Shocking, eh? Using CNC machinery (specifically, a 60-watt laser engraver) I have constructed this:

Don’t bother rubbing your eyes – that IS a Playstation Dual Shock analog stick. Hey, it’s a joystick isn’t it? Just like the ye olde days of lore! And that wacky-looking gear-ish thing below it is the custom paddle knob. The other buttons are custom as well and painted red. And of course there’s the obligatory woodgrain. I figured, if I’m gonna CNC this thing I should just go for it and make EVERYTHING custom. So I did!

When my book comes out early next year you can learn how to build one of these for yourself! In the meantime, check out portable #8 on the Project 42 page for more specs, pics and details.

In other news, that new slim PS2 is coming out soon. Could it possibly run off 7.5 volts like the PSone did? If so,  I wonder what could be done with it?…

To Be Continued!

It’s been a while since I’ve made a new Atari 2600 portable, so here you go:

It was built by hand and runs off 6 AA rechargeables. It’s yet another Project 42 portable, so for more details on this unit naturally check out the Project 42 page and scroll down to portable #7.

And coming soon… the final Project 42 portable! What will it be? What will it look like? Only time (in this case, about a week and a half) will tell…

Since the month is almost done I thought of a great way to blow my unused bandwidth – by allowing people to download my film “Lizard of Death”!

(Note 5-15-05: This link/download was discontinued in October 2004)

I made it back in 2000 just after I built the first Atari portable but before I starting building them en masse. It’s an emulation (not a parody) of a bad 1950’s horror movie, complete with vintage props, cars, costumes and filmed in black & white. We even used a program to add film grain, scratches and reduced the frame rate to 24fps (since it was shot on DV at 30fps)

If you’ve got a hankering for some good MST3K fodder and have a fast internet connection, head over to the Lizard of Death page and go nuts! The file will be available until the bandwidth reaches the month’s limit, then available next month once more unused bandwidth has accumulated. Or perhaps replaced with a different movie…

After 3 whole years, I have finally made another CNC-built Playstation 1 portable!

 Unlike my first portrait-styled PSone portable I actually managed to get the controls in a normal-looking place this time. Another first is that I used clear acrylic for most of the case so you can actually see INSIDE this one! For more details and pics regarding this portable, guess what? Yup, hit the Project 42 page and scroll down to portable #6.

I am sad to report that after 4 years of faithful service my favorite soldering iron died yesterday in a freak power-surge accident. I wasn’t even aware that a soldering iron could die, but I guess it can. There was some sort of noise in the room, I don’t know if the air conditioner shorted out or spiked or what… the PS2 kept running though… but then my soldering iron went cold! Everything else on the power strip was fine, including my beloved glue gun.

I guess it was time, the rubber handle was pretty worn through and all, but it’s still strange. If anyone knows what could have caused this I’d be curious to find out. Granted a new 15-watt iron is only $8 bucks but you gotta wonder…

In other news that people might actually care about, I’ll have a brand-new portable on the site later this week. With TRANSPARENT sides so you can see the last things my old iron ever soldered! Sigh… At least my old Atari 800 still works.

Yes, that’s right! Since I still get emails asking about it, I decided that it was time to build another Portable Playstation! To be honest my original PSp was one of my least favorite designs, so here’s the newest incarnation!

This unit was built by hand, with no CNC cutting machinery used at all! It’s yet another portable for my “Project 42” – the purpose of which I hope to explain soon. (Hint: It’s for the good of mankind)

The main body of this PSone portable measures 8.75″ x 5″ x 1″, the circle thing that holds the 5″ screen is 6″ in diameter and 1/2″ thick. And there’s stereo sound, which sounds great! The screen flips up to reveal the disc. For more pictures & details on this unit, visit the Project 42 page and scroll down to portable #5.

I’m going to be gone for the next week (finally taking a vacation!) but soon after I get back I’ll bestow the world with even more portables!