MILLERCADE (almost done!) with rotating control panel set to Joysticks.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Pinball Shooter

As part of my 3rd control panel, here is HAPP Controls' Pinball Universal Ball Shooter Assembly (part #95-0086-00 $13.99), seen here in resting position. At rest, it is pressing on a ‘normally closed’ push-button inside the control panel drum (thus opening the circuit). Pulling the assembly releases the button, thus closing the circuit and “charging” the shooter. Releasing the assembly then opens the circuit again, launching the emulated pinball with force equal to how long the assembly was held pulled out. An excellent simulation of the real thing, as players will pull the assembly out further (which takes longer) to fire the ball harder. It all looks and feels real. Yes, that plunger does bash the snot out of the push-button, and I'm sure it will break in a matter of time. And when the button breaks, a new pushbutton is about $2. In this photo you can also see the black flipper buttons, and white tilt buttons built into the sides of the third control panel. Notice the blue t-molding on the edge of the shot several inches away. On the third control panel, this gap between the cabinet outside (blue t-molding) and the control panel outside (where the buttons are) is large enough for the player to hold the machine like they are holding a pinball table, without having the buttons deface the clean outside of the cabinet itself.

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