 64 this morning on the system, the shoulder buttons, Z, joystick, control buttons are all in the right place and fine to use. System weighs a bit, but not overly so.

Put first coat of paint on the system, needs more, then varnishing. System looks very nice. Those of you who have seen my previous projects know they look messy until the end, then I pull the rabbit from the hat and it all looks good!

Looks like I am about at the stage when I can start cracking on with my website. I want to make it comprehensive, the aim being everything I have learnt about each system, from research and my own experimentation, will be on the site. I want the site to be THE most comprehensive on the net, for each system I implement. There is no point just making it basic, I want it very comprehensive and a landmark. That means a LOT of time, effort and graft. I will wait until that is done, then post this current, completed system with final screenpics, and vids, here and there. It will probably take a few weeks before I upload the site.

I could have done a blog for free (Google blogs) but I want to categorize all the stages involved, from tools and safety to all elements of construction and ho-to's - so a blog is not good enough, a web site is needed.

Any questions, please fire away.

Gordon1 · Post by **Gordon1** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:47 am

You spelled middle wrong in your video.

Dbstew · Post by **Dbstew** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:55 am

It's looking great! I like your video updates, gives a better idea of the whole system..

Good luck with your website! I think it's a great idea.. You always go into a lot of detail, and too much information is so much better than a lack of it (like most sites). People can really learn of what you do here

kasar · Post by **kasar** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:17 am

I liked in the video how the batteries fit perfect into the compartiment.

As nice as allways bacteria

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:31 am

That battery compartment idea will be stolen, thats so ingeniously awesome.

Thats the first vid of yours that I've watched. You sound....old.

SS

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:06 pm

Gordon1 - Yes, I know, but didn't bother to amend it!

Dbstew - Now I have my camera with voice recording (got it end of April), I can do short vids. Thanks - I just feel it would be nice to have my work detailed in a website, easier to show my work off and it doesn't get lost in the threads like here! The content will be very detailed. Also, i'm not just doing one system (N64), I am also doing a large variety of other systems over the next several months - SNES, SMS, NES, GX4000, plug'n'plays (several), Jaguar, MegaDrive, GameCube, PlayStation. They will all be documented - all relevant information I can find will be on the site.

I am going to use Host Papa (as detailed before), they give you a free use of SohoLaunch Pro in their package, and PHP, FTP, etc; I need though to pay for a year (about Â£60) so I can register a domain and use the software, not ventured into this before, it will be interesting. I plan to make a start tomorrow, by getting my documentation started; when done, I can pay for my web service (no point before as I won't be ready for it).

kasar - Thanks. Simple catch, but it works. The weight of the batteries on the case keeps the catch in place - it only holds it by about 2mm after all!

ShockSlayer - Thanks! I have no problem with people using my ideas and designs, i'm not one of those copyright nuts! In fact, I actively encourage it - copycat is the sincerest form of flattery after all.

Yes, SS, to you I am "old", 42 to be exact. But then I thought most people, including you, by now realised I was the oldest here? I do sound a bit geeky though!! I played the old consoles in my youth when they first came out, and also the old arcade classics at the arcades - hence why I still love playing games (and as I am older I have money to spend on hobbies).

Made a rather good discovery; as you know, spraypaint doesn't cover any blemishes on a case, and normal paint doesn't either, that is why I used one-coat (oil based). I had a job on the screen casing to keep the paint to behave - when I painted my system case today with normal paint, I got some areas where blemishes showed through, so I painted my one-coat over it - works perfectly, blemishes far less visible. I think that is the answer when painting perspex - glue paper to the perspex, paint with normal paint, then use one-coat (followed by varnish). Lovely!

It is nice after this time to have a fully working and nice looking system, it has taken a lot of work!

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:37 am

I decided to not wait until my site is up, I spent some time this afternoon with my camera and the tripod I made for it and made this video - showing the system in all its glory. Please view it, you will be impressed!!

I will delay posting this in News however until my website is done; I just figured as it will take a while, I may as well show my system off now!!

I an interested to hear your comments after you see the video - you can now see the result of a lot of labour:

I will be posting this on various other forums in due course, once my site is up and running. I thought everyone here would like to see it first - hot off the press! I plan to make some covers for the tact switches for the shoulder buttons, and maybe re-paint the sides of the casing to make it even; minor stuff.