I agree with you , I think it would be AFM; , based on the simplicity of the playfield, the availability of used and/or new parts, nothing really complicated. It would also be more rewarding due to the value on used market for a fully working game.

The key items in the planning will be to figure out how to acquire a playfield, full set of plastics and cabinet decals (and other unique items). Are there any AFM "un-obtainables?"

Most parts are available including a bulk of the ball guides, mechs and the lightboards. Cost is the limiting factor. You can get a decent base afm for the high 5's. After restoring it, I would guess you would still be cheaper than building ala carte.

The problem with building from scratch is that certain parts will be unobtainable unless you find a partially populated playfield. For MM isn't the problem the ball guides? I would imagine afm shares a similar problem.

Cliffy has been sent all the ball guide CAD drawings for MM and AFM, so he can cut more of them at any time.

Have him cut it from #8 mirror stainless for the ultimate look.

Are you doing this just because you're bored? I think in the end it would be cheaper just to buy an attack from Mars for example. Friend of mine just sold a really nice one for $6500. I'm not sure you could build one for much less than that, not including your time. Now if you're just bored, that's a different story...

It made sense to to build a cactus canyon for example, because at a production over about 900 units, that's a fairly rare game. Attack from Mars and medieval they made a lot of. It doesn't seem to make as much sense.

Gottliebs super soccer. I would think that would be the easiest to build from scratch.

all of them will cost you 6-8k in parts easy without labor...just wait for pps or buy original unless the experience is what your goal is--there's no savings. Cactus Canyon thread and the total cost was: "Honestly, I stopped keeping receipts after I hit about $8k"

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/my-homebrew-cactus-canyon