Calculate how many amps a solenoid needs

[T.Jackson]

Im actually making my own game from scratch.

This guy here http://jamiesgarage.com/ has started one from scratch. Looks like a bloody eyesore, think he's only doing it to strike up keywords with google and make money from ads. I believe it usually takes a team of around 20 to 30 people to develop your average machine, not to mention a couple of million dollars at bay. Too ambitious for me.

One of the most sought after pinball machines is "Medieval Madness" http://www.pinball.com/Williams/games/medieval/

If you ever come across one on the cheap that needs a bit of tlc (or even a full rebuild) then I suggest grabbing it. You usually don't get much change from 10 grand from one in the mint. Rumor has it that, it's almost impossible to get a man to part with one.

[The Master]

Im fully aware of how hard it is but i really do like a challenge and with the amount of stuff involved its been great for learning new things.

I did do a lot of reasearch about pinball machines back when i was at school. My GCSE project was my first proper pinball machine although it was a bit of a basic one. I did see that there were a lot of people spending years designing and making them but ive done projects that big before.

I got a lot of the parts given to me and ive been on ebay for a few too so i have just about everything i need now.

Mine wont look so bad. My GCSE pinball did look a bit crap because i only had spray paint to paint it with. Now i know someone in america who has some kind of big printer and he can put all the images onto something like vinyl so i can stick them onto the wood. Its not as bad as it sounds. It should look really profesional when its done. He has made some good signs for companies in the past.

I seem to like very ambitious projects. You only have to look on these forums for my threads around halloween to see that :P

Ive not seen any pinball machines that i could get cheap and do up. They are either way past repair or i cant get them. I like the idea of making my own from scratch though. Its not just replacing a few parts its the whole design bit too. I can do all the things that some machines should have done.

Believe it or not the theme is actually horror. Mix that in with hardcore dance music (or maybe dutch gabber) and it should be a fun game to play. There will be some mini Martin MX1's around the playfield too. Im not sure if they will change color yet. Definately not change pattern but they will have moving mirrors. There will be a lazer light and some mini strobes too (im thinking about using camera flashes for them). Im still looking for the ideal UV lights too. I think UV cold cathode lights should work fine.

I aim to beat pinball 2000 too. They have something like 6 simple connectors on the playfield to link to the backbox. My aim is to have only 2 connectors with less than 10 wires between them.

Im not sure how long its goin to take. Im having trouble finding time to do anything with it at the moment. Once i start building it i think it should only take a few months. Routing out the playfield will take longer than anything because ive just got a normal router (not a CNC type thing)

[T.Jackson]

Mine wont look so bad. My GCSE pinball did look a bit crap because i only had spray paint to paint it with. Ive not seen any pinball machines that i could get cheap and do up.

All pinball machines that I know of have the cabinets spray painted and the artwork airbrushed. $2,000 can get you something half decent from the early 90's -- if you look hard enough. Stay clear of Street Fighter II, terrible machine, possibly one of the worst Gottliebs around, hard-to-sell even at $1,500. High Speed is an excellent machine on the cheap, in fact most William's pinballs are brilliant. $1,000 might get you a mid to late 80's one that's a bit rough around the edges.

Best of luck with the project!

[The Master]

All pinball machines that I know of have the cabinets spray painted and the artwork airbrushed.

Im not sure but some that ive seen have something stuck on them. Its not the type of thing i was going for but it wasnt paint. The vinyl should give it a nice finish too.

The person doing the vinyl says he can make the front of it sticky so thats the decals sorted to

The playfield im definately going with vinyl for. I know someone who is really good with photoshop so i can give him the design of the playfield and he can put the images in. The harley davidson playfield i have seems to have a vinyl cover then its either varnished or laminated in some way.

Best of luck with the project!

Thanx. It should be fun

[T.Jackson]

Playboy by Bally 1978, so so rare in this condition. THE most collectible pinball of the 70's. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BALLY-1978-PL...QQcmdZViewItem

I could have bought this machine bout 15 years back for $500. I'm kicking myself for not.

[T.Jackson]

Example of a "mediocre" early 90's machine going cheap. Cue Ball Wizard -- not as brilliant as Fish Tales but certainly not quite as terrible as Street Fighter II.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Gottlieb-Cue-...QQcmdZViewItem

[The Master]

I saw one of those the last time i was in america. I think it was in TGI Fridays (if thats the right name) on I-drive (florida). It looked in pretty good condition too.

I hate seeing pinballs that havnt been looked after. They had an addams family one at my local club but half the things dont work. The rubbers arnt rubbery anymore. The electric chair is inside the hole under where it should be and the ball keeps getting stuck on everything.

It annoys me because if something breaks most places will give you your money back and turn the machine off. Then they turn it back on the next day asif it would magically fix itself.

By the way. Do you know if a TFT or LCD exists thats about the size of a pinball's dot matrix? Im having a 17" TFT in the backbox in the middle but it would be nice to have one in place of the dot matrix too. I was reading some threads on here the other day about using a screen (from a mobile phone i think) and displaying things on it. I want to buy a new phone soon so maybe a little screen on the playfield would look good

[T.Jackson]

It annoys me because if something breaks most places will give you your money back and turn the machine off. Then they turn it back on the next day as if it would magically fix itself.

Oh there's some seriously shady characters in the amusement industry (what's left of it that is)
They range from con artists to pedophiles, assassins and mobsters so I believe.