Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: quarterstringer on July 07, 2005, 01:27:02 pm
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I already have a 4 player showcase but visual pinball doesn't look good on a TV. Since I remember playing a lot of Williams pinball machines and Robotron is one of my favorite games, also made by Williams I wanted to build something a little different - The RoboPinball 2084.
The pinball apron, plunger, and coin door part are all from a Williams pinball machine and they all have a Williams name or logo on them. The joysticks are Wico 8-way leaf switch and the buttons are translucent leaf switches. The only thing that needs to be done is to add LEDs to the buttons.
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Erm... okay. What do you play it on?
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It's just a controller hooked up to my desktop computer.
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Ah...
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That looks great.
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That looks awesome. Do the pinball flippers under the glass work?
I need more info and more pics. Show guts, please.
Cheers,
KenToad
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Show guts, please.
I agree. I'd love to see how you hooked up the plunger too.
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I didn't take any pics while building it, because it's really a big mess underneath. The flippers don't move, but for the plunger I took a leaf switch and rounded the end of one of the leafs to stay in between the coils of the plunger spring. It hasn't come loose yet.
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I love it!
With a little creativity you can probably also play the other Williams arcade titles:
http://www.klov.com/manuf_detail.php?manuf_id=1729&orig_game_id=&sort=4
Great job!
--JamIt
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That's a slick litle setup. Have any top down photos?
What are you using for an interface to the PC? I-pac?
Rook
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VERY COOL.
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wow cool idea
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That would be an awesome swappable panel for an upright cab! Very very nice!
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What a cool little project. ;D There's lots to look at even though its a fairly small project. I find myself strangely drawn to it as it doesn't look like your average desktop controller. Definately eye candy for a typical arcade nut like myself. :) Very cool indeed.
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Looks great. The design really works. I like the metal apron and the overall pinball feel.
Need more pics and building notes...
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Thanks for all the nice comments. Here's the view from the top. I haven't decided if I want to add some playfield art. It might look too busy with more artwork. But I do need to paint wood grain on the ball lane area.
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Here the three buttons are held by just the button holders and nuts to a piece of MDF and a piece of lucite that slides out. There's about 2 feet of wire slack to give some room to work if I have to slide the buttons out.
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Here you can see the right flipper leaf switch and the leaf switch attached to the plunger. I cut a rounded notch in one leaf switch to match the plunger rods shape and it just sits in between the spring coils.
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There's no room for coin door mechs, so I hooked up a leaf switch to the coin reject button to activate credits. The orange button is the start button.
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This is the 8-way Wico leaf joystick, the stick is removed in the picture. Both joysticks are bolted to the pinball apron. Also I just used a cheap USB game controller for the interface.
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There's no room for coin door mechs, so I hooked up a leaf switch to the coin reject button to activate credits.
Very nice. Now if only you or someone else would sell me a couple of coin reject buttons with leaf switches for my Bartop, I would be so grateful. I had the idea to do that, but couldn't find the hardware, so I'm just making do with some buttons with stickers next to them that say "25 cents--Push to Insert." I would love to install a pair of actual coin reject buttons just like yours.
Cheers,
KenToad
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If you have a local route operator, they might sell you those parts. Or a junked door you could piece out yourself.
Nice pics BTW! I have been wondering for EVER how I was going to work the pinball plunger deal and that's a great, "simple" solution. Thanks for sharing!
Rook
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But I do need to paint wood grain on the ball lane area.
Instead of painting, you could try finding some pre-printed woodgrain paper from a crafft or hobby store. I've seen it in the scrapbooking and dallhouse building sections. (Don't ask! ::))
Here you can see the right flipper leaf switch and the leaf switch attached to the plunger. I cut a rounded notch in one leaf switch to match the plunger rods shape and it just sits in between the spring coils.
Nice solution. I'm still trying to decide if I want to do one of these on my control panel or not.