Starting Stealth Ultimate Flashback Build.

[CharonPDX]

Alright, got the parts together (thanks, ByteKnight!) for my "Stealth" Ultimate Flashback, so it's time to start modifying the stock Flashback.

When done, the only external difference will be that the RCA cord is socketed to a 3.5mm jack (which fits *PERFECTLY* in the existing RCA cord hole,) and there will be an HDMI port and a micro USB port next to the RCA video port. I'm even going to add a 3.5mm plug to the existing RCA cord so if you're using RCA, it would be nearly impossible to tell.

Did the rough cutting of the new ports, and just did the fit test. I'll clean up (sand) the port cutout edges later.

 

Putting the Raspberry Pi in that direction means the USB ports are facing the side/outer edge, so I'll need to use a 90° angled USB cable to go to the Ultimate Flashback Interface (or I'll hack a USB cord apart and solder the wires directly to the Pi's USB port solder points.) And to maintain full original appearance, I'll be mounting the Ultimate Flashback Interface in the center of the case, and make adapters to plug in to its ports that will be soldered to the original Flashback's controller ports (the original board will remain mounted in their original locations unmodified, so this will be completely reversible, barring RCA cable hacking - but then I'll probably just make a 3.5mm port for the original FB's video/sound output, too.) If I really go hog-wild, I'll try to hack up some method of "dual-booting" so that if you're using RCA video, you can flip a switch to select the Ultimate/Raspberry Pi interface or the original Flashback interface being the side that gets powered up.

[+fdr4prez]

That isn't stealthy enough

 

You can mount the Pi more internally, and then replace the stock RCA cable with a short HDMI extension cable, and you can use the existing round power plug, so nothing has appeared to have changed.

[+intvsteve]

Cool!

 

Which model Pi are you using? How are you mounting the Pi securely enough to deal with the rigors of plugging in cables / unplugging them?

 

In my rig, I can reverse the job only by opening up the case and removing everything, then putting the old parts back in -- I had to remove the original parts. And since I used a 2014-era Pi, the unit itself takes up a good amount of space - and those right-angle connectors (at least the ones I found) end up taking up a good amount of headroom.

 

Will you be sharing pictures of the interior layout, too?

 

This is what I ended up with - but not as clever sounding as what you're aiming for. The screws used for mounting hardware are the biggest regret - but all the Pi's USB ports can be used (internally, there's a wireless ethernet and wireless keyboard, the Ultimate PC Interface, with the fourth USB routed to the back panel).

 

[CharonPDX]

I'll be epoxying metal standoffs to mount the Pi 3 B+ to. Haven't decided how the Ultimate Interface board will be in there. Might just tape it down with kapton tape. :-P I'll share pictures once I finalize the interior.