Went to Australia's Pinfest today with an open mind, and honestly not much to tell from that that is on Facebook or on this thread.
- common pinball parts are copies of Bally / WMS / Stern mechs but with little tweaks and improvements which is nice to see and granted would take alot of work to create all the dies etc.
- noticed the flipper mechs are now like the 90's Bally / WMS and not like his first concept
- the pop bumper is similar to old Stern with a few tweaks but comes with a pcb which is nice the pop bumper body that is closest to the skirt is a clear so gives it a cool nice glow.
- he had a few various plastic molded parts from pop bumper caps and switch spoons etc as well as clear flipper buttons (able to be lit) - which are different to regular buttons and felt weird as almost leading to a deeper almost v shape - if similar to the ones on Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
NOTE: (though I could be wrong) to those wanting replacement parts for other games that China is Metric so all mechs, bolts etc are metric so there could be the possibility of things not perfectly fitting.
- cabinet art was that of previous release so not wowed by it, but the backbox el panel is nice and effective as it wasn't a dark room and stood out, nice work there.
- the cabinet looks very similar to a Bally / WMS but the backbox seems to have a move additional little 15-25mm peak for half of the top front edge - sure it will link with a topper - just hope there is enough clearance to not smash the glass when folded down for transport.
- I like the cabinet rails as they have a wrap around the front edge
- backglass / translite - was the word thunderbirds, with I think on memory 5 characters and then the top half of the trans is the island scene in which behind it when the pool opens a rocket is on a mech that rotates around and must be backlit and casts a rocket shadow onto the trans. Sure this will be improved but get the idea.
- speaker panel had 2 large and 2 small speakers and then a colour rgb dmd type screen but they said the resolution will be much better in the future but current was nice. No art on the plain timber panel but apparently coming...
- the coin door was a half size door sitting to the rhs and get that it doesn't have to be a full door but you do get use to a look, sure they will balance it as looks odd to one side.
- as for the playfield - it was a very very bare bare whitewood
- had a pop bumper cluster
- had a mech to the top lhs with a screw drive with a paper / cardboard picture of a pool and it opens and that is when the translite hidden shadow image activates - will be effective once fully completed.
- rhs side upper corner is a ramp - not sure if it lifts up but leading up to the ramp is 3-4 triangle inserts and 3 palms on one side and 2 palms on the other side and these fold down 30-45 degrees from the vertical probably on a launch mode - is effective.
all photos from forums and facebook - no cameras allowed but in one way good to see some progress.
I do have concerns with Chinese quality, as in made to spec as just from Sids stories sounds like they have lots of dramas and revisions and probably a full time job monitoring this in the future. Other concern is the steel quality as Chinese are well know for blending steels so stainless is not full stainless as the lockdown bar appeared to have some minor rust imperfections / colouring.
As for deadline - finished when it is finished ??????
hope that helps those curious
