Darth 64 .... My Portable N64 :) Youtube Video Added

[jonjandran]

Well for those of you who do not visit the BenHeck forums I would like to show off my N64 Portable I built.

*edit*Added a youtube video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66gd9CKCWAU

It took me around 3 weeks :

DARTH 64

http://jonjandran.com/pics/jonjandran/dv1.JPG

http://jonjandran.com/pics/jonjandran/dv2.JPG


http://jonjandran.com/pics/jonjandran/DSC07100.JPG

http://jonjandran.com/pics/jonjandran/dv4.JPG


This of course is a N64 portable. I named it the Darth 64 because my kids say it resembled the Darth Vader helmet they have :)

I wanted a system that was bulletproof. I bought some portables from the Ben Heck site and the build quality was shaky to say the least. Hot glue just doesn't hold a portable together IMO.

So I used a case that I could mold into what I wanted but could still be put back together with screws. All integrated plastic parts were ABS Cement melted and fused to the original case, then hard filler bumper epoxy was used then soft fill bumper epoxy for the finishing touches.

The N64 motherboard was attached using plastic stand-offs that were Abs cemented and epoxied in. Then the cart slot was attached to the motherboard with l-brackets and nuts/bolts.

So everything is rock solid. Shake it or drop it and nothing will come loose or rattle.

List of features:
Psone screen with original backlight.
Flush mounted headphone jack.
5000maH Li-Poly batteries with quick charger and protection circuit.
Gamecube style joystick and d-pad.
Rear shoulder buttons and twin z buttons.
Cart slot relocation.

The insides :

http://jonjandran.com/pics/jonjandran/DSC07091.JPG

My work log if anyone wants to see the whole making of it process :)

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=25815
http://jonjandran.com/pics/jonjandran/DSC07091

[Krook]

Good job man!
Awesome work :)

[Nortonfan]

I hate you!!! That looks so awesome. Around how much do you think it cost you to build it?

[jonjandran]

I hate you!!! That looks so awesome. Around how much do you think it cost you to build it?

Thanks for the compliment guys :)

Here's what I have invested :

N64 --- $15
Psone Lcd --- $20
Hori GamePad --- $50
Li-Poly batteries --- $75
Paint and supplies --- $35
Epoxy/Abs --- $50

Total ------- $240

LOTS OF TIME !!!!!!!!!!!

[Nortonfan]

If someone were to send you the things needed, would you build one again for the right price?

[jonjandran]

If someone were to send you the things needed, would you build one again for the right price?

Yes but I couldn't replicate that case again unless someone can find me another Lazer Doodle. :)

And I would have to be able to make a decent profit because it takes about 50-70 hours with sanding painting, etc.

[Nortonfan]

Yea, I was just entertaining the idea. I love the way yours looks, you did a great job on it. What's a Lazer Doodle?

[jonjandran]

Yea, I was just entertaining the idea. I love the way yours looks, you did a great job on it. What's a Lazer Doodle?

It's a handheld led "drawing" system that I used as the start to my case:


http://jonjandran.com/pics/jonjandran/DSC06686.JPG

[Nortonfan]

I sent you a PM.

[Peonpiate]

Thats very 'pro' looking [I hate using that word but it fits here]. great looking paintjob and layout.

One thing im curious about though is the battery life, you had to use a 'real' N64 for the console I take it, so how good or bad is battery use all things considered...and how much does it weight and what are dimensions. :-D

[otaku]

very well done if I had enough money to throw at one I'd commision one.

[jonjandran]

Thats very 'pro' looking [I hate using that word but it fits here]. great looking paintjob and layout.

One thing im curious about though is the battery life, you had to use a 'real' N64 for the console I take it, so how good or bad is battery use all things considered...and how much does it weight and what are dimensions. :-D

Battery life is between 3-4 hours depending on the game.

And here are comparison pics :

http://jonjandran.com/pics/jonjandran/DSC07123.JPG


http://jonjandran.com/pics/jonjandran/DSC07120.JPG

[alxbly]

It's gorgeous, definitely the best portable N64 I've seen.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

So, when you say that you "bought some portables from the Ben Heck site" ... do you mean you bought consoles that BEN crafted, or off of members of his forums?

Also, very nice job on the casemod!

[Jumpman Jr.]

That's definitely one of the most amazing things I've seen in a while.

[zektor]

Very nice work man!

[jonjandran]

So, when you say that you "bought some portables from the Ben Heck site" ... do you mean you bought consoles that BEN crafted, or off of members of his forums?

Also, very nice job on the casemod!

I bought one of Bens Portable Atari and it was top notch. The hinges broke in shipment and I sent it to him and he replaced them and paid for shipping.
And it was a quality job.

But I also bought some nice ones that others built. A good quality N64 and Nes portable. But the makers used way to much hot glue to hold things and I wound up having to repair them all the time.

Mine won't break unless dropped from the roof :)

[Dastardly Dylan]

Wow, I gotta hand it to you that is amazing. Must of took some time as you said, but totally worth it.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I bought one of Bens Portable Atari and it was top notch. The hinges broke in shipment and I sent it to him and he replaced them and paid for shipping.
And it was a quality job.

But I also bought some nice ones that others built. A good quality N64 and Nes portable. But the makers used way to much hot glue to hold things and I wound up having to repair them all the time.

Mine won't break unless dropped from the roof :)

Sweet.

Ben modded my 2600 Flashback 2 for cartridge input and did a bang-up job.

Personally, I'm not very mechanically/electronically inclined, but I totally know that hot glue is WAY too "arts & crafts-y" to be using in something like a modded portable console ... it doesn't really "bond" anything!

[c0ldb33r]

Wow, based on the topic title I was expecting this to suck, but I'm VERY impressed. Awesome job :)

[InsaneDavid]

Amazing CLEAN work. Impressive... most impressive.


Personally, I'm not very mechanically/electronically inclined, but I totally know that hot glue is WAY too "arts & crafts-y" to be using in something like a modded portable console ... it doesn't really "bond" anything!

Indeed, it's good for tacking down wires along a PCB after soldering their connections so they won't go anywhere and to keep their routing clean, but not much else.

[Life of Brian]

It's a handheld led "drawing" system that I used as the start to my caseHa ha! So that's what you used for the case. I was wondering, but didn't ask on the benheck forums.

[Malon_Forever]

That's really cool. Nice job!


I was wondering though, how heavy is it?

[jonjandran]

Ha ha! So that's what you used for the case. I was wondering, but didn't ask on the benheck forums.

It's right in my Build Thread. :-D

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=25815

[jonjandran]

That's really cool. Nice job!


I was wondering though, how heavy is it?

Almost as heavy as holding a N64.

I don't have an exact weight.

[Bratwurst]

Easily the best looking custom portable I have yet seen. Fantastic job.

[boatofcar]

*Waits for Kamino to come in and say how much it sucks.

[The 1 2 P]

Nice job. You should make another one and ebay it.

[Greg2600]

Amazing job there, a Portable the way it should be. All it needs are some N64 decals. I'm guessing you couldn't fit the Expansion Pak in it?

[jonjandran]

Amazing job there, a Portable the way it should be. All it needs are some N64 decals. I'm guessing you couldn't fit the Expansion Pak in it?

Yep the expansion pack is in there and working fine. I just took it out of it's case. It's 1/3 the size out of the case.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

How hot does it get?

I recall the N64 was quite the heat-sink of a system.

[jonjandran]

How hot does it get?

I recall the N64 was quite the heat-sink of a system.

I haven't even noticed it get warm yet. Probably need to play it for an hour or two straight and see what happens.

[jonjandran]

Amazing job there, a Portable the way it should be. All it needs are some N64 decals. I'm guessing you couldn't fit the Expansion Pak in it?

Yea someone had some for sale but I missed out :(

[RagedGamer]

This is some nice custom work. Not exactly pocket size lol but probably the best I've seen, second only to this one:

http://portablesofdoom.org/images/daguuy_IMG_0006_882897694.JPG

ROFL

[Joe West]

looks good................................

[ssjlance]

I don't care too much for the layout, but still an awesome job. Best N64 portable I've ever seen, and one of the best custom portables overall as well.

[boatofcar]

I don't care too much for the layout, but still an awesome job.

What's wrong with the layout?

[jonjandran]

What's wrong with the layout?

He probably means the joystick/button positions.

I have another one in the works with the joystick/buttons higher up and spaced a lot closer to the edges.

Took some work to find another Lazer Doodle :)

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

This is some nice custom work. Not exactly pocket size lol but probably the best I've seen, second only to this one:

http://portablesofdoom.org/images/daguuy_IMG_0006_882897694.JPG

ROFL

Is that hot-glue I see?

[jonjandran]

Is that hot-glue I see?

Yikes that is some interesting work. :bawling:

[ssjlance]

What's wrong with the layout?

It's the way the buttons are arranged and how the screen is right above them. The buttons/pad/joystick are all way too close together for my personal tastes. But, as I said, certainly one of the best I've seen, regardless of what I may seem to think about the layout..

[Kyle15]

That is an extremely impressive piece of work. @_@
What do you plan on "shrinking" next?

[jonjandran]

That is an extremely impressive piece of work. @_@
What do you plan on "shrinking" next?

In the works right now is a Snes and a Genesis.

But then I am going for a Dreamcast and a PS2.

[The Shawn]

I gotta say man, that is every shade of jawsumness! Truly the best looking N64 portable Iv'e ever laid eyes on! And I read about this shit constantly, I just don't voice my opinion to much.

Really cool!

[Juganawt]

*dribble* portable Perfect Dark........*drooool* Nice work fella!

[ianoid]

Totally rawks.

[16bitter]

Very nice work, indeed.

[jonjandran]

*edit* Added a youtube video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66gd9CKCWAU

[The 1 2 P]

*edit* Added a youtube video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66gd9CKCWAU

Cool video, especially the intro credits and the simplified explanations. But the best line: "everyone knows plumbers can swim, especially fat ones.":)