Questions about building Virtual Pinball Cabinet

[Savannan]

Hello All,

Every other winter I like to take on a project to cure my Cabin Fever blues(besides Snowbaording)... 2 years ago I purchased a MAMEROOM UAII cabinet (which I play at least 3x a week...LOVE IT), Last year or so ago I made a Multi-MORTAL KOMBAT Arcade Cabinet

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,121304.msg1286764.html#msg1286764

Didn't want to sell it but I needed money for my pooches chemotherapy treatments. 

But this winter I would like to start building a Virtual Pinball Machine.   I was opting to buy a kit, but the price is pretty expensive.  I'm good at wood working and thought I would build a cabinet from scratch instead of buying a pre-fab kit. When I build something, Im VERY VERY VERY matriculate(not anal) in presentation inside and out. 

Just have a few questions that hopefully someone could answer for me. 

1)  I was thinking of making a cabinet out of 3/4" oak 4x8 plywood (I believe its laminate..***don't quote me***).  I would try to stay away from chrome metal parts but use black instead...I wouldn't use metal legs but some fancy wooden ones...Do you guys think a pinball machine made like this would look good or decent?  or should I just paint everything black like all the others?

2) Any plans out on the net for a wide body pinball cab? 

3) If you look at this youtube video :
He mentions that he uses a 19" LCD for the score area.  It looks hes only using the upper half of the monitor.. Is this correct?

4) The lauch ball plunger :  In the video he uses a push button to launch the ball.  Is there a plunger that looks like the real thing but actually has a potentiometer so the further you hold back, the faster the ball launches like in a real machine.

Any help would be very appreciative

Thank You

Sav

[spoot]

Nanotech sells a digital plunger and motion sensors for doing virtual pinball.

[PL1]

I'm good at wood working and thought I would build a cabinet from scratch instead of buying a pre-fab kit. When I build something, Im VERY VERY VERY matriculate(not anal) in presentation inside and out. 

In that case, be sure to matriculate at the VP Forums to assist with your meticulous preparations.   

1)  I was thinking of making a cabinet out of 3/4" oak 4x8 plywood (I believe its laminate..***don't quote me***).  I would try to stay away from chrome metal parts but use black instead...I wouldn't use metal legs but some fancy wooden ones...Do you guys think a pinball machine made like this would look good or decent?  or should I just paint everything black like all the others?

I like the idea of a wood pattern cab with black trim.

2) Any plans out on the net for a wide body pinball cab? 

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,84133.msg1090265.html#msg1090265

He mentions that he uses a 19" LCD for the score area.  It looks hes only using the upper half of the monitor.. Is this correct?

Looks like you are correct.

4) The lauch ball plunger :  In the video he uses a push button to launch the ball.  Is there a plunger that looks like the real thing but actually has a potentiometer so the further you hold back, the faster the ball launches like in a real machine.

Ah, the age old question of plunger vs ball launch button.

Nanotech plunger - Available here or here.
Good news: Designed to work perfectly with all FP tables and many VP tables.

Bad news: Some people over at VPForums have had problems with getting the nudge accelerometers properly calibrated for their cab.

Some tables like T2 used a trigger to time the skill shot, not sure how well that would work with the plunger.

Launch Button -
Good news: Works with all tables.

Bad news: Pull strength depends on timing.

Another option is to have both like the link in my sig.


Scott

[Savannan]

Thanks for your help guys...I know where to start....

but

Im guessing that link above is for a widebody plans..but the link doesnt work.

Thanks again guys!!!

Sav

[yotsuya]

I'd stick with metal legs, personally. Anything else would probably just look odd.

[PL1]

Im guessing that link above is for a widebody plans..but the link doesnt work.

PDF for the widebody is at http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84133.0;attach=186655.


Scott