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Monsterbox
02-22-2007, 11:21 PM
Title weird enough for you?

Anyway, I have a LAN party coming up this weekend where we're going to be playing Gears of War and Halo 2 pretty much all day. However, I don't have any mods around at the moment but I still want to "peddle my wares" to the fabulous public at the event. What's a modder to do?

No, not getting drunk and hoping people feel sorry for me. Its a last-minute controller mod of course! Not a whole lot of time to get things done (10pm Thursday night and the event starts at 10am on Saturday), so this is going to have to be quick and dirty.

What's on the menu?
Well, time to make a wireless XBox 360 controller look a little bit more retro. I don't have time to model-paint the triggers, so I'm going to leave the front-plate white for a 1950's two-tone look. Think of it like a Wireless contoller with Whitewalls.

Anyway, the tools of the trade are thus:
#8 Torx Security Driver (http://www.decalgirl.com/browse.cfm/4,5062.htm)
100 Grit (Medium) Sandpaper
Flat Black Spray Enamel

First, we use the Torx to take apart the controller, then sand her down with the 100 Grit to rough up the finish so it'll accept the paint better.

http://www.monsterb0x.com/images/mod/360con/360conSanded.jpg

Then we apply a few coats of the Flat Black.

http://www.monsterb0x.com/images/mod/360con/360conPaint01.jpg

Now to let it dry overnight and reassemble the whole thing tomorrow and see how she turns out. I will update tomorrow as soon as I re-assemble the controller.

Future mods to this controller will include lighted buttons (A,B,X,Y) as well as painting the triggers, bumpers and front panel Flat Red for a nice two-tone effect. I'm also toying with the idea of cutting out the area around that horrible d-pad and putting something a lot more responsive in there. I mean, bricks are more responsive, but I want NES controller style response out of it. (Sorry, the d-pad from an NES is too small, I already measured. ;))

luciusad2004
02-22-2007, 11:27 PM
I was planning on trying this out with my spare wired one. The eventual goal is to get familiar with painting so that i have the confidence to paint a wireless one after plopping fifty dollars down on one. Unless of coarse i go the ebay route.

Cant wait to see how it looks finished.

Monsterbox
02-24-2007, 12:40 AM
Primer applied and ready to go! I also changed my mind a bit and decided to paint the bumpers and triggers after all. What other colour could I possibly use but XBox Green!

Here's a pic of the final painting.

http://www.monsterb0x.com/images/mod/360con/360conPaint02.jpg

Now all I need to do is sleep with my fingers crossed that the whole thing dries in time to be reassembled for the party tomorrow....

luciusad2004
02-24-2007, 03:25 PM
Looks good. I like the matte finish. +rep

SgtM
02-24-2007, 03:34 PM
looks cool. +rep

Monsterbox
02-24-2007, 06:12 PM
Here are a couple of pictures of the whole thing together for use at the Winter WonderLAN today. Had a lot of fun. Lost in the first round of the Gears of War singles, won the Gears of War team and then came in third in Halo 2 tourney. Not bad for not playing H2 in over a year. ;)

Anyway, on to the piccies.

Top-down view
http://www.monsterb0x.com/images/mod/360con/360conTogether01.jpg

Front view with triggers and bumpers
http://www.monsterb0x.com/images/mod/360con/360conTogether02.jpg

Going to give it a once-over with the fine grit sandpaper, re-paint it black, then go over it again with clear Acrylic sealer. Then I think it will be finished in the painting department. After that I need to pick up some LEDs and a hot-glue gun so I can make the buttons light up. :)

Thanks very much for the commets and the rep. Hope you enjoy watching the controller evolve.

8)

SgtM
02-24-2007, 06:27 PM
I'm working on button lights right now myself.. funny you should mention that. Looks good.

Noobkiller
02-24-2007, 09:25 PM
very retro indeed

luciusad2004
02-24-2007, 09:44 PM
It looks like the plastic along the bottom isnt in the shell all of the way.

Looks good though. :)

Monsterbox
02-24-2007, 10:19 PM
It looks like the plastic along the bottom isnt in the shell all of the way.
It isn't. The left side (opposite the XYAB buttons) fell victim to a tragic Rockstar Table Tennis accident. In my jumping around I accidently dropped the controller and when I stepped forward to grab it, I kicked it across the room. Broke the point where it holds it all together on that side. Part of the reason I still own the controller. They wouldn't take it because the case was cracked. ;)

luciusad2004
02-25-2007, 12:40 PM
It isn't. The left side (opposite the XYAB buttons) fell victim to a tragic Rockstar Table Tennis accident. In my jumping around I accidently dropped the controller and when I stepped forward to grab it, I kicked it across the room. Broke the point where it holds it all together on that side. Part of the reason I still own the controller. They wouldn't take it because the case was cracked. ;)

Ah ok lol. Sorry about that.