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Author Topic: Virtual Pinball  (Read 5972 times)

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Deek069

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Virtual Pinball
« on: October 14, 2019, 03:05:47 am »
I completed my first cabinet earlier this year and been having lots of fun with that.

My wife asked me if I could build a pinball machine - this is not an opportunity to pass up so my next project is virtual pinball  :)

I have no idea what I'm doing, so any advice would be very well received. I am wanting to build a compact table - just two screens. I tested the set-up this weekend and it worked a treat.


javeryh

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2019, 08:15:01 am »
Nice - I love these builds.  Take lots of pics!

LTC

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2019, 11:23:12 am »
Good luck on your new build. I am having a great time building mine.
What size TV are you using for the playfield?
As far as advice, I am completely winging it on my build, but I did have a budget in mind before starting. Set a budget for your build, price all the parts you will need, and see if it's realistic. Also, here's a great guide to building a pinball cab. I wish I had found it a lot sooner  :banghead:
http://mjrnet.org/pinscape/BuildGuideV2/BuildGuide.php?sid=toc

Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2019, 01:55:13 pm »
So progress has been made!

I've built the main cabinet:
« Last Edit: November 13, 2019, 02:07:51 pm by Deek069 »

Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2019, 01:58:41 pm »
Then I had to attach the legs - I decided to buy proper pinball legs as they add so much to the look.

The problem was I had to drill into the corners and I was not confident with my abilities to hold a drill straight while drilling into a corner. Then I had the bright idea of using my circular saw's ability to cut at 45 degrees, but two pieces and fixed them to another, drilled a hole in the middle and I had a guide which worked really well. I know this is probably common knowledge to you seasoned builders but I was super happy with myself with this :)


Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2019, 02:00:53 pm »
At this point I realised I'd made a mistake - I want to keep the TV I am using the for main play field in it's case for various reasons and to do this it has to be flush against the cabinet on the left side. I hadn't catered for room for the left flipper button.

Luckily there is nothing but empty case in that part of the TV so I just hack sawed it off - problem solved!


Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2019, 02:02:21 pm »
I fit the buttons next, at this point we couldn't resist giving it a 'quick' test.

Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2019, 02:04:28 pm »
I've just added the back glass and DMD screen box.

Next will be two more buttons (realised in testing these were needed). Fit the speakers. Fit a coin door. Order and fit the glass (going to use plexiglass I think) and then vinyls. Hopefully finished within the next month :)
« Last Edit: November 13, 2019, 02:06:45 pm by Deek069 »

Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #8 on: November 13, 2019, 02:05:32 pm »
Good luck on your new build. I am having a great time building mine.
What size TV are you using for the playfield?
As far as advice, I am completely winging it on my build, but I did have a budget in mind before starting. Set a budget for your build, price all the parts you will need, and see if it's realistic. Also, here's a great guide to building a pinball cab. I wish I had found it a lot sooner  :banghead:
http://mjrnet.org/pinscape/BuildGuideV2/BuildGuide.php?sid=toc

Sorry I didn't reply earlier - it's 32 inch.

Thanks for the link - that site is very useful :)

LTC

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2019, 05:32:19 pm »
You'll be done in no time  :cheers:
I'm a little jelly.

jmike

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2019, 09:52:09 pm »
 :applaud:
  Looking great so far! Where are you planning on putting the speakers? You might need to make the DMD box bigger to put them under that screen if you go that route.
Looking forward to the next update.

 :cheers:

Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #11 on: December 22, 2019, 09:28:53 am »
The speakers are going next to the backglass - trying to keep it as compact as possible.


Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #12 on: December 22, 2019, 09:30:09 am »
Fitted the plexi-glass to the playfield and backglass - I am happy with the result.

Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #13 on: December 22, 2019, 09:31:19 am »
Cabinet wrapped.

Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #14 on: December 22, 2019, 09:32:56 am »
As the PC inside is Windows 10 based, I needed mouse and keyboard support - so I got one of these. Works really well and is nice and compact so I can store in the coin door when not in use.

Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #15 on: December 22, 2019, 09:33:47 am »
I've very happy with the end result - just waiting on some graphics for the sides :)

DaOld Man

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #16 on: December 22, 2019, 09:47:04 am »
Great job! I would love to do a virtual pin project, if I only had the room in my living space.

LTC

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #17 on: December 23, 2019, 07:32:44 pm »
Congrats on getting this project done. Mine is completely disasambled getting Bondo treatment before the primer goes on. I'm probably another 2 months away from being done 😒

javeryh

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #18 on: December 24, 2019, 08:38:40 am »
Great job! I would love to do a virtual pin project, if I only had the room in my living space.

Same here.  I’ve been so tempted to build one (mini) and figure it out later but my wife will kill me.  Probably worth it.

morton

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #19 on: December 24, 2019, 10:20:08 am »
Great job! I would love to do a virtual pin project, if I only had the room in my living space.

Same here.  I’ve been so tempted to build one (mini) and figure it out later but my wife will kill me.  Probably worth it.

OP married well... Y'all need to find wives who suggest the build themselves. Either that happened or OP is a friggin Jedi!

Builds like this give me bad ideas...

Deek069

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Re: Virtual Pinball
« Reply #20 on: December 26, 2019, 03:45:23 am »
Congrats on getting this project done. Mine is completely disasambled getting Bondo treatment before the primer goes on. I'm probably another 2 months away from being done 😒

I am in awe of your project - it's good you are taking your time and doing it right :)  :cheers: