sudomod

Kite's marketing is spot on... that was an adventure. It had been a while since I tested my skills (and patience) with a project like this. My soldering iron had been resting comfortably in a tackle box I re-purposed during my college years to hold all of my electronics gear. But, Wermy's videos were speaking to me... and the Circuit Sword looked like just the thing to "scratch the itch" that had been building slowly.

When I started this project, the slightest misstep drove me nuts. Today, while I was taking photos to share... I realized one of the posts of my HoolyHoo bracket had sheared completely off from over-tightening. I just did some cleanup with my Dremel and epoxied the shit out of it. All fixed, no big deal. It would be nice if everything turned out perfect the first time, but I wouldn't have learned anything... and I "learned" a lot.

Some things I learned:

• Don't use epoxy until you've test fit everything... twice.
• Make sure your screen is exactly where you want it before epoxy comes anywhere near it.
• Be mindful of the Dremel. (Plastic scratches so easily.)
• Rosin makes for happy soldering.
• No, this is not the "last time" you'll have to take everything apart and put it back together.
• Yes, you didn't put the ribbon cable in straight again.

Big thanks to Kite, Wermy and all of the folks who take the time to share stuff on forums and youtube. My final product has bits and pieces of inspiration from so many different sources. It all came together because I was able to constantly come back and look for answers to my questions. You guys rock!

Here's the parts I ended up using after all of my research:

• Shell, Buttons and Pads from Retro Modding
• Screen Cover from Retropie Handhelds
• Stickers from YaYa Design
• Helder's MEGABAT
• Veco Speaker
• Cartridge from Hand Held Legend
• HoolyHoo Bracket
• Shoulder Button Bracket from Glitch'd Gaming
• HoolyHoo's Power Switch Bracket
• Eltoozero's Back Board Bracket
• DIESEL_DUMMY's Headphone Jack Collar
• PSP 1000 Joystick
• 3DS Joystick Cap
• Carrying Case

Here's the finished product... I got this case from Amazon and used a Flat Iron to create a well for the back buttons. Pretty pleased with the results. Very happy with the final alignment on the screen. (This is the second top half I built. The first ended up enough off-center that I just couldn't live with it.) I don't know why, but I love this little addition to the headphone jack. Had to make room for the speaker and battery. (The foam tape keeps the battery snug.) Man, those stickers are really cool. The insides aren't as pretty as the outsides, but I'm happy with how everything turned out. More of the insides... Can you spot which post was broken?

Nice built! Where did you get the green silicone rubber pads?

Phiro13 wrote: ↑

Sun May 05, 2019 11:57 pm

Nice built! Where did you get the green silicone rubber pads?

Retro Modding: Game Boy Silicone Pads - Lime Green Solid

If you don't care about the A/B buttons, I've got a bunch of leftover d-pad and start/select... PM me if you're interested and live in the USA.

kopas wrote: ↑

Sun May 05, 2019 8:09 pm

No, this is not the "last time" you'll have to take everything apart and put it back together.

tell me about it

Nice build
how did you install the DS Cap on the PSP Joystick?

iAno wrote: ↑

Wed May 08, 2019 1:12 pm

Nice build
how did you install the DS Cap on the PSP Joystick?

IDK how this build has it....

but here is a couple of ways....


https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=5429


https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic ... 303#p63596



.

iAno wrote: ↑

Wed May 08, 2019 1:12 pm

Nice build
how did you install the DS Cap on the PSP Joystick?

I did the "sand and epoxy" method:

1. Cut the bottom portion of the 3DS cap off, sand it flat.
2. Sand the top of the PSP cap flat.
3. Epoxy them together.

I got the idea from Kayumba's Circuit Sword build. There's a great set of pictures that show how it's done.

Nice looking build! I know many dont like hot glue but it's saved me on more than once project with the ease of removal to move or even salvage parts when something didn't go as planned.

iAno wrote: ↑

Wed May 08, 2019 1:12 pm

Nice build
how did you install the DS Cap on the PSP Joystick?

Tale a look at my build.
I show on picture how i did it.

MrErickson wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 02, 2019 8:39 am

Nice looking build! I know many dont like hot glue but it's saved me on more than once project with the ease of removal to move or even salvage parts when something didn't go as planned.

Yeah, I personally went with epoxy because I was worried about it coming apart. (Which, now I don't think would have been an issue.) But on my next one I think I'll go hot glue first and then maybe epoxy sometime down the line when I finally stop messing with it.