Eds Medieval Madness Pinball Machine
#pinball machine
#catapult
#playfield
#NOS parts
#target switches
#castle gate
#dragon wings
#trolls
#drawbridge
#iron drop-gate
Description: This machine's playfield includes a catapult that launches the pinball, trolls that emerge from the playfield, and an exploding castle featuring a drawbridge and an iron drop-gate. All plastics were replaced with a New Old Stock (NOS) set from Marcos Specialties. Various parts were also acquired, including target switches, the steel castle gate, and dragon wings. Extensive laser-printed graphics were utilized to create overlays and decals for components such as the castle drawbridge, troll flaps, and other areas. The plastic ramps were stripped, cleaned, and flame polished. The metal ramps were polished using Brasso, resulting in a bright and shiny finish. The left edge of the castle gate was damaged, prompting the purchase of a new one; however, upon arrival, it was determined that the existing one could be repaired. Fiberglass tape and epoxy were used to rebuild the left entrance, and the footers of all towers were touched up before the entire castle was coated with non-yellowing polyurethane, a method initially developed for Space Shuttle ramps. A photograph of the area was taken with a ruler for scale, aiming for a resolution of approximately 300 dpi. The image was edited to restore missing parts using Photoshop, then printed on both photo paper and vinyl media. The photo paper, being 6.8 mils thick, provided superior image quality compared to the 6.5 mil vinyl. The photo paper was glued down using a dry glue stick to prevent wrinkling and covered with mylar. To ensure proper adhesion of the mylar at the edge of the step, a bead of clear polyurethane was applied. The door on the left of the main castle gate opens to allow the ball to 'crash through' the wall, with its base made from the playfield wood, which had significant wear. A protector was created for the base and the pocket behind it, made from aluminum sheets. The base protector was covered with a decal made from a photo of the castle foundation. This protector is secured by a metal plate beneath the playfield. The pocket behind the door was lined with dark green painted aluminum to match the moat's color. Additionally, a decal for the wood of the castle drawbridge was printed using a scan from ballsofsteel.net, printed on vinyl with a color laser, and laminated with clear mylar, closely resembling the original fragment. The metal parts of the drawbridge were spray-painted with black gloss enamel. The Merlin Hole on the machine was worn, and during the initial renovation, it was restored with epoxy wood putty and paint touch-ups. However, after a few months of play, the wood putty cracked, indicating the need for a protector for the wood of the playfield.
The playfield design integrates various mechanical and aesthetic features, enhancing both gameplay and visual appeal. The catapult mechanism is engineered to launch the pinball with precision, while the emerging trolls add an interactive element, engaging players as they navigate the playfield. The exploding castle, with its drawbridge and iron drop-gate, serves as a focal point, creating an immersive environment reminiscent of a medieval fantasy.
The use of New Old Stock (NOS) plastics ensures that the aesthetics match the original design, preserving the machine's historical integrity. The acquisition of specific components, such as target switches and dragon wings, reflects a commitment to restoring the machine to its optimal functionality. The application of laser-printed graphics enhances the visual aspects of the playfield, providing clarity and vibrancy to key features.
The meticulous restoration of the ramps, both plastic and metal, demonstrates a high standard of maintenance. The flame polishing of plastic ramps and the effective use of Brasso on metal ramps contribute to an improved gameplay experience, minimizing friction and enhancing the ball's movement across the playfield.
The decision to repair the existing castle gate rather than replace it exemplifies resourcefulness, utilizing fiberglass tape and epoxy to restore structural integrity. The application of non-yellowing polyurethane not only protects the finish but also maintains the aesthetic quality of the castle.
The photographic documentation and subsequent image editing process illustrate a sophisticated approach to restoration, allowing for the accurate recreation of missing components. The choice of materials, such as photo paper for decals, further indicates a focus on quality and durability, ensuring that the visual elements withstand the rigors of gameplay.
The incorporation of protective measures, such as aluminum sheets for wear-prone areas, highlights a proactive approach to maintenance, extending the lifespan of the playfield. The attention to detail in matching colors and patterns ensures that the restoration remains true to the original design while enhancing functionality.
Overall, this playfield restoration exemplifies the intersection of engineering, artistry, and preservation, resulting in a machine that not only functions effectively but also captivates players with its rich visual storytelling.This machine`s playfield features a catapult that fires the pinball, trolls that pop up from the playfield, and an exploding castle with a drawbridge and iron drop-gate. All the plastics were replaced with a New Old Stock (NOS) set from Marcos Specialties. I also bought various parts such as target switches, the steel castle gate, and dragon wings. Extensive use of laser printed graphics were used to make overlays and decals such as for the castle drawbridge, troll flaps and other locations. The plastic ramps were stripped, cleaned and then flame polished. The metal ramps responded well to a rubbing of `Brasso` (unlike the IJ ramps, which did not), and came out bright and shiny.
The edge of the castle gate was broken on the left hand side, so I decided to purchase a new one. However, when it arrived, I saw how little was broken, and decided to repair the existing one. Using fiberglass tape and epoxy, I rebuilt the left entrance. I also touched up the footers of all the towers and clearcoated the entire castle with non-yellowing polyurethane. This is the method first developed on the Space Shuttle ramps. I started by shooting a photo of the area with a ruler in the field of view. A resolution of about 300 dpi is a good target to achieve. I then edited the image to add the missing parts back in with PhotoShop. The image was then printed onto both photo paper and vinyl media from mediastreet. com. The former product is 6. 8 mils thick, while the latter is 6. 5 mils (normal office paper is 4 mils). I found that the former worked better in terms of the image quality in the solid areas. Whenever the vinyl was stretched, the colors would crack, so I used photo paper. I then glued the paper down with dry glue from a glue stick (prevents wrinkling of the paper), and covered the area with mylar.
I later found that it is best to seal the step between the paper and playfield with a bead of clear polyurethane. If this is not done, the thick mylar will not adhere right at the edge of the step. The door on the left of the main castle gate opens to allow the ball to `crash through` the wall. The base of this door is just the wood of playfield itself. This had a great deal of wear on it, so I decided to make a protector for the base and the pocket behind it.
I made the protectors out of aluminum sheets. The one for the base of the door was then covered with a decal that I made by shooting a photo of the castle foundation and cloning it into a pattern. This protector is held in place by the metal plate under the playfield. Then the pocket behind the door was lined with aluminum that was painted dark green to match the moat color.
One additional note is that the decal for wood of the castle drawbridge was printed using a scan from ballsofsteel. net. This was printed onto vinyl with a color laser and then laminated with clear mylar. The end result looks very close to the fragment that was on the bridge when I bought the machine. The metal parts of the drawbridge were spray painted with black gloss enamel. As with many MM`s the Merlin Hole on my machine was worn. In the initial renovation, I restored the hole with epoxy wood putty and touched up the paint (similar to how Dave did his).
It turned out very nice, but after a few months of play, the wood putty cracked and broke away. Clearly, I needed a protector for the wood of the playfield. These are avai
The playfield design integrates various mechanical and aesthetic features, enhancing both gameplay and visual appeal. The catapult mechanism is engineered to launch the pinball with precision, while the emerging trolls add an interactive element, engaging players as they navigate the playfield. The exploding castle, with its drawbridge and iron drop-gate, serves as a focal point, creating an immersive environment reminiscent of a medieval fantasy.
The use of New Old Stock (NOS) plastics ensures that the aesthetics match the original design, preserving the machine's historical integrity. The acquisition of specific components, such as target switches and dragon wings, reflects a commitment to restoring the machine to its optimal functionality. The application of laser-printed graphics enhances the visual aspects of the playfield, providing clarity and vibrancy to key features.
The meticulous restoration of the ramps, both plastic and metal, demonstrates a high standard of maintenance. The flame polishing of plastic ramps and the effective use of Brasso on metal ramps contribute to an improved gameplay experience, minimizing friction and enhancing the ball's movement across the playfield.
The decision to repair the existing castle gate rather than replace it exemplifies resourcefulness, utilizing fiberglass tape and epoxy to restore structural integrity. The application of non-yellowing polyurethane not only protects the finish but also maintains the aesthetic quality of the castle.
The photographic documentation and subsequent image editing process illustrate a sophisticated approach to restoration, allowing for the accurate recreation of missing components. The choice of materials, such as photo paper for decals, further indicates a focus on quality and durability, ensuring that the visual elements withstand the rigors of gameplay.
The incorporation of protective measures, such as aluminum sheets for wear-prone areas, highlights a proactive approach to maintenance, extending the lifespan of the playfield. The attention to detail in matching colors and patterns ensures that the restoration remains true to the original design while enhancing functionality.
Overall, this playfield restoration exemplifies the intersection of engineering, artistry, and preservation, resulting in a machine that not only functions effectively but also captivates players with its rich visual storytelling.This machine`s playfield features a catapult that fires the pinball, trolls that pop up from the playfield, and an exploding castle with a drawbridge and iron drop-gate. All the plastics were replaced with a New Old Stock (NOS) set from Marcos Specialties. I also bought various parts such as target switches, the steel castle gate, and dragon wings. Extensive use of laser printed graphics were used to make overlays and decals such as for the castle drawbridge, troll flaps and other locations. The plastic ramps were stripped, cleaned and then flame polished. The metal ramps responded well to a rubbing of `Brasso` (unlike the IJ ramps, which did not), and came out bright and shiny.
The edge of the castle gate was broken on the left hand side, so I decided to purchase a new one. However, when it arrived, I saw how little was broken, and decided to repair the existing one. Using fiberglass tape and epoxy, I rebuilt the left entrance. I also touched up the footers of all the towers and clearcoated the entire castle with non-yellowing polyurethane. This is the method first developed on the Space Shuttle ramps. I started by shooting a photo of the area with a ruler in the field of view. A resolution of about 300 dpi is a good target to achieve. I then edited the image to add the missing parts back in with PhotoShop. The image was then printed onto both photo paper and vinyl media from mediastreet. com. The former product is 6. 8 mils thick, while the latter is 6. 5 mils (normal office paper is 4 mils). I found that the former worked better in terms of the image quality in the solid areas. Whenever the vinyl was stretched, the colors would crack, so I used photo paper. I then glued the paper down with dry glue from a glue stick (prevents wrinkling of the paper), and covered the area with mylar.
I later found that it is best to seal the step between the paper and playfield with a bead of clear polyurethane. If this is not done, the thick mylar will not adhere right at the edge of the step. The door on the left of the main castle gate opens to allow the ball to `crash through` the wall. The base of this door is just the wood of playfield itself. This had a great deal of wear on it, so I decided to make a protector for the base and the pocket behind it.
I made the protectors out of aluminum sheets. The one for the base of the door was then covered with a decal that I made by shooting a photo of the castle foundation and cloning it into a pattern. This protector is held in place by the metal plate under the playfield. Then the pocket behind the door was lined with aluminum that was painted dark green to match the moat color.
One additional note is that the decal for wood of the castle drawbridge was printed using a scan from ballsofsteel. net. This was printed onto vinyl with a color laser and then laminated with clear mylar. The end result looks very close to the fragment that was on the bridge when I bought the machine. The metal parts of the drawbridge were spray painted with black gloss enamel. As with many MM`s the Merlin Hole on my machine was worn. In the initial renovation, I restored the hole with epoxy wood putty and touched up the paint (similar to how Dave did his).
It turned out very nice, but after a few months of play, the wood putty cracked and broke away. Clearly, I needed a protector for the wood of the playfield. These are avai