So I had a long talk with Wade the other day regarding production in general and the Count Down playfields.
There are two challenges with this playfield. The first is the complexity/intricacy of the art and number of screens he needs to prepare to properly apply the art. He indicated he struggled to a degree with the Strange World playfield that is currently in production for the same reason. We discussed the concept that he consider it needing to be a more expensive playfield due to the intricacy of the art. He sounded like he would consider it.
The second challenge is blue inserts. He's not sure he can get blue inserts. At least not the style this playfield uses. He did explain how he has actually screened the color over a white insert to get the color insert he needed. I believe it was on the Centigrade 37 playfield. I don't know if it was a color or if it was an insert size availability issue. Maybe someone with one of the C37 playfields can confirm. Just the fact that he shared with me the challenge associated with this item shows the perfectionist approach he takes with these playfields.
He asked my thoughts on Slick Chick and I shared them. I could tell he really wants to do it but was concerned that people that had expressed interest might back out once he actually schedules it. I commented that I have never seen a playfield he produced not ultimately sell out. It looks like the interest is getting close as seen in this thread.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/1963-gottlieb-slick-chick-new-playfield-poll#post-6989282
Surf Champ/Surfer is now slated. I'll repeat here what was already posted in the Surf Champ pf thread. Among other things his costs are clearly going up.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/wade-krause-repro-gottlieb-surf-champ-playfield/page/2#post-6983280
Feel free to post here your thoughts on the blue inserts compromise or extra cost for Count Down that it may come down to to get this playfield produced. The better our understanding and acceptance going in the more comfortable Wade will be with proceeding with putting this playfield on the schedule.
And I would fully expect it to come down to down payments at a minimum once he gets close to producing this playfield so post your thoughts on that also.