Build your own machine

[scozza]

Hi All,

Can you tell I've got some spare time on my hands .. second thread tonight!  I'm in the very early stages of building our own Pinball.  When we were in QLD cleaning up after the floods I scored an unwanted Hankin cabinet from the Pinball Shed (Tony is a great guy).  We have now decided on a suitably Aussie theme for the machine so it's time to think about features!  I'm fairly competent at electronics and the boss is quite a good artist.  But I just can't decide on the "must have" features, split playfield, multiball, animated playfield features...  If you were going to build your own what would you include?

Cheers,

Scott.

[Mr Pinbologist]

Cool!! another home grown machine   I built one from scatch about 15 years ago called it "Vortex" it had two playfields, one beneath a perspex window in the main pf, similar to Black Hole/Haunted House but turned around the opposite way.. there is a thread on her somewhere.. i'll find it and post a link to it just incase you havent seen it yet.

I still have it up and running, its about to undergo yet more mods/upgrades soon.

Keen to see what you come up with as im sure everyone else will be.. let the work begin!!  

EDIT: heres the link to mine in case you havent already seen it, i have since added speech to the game since i posted this thread!!
http://aussiepinball.com/index.php?topic=504.0

[ddstoys]

I always love multi ball So if you can add that would be cool.   Mitchs vortex is a very cool machine specially with the hand made circuit boards.    Good luck and look forward to updates

[Mr Pinbologist]

I always love multi ball So if you can add that would be cool.   Mitchs vortex is a very cool machine specially with the hand made circuit boards.    Good luck and look forward to updates

+1 for multiball 

[scozza]

Thanks Mr Pinbologist,

I know it's going to be a big project but I'm looking forward to it.  Vortex looks fantastic!  We're going for an Aussie theme so I'm busily cruising the internet for artwork ideas etc.  I've already got a few of the bits together but it's the next stage of finding playfield components will be interesting"".  We will set out the playfield on plywood and use styrofoam to tweak the playfield features and gameplay.  I'll probably use Arduino microcontrollers for the brains as I know how to program them.  Well done on finishing yours in just 12 months, I think this puppy make a take a bit longer (-:

Cheers,

Scott.

[pinnies4me]

There's a bit of info here on an effort by a couple of us a couple of years back

http://www.users.on.net/~spaners/Coconut%20Island/index.html

http://aussiepinball.com/index.php?board=36.0

[ajlaird]

The two Australian themes I have thought about are V8 Supercars, and a seven sights of Australia one.

The V8 one is fairly obvious, the sort of ideas I had involved choosing either Holden or Ford and then winning a series of races (with rewards at the end) by shooting lanes, culminating in the Bathurst 1000 for example. Targets could be used to achieve pit-stops or similar. I guess there would be a multiball in there somewhere as well, maybe for making a ramp shot.

The seven sights of Australia is where you travel to different famous sights in Australia by completing targets, lanes and a ramp shot. Sydney Harbour with the bridge and the Opera House, Uluru, the MCG in Melbourne, etc (one for each state), with a finale in Canberra maybe?

Feel free to use these or ignore them.

[Caveoftreasures]

Anyone in the world who comes up with a really really nice V8 SUPERCAR PINBALL would sell shitloads in Australia. We love oud FORDS & HOLDENS 

If Mark C could talk Gary Stern into doing a new release for all of us Aussies, I reckon it would sell in record numbers to pubs n clubs, alot of home gamesrooms for newer people to pinball and probably 75% of pinball collectors would snap one up for sure.

A V8 Supercar Pinball would be very well recieved, but only if it was done properly. 

[FreePlay]

AC/DC is a good aussie theme

[scozza]

thanks for all  of the great ideas!  We're thinking of going with a Redback theme, I'm already picturing the outback dunny ball drop (-;

Cheers,

Scott.

[Richyrich]

AC/DC Pin

I like the sound of that

[Redback]

Redback theme,

Might have to get on the preorder list.

Me and my girls have started a project to build our own pinball machine.
We have picked a classic cartoon as the theme.

As for parts.  We've been accumating from around the world.  I dont have a list put together.
However surplus items when on sale from PSPA has been a good start, coin doors, coils, buttons, ...
Have arduino, Propelller and TI (Luanchpad) processors to play with.
Lock down bar and side rails on ebay are a good price atm.
PBResource for inserts.  Pinball life for flippers.
48v dc power supply from CNC parts sellers.
and others.
I believe you'd find retheming or havesting parts from projects machines may be less costly.  However not the route we've taken.  I am using a congo/medevil madness cab (from Marty Machine) a BadCats populated playfield from tony at the shed, and an Arduino for prototyping (only), (might make it into a Frankenstinin cab, and throw in the tales from the crypt transit and get it running) LOL.
I've been following Ben and Jeri for a year.  Lots of good ideas and info there.
Graphics will be done on Illustrator.

Send me an email if youw want to compare notes
Redback@hyd.com.au

[TUF-427]

If your going for a V8 or bathurst theme you could have a ramp at the top of the playfield replicating the piece of road across the top of the mountain,skyline,dipper etc,

and possibly coming all the way down to the LH lane replicating conrod straight and the Chase,

that would be pretty cool I recon..

Multiballs a must,what about blue and red balls.............

Peter..