This is a fun project that has been progressing for the past few years, Still many things to do but thought it was time to share with Pinball Revolution.
Custom Pinball Machine "Space Quest"
- Thread starter Pinballer
- Start date
Monkeybug
Active Member
Very nice. Any more details on what you have done so far? What are you using for hardware? Programming?
It is a modified Secret Service Machine. The project has be done on the cheap, so far. Using two old pentium 4 CPU's which are in the Cabinet. Running visual basic. I will provide more details and video if you would like. I have been mostly focused on the mechanical and electrical side so far.
I could probably write a 5000 word essay about this project but I will try to keep it brief. If there is something in particular that interests someone then I can elaborate on that. Eventually I would like to have a good looking reliable fun game.- with Video screen for scoring, action videos and tracking progress.
- the center rotating toy (like TOM) integrated into gameplay (right now works with stepper but not integrated into program)
- lights functioning without flicker (had a lamp matrix going at one time) but could not get rid of the flicker.
- Integrated into game, RGB light strips, works on it's own right now with ardunio.
- Choice at startup of custom sound package along with rock and roll background music. Had this partially working at one time, drove us to two CPU's as one CPU controls lamp matrix, switch matrix, solenoids and sound bites. Other CPU controls video and background music.
- Playfield is a maple plywoodboard with glued on poster and clear coated but would like to create a new one with air brushed race car theme.
Still adjusting the playfield mechanically to get the flow right. The wrap around shot at the top is my focus right now as well as to get the left kickout to work better.
I think my biggest challenges are yet to come, such as integrating the video and sound to the game using visual basic, my son knows VB much better than I, and he programmed most of the game but he has kind of lost interest. I might consider redoing the whole hardware and software package. Coming up with good modes and then programming all that will be a time consuming challenge but probably something that will be a lot of fun when I get there.
I would like the cabinet and playfield to showcase race cars likes, porches, corvettes, exotics, etc, but I am no artist and I don't want to just throw on a bunch of photographs. This is probably the last thing I would get around to.
This is a great project and feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions.
Monkeybug
Active Member
If you are interested in redoing the hardware, there seem to be three main options these days, P-Roc, FAST and OPP.
I have been working on a custom retheme with Drano (https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/holy-pinball-batman) and opted for FAST hardware and Mission Pinball Framework. The nice thing about MPF is that it is not hardware dependent and you are free to switch (or even mix/match). It is still under active development and they are adding new things all the time.
There are two other locals that are developing with MPF, one is the Nightmare Before Xmas game.
I assume you have also referenced this site: http://pinballmakers.com/
Good luck.
I have been working on a custom retheme with Drano (https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/holy-pinball-batman) and opted for FAST hardware and Mission Pinball Framework. The nice thing about MPF is that it is not hardware dependent and you are free to switch (or even mix/match). It is still under active development and they are adding new things all the time.
There are two other locals that are developing with MPF, one is the Nightmare Before Xmas game.
I assume you have also referenced this site: http://pinballmakers.com/
Good luck.
Thanks for all this information. Some of it I had already seen, for instance the holy-pinball-batman and info on P-Roc, but the FAST, OPP MPF and pinballmakers.com are all new to me. When I started in 2011 most of this was in it's infancy. I have not really tinkered with the basic hardware and software framework for several years.
Cool project.
I'm the guy doing the Nightmare Before Christmas: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-nightmare-before-christmas
Feel free to ask any questions - always happy to share info.
I'm the guy doing the Nightmare Before Christmas: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-nightmare-before-christmas
Feel free to ask any questions - always happy to share info.
Wow Markinc, you are doing a fantastic job. I had not seen your posts up until yesterday. Thanks for the offer to answer questions. I need to try to find the time and motivation to progress my project. I see that you are progressing the ramps. I briefly considered making vacuum formed ramps myself, but the large oven was the main problem and I did not want to mess around with joining smaller sections. I made some ramps for my machine using cardboard as a template then using a fine tooth jig saw, cut up sheet metal from some old scrap computer cases. The sides have tabs like you are doing, using tiny screws with the heads in the region where the ball clears them, I also incorporated stand of feet from the sheet metal patterns making attachment easy to the playfield. Eventually I may remake the ramps from stainless steel.
Monkeybug
Active Member
atariaction
Well-Known Member
This project gets some of my attention once in a while. I have added a rotating 3D printed hollow ball that has a bunch of LED's in it. I can make these any colour I wish with an Arduino controlling it. I have also added a target similar to ghostbusters that moves up or down with the use of a motor. I molded it out of rubber and it has a contact switch imbedded in it. I hope to next get around to redoing the playfield with space art and then clear coating it with spray Max 2000. The game still needs a lot of programming but have made some good progress with some "missions".
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I was talking to the guy that created the visual pinball for the Clash based on the Rock Encore pinball layout. Does anyone make a custom overlay if you have the image files or what is the cheapest option to make a custom playfield based on an existing game? Thanks for the help!
Here is the virtual game in action:
Here is the virtual game in action:
Jim Wilks
New Member
I have now stripped the frontside and backside of my playfield and started to pull off the poster that I had glued on years ago. I am pleased to find that it is coming off easily. My objective is to create a smooth shiny, pretty (space theme),fast playfield. I am by no means an artist but will give a go to create a custom hand painted (try out my airbrush also) playfield, probably no text or lines, just space theme similar to the poster that was on there. I need to research how to best prepare the wood surface prior to applying the acrylic latex paint, any suggestions ? I have no idea if Drano has time to comment , he saw this project briefly a few years ago when he bought my Grand Lizard for Warlock.
