DIY Home Skee Ball Build

[rick_bungle]

After not being able to find a decent used one locally, and then reading through a few posts here, mostly the one by Ixliam (https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,29727.0.html), and the one by thatpurplestuff (https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,91011.0.html), and seeing nipsmg's Major League Skee Ball software (https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,156300.0/all.html), I decided to build my own.

I didn't document it very well but I will post what I do have in case it might help others going through the same process.  I'm happy to answer any questions about it!

[rick_bungle]

I used actual balls and the ball hop from from Bay Tek.  I wanted the official balls for the correct size and weight and wanted to use an official ball hop to build the rest of the machine around. 
It is made out of 3/4" poplar plywood and 1/2 regular plywood.  I used the poplar plywood because it is true and straight.  I used pocket holes to hide all of the screws.  After contacting Bay Tek for the correct color, they couldn't give it to me (not because they didn't want to, the guy I talked to said they just didn't know or have a code or Sherwin Williams equivalent), I ended up using these two colors.

[rick_bungle]

Here you can see the hold layout, legs, and back box.  I used UnclueT's measurements and referred to the images here A LOT: https://unclet.arcadecontrols.com/SkeeBall/SkeeballMain.html
I used RJ45 connectors with couplers to quickly unhook everything for easy moving.
I used a ball routing design that I saw somewhere else, or at least something similar to point me in the right direction, but I don't remember where or who.
I tried using an official replacement solenoid mounted vertically for a ball release, and although it worked, it didn't work well with some of the games on the Major League Skee Ball software, so I ended up removing it.
I used 4" wall base without a lip for the rings.

[rick_bungle]

This is the guts that run everything, the layout for the buttons, and frame for the net.
I tried bending thin poplar by soaking it and heating it and it worked, but I cracked the second one I tried, so I switched to PVC boards and but them with a wet rag and clothes iron.
The cork material was easy to apply (https://www.bangorcork.com/refurbished-skee-ball-machines) and I got the bumper from Wall Guard (https://wallguard.com/wallguards/cart-wall-and-equipment-protection/vinyl-bumper-2257.html).