Re-pro Hucard cases...

[Zeon]

Hey guys I was wondering how hard it would be to make some molds for some re-pro hu-card cases? I'll admit, I know nothing about the topic, but it doesn't seem all that hard to make a mold out of metal and pour some molten plastic and let it set. Didn't someone do something similar for Neo-Geo shockboxes? I think it's a great idea, and would spare people from having to buy 21 or so copies of keith courage or tv sports games, just for their cases. Often, the cheapest you can get cases for is about $5 and sometimes you only get a few at a time. I'm going to do some research on making homemade hu-card cases and see if it would be feasible, figure out the cost, etc.

If we can make this happen, I think it is a great idea. Any thoughts?

[Black Tiger]

Many action figure collectors make 'reproductions' like this. You could probably get a local company to pump them out for you.

[Sparky]

ya it sounds great, and ya cases are so hard to come by, a regular cd case works ok but hells not that good.
I am down but you need to know the right people for this project i think  but a freak'n interesting topic.

[Tatsujin]

molds initial costs are usually around US$20'000

[vestcoat]

Well, if we get 1000 people to each chip in $20 that's no problem!

I've thought about this too and would definitely buy some if there is a cost effective way of making such a thing.  Demand for the vinyl sleeves has finally gone down with Retro Game Spot selling reproductions that someone made but now the cases themselves are becoming more and more sought after.

My ideal storage system would be hucard trays like the ones used for later PCE hucards but with black plastic rather than white.  The arm we got in Turbochip cases is nice, but the trays would allow me to photocopy back panels from the cardboard boxes to use as a rear insert between the case and the tray.  Black trays would also blend in with the rest of my collection and I could still put Sparky's stickers on the spine and trim them so they wouldn't cover any of the insert....ahhh 

[Black Tiger]

molds initial costs are usually around US$20'000

Someone had some 12+ piece replacement track sets made up for the Masters of the Universe Eternia playset that they sold on eBay for a long time for under $100 (each one much larger than a HuCard insert).

Also, anyone can make plastic replicas the size of a HuCard insert with kits nowdays.

[Zeon]

molds initial costs are usually around US$20'000

Someone had some 12+ piece replacement track sets made up for the Masters of the Universe Eternia playset that they sold on eBay for a long time for under $100 (each one much larger than a HuCard insert).

Also, anyone can make plastic replicas the size of a HuCard insert with kits nowdays.

That's what i was thinking Black Tiger, something along the lines of a affordable diy kit and a lot of care and time. Thanks for the link

Just noticed but that link assumes you have an already made mold. The problem is I need to make a mold to begin with! I am thinking of buying a brand new cheapo game, removing the plastic arm, the spine label, and front piece and submersing the exposed tray in some sort of mold making material.

[Black Tiger]

If I were you (and I have been meaning to look into doing this for years), I'd model it after HuCard inserts like Street Fighter II that don't mess around with an arm, are good to go to slap in any regular jewel case and as such allow CD case style insert designs(no messing with stickers).

[Zeon]

If I were you (and I have been meaning to look into doing this for years), I'd model it after HuCard inserts like Street Fighter II that don't mess around with an arm, are good to go to slap in any regular jewel case and as such allow CD case style insert designs(no messing with stickers).

In that case anyone have one of those type cases for my experiments? Or anyone know of a good cheap buy for a game that has one of those type cases?

[Necromancer]

Or anyone know of a good cheap buy for a game that has one of those type cases?

The aforementioned Street Fighter II or Populous.  They're somewhat cheap and have two trays in their cases, so you could swap one tray for a CD type tray and not end up with a homeless game.

[bust3dstr8]

I remember reading on AtariAge that a guy got a custom order of 2600 shells made. They where in the UK, but if they can set up to make those, I don't think the rear piece of a PCE or TG case would be any harder.

[Shrapnoid]

BUMP

Bumping this old thread because I've been thinking about a similar idea lately.
I just happen to have a chipcase with a missing arm and model kit that comes with materials to pour into molds.

I've also thought of trying to make molds, using some JB Weld from the auto store.
Also, for a replacement arm, I've been thinking about using one of those little red dippers that come with cheese 'n crackers.

If I try this, it wont be until maybe mid to late spring or early summer.
Anyone else have any idea if this might work or just be a waste of time, materials and money?

[77FordTruckMan]

I waiting on this guys https://www.seymoronion.com/

[SignOfZeta]

Nothing that you pour by hand is going to be anywhere near as strong as a regular HuCard case. They used an injection plastic technique with polystyrene (or similar) that requires a huge machine, some heat, and tens of thousands of PSI of pressure.

There are many many places where these could be made in the US. You'd only have to really make the bottom part since the top is standard CD. Just make up an AutoCAD model and email it to some places for quotes. Initial investment will be HIGH, but actual unit cost will be about half a dollar, if that, after a few thousand.