Tutorial! Make Your N64, A Ultra 64!

I think I just threw up in my mouth. That's hideous!

Also, look closely - that's not a jewel. It looks like badly painted perspex!

 

I like the print on the console, it's apparently wrapped what ever that means.
if I was making it I'd either 3D print new power and rest buttons in orange plastic or make a cast and color the resin orange..

 

should make a logo that wuld fit the everdrive cartridge aswell like in the magazine pic

 

This has already been done.

 

Hey there Retro!
Have you heard anything yet?

- Madsmaten

 

Last time we had this topic here I remember Kevin saying that the GFX the guy made was not correct judging from the original U64 he had.
Before anybody starts producing them, we should talk with Kevin first to see how accurate this GFX looks. I am a bit worried about the colors on this one.
I really like this project and I would like to have one too but only if its as correct as possible.

But still, cool work Madsmaten!

PS.: this Conker N64 looks... well... not good.

 

Hey there Goemon!

Thank you! I would happily talk to Kevin, I am not quite sure who he is though.
Do you know how I can come in contact with him ?
I wrote a mail to http://8bitevolution.com/ asking if they were up for the task since they do a lot of custom stuff, unfortunately they haven't answered yet.
I will post if they do.

 

rise from your grave

i was able to utilize my existing badge. the results arnt perfect but im going to try again with some higher end materials. i.e. loca and a professionally printed label.

 

Looks good!
Make sure to update us on your progress

 

Here's a vector version of the image ( .eps ) ( Adobe Illustrator ).
Not my work; found a while back.

www.bondsan.co.uk/N64/03783_nintendo_ultra_64.eps.gz

http://convertepstojpg.com/

GIMP
https://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-using-external-programs.html
https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/ghostpdl-downloads/releases/gs920rc1w64.exe

 

Thank you for the illustrator file!
I made a version in color of the model.
I think it worked out quite well.

 

Very clean and accurate are you able to create a vector version?

 

I just might.
Let me take a look

 

.svg loads into GIMP.
The reason I ask, is to be able to use my printer at its' highest resolution.

 

Here it is!
Unfortunately the image tracer in Illustrator wouldn´t trace it right.
So had to redo most of the coloring.
However it worked out, and now we have a Ultra 64 logo in vector format!

Link: http://www.mediafire.com/file/6as03gbeu3dsd83/Ultra+64+Vector.svg

 

Cool, post a pic of the final product when you get to it.

 

Wonderful work Madsmaten
My plan is to measure the bezel, clean the back paint, print your design on photo paper and mount onto the bezel.
What would be a good method / glue to mount the printer paper to the plastic ( acrylic ? )?

A simular re-bezeling on XBOX jewel.
http://www.uk-dave.com/projects/misc/xbox-jewel/

 

Thank you !
Make sure to check out this site as well.
( http://ultra64.cloud-6.net/ )
Seems like we are not the only one´s interested in a "Ultra"
I am pretty sure he is referring to my original tutorial at the end of the page
I will try to contact him, maybe my vector work can help him closer to hi´s goal as well.

 

here are the step i used to get the oem jewel perfectly clean and clear.

remove jewel


remove the sticky glue from the back of the jewel


use sand paper to remove the paint that held the original n64 logo to the back of the jewel.


this is how the jewel looks when the image has been sanded off with 320. your jewel will be super white and foggy at this point.


continue sanding at a higher grit to begin buffing out the plastic. this is what it looks like at 600 grit. still hazy and foggy, but starting to look better.


and finally at 1500. still hazy but now its becoming much more optically clear.
a

now that your done sanding lay out some masking tape sticky side up, and drop your jewel onto it face down so the sanded side is up and the front of the jewel is stuck to the masking tape. this will prevent any overspray from getting onto the front of the jewel. you will be spray painting the sanded side with gloss clear coat.



so now your jewel will be perfectly clear like a piece of glass. you can now just cut out the image of the ultra 64 logo and put the jewel in front of it. i dont like this tho as it causes some mirroring when the light gets caught between the jewel and the paper. kinda hard to explain but the next step will be to either; secure the image to the jewel with high quality optical glue, get the logo printed on a vinyl sticker and adhere it to the back of the jewel, or handpaint/silkscreen the image on. if you dont secure the image to the jewel it will not be held in the same way the factory jewel was held in. you will be relying on the pressure of the edges of the jewel and i would much rather glue it in place.



my original attempt can be seen in the background of the first image. it came out ok but the glue that was used to hold the image was not good enough so it caused a few visual flaws. also the image was a bit too large, and the printer quality sucked. also you can see the tab on the bottom of the jewel broke off as i was sanding through the grits, that tab is very fragile so be aware. i would have liked that tab to still be there.

 

I have a fun little update for you.
I am still working on getting the actual logo on the jewel, I figured I might try to replicate the Ultra 64 cartridge as seen on the poster on page one.
Since I already had made the vector of the logo, it was really easy to transfer to a cartridge label.

I started by removing the glue holding the sticker in place (That stuff is powerfull!).


I then made some quick editing in illustrator, to match the shape of a label.


I then wondered what game would be proper to put on a "Ultra 64" cartridge?
I figured why not make it ULTRA!
So I choose to use a Everdrive Cartridge.
However I would not want to have the SD-card sticking out on top.
Luckily the solution was simple.

These "Macbook Micro SD adapter" are widely available.
I figured it would be a perfect match.


Sure enough!
I so rarely remove the SD card from my Everdrive anyway, so it wouldn´t bother me removing those two screwes once or twice a year.


Nothing left to do than close the cartridge and put it in the Nintendo.


Fun little mod that anyone could do.
I figure it will look really great once the jewel gets in place as well!
On that topic I am still working on the Jewel on the front, had a couple of unsuccesfull attempts so I am reconsidering my options atm.

Hope you liked it!