Aliens Xenomorph looks great in the back panel but, I figured he wants to stab someone with his tail, so this is the mod building in progress.
I am working on the whipping mech now. It will be gate driven and hopefully I can figure out a 2 part tail pivot.
Ps: this game is fxxking amazing as is!

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I figured out the mechanism for the whipping tail. The next version will be more smooth and more funtional as the tail will be supported by a roller bearing behind the scoop. The bearing will hold the weight of the tail. Looking into alternatives to metal washers on spine. Thinking black wire loom with spikes welded to spine would cut alot of weight and the wireloom is already black. Waiting on parts, looking forward to improving the design, but it works!

Mechanical.

Whipping tail.
4 bolts and swapping wireform to mine.

The tail will be continued to the back panel and will also be bolt on. The mechanism has to be its own to work. I am going to use heat shrink wrap and plastic ribbed wire loom for the body of the tail. I just need to figure out the size that looks best. I really need to wait until I get the roller bearing to install the tail mech. The weight will not be as much as a factor as it is now with this one. I am also going to make a hand grabbing the small monitor. I want it to look like its coming at you and attacking you with the tail.

Heres a look at the loom. It will have small spikes running on top that are welded to spine. The same holds for whipping section. This looks to be a good size.

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Undecided on tail material. Plastic looms mimic ribs on head, wiring mesh looks more realistic. Any oppinions? The curve behind the head will be different. This is just laying in place with no mounts and the spear tip is not done.
I have washers for body and had to cut mesh into sections. If I go mesh it will be one piece.

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I do rember that material on the helicopter, thank you! I need to balance the look and the overall weight of the tail and the swing arm. As of today it is still ball driven. I cut the arm and installed a plate and bearing assembly. The tail swings perfectly with the weight being suuported by that new bearing.
Now I need to figure out the point to where the ball does not get trapped trying to knock the arm that pivots tail in the wireform. I have good momentum from the 180 ramp so its a striking point which is better then a roll over point. I will update as it goes.

Thank you. I will get it done. It will take alot of trial and error, but the whipping tail and pivot is done. The point that drives the swing arm is still a work in progress.
And I am also working on a hand that is behind the small monitor out of sight during play, but rotates up and over the monitor like its climbing towards you. I need to look at xenomorphs jaw mech and see if I can tie into it. If I can do that I can make a rotating cam that would turn a hand on a pivot to bring the fingers over the mointor. I see it in my head. I just need to get in there.
This game is a perfectly integrated machine. I am amazed how good it is. Take out the lock ups and loss of video screens and it would be a all timer.

Subtle hand just looks right! I wanted to see it in place and then see if I can animate the fingers or rotate the hand over monitor. I am thinking the fingers moving might look cooler than the hand rotating over. We will see.
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Revised tail length to improve the transfer of weight to ball to prevent or minimize ball traps. The long tail had potential to trap on a multiball where multiple balls hit ramp. I needed to have the mechanism be able to take a ball and operate at low velocity. Looks like this is the way to go. This tail has the bearing assembly installed. The segments tapped together were to see weight ratios. After making the hand out of stacked 1/8 rods I think I will try that method with this tail. 3 rods in a triangle and small cuts on top spine. We will see. And it will still pivot midway, I just had to see this through first. But, I think I have it…

Version 2… I matched the new wireform to look like an extension of the return below it with the 4 rod design. I put too much pressure on the bearing installing it and its binding. I wont have more until next week, i should be able to get a play video up by Sunday. The tail rod is showing the new length. I will try and figure out the tail pivot tomorrow. The stainless plate and rod goes fine with the machine and I am very happy with this version. Might be more updates, but I am making good progress.

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I think the 3 wireforms welded together and shaped is the way to go for tail. It would be easy to paint it black. I can stitch the welds to give it a more uniform look. Not sure if I need to do spines or cuts on top of tail? I will try both with or without. I have to redo ball gate as some jackass welded it too low….

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Thanks, I know its just a matter of trying different ideas and materials. Version 3 tail mech in progress. I am also going to plasma cut burn through holes on support plate and leave it dirty. I want it to look like acid ate it. I got new bearings today, and these are way better and are flanged. Easier to press in and they are extended through holes. No need for washers. The mech below is not cleaned up I am getting it functional first. I think I will have it today!

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My launcher wireform broke, thankfully I know a guy. Really happy with this revision. Minor adjustments still happening, but I had a great day creatively. I will do the spine to match. I know a guy who powder coats as a hobby and i will see if hes up to doing the tail.

Very fast video of tail working.

Slow roll test.

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Thanks.
The hand is static for now, but mounted in its place. I put mylar on top of monitor incase it vibrates enough to move it. This is what I will be selling as a mod. I have to build another set or two to get labor time (it is high) to figure out a price. And I am playtestimg the hell out of this one to see if I need to improve anything.
I see the hand mounting working on a swing pivot coming over the monitor. When I have time I will come back to it. Labor rate is $50 an hour plus materials. I will post a price when I figure it out. Thanks for following my artistic dementia.

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I cut down the spines and I think this looks better. I also painted the hand and tail gloss black. You can see the tail better now over the stainless. I also was asked about the support plate that houses the bearing. On the next set I will make that plate a small square as it is only needed dmfor the bearing. The only difference will be seeing the rods leading up to it. I will get back to the hand when I can get time to do so. I have the hand mounted on what would be the rotating mech. I only need to figure out how to tie it into mech that operates inner tongue. Doable. Will take a bit of effort, but I think it can be done. Heres sone picturez of iy painted and on game.

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Thank you for all of that. I think I have finally made enough stuff to walk into a room and feel comfortable to attempt such a thing, but I make things by hand tig welding and off sketches. Everything is CAD now…. My guts tell me that out of all the companies and people in the pinball industry George Gomez would probally appreciate the process of animating toys the most. It would be a very cool conversation and if I ever see him at a show I would say hello for sure. I have a great job and Loganpinball has been great for my family. There is no pressure designing things on my own schedule. A timetable or deadline would be interesting to see how I would deal with that pressure. I have literally sat in front of a machine at 2am with my feet on the lockbar and just stared at it. (gnr snake wireform just hit me). I would subcontract a design for any theme and for any company if I was lucky enough to do so.
I am very biased, but I really believe that a ball driven mech that can add to a theme is just awesome.

I think I have the hand figured out. I have sketches with pivots and arms. But I think I can add a anchor to the jaw mech on the top of the square. There is room and I would just need to figure out the spacing. Basically the inner jaw would push a pivoting arm that would pull on a arm lifting the hand over the monitor. And when jaw retracted it would drop back to behind the monitor. Will try soon, but I think its doable. And the hand weight will be offset by bearings. (Its not heavy).

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Pretty sure I have it! There is a tab on the jaw. I welded a pinch collar to a rod that will rotate on the lower securing screw! Working on it now. I see it!

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First test fit and function video. Will be adding body to the fingers.

Fxxk yea indeed!

Thanks. The hand works well. I will add a roller bearing to support it more firmly and to take the weight of the jaw. Quick paint job on hand, but you can see what it will be in the end. I will playtest the hell out of these two mods prior to selling.

Good tail whip at .33 mark. Really short video as my aim sucks.!

As requested I am limiting the amount of plate for tail support section. We will see the different look soon.

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3 1/2 hours to get it built. It still needs to be stoned, sanded and polished. Plus painting the tail. Tracking time with stop watch.

Any thoughts on the rails without the upper ring and sections? The tail will be black so it wont stick out as much, but I am not sure if its better without them? Please chime in. And its $50 an hour plus materials. The bearings are also $8 a piece.

I raised and redesigned the ball gate. It has more leverage now.

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Revised version 3. Cleaner look and functioning. Tail is painted and bearings are locked into place on sections with clips.

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I agree with hand, the only issue is the limited motion of how the jaw opens. The only alternative would be the hand rising up in place behind panel. It would just go up and down. I can try it and see. The rotation of the hand looks more like its grabbing it. The way it is working now has very little effort moving the hand as the weight is on the bearing. I do not think it would be good to add the weight of moving the hand up and down on the jaw motor. It would put a heavier load on the jaw motor.
The tail does move more as I raised the ball mech and extended the pivot arm.

Using 1/4 rod for tail to head. It looks way better then 3 rods welded together. Added back spines behind the head to mimic picture. I will be shocked if I can get 1/4 rod to work for the whipping part of it, but I am trying just that today. The weight might be too much, but only way is to try

Update: Whipping section needs to remain as made. The 1/4 rod is too heavy to pivot by ball alone.

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I am still playtesting the tail. So far its fine. I want to beat it to hell prior to selling.

$335 shipped to U.S. I am building as ordered. If you are interested in this mod please pm or email [email protected]

This is for the whipping tail wireform with the tail being the only thing painted. It can be as shown with no upper rail or I can add upper rails the entire length as requested.

It also comes with the animated hand behind lcd screen.

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Yes it does. Sorry I will correct it.

$335 for both shipped to U.S. Includes whipping tail and animated hand mod.

Test video of tail mech:

Finished painting the wireforms and here is a quick play test of all the ramps. This fulll conversion is just for myself and I just wanted to show its now completed and working. And it looks like I am just moving on to Bond rocket mod now, so thanks for checking out my artistic dementia!

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