Getting started with modding

[Leoparody]

Hello, I’m super new to this sort of thing, as in console modding and I wanted to make my own Wii portable. I have no clue of what i would need to research or what I would need or the skills I would need. Would anyone be able to start me on the right path to designing and making my own Wii portable? Like what components would I need to get, like a screen or some way to plug it in? What are the steps I would need to come to a final product? I really like this kind of stuff and feel it would make a great hobby but don’t know where to start any input helps.
thanks

 

[Bubberiffic]

That's awesome that you're interested in making a Wii portable! It's a fun project and a great introduction to console modding. Here's a breakdown to help you get started:

Skills to Learn

• Soldering: You'll need to solder small points on the Wii's motherboard, called vias.
• Wii Softmodding Check out tutorials by Dubesinhower on YouTube—they provide a good look at the process.
• Basic electronics: Understanding circuits and how components like resistors and capacitors work is helpful.
• Tool usage: Using tools like a rotary tool (Dremel) and a multimeter is important for trimming and testing.

Tools and Materials

• Tools:
  • A good-quality soldering iron (avoid the cheapest ones).
  • Leaded solder (easier to work with than lead-free).
  • Dremel/rotary tool for trimming the motherboard.
  • Magnet wire for connections.
  • Multimeter for testing connections.
  • Sandpaper.
• Components:
  • A screen, lithium batteries, and a case are essential.
  • Boards from 4LayerTech provide ready-made solutions for power management, display integration, and other necessities.

Research Resources

• Wii Trimming Guide: Learn about trimming the Wii's motherboard to make it smaller, which pads/vias to connect, and how to identify traces.
• 4-Layer vs. 6-Layer Boards: Only the 4-layer boards are ideal for portables. Most colored Wiis (not white) are 4-layer, except the Wii Mini. Make sure to research how to confirm your Wii's board type.
• If you want to design your own custom case or circuits, you'll need additional skills like CAD for 3D printing and a deeper understanding of electronics.

Questions to Define Your Starting Point

• What tools or materials do you already have?
• Are you planning to use a pre-made solution like 4LayerTech boards, or do you want to build everything from scratch?
• What parts of the project seem most overwhelming right now? Breaking it into smaller steps can help.

Making a Wii Portable can feel overwhelming at first, but starting small and building your skills as you go is the best way forward. Make sure to post if you have any specific questions or need help with a particular part of the process!

 

[RegDogg]

Another thing is if you want to get into 3D Printing, I would personally recommend the Bambu Labs A1, or if you have a bigger budget, you could go for the Bambu Labs P1P, but if you are new the 3D printing, and don't have a big budget, the best recommendation is you can get an Ender 3, which is one of the better printers you can get for under $200, but note that once you start to cheap out on 3D printers, they will not last very long before you have to perform maintenance, so the A1 would be your best horse to bet on.

EDIT: Another thing is that you will want to start with filament such as PLA, since it is the most beginner friendly filament you can start with, once you feel comfortable, you can go into stuff like ASA, and PETG if you want some higher strength models.

 

[bobc1674]

Another thing is if you want to get into 3D Printing, I would personally recommend the Bambu Labs A1, or if you have a bigger budget, you could go for the Bambu Labs P1P, but if you are new the 3D printing, and don't have a big budget, the best recommendation is you can get an Ender 3, but note that once you start to cheap out on 3D printers, they will not last very long before you have to perform maintenance, so the A1 would be your best horse to bet on.

I would also recommend the Neptune 3 Pro. I have had it for a while, and have gotten very good prints off of it.

 

[Stitches]

If you can't afford to buy a printer, there are people here you can commission to print a case and mail it to you.