All Software Working Now

Took a couple of days but finally figured out the software. Running a program called hyperpin for the front end, allows you to scroll through and select the pinball table you want to play. I haven't configured any future pinball tables yet, but have a couple of virtual pinball ones.

The VP ones play great, I've heard mixed reviews about the future pinball ones but will give them a try. Running a program called UVP for the backglasses, animates them really nicely.

A lot of people running these software programs complain about lag and stutter, but I haven't noticed any yet. Here is a pic of fish tales with UVP, VP, and VPMame all running.

Cabinet starting to look like a Pinball Machine

Made a lot of progress today, have the cabinet pretty much complete now except for 1 last board I need to cut but couldn't because my saw died.

Working through setting up the software which is quite a chore with 3 monitors running off video cards with over 5 ouputs each on them, and the 6 or 7 software programs required. Hopefully after I get one table running I'll understand how to add the rest.

Once I get all this working the real hard part begins though which will be wiring the 16 or so input buttons etc, and then working through the 16 ouputs I am setting up including LED lighting, flipper feedback, gear motors, and solenoids that will all be driven in context with the game.

Cabinet Back Box Attached to Main Cabinet

Here is the cabinet back box mounted on the main cabinet. Working through mounting the 42 inch TV for the playfield today, and then will figure out the wiring.

Main Cabinet

Cabinet is now cutout for the virtual pinball machine. Need to figure out where I want all the buttons and cut those out, as well as mount the 42 inch TV fo the playfield. Hope to have everything assembled for testing tomorrow.

Once I'm happy with how everything fits I'll disassemble it all, and then finish with high gloss paint.

More build work on Visual Pinball Machine

Backbox is nearly complete. Here you can see the 32 inch Sanyo TV mounted with the 19 inch monitor to create the DMD display.

Picked up sony 4" car speakers that will fill the speaker cutouts beside the DMD screen. Was able to use the TV bezel in order to create a nice flush look.

New Project

Started on a new project this weekend. Virtual Pinball machine, plan on using a 42 inch tv for the playfield, and a 32 inch one for the backglass and 19 for the DMD display.

Have ordered most of the hardware now, just need a few odds and ends like fans for cooling. All the main parts have arrived though, so I began cutting out the cabinet this weekend, plan on making 3 machines in total.

Computer I plan to use is quite powerful, 6 core system running two 6850s. In this picture you see the bezel of the Sanyo 32 inch TV I am using for the backglass. Here I'm just testing the backbox for fit, I used a wobble blade to groove channels into the wood which the TV bezel sits in and will eventually hold the decased LCD in place.

Should have the backbox completed shortly, and then will start on the main cabinet. The board below the TV will eventually be cutout to hold the DMD display (19inch monitor), and a couple of speakers.

Scorpion Pinball Machine

Picked up a Scorpion Pinball machine about a month ago, one of the first early wide body cabinets. Not a bad game, like the drop down targets, but the game play definately isn't as fast as my Firepower machine, and it does lack something without any voice sounds. I do like the dual flippers though, and it does remind me a little of Black Knight with the two almost seperate playfields.

Was a bit of a mess electronically, even had a fuse wrapped in tinfoil, needed a number of repairs. Battery box was defective and needed to be replaced. IC19 5101 was dead, and had to be replaced so I installed a new IC with a socket. Most of the male pins were no longer soldered very well, so I resoldered the 40 pin connector.

Replaced switch 06, was causing poor flipper operation .

Cleaned all contacts using diagnostic tool # 3 and found a number out of adjustment. Now corrected .

The following transistors all needed replacing:

TIP 122 Q33 /10 loose and broken stopped sound number 10

Tip 122 Q37 / Q36 stopped sol 13

Tip 122 Q6 /Q5 stopped top left drop down sol # 4

There were quite a few other issues, but one of the main ones was that none of the displays were operating. This was fixed by replacing the resistors which were out of limits.