Flipper bats were purchased locally from TPF.  They were about $7.00 each (from memory).  Bit more expensive than the standard bats, but worth it IMO.

Whilst reassembling I've discovered that a wireform guide was missing completely.  Was not lost during de-construction but seems to be missing from the game.  No idea why, but at a whopping cost of $1.00 I manufactured a new one this morning.  Easy fix!