OK ... time for change of projects

I think i'm finally getting tired of spending 2 or 3 months at a time restoring pinball machines, just to look at them, play them for awhile, and then move on to more.
I mean it's just a hobby and all, and it is rewarding to turn a beater into something to be proud of, but after doing 20 or so restorations over the past several years, it's beginning to lose it's appeal.
So ... I am going to take the leap to the next level.
Why not use all of the knowledge gained in restoring pins, along with all the used parts stashed away, microcontroller programming expertice, artwork assistance, and who knows what else, to construct a one-off custom pinball machine?
A hugh task one would ask? You bet!
Diverse and rewarding enough not to lose interest? I think so.
How long would a project of this compexity take? At least one year, maybe more.
How much would it cost? .. Well, not that much cash outlay really, considering the following:
Parts: Most will be used pieces, from several parted-out junkers.
Cabinet, a well used & abused German re-import Pinbot.
Playfield, well used Williams Space Shuttle (hey it was free, and will not resemble it's formal self when completed anyways).
Electronics, mostly spare parts, and some donated bits & pieces, and some ground-up new builds. We will be using a Data East 2nd generation cpu board here, since I know my way around them pretty good.
I have more experience with the WPC system than anything else, but, I don't have any!! The DE cpu will work just fine here anyways.
I'm more of an Intel MCS51 coder, but they never seemed to gain any popularity with the gaming manufactor's, so Motorola assembly it is then.
(I am going to likely use MCS51 in the sound sections though, since I have done some MP3 storage & playback using this one before).
DMD will be used for display (it should look somewhat modern you know!), and yikes!, I don't have any previous experience here whatsoever. But, a good excuse to learn the techniques.

I'll update this thread from time to time, with the progress, and of course PICTURES.
I will also gladly accept and consider any idea's you may want to table, or help in any way, and of course any donations! (no, I don't mean money, this is a low budget project remember) .. by this I mean parts, labour, etc.

Anyone who donates any physical parts or pieces will be honoured with their name being mentioned on the rolling credits section of the DMD in attract mode.
I may come here once in awhile looking for a specific part that we don't have on hand,
hoping someone may be able to spare one from their junkbox.
If the machine has the appeal I think it should have when completed, I hope it may make it to a few shows once in awhile.

I would already like to give a big thanks to Dave Astill, of Astill Entertainment for donating a ton of stuff (lower cabinet, pf, parts, cpu, almost too much stuff to list)!
Dave has also become a great sounding board for idea's.
  
Oh .. btw we needed a theme of course, and my family settled on it last week:
[b][/b]AC/DC

Why? Because we like them, Artwork is not too complex, lots of downloadable grafix, sound bytes, etc, etc, available.
Plus, what classic band pin is not popular these days? (OK, maybe Dolly Parton pin prices are one of the only ones not on the rise!)

Enough rambling ... we got work to do !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One last thing, let's keep the thread light-hearted, no bashing, etc. this hobby needs to be fun!

Oh, and my first urgent need: Looking to find a pair of those modern WMS/Bally/DE/Stern style backbox hinges, you know the ones, like on WPC machines. If anyone knows where I can find a set ASAP, either for cheap, or free, please drop me a PM.

Cheers!
ToMMy

Here's the lower cabinet from Dave:

Yep .. that's an ashtray on this side, it has to go.
And that's one big a** hole in the side too .. not sure what that was for ....

Here's the head I was going to use, but I think it's too wide and not tall enough, so i'm going to build a new one.

Wow  
Thats will be a cool project!!!
Supprising to hear that you will use DE MPU kind of cool tho seeying I love that generation of MPU.

Poor Pinbot. Poor Space Shuttle.

Good luck on the project. I just wish that classic pins didn't have to suffer. It's sad the lives that pins lead until they find solace and retirement in our gamerooms.

Well, it's like this ... the Pinbot cab I'm using, was just that, a lower cabinet only.
It was a 'leftover' from some re-imports that Dave had sitting in his garage for the past 5 years or so. No pf, no head, no electronic's.
He was using it to store extra legs in, and he graciously donated for this project.
The classic Space Shuttle was another dandy deal, it sat in somebody's barn in the dirt,  on it's back for I don't know how long. The rear 6 inches of the lower cabinet was filled with dead grass, eaten corn cobs, and a whole lot of moisture. Rotted away so bad that the transformers on the bottom looked like brown rusted fuzzballs!
The pf is 50% worn to the wood from a past that must have involved a ton of play, or very poor maintanence.

So .. the way I see it, these pins (basically parts) will have to suffer no longer !!
We are going to attempt to breath a whole new life in to them!

A newly fabricated modern back box made out of 3/4" birch.
And a picture of the primed cabinet & backbox.

If you look carefully at the lower cabinet, you can see that the side panel angles were raised by 2 1/2 " at the rear, to provide more pf clearance for toys, etc.
Also gives it that 'WPC' ... or more modern appearance.
It also eliminated the system 11 cab style 'neck' at the rear of the cabinet, as it was replaced by a deck to hold the backbox. Side mounted hinges will be used.
The lower cab still requires more sanding, as noticed after priming. (darn)

I'll be happy when the woodworking is completed. It's a messy job.

I am very impressed by what looks like a flawless backbox.
I am curious as to how you put it together (nails, groves, channels, etc.)?  Not that I need to build one but because I recently repaired one and I am curious as to how the pieces join together.  If you have other pictures, please post them.
Also, isn't the back side wood usually MDF in some late 80s, early 90s machine?

Lastly, I see that you are like a full production house in that you didn't bother priming the inside of the backbox to save paint (and time)!  I know it is a waste but I probably would have painted in there also just to be complete.

Nice job.  And interesting thread indeed.  Can't wait to see what you do for a playfield design....

Yes, the joints are grooved, kind of, just a simple recessed slot for the 4 corners, and the rear panel (which is 1/2" MDF ..btw)
I'm not too big on woodworking at all, so it was all done with a table saw & a router.
I didn't bother spraying the inside rear of the backbox, since most of it is covered by aluminum sheet anyways. Yeah, the 'factory' look! (and no body filler! ...too bad i can't say the same of the recycled lower cabinet)

That looks awesome! Nice job. I am really looking forward to your progress on this project.

Duane

The first of many, many layers of graphics ....
this is going to be a slow process, choosing designs, transfering to paper, cutting with a razor, choosing color, masking, and finally shooting the paint.

Great project!  For those about to rock, we salute you.