How to apply your new skin to your MadCatz SE stick

You’ll need: A New Art Skin (See Last Page for Source) A straight edge Hobby knives Small Phillips screwdriver A Flat Head Screwdriver Cup or container to keep screws in

WARNING: Attempt at your own risk! Changing the art on your Madcatz’s stick will void your warranty. So be very careful, as we cannot be held responsible for any mistake that may happen whilst you follow this guide.

Step #1: Clear off your work area. Make sure you have something underneath your stick to prevent the hard table from scratching up your casing and buttons. The bigger the area the better.

Step #2: Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the six screws.  Place the screws and the four (4) black feet into a container for safekeeping. Use a flat head to break the warranty seal. This will be the point of no return. Once the seal is broken, you will be out of warranty.

Step #3: Remove the metal base and set aside.

The picture on the left shows the inner components of the Madcatz SE Fight Stick. *Please note that the PS3 version of the fight stick will be missing the headphone jack.

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Step #4: Removing the joystick ball top: First take your flathead screwdriver and hold it in place on the bottom of the joystick, and with your other hand, twist the ball top and it should unscrew. Next remove the Joystick assembly by removing the four (4) screws that have been marked in the picture to the left. You will see a white plug that has been glued to the joystick’s PCB, carefully wiggle the connector and it will

come loose with hardly any effort.

Step #5: Each button has been color-coded. Unplug each wire from the Madcatz buttons.  If it doesn’t want to come off, use a flat-head screwdriver to pry off the each wire.  Disconnect all eight (8) buttons.

Step #6: Now it’s time to remove the buttons.  Using a small screwdriver, press in on the tabs to release the Madcatz stock buttons.  There are two tabs, make sure both are pressed in to remove the button from the fascia.

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Now that the joystick and buttons have been removed, lets remove the stock artwork. 

Step #7: Flip the joystick casing back over revealing the stock decal.

Step #8: There are many methods on removing the decal from these sticks.  I would suggest starting at the weak point between a random button.  Using a small flat head, you can pry away at the decal without damaging the metal surface.  Carefully remove the artwork by slowly peeling away.  Take your time, you want as much of the glue to stay on the decal and not the metal surface.

Step #9: With the sticker decal removed, you will have some residue left over on the surface.  Worry not, there a simple easy solution in removing this mess! Either use your thumb to remove the

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glue, by rubbing over it. The heat from your thumb will loosen up the glue. Or you can use glue removing solvent such as Glue B Gone, Cooking oil, Nail polish Remover, or Rubbing Alcohol to remove the glue. Google “How to Remove Sticky Residue” for instructions on how to use these substances to remove the left over decal.

Step #10: Now that the residual glue has been removed you will be ready to remove the metal fascia but WAIT.  We need to remove a few more things before we can safely remove tha. Flip the joystick casing back over to remove the remove the start & select PCB, headphone jack and control module.

Step #11: There are two (2) screws holding the start & select PCB in place.  Remove the screws and place the two (2) screws, two (2) membrane & (2) white plastic buttons into your container. KEEP THE BOARD PLUGGED IN.  There is not reason to disconnect the start & select PCB from the wire harness.

Step #12: There are two (2) screws holding the start & select PCB in place.  Remove the screws and place the two (2) screws, two (2) membrane & (2) white plastic buttons into your container. KEEP THE BOARD PLUGGED IN.  There is not reason to disconnect the start & select PCB from the wire harness.

Step #13: There are two (2) screws holding the headphone jack.  Unscrew the two (2) screws and place them into your container.

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Step #14: To deinstall the control module from the casing, just unscrew the two (2) small outer black screws.  The module will separate from the casing.  DO NOT DISCONNECT the wires from the PCB.

Step #15: Flip the casing back over to the clean metal fascia.  Unscrew the five (5) screws holding the fascia  in place

Step #16: Separate the metal fascia from the plastic casing.  There may be some glue holding the metal plate underneath the angled wrist rest. Gently pry the two pieces apart.

Step #17: Trim down the excess and using the previously

poked holes in the joystick opening, line up your lines and use a very sharp blade to cut

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along the metal fascia for a perfect custom fit.   By using the metal plate as your template, you are ensuring the artwork will fit exact.

Step #18: Now that you art work has been trimmed down to proper size, with a fresh new blade, trim the corners down by using the metal fascia as the guide.  This will assure that you will not have ugly corners.  Now overlap the art to the faceplate and make sure everything is 100% perfect.  If it isn’t, then keep trimming until it finally is.

Step #1 Step #19: Place the metal faceplate onto the casing and screw down with the five (5) scr screws.

Step #20: Install your decal; I prefer to start at the top. Peel back the top corners and make sure they are lined up perfectly.  Double check your corners and the top edge, if everything looks good then press down to secure.  Slowly rub along the top to remove the potential of any air bubbles from getting trapped underneath your artwork.  Keep peeling and rubbing until the art work is finally in place.

Right now is a good time to take a break, if you like. Otherwise, we’re almost finished here with few more steps to go.

Step #21: Now that your decal is secured, use a sharp blade and slowly cut out the control panel

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window as well as the joystick hole.  Use the white holes on the skin, as your cutting guide. Leave the push button holes alone for now.

Step #22: Reinstall the control module in the newly cut out window and secure it with the two (2) small black screws.

Step #26: Dig up the start & select buttons as well as the two (2) rubber membranes.  Place the nipple of the membrane into the back of the both the start & select buttons.

Step #27: Place the buttons with membrane inside of the start & select holes.  The buttons can only go in one way.

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Step #28: Slide the start & select PCB back into place.  Secure the PCB with the two (2) screws with the large built in washers.  You may have to adjust the membranes because they may have moved during the install.  Test the buttons and verify that they bounce back when pressed.

Step #29: Install the headphone jack* in place and secure down with the two (2) black screws.

*Remember, PS3 version of the fight stick does not have a headphone jack, move along.

Step #30: With a sharp blade, carefully slice away at your button openings. On your skin, use the white holes as a cutting guide. I would STRONGLY suggest doing one button at a time to avoid confusion.  Keep the art work intact.

Step #31: Screw on the threaded washer until it becomes tight.

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Please note the button in the first position like in the picture above will be the most difficult button to install.  I had to hold the washer in place as I twisted the button inside the stationary washer until it was finally snug.

Step #32: Repeat steps #31 for the rest of your push buttons.

Now hook up your push buttons to their corresponding wires.  Here’s the correct wiring setup if you were looking from the back or just refer to the photo near Step #3.

Yellow, Green, Orange, RedBlue, Purple, Brown, Black

Step #33: Re-install the Joystick by reversing step 4.

Step #34: Almost done.  Now flip the controller over and reattach the metal base,  Screw down with the six (6) screws and install the four (4)  rubber feet onto each corner.

After that, you’re finish! Enjoy your new artwork For more moding tips, hints, and ideas for Madcatz SE

checkout the Guide Credits links listed below.

Guide Credits:

http://pineconeattack.com/2009/08/06/how-to-mod-the-madcatz-fight-stick-with-seimitsu-parts/

http://shoryuken.com/f177/how-mod-your-sfiv-se-fightstick-faq-175882/

http://shoryuken.com/f177/howto-add-custom-art-your-madcatz-standard-fightstick-178381/

Buy Skinshttp://cgi.ebay.com/Madcatz-Arcade-Fightstick-SE-Marvel-Vs-Capcom-3-Skin-/400199423758?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item5d2dbe970e

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