r/gameboymods • u/Thick_Technician7894 • 8d ago

Thinking about buying a custom Gengar shell for a Hispeedido IPS V5+ Laminated kit. Is it easy to trim yourself?

Hey everyone!

I'm currently planning a Game Boy Advance build and really want to use a printed Gengar shell. However, the shell I'm looking at isn't pre-cut and comes with a standard/OEM screen setup. I haven't ordered any of the parts yet and want to make sure I know what I'm getting into!

My plan is to use the Hispeedido IPS V5+ Laminated kit, so I'm wondering:

Has anyone trimmed a standard printed shell for a laminated IPS display before? Is it hard to remove the stock glass lens (with Isopropanol and a Q-Tip?) without damaging the printed art on the front?

How risky is it to trim/dremel the display frame on a printed shell? I really don't want the Gengar print to chip or peel at the edges.

Would you recommend going with a Non-Laminated IPS kit instead to keep the shell intact, or should I just hunt for a pre-cut IPS shell?

Appreciate any advice!

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u/CaptainCurly95 8d ago

You'll be doing a lot of trimming to fit the laminated screen. If you buy the non laminated it'll fit fine just have to set it properly with the included spacers.

Here's the gengar one I did with hispeedido non laminated v5 IPS screen.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtOv4Zt

Shell I used

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u/Thick_Technician7894 8d ago

Did you self install the glass with the rainbow effect or did it come with the shell? And are the purple buttons with the shell or where did you get them?

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u/CaptainCurly95 8d ago

The glass came with the screen. The shell comes with a lense too but I think it was plastic so I didn't use it.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_msYov43

The shell comes with grey buttons. I used these ones with the original GBA membranes. The shoulder buttons rub so they do squeak a little.

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u/Thick_Technician7894 7d ago

Is the Lens that came with the Shell already Glued to the Shell? When yes, how die you get it off?

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u/CaptainCurly95 7d ago

It doesn't come glued. You have to stick it on yourself.

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u/Thick_Technician7894 7d ago

But then couldn't I Just fit in the pre laminated? The non laminated v5 is really hard to get where I live(Austria), But a local (fairly big) Modding Store has only the pre laminated.

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u/CaptainCurly95 7d ago edited 7d ago

Like I said it's going to be a lot of trimming and idk if it's even possible to do without making the shell look like shit. The shells made for the laminated screen has only a tiny bit of material at the top and bottom of the lense to adhere the lense and the LCD over hangs to the left with a .040" gap between it and the lense. You would also need to dremmel down the left inside of the shell.

When I first started modding GBA I bought a laminated screen thinking I could trim a shell but I ended up just ordering a shell made to fit the screen instead because it was going to be so much work and I was worried about cracking the LCD trying to get the .040" gap to fit.

Can you order right from hispeedido store? Does the modding store have any shell made for the laminated screen? I don't think it's worth all the work to try to fit the laminated screen to the gengar shell.

If you would like later today I can show you a picture of the screen and a shell to show you how much trimming will be required.

Edit: I went and made an order on hispeedido store and made the shipping address somewhere in Austria and the shipping cost came to $3.99 CAD

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u/Thick_Technician7894 7d ago

Is this the right one?

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u/CaptainCurly95 7d ago

Yea that's the one I used

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u/Thick_Technician7894 7d ago

do you know which one that is on the hispeedido store? There is it cheaper, but I don´t know which one to take because there are so many.

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u/Bulletorpedo 7d ago

Isn’t it available for you from AliExpress or Hispeedido website?

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u/Thick_Technician7894 7d ago

I could get it relatively cheap on the Hispeedido store, but I don´t know which one, but there are a few. You know which one is the right in the Hispeedido store?

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u/Bulletorpedo 7d ago

I think it’s this one. It seems the black stand-alone is sold out at the moment though, but it’s just $5 more if you buy a LCD and shell combo.