The beauty of some pinball tables is undeniable... but equally undeniable is the cost usually associated with their restoration. In addition to the 'money factor', there are parts that are very difficult to obtain due to their age and low original numbers. Now, if you want your own pinball table 'no matter what', nothing stops you from following the virtual route and drastically reducing the complexity of such a project. That's how we arrive at Instructables user 'smithsa3', who decided years ago to create a pinball with three essential parameters: Full size, limited budget, and 'The Addams Family' as the title.
The Restoration Challenge
A quick visit to YouTube will confirm that pinball table restoration combines electronics, mechanics, art, improvisation, determination, precision... and hard decisions. More than once, enthusiasts are forced to evaluate a table's value to prioritize its repair, and take parts from another 'less rare' one that must wait in a corner until it gets another chance. That and other details determine the price of a pinball table... and some models are simply prohibitive.
https://old.neoteo.com/como-se-construyen-los-pinball/The Virtual Solution
For example, Instructables user 'smithsa3' explains that his budget only allowed access to some mechanical tables from the '70s, but they weren't what he had in mind. As an avid consumer of emulated pinball on PlayStation and PC, 'smithsa3' decided to explore the territory of virtual pinballs, with an extra twist: It had to work on a full-size table accompanied by all its elements, including the coin-accepting mechanism.
Software and Construction
His guide begins with a proof of concept on the desktop. PinballX is the key to running the software, with broad support, and several online configuration guides. Its developers also offer a 'Lite' edition for Windows tablets, so if you prefer a more compact project with less powerful hardware, PinballX shouldn't cause problems.
The most complex part of the guide (personally, I think so) is the construction of the table itself. 'smithsa3' shared the measurements of several popular tables, and the ones he ended up using in his design, with all values in inches. Other important steps are modifying an old keyboard controller for all the pinball commands (he has a separate tutorial), preparing ventilation for the table (it can accumulate a lot of heat), and of course, building a launcher.
The Final Result
The final result is excellent. The first video shows 'The Addams Family' in action, while the second focuses on 'Attack From Mars'. Both videos are from 2012, and 'smithsa3' mentions a final cost of 400 British pounds. I imagine that with some adjustments, the pinball dream could be more affordable... and if you decide to try it, we wish you all the luck in the world.
https://old.neoteo.com/mas-asombroso-rescate-arcades-perdidos/
