Custom Buttons & Housings (Early Bally, Gottlieb, Stern, Chicago Coin)

My Shapeway’s store should be open to purchase early SS or late EM buttons and housings. You can visit the store at:

http://www.shapeways.com/shops/Pinball-Mods

You can buy in single button / housing configurations or in pairs allowing you to configure the colors as you want. The buttons work interchangeably with the original housings and vice-versa. At the moment; I have 13 color and/or materials available:

Blue nylon
Purple Nylon
Pink Nylon
Yellow Nylon
Green Nylon
Orange Nylon
Matte Black Nylon
Smooth Black
Polished Metallic Plastic
Grey Nylon /w metallic sparkle
Translucent clear
Matte Translucent clear
Matte Frosted Translucent Clear

I do not offer White or Red Opaque buttons in the store as they come much cheaper from PBR or Marco. I understand the prices are high; it’s what Shapeways’ charges for the material. I guess it’s the cost of customization.

At this point; I offer the following part numbers at the shop:

  • Buttons:
    • Bally C-905 button
    • Gottlieb B-16680 button
    • Stern / Chicago Coin Machine 4B-200 button
  • Housings:
    • Bally C-904 housing
    • Gottlieb C-13900 bushing
    • Stern / Chicago Coin Machine 4B-199 housing
    • Gottlieb BUSHING FOR DOUBLE PUSHBUTTON #B-21018

Here’s some pictures I took of the housing in polished metallic plastic and the button in frosted detail:

Stern Star Trek: Vengeance Nacelle Mod

I really enjoy my Stern Star Trek LE Pinball machine… But one of the things which has bothered me on the machine was the way the USS Vengeance shines it’s bright blue Nacelle LEDs right in the eye of the player.

This simple mod aims to correct that. I knew I wanted laser cut some blue acrylic pieces to help defuse the LEDs; so I consulted google images to give me some ideas what the Nacelles were suppose to look like:

USS Vengeance c/o TrekCollective.com

Without redesigning the whole Stern Nacelle; I decided a piece set about 1/4″in into the nacelle would be closer to film accurate. Also; in a couple of the google images; the Bussard collector looked more cylinder shaped; so I figured a deep etch in the back side of the plastic would be ideal. Here’s what my first prototype looked like in CorelDraw:

USS Vengeance Nacelle Prototype
USS Vengeance Nacelle Prototype Peices

I then proceeded to Techshop.ws and laser etched/cut these pieces out on some 1/8″ Blue acrylic.

To remove the Nacelle; simply remove the top two philps screws holding the Nacelle to the ship assembly. Then remove it… On my ship; Stern was rather liberal with the hot glue; so I had to work the nacelle off by pulling the sides of the nacelle from the hot glue. The Blue LED is attached to the ship assembly; so you shouldn’t have to worry about it coming loose.

When I got home; I used some plastic epoxy to glue the piece into the left nacelle. This piece is to be position just past the flat ridge in the nacelle:

USS Vengeance Nacelle

Here’s the Bussard collector installed with a little epoxy:

USS Vengeance Broussard collector
USS Vengeance Bussard collector

NOTE: the curved etch faces the rear of the Nacelle (etch toward LED)

In my case I found it a little easier to bevel the sides of the pieces with a file so the sides of the plastic pieces would make better contact with the sides of the warp nacelles. I put some epoxy on the sides of the piece and on the little round nub at the top of the nacelle so the piece can’t be shaken loose during the Vengeance battles.

So; How’d it turn out? I only modded the left side (right in the picture) and took this picture:

USS Vengeance Mod
USS Vengeance Mod

A close-up Before and After:

sStDSC_B4After
USS Vengeance Mod Before & After

Want to do this yourself? Have access to Acrylic and a Laser Cutter? Great; I’ve decided release this design to the public under the TAPR Non-Commercial Open Hardware License which indicates:

You may make products based upon this design, provided you do not make more than ten units in any twelve month period for your personal use.

If you agree with the license terms a PDF  is posted here under TAPR/NCL license: Vengeance Nacelle Mod Package

Don’t have access to a laser cutter? Visit our store to get an inexpensive set:
http://pinball-mods.com/oscom/product_info.php/products_id/33

Stern ColorDMD adapter plate

If you’ve been following ColorDMD‘s updates on Pinside; you proably already know that ColorDMD is currently working on color DMD dots for the Stern Star Trek Pinball Machines. Several months ago I helped formalize plans for an adapter plate for the Stern Star Trek Premium/LE machines.

This DIY mod will allow you to install a Color DMD in a machine without modifying the stainless steel speaker panel. This Adapter completely covers the studs on your metal speaker panel; thereby preventing the studs from scratching or cracking your $400 ColorDMD (LCD) display.

Plans for this MDF ColorDMD adapter plate are posted here:
ColorDMD adapter plate plans
or you can purchase a pre-made kit from us here:
/oscom/product_info.php/products_id/32

Installation Instructions:
ColorDMD Adapter Installation Instructions