Just got back from vacation and downloaded the latest Bond update. Everyone's super excited that the Bond Girl playfield multipliers work now! Now that it's finally "activatable", something messy immediately got my attention -- the rectangular white 007 Multiplier insert was only half lit:
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At first I thought it must be a malfunctioning light, but looking under the playfield, I found there is only one light board there, only on the left side of the insert, because there's another board in the way. I guess this was another case of "meh maybe they won't notice"?
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This inconsistent illumination instantly irritated me, so I spent a little time today trying to figure out a workaround. I dug through my stash and found I had some little RGB light boards from Comet, so I devised this (prototype!!) mount that would allow a second light board to slide under the adjacent large board (which has spacers so there's enough clearance). I also had to cut & repin the wires to snap into the molex connector that drives the light. I thought color-changing RGB would be cool for this light -- it's a big deal in the game so it should be flashier!
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While my little prototype mount (after some modification) fit the way I'd intended, and fully lit up the insert as intended, I learned something I didn't know about the RGB LED -- the time between color changes is relatively slow AND it reverts to red whenever the power is cut. Therefore, since it blinks when active, it's just red all the time -- not flashy & colorful like I'd hoped. (The current stays active enough during lamp diagnostics to cycle the colors, but in gameplay it flashes red.)
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^ hard to accurately capture with the camera, but it's much more fully & evenly lit here.
So, since RGB wasn't going to work, Comet does make these boards in single colors too. But just for kicks I checked whatever else I had laying around. A 6-SMD pad didn't work, not enough juice to drive it I guess, but the 3-LED strips worked just fine -- and that puts 3 lights under there instead of two! With more lights and half the wires to monkey around with, it seems I'll likely rework my mount to accommodate the 3-LED strip instead.
I'm torn on what color would be best -- stick with cool white or try something more exotic like purple (for the multiplier animation backgrounds) or blue (for Diamonds are Forever, since that's the song that plays).
Here's a video (again, not captured well due to camera vs naked eye) of different colors from the RGB, for a rough idea. It definitely did not capture the purple well, lol
In the meantime:
1) Are you guys interested for me to make this mod available, or am I just being too picky? Look at your insert during PF multiplier gameplay and see what you think, and sound off below.
2) Should I stick to cool white, or do you like color option(s)?
Price will be reasonable but depends on the final Bill of Materials, mount design, and assembly time. Remember it's not just a strip -- the strip needs a mount, and the wiring needs conversion to molex.
Let me know what you guys think about my questions 1 & 2 above, and/or drop a note here to start forming a waitlist if you want it!
My daughter and I have a tournament on Saturday so I'll rework the mount on Sunday to accommodate the strip light. I'll also get some of the other colors on order so I can see how they look.
Warrington
St. Louis, MO
Dollard-des Ormeaux, QC
