I'm the guy who re-created the artwork for the CPR reproduction. Sorry that it took so long, but I run several businesses and my to do list is virtually endless. Here are some teasers of my work. I've asked Mark Sprenger (the artist who designed the playfield artwork back in 1985) here and there for advice, and he really likes the result. (Note that my simulated plastic inserts are only mimicking placeholders to give you an idea what the final playfield looks like).

For the Illustrator users amongst us: the artwork file has 180,000+ anchor points on 27,000+ paths.

The playfield is currently in production: I've seen pictures of the blank boards with inserts already glued in and being sanded. Silkscreening (13 layers) and clear-coating (5 layers) will take another 2-3 months, so you should expect the final playfield to ship approx. in September (2013).

HS-Playfield-Preview-Final-Detail-1.jpg HS-Playfield-Preview-Final-Detail-2.jpg HS-Playfield-Preview-Final-Detail-3.jpg HS-Playfield-Preview-Final-Detail-4.jpg HS-Playfield-Preview-Final-Full.jpg

According to my knowledge the production run is limited by the license holder to 125 units in total. Count yourself lucky if you pre-ordered. If you didn't your only chance might be to check the CPR webstore (http://classicplayfields.com/store-playfields.html) once in a while, beginning late July. Bronze ones might show up, I doubt that there will be silver or gold ones left over.

To give you an idea of the insanity of this project: Here’s a Wireframe Preview of the Illustrator file (you have to download the image from my server, to see the full 8 by 4 K glory. Needless to say that I can't provide the vector data). As written above, 180,000+ anchor points on 27,000+ paths and hundreds of hours. Colors overlap and overprint where they should.

If Kevin from CPR prints them properly (which I have zero doubt about), these things will be way better than any NOS PF. Kudos however to the original creators including Mark Sprenger, who back in 1985 did not have the digital tools as we have today, and who must have had bleeding fingers from holding those rapidograph pens and cutting those Rubylith films.

For the sake of fairness it should be said that the High Speed playfield has only a medium level of complexity, and that there are many playfield reproductions at CPR, which have a much, much more detailed artwork. So, hat tip to my fellow CPR art team members.

Finally, here's just one little detail (click image for close up/more details) which shows you the misregistration in the original 1985 playfield one has to deal with, and what the artwork looks like, once one has figured out, which colors, edges and lines are supposed to go where... It's the guesswork which takes/took that much time.

HS_Ferrari_Preview.png

You have to contact CPR on this. Stuart Wright of CPR has completed the HS Backglass artwork according to the CPR Art Team page, but I don't know about production schedule. The plastics will become available again along with the PF AFAIK. If you get info on the Backglass schedule, you should perhaps share it right here.

Really can't tell, I'm just an Art Team member. You will have to nag Kevin at CPR on this, he's the only one who can answer this. Feel free to nag him on the PF too, perhaps he can convince the license holder that there is demand for a second run.

For those who asked: just saw that the High Speed backglass reproduction is now available for order and obviously in stock: http://classicplayfields.com/store-backglass.html

Orders are closed. Production is unfortunately delayed due to CPR’s move to bigger facilities and the many other projects which they have in the pipeline. Current status is that the boards have been cut, completed with inserts and been sanded and printing is starting this week. It'll then take another few weeks for the multi-layer clear coat to complete (there’s a cure period between each layer).

André here, the HS PF Artwork supplier. The HS PFs are all done. CPR has put the High Speed PF gallery online. See for yourself: http://classicplayfields.com/photo144.html

Please note that the photos are not necessarily color-accurate.

Anyone who has pre-ordered will be contacted by CPR within the next 30 days with details about how to pay and when to expect shipping. Remember to let the PF cure for at least another 30-45 days prior to assembly.

I guess so. I've seen pictures of the plastics waiting for laser cutting, while the PFs were being printed.

Those insert crackles are almost inevitable. CPR explains here in detail where these come from (scroll all the way down to section "Insert Crackles"). It’s plain luck if the PF comes out without few(er) crackles.