I'm excited to announce that Rick from Planetary pinball has approved the CAD blueprints and artwork for High Speed pinball arch remakes (Part #31-1008-541-RD). The aprons are being made in 18 gauge steel, powdercoated in high gloss black, and silk screened with high quality enamel inks. The artwork was vectored in Adobe Illustrator by James Ahlschwede. Now's the time to replace your old rusted ball arch and makes a much easier alternative to sandblasting your old one, repainting, and applying decals.

If you would like to order an apron and shooter gauge the cost will be $99.95 through Paypal to [email protected]. Please be sure to include your Pinside username in addition to you "Real" name and address where you would like the apron and shooter gauge shipped.
Shipping as follows $15 US, outside US PM for shipping quote, each set only $5 more in shipping.

If you would like to send a check, please send me a message letting me know so I can set aside an apron before they sell out. Checks and money orders can be sent to:
Merf's Pins
2612 17th Ave NW
Rochester, MN 55901

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_{Post edited by merfeldma: Price change}

Here is a sample of the completed artwork for the apron.HighSpeed Apron-719.jpg

Rick is working on setting up sales with distributors. The idea of the first pre-order is to get a good idea of how much demand there is. Since distributors will need to make a profit we can't promise that the price won't need to be raised on there end either.
Don't worry I haven't forgotten about Medusa!!

We can do the shooter gauge, but it will add additional costs since a screening press will need to be set up and additional tooling made. I will have to work out costs to find out how much more.

I'm glad people spoke up and told us how important the shooter lanes are, and I agree they will tie together much nicer as a set. The real question now is whether everyone agrees they should be sold as a set? If we meet our goal of 50 pre-orders we will be able to offer both the apron and shooter lane for $120 USD with shipping prices as listed above. Unfortunately, even though it seems like a small piece it still requires new tooling and silk screens to be made and aligned for proper image placement.

With all that said I think everyone who orders is going to be very happy with replacing their worn out, rusted, damaged aprons with a shiny brand spanking new High Speed ball arch and shooter guide.

I agree, I think it as the way to go. Now there will be difference in powdercoat or ink colors in case there was going to be a small discrepancy between the old ink colors and the new.

We are close to finalizing artwork to both the apron and shooter guide so we can get started.

Not to mention the cost of a apron decal is $40, then you need to strip it, paint or powder coat, and apply the decal w/o bubbles. After seeing tedious the process of restoring an old apron is and the results are decent, but no way close to original I thought there had to be a better way. Good thing I have access to all the equipment to actually make them

Things are coming along well with the aprons and shooter guides. Finalized the artwork and have the CAD blueprints finished.

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If F-14 uses the general System 11 that should be next in line.

In the process of getting the pantone inks. Once the inks arrive we can get started on production.

Bob- good question, no we were never planning on screening both parts at the same time for the very reasons you are talking about. We have received our Pantone inks from our supplier and are finishing up the last bits of tooling so we can begin manufacturing the parts. We are planning on a lower end number for our first project to see how well they sell. If anyone wants to be added to the pre-order list now would be the time.

Bob, unfortunately just about every ball arch is different in one way or another starting in the late 80s. High Speed is very close to general System 11 but with different screened artwork and changes to the apron itself. Funhouse is on a list of games we would like to have done this year. There is no plan on selling blank aprons, but we are making aprons for the great guys at Pingraffix who will be doing custom graphics.
Our business is making metal parts of all sorts so there are no shortcuts being taken. All new tooling, such as the de-boss tooling is being made right now.

That's a possibility. Right now I have an equal number of aprons and shooter gauges. The plan for machines with stickers on the shooter gauge would be to supply the apron complete with sticker so the user doesn't have to worry about it.

Sneak peak of the finished aprons for Pinsiders. I'm still waiting to get final approval from Rick at Planetary Pinball, but couldn't resist sharing the pictures. The powder coat and silkscreening turned out great.

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All surfaces were powder coated in gloss black before silk screening.

The powder coat should resist ball marks much better than the standard paint that Williams used as well.

I've got the approval, just waiting on the Williams Hologram stickers to start selling.

Update, the Williams hologram stickers have arrived from PPS and we are ready to begin shipping out aprons. Pricing and shipping are listed above.

We are always in more need to artists to get more games started. Anyone is welcome to PM for interest in becoming a Merf's Pins artist and we can talk reimbursement details.