The All Thing Shape Shifting Traveler from Zero Space! - An Anti-cab build.

[javeryh]

This project is so unique.  How hard is the pinball stuff to set up? 

[griffindodd]

This project is so unique.  How hard is the pinball stuff to set up?

Well, I wouldn't say it is easy, but once you delve in a little it's not especially hard either.

It depends what you want to do, if you just want to play a table on your computer you can install one of the three popular emulators, Pinball FX (Easiest), Future Pinball or Visual pinball VPX (More complex but huge variety of community built tables - this is what I use).

VPX uses VPinMame which, like regular mame uses the Roms from the original machine. Unlike arcade games though, you also need a 'table' file which is a recreation of the actual physical playfield. So bare minimum you need VPX installed, the Rom for the game and the playfield for the game.

[griffindodd]

yay the combination of the rails and carriages means that the space between them is 1/2" too small for the playfield to fit. I'm going to have to dismantle everything and route out channels for them. FML. 

[griffindodd]

I HATE ROUTING!! (and you should too) 

Always wear as many things on your head as possible when routing in the sun.

[griffindodd]

Yes I know the routing is ugly as sin, I had to do it with my hand router and due to the constraints of the framed area it was an exercise in trying to not kill myself with a hand-held blender on crack with no option for guides. 

[griffindodd]

By adding a horizontal axis (this one is still loose in the picture) I can minimize potential binding. The playfield will pivot around this.

[griffindodd]

All back together after 6 hrs of pain and suffering. Thankfully it was worth it as the playfield now glides up and down like butter, no issues with binding at all!!  I wasn't able to incorporate the spring balance the way I had hoped as it simply wont fit in the rail area, the playfield has only 1/16th between it's edges and the rolling carriages.

[Zebidee]

I HATE ROUTING!! (and you should too) 
Always wear as many things on your head as possible when routing in the sun.

Yes I know the routing is ugly as sin, I had to do it with my hand router and due to the constraints of the framed area it was an exercise in trying to not kill myself with a hand-held blender on crack with no option for guides. 

Routers scare the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- out of me because of how fast they move. Also table saws. And chain saws (except when playing DooM  ). We do what we have to do! Respect your tools!

Where I am the sun is so bad you just stay the hell out of it. Days over 41C (105F) for weeks, forecast says thunderstorms almost every day but no rain comes, just soul-sucking humidity.

Wouldn't worry about some slightly rough routing, noone will see it. Your build is looking great, very innovative. Reminds me of Laythe's builds a little (eg Shapeshifter).

You can setup the frontend to match movie posters (when in display mode, you might slideshow them) with appropriate movie-themed pinball tables when opened into pinball mode. Like, you see the Terminator II movie post then open up into Terminator II pinball, etc. Transitioning from movie poster to matching pinball would be very cool. Seems there are quite a few movie-themed pinballs, for example:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Pinball_machines_based_on_films
https://www.greatamericanpinball.com/movie-pinball-machines

Guess you can extend the idea beyond movies too, for example band-based pinballs (AC/DC, KISS, Led Zeppelin etc.). Just associate appropriate pop-culture image with the pop-culture themed machine. You can have multiple lists.

[griffindodd]

Yes I use a movie poster software that pulls in the trailer and images by scanning my Emby library, the sign just uses two web browsers in kiosk mode to hit the server and play the trailer on the top screen and display the poster on the bottom one.

[javeryh]

Yes I use a movie poster software that pulls in the trailer and images by scanning my Emby library, the sign just uses two web browsers in kiosk mode to hit the server and play the trailer on the top screen and display the poster on the bottom one.

What software are you using?  I can't seem to find anything easy on Google for this - just want to display movie posters on a vertical screen like a slideshow with maybe 30 seconds per poster.  Ideally I'd be able to drag new poster into a folder that the PC or whatever was connected to (instead of just a photo slideshow on a USB stick).

[griffindodd]

What software are you using?  I can't seem to find anything easy on Google for this - just want to display movie posters on a vertical screen like a slideshow with maybe 30 seconds per poster.  Ideally I'd be able to drag new poster into a folder that the PC or whatever was connected to (instead of just a photo slideshow on a USB stick).

I use this  https://www.movieposterapp.com/

[Zebidee]

Thanks for sharing, that movieposterapp seems to be perfect for what you are doing    I also like the idea that it automatically scrapes/downloads new movies/trailers, great way to visually check out new movies n such. 

Are you able to get a smooth transition from movieposterapp to VPX as you open out the "table" (and back to movieposterapp as you close it up)?

Getting the software side of things right can take as long as the build itself   

[griffindodd]

I’m using pinup popper as my FE for pinball navigation, I’ll probably write some scripting to move between the poster and other modes then attach it to a key combo. This machine is also going to be a vertical arcade cabinet with a separate 4-player CP I have still yet to build, it will have multiple functions.

[Zebidee]

Pinup Popper looks like an good pinball frontend. Thanks for the tip, will be useful when/if I get around to doing my own vpin setup (one of these days).

[griffindodd]

Tidying up the finish on the main playfield, will see how well it stands up to being used over time.

[griffindodd]

More progress over the weekend. Built the base for the arcade control panel which also provides support for the virtual pin playfield using locking heavy duty drawer sliders.

[griffindodd]

Quick in-place test to see how close I got with just math....not too bad.

[griffindodd]

A few tweaks, added a front panel and a few coats of satin black.

[griffindodd]

1. Movie Poster Mode.
2. Arcade Mode
3. Pinball mode.

[griffindodd]

I added a 4-key USB keypad to the build then bound the keys using Auto Hot Key to scripts that will switch between 1. Poster Mode, 2. Arcade Mode, 3. Pinball Mode, 4 Karaoke Mode.

[griffindodd]

Here is a quick demonstration of the process of opening and closing the cab.

[Zebidee]

This is awesome. Officially Very Nice   

[emphatic]

What a sweet setup. 

[Locke141]

I love well thought out builds. Great job!

[javeryh]

This project turned out great.  It's got all the best parts of what I love about this hobby.  It's completely original, looks cool and works as intended.   

[griffindodd]

Thanks all.

I added the 3D printed fire plate over the weekend and also wired up the solenoids so I get a nice 'Thunk' feel through the lock bar when I fire the flippers.

[reptileink]

Haven't been on this forum for a LOOONG time. Nice to see new projects still happening. This thing is the ultimate game accessory! The sheer engineering is remarkable. Nice to see fresh content and ideas.