(Topic ID: 276315)

Alien Apron & lighting mod

By Faust

4 years ago


Topic Heartbeat

Topic Stats

  • 142 posts
  • 32 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 1 year ago by Dee-Bow
  • Topic is favorited by 15 Pinsiders

You

Linked Games

Topic Gallery

View topic image gallery

51158ee1155f777fe651f6b55a6ba51ae0f8277c (resized).png
IMG_20220130_211259_edit_265158871518393.jpg
IMG_7855 (resized).JPG
IMG_7850 (resized).JPG
IMG_7851 (resized).JPG
IMG_0051 (resized).JPEG
IMG_0052 (resized).JPEG
IMG_0053 (resized).JPEG
IMG_0054(1) (resized).JPEG
IMG_0055(1) (resized).JPEG
IMG_0056(1) (resized).JPEG
pasted_image (resized).png
Stripholder2 (resized).PNG
stripholder1 (resized).PNG
IMG_7617 (resized).JPG
0BCE1FA4-27DA-475C-B5F7-92F9FBE31FA4 (resized).jpeg
There are 142 posts in this topic. You are on page 1 of 3.
#1 4 years ago

This is a separate thread to follow the apron developments and the lighting mod updates (ramp lights).

Current status:

3 protos made; it fits on the pin

Made some small mechanical adjusments and improvements. Second batch here in a week. After that it will be one production run.

I’m doing the mechanical work, Vimtoman
works on lighting.

Another Pinsider is doing the airbrushing.

Current status: see picture

47BCF15B-99A9-49C6-A37F-4DF911F36AEE (resized).jpeg47BCF15B-99A9-49C6-A37F-4DF911F36AEE (resized).jpeg
#2 4 years ago

ALIEN LOGO LIGHTING
This video shows the actual logo on the apron lit with three effects programmed.
Slight flicker from camera but not viewable to the real eye.
There will be one or more effects to be added.
Options to set one of your choice and also an option to play random effects.
There will be LED strobe effects from the front of the apron with mood lighting with colours of you choice.
This is just a taster and a full show will be done when Felix's production is about to start.

#3 4 years ago

Great to see a metal apron at last !

#4 4 years ago

Regarding the apron there is only one noticable change for the next iteration; we dropped ‘limited edition’ for now.

#5 4 years ago
Quoted from Faust:

Regarding the apron there is only one noticable change for the next iteration; we dropped ‘limited edition’ for now.

Hi Felix,
would it be possible to get the Motion Tracker mounted little bit more to left hand side? Seems that the glass frame is overlapping the edge on the right side little bit, similar to the original position once mounted on original Apron.
Thanks Pat

46773E4B-CBE9-428F-B13C-FAC6E40853FD (resized).jpeg46773E4B-CBE9-428F-B13C-FAC6E40853FD (resized).jpeg
#6 4 years ago

Same I thought !
Should be possible to bring it more to the left !!

Comes there 3D print over the acid ?

looking great !!

#7 4 years ago

Yes, even though we already gave it 6mm more space to the left on this one but was not enough (well we could’ve known when measuring correctly ).It was on the improvement list and the next one will be clear.

Also improved: fixation of the apron, thinner metal.

the holes:
they will be 3D structured, yes. I will post when there are results.

#8 4 years ago

Buddy that’s very cool!great job

#9 4 years ago

How work strobes effect? It can’t be permanent imho

#10 4 years ago
Quoted from colonel_caverne:

How work strobes effect? It can’t be permanent imho

Idea was to use Per's mod and trigger from that.
I've not tried it yet as dont have his mod myself

It can be triggered from any switch and will run for a short period.

#11 4 years ago
Quoted from colonel_caverne:

How work strobes effect? It can’t be permanent imho

It starts now when Ambush multiball is started, but lasts now a fixed amount of time (Per's strobe mod).
It is difficult to have a simple detection on when the multiball ends. If this is possible then the strobe could go on exactly the amount of time of the multiball.

Maybe @vitmoman has some ideas...

#12 4 years ago

I do have the flashing Mod from Per unused laying here. Didn’t found the time to mount. If it will help to adjust your apron mod I can send it to you.
Regards Pat

#13 4 years ago
Quoted from Faust:

It starts now when Ambush multiball is started, but lasts now a fixed amount of time (Per's strobe mod).
It is difficult to have a simple detection on when the multiball ends. If this is possible then the strobe could go on exactly the amount of time of the multiball.
Maybe @vitmoman has some ideas...

this is the key.
The best is blackout of GI, only strobes

i don't know if this is possible without code update.

i can understand why bcd or Pinball Brother don't want to update code to include strobe effect, as this is a mod and not a factory feature. a code update can't be done for a mod, all the more as everybody couldn't buy one (price, limited run, want, skills to install..). However, i don't know a game where strobe effects could fit more than Alien

#14 4 years ago
Quoted from Faust:

Regarding the apron there is only one noticable change for the next iteration; we dropped ‘limited edition’ for now.

if you can let me know when the LE version comes out please

#15 4 years ago
Quoted from Faust:

It starts now when Ambush multiball is started, but lasts now a fixed amount of time (Per's strobe mod).
It is difficult to have a simple detection on when the multiball ends. If this is possible then the strobe could go on exactly the amount of time of the multiball.
Maybe @vitmoman has some ideas...

I think it's probably best to limit the time for the strobe.
May become uncomfortable if run the full length of an ambush which can be a long time.

#16 4 years ago
Quoted from Vimtoman:

I think it's probably best to limit the time for the strobe.
May become uncomfortable if run the full length of an ambush which can be a long time.

so this apron comes with a strobe effect too during ambush?

#17 4 years ago

Looks great

#18 4 years ago
Quoted from delt31:

so this apron comes with a strobe effect too during ambush?

Yes sort of, concept of the apron you can find here:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/alien-pinball-official-game-thread/page/545#post-5772713

The strobe is not my invention put from Per_

#19 4 years ago

Assembling about 20 PCBs.

Ligjts arrive early next week, all will be shipped next week.

Apologies for the long wait

DE5B7043-E5AD-45BC-A158-5C4D8FE86350 (resized).jpegDE5B7043-E5AD-45BC-A158-5C4D8FE86350 (resized).jpeg
#20 4 years ago

Below is a test for the strobe.
Just one side of the strobe running so will be twice as vibrant.
You will also have mood lighting when strobe is off.
You can just catch that at the end of the video.
I have a pinkish colour set.
There is a small trimmer pot for selecting a preferred colour.

#21 4 years ago
Quoted from Vimtoman:

Below is a test for the strobe.
Just one side of the strobe running so will be twice as vibrant.
You will also have mood lighting when strobe is off.
You can just catch that at the end of the video.
I have a pinkish colour set.
There is a small trimmer pot for selecting a preferred colour.

Looks absolutely fantastic and love how strong the strobe is.
My only thought re the mood lighting which is a great touch - is it possible to have a brightness trim pot for the mood lighting as I like my game quite dark for the mood. If this is on all the time then a brightness control would be awesome.

Thanks for making this awesome mod

#22 4 years ago
Quoted from chrishoyle99:

Looks absolutely fantastic and love how strong the strobe is.
My only thought re the mood lighting which is a great touch - is it possible to have a brightness trim pot for the mood lighting as I like my game quite dark for the mood. If this is on all the time then a brightness control would be awesome.
Thanks for making this awesome mod

It does look very cool

#23 4 years ago
Quoted from chrishoyle99:

Looks absolutely fantastic and love how strong the strobe is.
My only thought re the mood lighting which is a great touch - is it possible to have a brightness trim pot for the mood lighting as I like my game quite dark for the mood. If this is on all the time then a brightness control would be awesome.
Thanks for making this awesome mod

Im going to have a few adjustments on the main pcb so you can tweak away.
Will update what modes the strobe control can do when were closer to the final stage.

#24 4 years ago

Update for those who ordered the ramp lights: The lights from Pistenking came in today.

Will wire them and make plugs and finally ship all orders.

CABACCD4-86CB-4EA5-BB12-02D47D9C3B66 (resized).jpegCABACCD4-86CB-4EA5-BB12-02D47D9C3B66 (resized).jpeg
#25 4 years ago
Quoted from Faust:

Update for those who ordered the ramp lights: The lights from Pistenking came in today.
Will wire them and make plugs and finally ship all orders.
[quoted image]

Thanks for the info. That’s great news.

#26 4 years ago

About the apron:
After the prototype we made the following revisions:

-'Weapon ready light' is now in the left bottom, acid hole has moved up
-The proto had not enough spacing for the Motiontracker; fixed
-Pictures of the proto that is painted will follow shortly.
-Added easy fixing mechanism for the apron

The design is now final and all features are now fixed:

-Fully black coated apron
-new ballthrough cover metal part from stainless steel (polished). Should also help reducing bouncing back of balls into the through
-Dynamically lighted Alien logo (see videos above)
-Adjustable ambient lighting front side apron (around the flipper area)
-Adjustable strobe lighting for ambush mode/xeno
-Acid burn holes (3D)
-'Weapon Ready' text lasered out in left bottom that blinks with the 'extra ball' light in red.
-symmetric apron and now a centered drain between the flippers (the original is off-center in case you have not noticed)
-Space is left for scorecards and I will make magnetic scorecards. 1 scorecard has the weapon info on the 4 weapons, the other scorecard is currently just art.
-No visible screws (detail)

Now my summer is over and I'm back to work, so things move much slower and I will make only one small production run for those who want one, and if there is interest. I need a minimum of 15 orders for this. I will collect orders for 2 weeks. I don't want to do much more either and I have a maximum of 25.
I will probably need 5 weeks to make them. So mid-end October before it's finished. I can only work on this a few hours every couple of days.

The apron is configurable, pricing is as following:

The price including all the options went up a little higher than expected, but is now EUR 462.- when I make 15 at least.
It comes plug and play with wiring harness.

-I can make the same apron also without the 2 acid burn holes: 45 euros less (and you can stick on magnetic score cards)
Optional: Limited edition text, as shown on the proto: +24 euro (not lighted), but has a white perspex under it.
Optional: Magnetic scorecards: no price yet. Can't be much, I guess 15 euros per set.

For those who want to buy you can PM me.
2 options: 100 euro deposit and the rest when it is finished, or full in advance.

2 weeks later
#27 4 years ago

Lighting will be completed this weekend and shipped to Faust next week to be installed on aprons.
Most of the items shown below , just missing the strobe controllers and strips.

Theres two controllers on this setup . One for logo and the other for strobe.

Ive added plenty of options for tweakers and a few surprises for enhancing the game lighting

Options will be listed later when Faust has a final product on test.

lighting (resized).JPGlighting (resized).JPG
#28 4 years ago
Quoted from Faust:

About the apron:
After the prototype we made the following revisions:
-'Weapon ready light' is now in the left bottom, acid hole has moved up
-The proto had not enough spacing for the Motiontracker; fixed
-Pictures of the proto that is painted will follow shortly.
-Added easy fixing mechanism for the apron
The design is now final and all features are now fixed:
-Fully black coated apron
-new ballthrough cover metal part from stainless steel (polished). Should also help reducing bouncing back of balls into the through
-Dynamically lighted Alien logo (see videos above)
-Adjustable ambient lighting front side apron (around the flipper area)
-Adjustable strobe lighting for ambush mode/xeno
-Acid burn holes (3D)
-'Weapon Ready' text lasered out in left bottom that blinks with the 'extra ball' light in red.
-symmetric apron and now a centered drain between the flippers (the original is off-center in case you have not noticed)
-Space is left for scorecards and I will make magnetic scorecards. 1 scorecard has the weapon info on the 4 weapons, the other scorecard is currently just art.
-No visible screws (detail)
Now my summer is over and I'm back to work, so things move much slower and I will make only one small production run for those who want one, and if there is interest. I need a minimum of 15 orders for this. I will collect orders for 2 weeks. I don't want to do much more either and I have a maximum of 25.
I will probably need 5 weeks to make them. So mid-end October before it's finished. I can only work on this a few hours every couple of days.
The apron is configurable, pricing is as following:
The price including all the options went up a little higher than expected, but is now EUR 462.- when I make 15 at least.
It comes plug and play with wiring harness.
-I can make the same apron also without the 2 acid burn holes: 45 euros less (and you can stick on magnetic score cards)
Optional: Limited edition text, as shown on the proto: +24 euro (not lighted), but has a white perspex under it.
Optional: Magnetic scorecards: no price yet. Can't be much, I guess 15 euros per set.
For those who want to buy you can PM me.
2 options: 100 euro deposit and the rest when it is finished, or full in advance.

Oh man!! ... how did I miss this from the other thread, just catching up now!

Fantastic stuff!! ... Great Work Felix and Andrew!

Like, friken Amazing!!

#29 4 years ago

Lighting completed and packed.
Being picked up Monday.

9kg ! of led lighting and controllers for 25 aprons

Faust to double test when installed.

parcel (resized).JPGparcel (resized).JPG
#30 4 years ago

For a bit of info on the build.
The picture below shows the plastic used in the Alien logo lighting.
4 layers of 3mm sandwich with two layers of inserts.
Clear and opaque to give a smooth light.

Logo plastics (resized).JPGLogo plastics (resized).JPG
1 week later
#31 4 years ago

Instructions for connecting/building in the PCB mod (requires some tools and patience).

Getting the lights on the ramps (the most work).
The lights go on the indicated spots of the picture (obviously).
Let's start with the hypersleep ramp (red lights on my pin).

WIRES OF THE LIGHTS:
There are 2 ways of installing the lights.
Option 1:
The wiring needs to end un under the playfield. I choose to drill a 1.5mm hole in the plastics of the hypersleep ramp and put the wires straight down. See orange arrow.
Option 2:
this is putting the wires behind the plastics and run them down.

FIXING THE LIGHTS:
The lights have M5 thread and a nut. Unfortunately there is not enough room under the plastic to fit a nut. I stuck the lights through and with a small dot of glue they stay at it's place. Another option may be a C-clip or locking clip, but I have not found a fitting solution for that. Suggestions welcome.

Electronics in next post:

IMG_4966 (resized).jpgIMG_4966 (resized).jpgIMG_4967 (resized).jpgIMG_4967 (resized).jpg
#32 4 years ago

Wiring:
The PCB has 1 connector +wire fixed to the PCB. This is the 5V supply and goes on the Heighway PCB (labeled spare flashers)

There is per PCB one blue wire, this needs to be hooked up to the blue wire of the switch. I wired the blue wire all the way up and squeezed it in at the switch itself; see picture.

The red/black wire needs to be connected to the 2 lights. The wire are all long enough and need to be shortened.
Depends how you do you cable management; I will post some more pictures on that later.

IMG_4968 (resized).jpgIMG_4968 (resized).jpgUntitled (resized).pngUntitled (resized).png
#33 4 years ago

The production run has arrived with the announced changes.

Summary:
-left bottom now has weapon ready light
-Motion tracker has correct spacing
-The most on the right side is removed and there is a new stainless steel ball through metal part which should reduce also the amount of bounce back or stuck balls

They are now being coated, then lighting and acid burn holes will be added.

pictures if final result in a few weeks

67E5F8BC-8B79-4DF7-A7C8-58CB7E23200E (resized).jpeg67E5F8BC-8B79-4DF7-A7C8-58CB7E23200E (resized).jpegB2B54881-25B6-41AF-ACF4-E21148322103 (resized).jpegB2B54881-25B6-41AF-ACF4-E21148322103 (resized).jpegFDF6D3B8-4A8A-44B6-B59F-C506B736BF46 (resized).jpegFDF6D3B8-4A8A-44B6-B59F-C506B736BF46 (resized).jpeg
#34 4 years ago

Very nice !!!
Looking forward !!

#35 4 years ago

The apron is looking nice!

#36 4 years ago

Hi, is there another thread that has price, availability, etc?
Thank you...

#37 4 years ago

Pricing and options in this post:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/alien-apron-amp-lighting-mod-#post-5847728

Logo lighting:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/alien-apron-amp-lighting-mod-#post-5823617

The configuration options are as follows:
-with or without acid burn holes
-with or without magnetic cards
-with or without 'LIMITED EDITION'

And for the do-it-yourselfers I can also provide the powdercoated apron only and you can make something yourself (I had a few questions about this).
PM me for info.

I have a few sets left.

Note that the posted picture of yesterday is only the metal apron. they are now being coated and need to fit Vimtoman's lighting & wiring harness.

#38 4 years ago

One addition:
I have 2 kits of ramp light kits left over because 2 buyers dropped out in the end.
I have 1 set with blue lights (ike in this video/post:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/alien-pinball-official-game-thread/page/542#post-5756119
and one kit with orange lights.

2x PCB+ wiring + 4x mini lights and free shipping to wherever you live 240 euros for the kit.
PM if interested.
Its my last 2 sets and I will not make more. Do-it-yourself-ers can get the PCB schematics.

Note that these lights are not the 1:12 lights, but 1:16 lights that can only be bought at Pistenking.

#39 4 years ago

It looks very nice, especially with the acid holes and enough space to mount the motion tracker in a way that the glass trim doesn’t cover.

#40 4 years ago

both light kits are sold

#41 4 years ago

The WEAPON READY light will be red or orange, I'm trying both colors to see what works well.

#42 4 years ago
Quoted from Faust:

The WEAPON READY light will be red or orange, I'm trying both colors to see what works well.

Why not yellow to match the weapon insert color and weapon button color?

#43 4 years ago

Good suggestion, I have yellow acrylic left and will try that.
personally I liked red because its more associated with weapon fire button.

#44 4 years ago

See below the ambush multiball lighting.
Logo color changes and strobes activate:

Ambient lighting is for during gameplay

B3958B70-8E47-446C-8471-37E3A3EDE637 (resized).jpegB3958B70-8E47-446C-8471-37E3A3EDE637 (resized).jpegD354AFCA-3622-4842-8014-7D986BBBC4C3 (resized).jpegD354AFCA-3622-4842-8014-7D986BBBC4C3 (resized).jpeg

#46 4 years ago
Quoted from Faust:

See below the ambush multiball lighting.
Logo color changes and strobes activate:

Ambient lighting is for during gameplay
[quoted image][quoted image]

Looks good

Can that light by the flippers be turned down a little? Might kill some of the tension....

#47 4 years ago
Quoted from Faust:

See below the ambush multiball lighting.
Logo color changes and strobes activate:

Ambient lighting is for during gameplay
[quoted image][quoted image]

Wow!

#48 4 years ago
Quoted from delt31:

Looks good
Can that light by the flippers be turned down a little? Might kill some of the tension....

Yes, you can dim or change the color and there are several lighting patterns for the logo. Same goes for the strobe effect. @Vintoman gave some explanation in this thread before.

Our goal is an apron that you can configure to your liking, hence the 3 different ordering options and the tuning options.

#49 4 years ago
Quoted from delt31:

Looks good
Can that light by the flippers be turned down a little? Might kill some of the tension....

The strobe is fixed level but the mood lighting can be dimmed

#50 4 years ago
Quoted from Vimtoman:

The strobe is fixed level but the mood lighting can be dimmed

Nice strobe looks great as is.

Promoted items from Pinside Marketplace and Pinside Shops!
$ 299.95
Lighting - Led
Pin Stadium Pinball Mods
 
$ 19.95
Playfield - Toys/Add-ons
ULEKstore
 
$ 699.00
Cabinet - Toppers
Hi-Rez Pinball Mods
 
8,995 (OBO)
Machine - For Sale
Burnaby, BC
$ 810.00
Flipper Parts
Mircoplayfields
 
From: $ 6.00
$ 35.00
Cabinet - Other
Rocket City Pinball
 
From: $ 3.00
Playfield - Other
Rocket City Pinball
 
$ 15.00
Cabinet - Sound/Speakers
Gweem's Mods
 
Hey modders!
Your shop name here
There are 142 posts in this topic. You are on page 1 of 3.

Reply

Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.

Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!

Donate to Pinside

Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!


This page was printed from and we tried optimising it for printing. Some page elements may have been deliberately hidden.

Scan the QR code on the left to jump to the URL this document was printed from.