Pi 3 Gear (WIP)

Got an idea for a project? Found a cool project you want to share? Post it here!
User avatar
RarinImp
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:17 am
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 13 times

Pi 3 Gear (WIP)

Post by RarinImp » Sun Apr 30, 2017 7:51 pm

Hey all,
As some of you have seen, I'm slowly working on a game gear pi 3. This is my first real jump into doing anything with electronics, as well as case modding, etc.

That said, I thought I'd post the minimal progress thus far, as I'm waiting on slow boat shipping for most of my parts.

Parts ordered
Pi 3
Leonardo microcontroller
Banggood power
Laza Galaxy S4 5200mah battery
KeDei hdmi display
Caps / resistors for pwm
0.5w 8ohm speakers(x2)
Mini PAM8403 2X3W Stereo Digital Audio Amp

Not sure about buttons yet. Buttons, if I can figure it out, will most likely be salvaged from an old Xbox 360 controller.

I'll definitely update this thread as I progress, however, between the slow shipping on parts, and the fact that I drive truck over the road, updates may be sporadic.
SpoilerShow
image.jpg
image.jpg (1.23 MiB) Viewed 8235 times
Edit: Added parts ordered and links, changing battery from Chinese to US supplied because of better reviews.
Last edited by RarinImp on Mon May 01, 2017 9:02 am, edited 2 times in total.

Lpoolm
Posts: 392
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 4:17 am
Location: uk
Has thanked: 76 times
Been thanked: 51 times

Re: Pi 3 Gear (WIP)

Post by Lpoolm » Mon May 01, 2017 4:55 am

What do you plan to use to paint the case?
Check out my modding and repair channel of retro and modern consoles:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFz7yW ... GtQ/videos

User avatar
VeteranGamer
Posts: 1738
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2017 11:12 am
Location: London, UK
Has thanked: 528 times
Been thanked: 909 times

Re: Pi 3 Gear (WIP)

Post by VeteranGamer » Mon May 01, 2017 5:47 am

looks like you've got a project on your hands....

really looking forward to the updates....

good luck with the build

User avatar
RarinImp
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:17 am
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 13 times

Re: Pi 3 Gear (WIP)

Post by RarinImp » Mon May 01, 2017 8:22 am

Lpoolm wrote:
Mon May 01, 2017 4:55 am
What do you plan to use to paint the case?
I'll be using the old school rattle can technique for paint. I found a great metallic blue.

http://www.craftmore.com/krylon-shimmer ... AjYF8P8HAQ
VeteranGamer wrote:
Mon May 01, 2017 5:47 am
looks like you've got a project on your hands....

really looking forward to the updates....

good luck with the build
Thanks, I'm definitely going to need a bit of luck. I ordered some more stuff last night and am adding parts to first post. Ordered lots of extras, in case I screw something up :mrgreen:
Or if the build goes well, I'll start a dmg or ds build when I finish this.

Lpoolm
Posts: 392
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 4:17 am
Location: uk
Has thanked: 76 times
Been thanked: 51 times

Re: Pi 3 Gear (WIP)

Post by Lpoolm » Mon May 01, 2017 11:39 am

I'll be using the old school rattle can technique for paint. I found a great metallic blue.




thanks, do you know if this will wear off with fingers rubbing on it? i need to find a paint solution too!
Check out my modding and repair channel of retro and modern consoles:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFz7yW ... GtQ/videos

User avatar
RarinImp
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:17 am
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 13 times

Re: Pi 3 Gear (WIP)

Post by RarinImp » Mon May 01, 2017 11:59 am

Lpoolm wrote:
Mon May 01, 2017 11:39 am
thanks, do you know if this will wear off with fingers rubbing on it? i need to find a paint solution too!
It's very possible that it will eventually wear off, but I will probably use 2-3 layers of high gloss clear coat after the several layers of paint. I say several layers as my rattle can skills aren't that great, and I figure a bit of wet sanding is likely to remove any possible runs.

The part I'm currently trying to figure out is if/where I can cut the board from an old 360 controller that will keep pwr and gnd on both sides of the screen.

I'm also debating on using an analog stick in place of a d-pad, but that depends on how much work it'd be to get it working with the various emulators, as well as wiring it up.

User avatar
RetroRocket
Posts: 146
Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2017 8:53 pm
Location: Seattle
Has thanked: 60 times
Been thanked: 64 times
Contact:

Re: Pi 3 Gear (WIP)

Post by RetroRocket » Mon May 01, 2017 12:52 pm

RarinImp wrote:
Mon May 01, 2017 11:59 am
Lpoolm wrote:
Mon May 01, 2017 11:39 am
thanks, do you know if this will wear off with fingers rubbing on it? i need to find a paint solution too!
It's very possible that it will eventually wear off, but I will probably use 2-3 layers of high gloss clear coat after the several layers of paint. I say several layers as my rattle can skills aren't that great, and I figure a bit of wet sanding is likely to remove any possible runs.

The part I'm currently trying to figure out is if/where I can cut the board from an old 360 controller that will keep pwr and gnd on both sides of the screen.

I'm also debating on using an analog stick in place of a d-pad, but that depends on how much work it'd be to get it working with the various emulators, as well as wiring it up.
When you get there, let me know if you need any help; model making and painting is kind of my thing :D I'd suggest you sand the original case down a bit and use a primer before using that Krylon; In addition to evening out the surface texture, it'll give you better adhesion and prevent goopiness that those plastic paints are prone to.
SpoilerShow
Final5.JPG
Final5.JPG (262.04 KiB) Viewed 8176 times
I'm excited to see this build come together!

User avatar
RarinImp
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:17 am
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 13 times

Re: Pi 3 Gear (WIP)

Post by RarinImp » Mon May 01, 2017 1:03 pm

RetroRocket wrote:
Mon May 01, 2017 12:52 pm
When you get there, let me know if you need any help; model making and painting is kind of my thing :D I'd suggest you sand the original case down a bit and use a primer before using that Krylon; In addition to evening out the surface texture, it'll give you better adhesion and prevent goopiness that those plastic paints are prone to.
SpoilerShow
Final5.JPG
I'm excited to see this build come together!
Thanks RetroRocket, I had completely overlooked priming the case before paint. I planned to rough up the case to help with paint adhesion (not to mention its roughed up around the bondo already)

User avatar
RarinImp
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:17 am
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 13 times

Re: Pi 3 Gear (WIP)

Post by RarinImp » Mon May 01, 2017 8:30 pm

Small bit of progress today. Had to cut out one of the battery cavities for the transplanted Xbox button wells, and cut the well around the d-pad to fit an analog stick in its place.

Battery cavity removed
SpoilerShow
image.jpg
image.jpg (1.43 MiB) Viewed 8164 times


D-pad widened slightly
SpoilerShow
image.jpg
image.jpg (1.89 MiB) Viewed 8164 times

D-pad fitment preview
SpoilerShow
IMG_0017.JPG
IMG_0017.JPG (1.84 MiB) Viewed 8164 times

ICMF
Posts: 279
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:52 pm
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 97 times

Re: Pi 3 Gear (WIP)

Post by ICMF » Mon May 01, 2017 9:31 pm

Nice progress. And happy 25th birthday to your Game Gear shell. :D

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest