Quick Review: www.pinballcenter.de Reproduction Plastics for Class of 1812:

I was thrilled when I found that www.pinballcenter.de was selling reproduction plastics for Class of 1812. They are expensive at 179 euros for a full set, and 22.9 euros for just slingshots. I bought a full set plus a set of slingshots. By the time a paid for the plastics, VAT and a mail forwarding service (they do not ship to the U.S.), I spent a total of $262.

The bad news: Despite pinballcenter's description of "Reproduction, Top Quality!", they are very poor quality:

The colors are horrible. (Ex: Willie Woof is purple, when he should be tan.)

The resolution is grainy, not sharp.

The plastic is discolored (white) on the edges, where it was cut.

Buy only as a last resort.

- Mark

Update: Embarrassingly, I was incorrect on the discolored edges. The top had a protective film that I had not removed. However, I stand by my other comments.

Update: Added a scan of my original Willie Woof Slingshot Plastic side by side with the reproduction version.
img183.jpg

Hi All;

I could not find a commercially available whole playfield protector for my Class of 1812, so: I made my own.
(I have a prototype that fits and I'll make the final design tweaks today.)

I'm not going to sell them, but I will share my design so others can make them.

Mine is made of 0.02" PTEG, and cut using a drag knife on a 2' X 2' CNC router.
(Because my CNC machine is so small, I had to cut the bottom half, reposition the material, then cut the top half.)
(Your local Sign Shop *might* be able to make one for you.)

My Design is Guaranteed!!!

Guarantee: If you cut the design on my CNC machine, using my drag knife, with my settings and calibrations: It will fit my Class of 1812. :-p

In other words: It may take some tweaking to fit your Class of 1812. I recommend first making a paper template to test fit.

I'll post my design (Adobe Illustrator CS5 ".ai" format) in a few days.

An image from an earlier prototype is attached.

- Mark

Class Of 1812 Playfield Protector P01 (resized).png

To prevent wear to my playfield from having a steel ball rolling around it at high speed...

Sure it will. The more friends you have, the faster it will wear.

Also, what makes you think my games are well maintained??? I replace bulbs as needed, every few years I'll replace the balls, and give them a half-assed waxing (without depopulating the playfield).

My Winter 2022 Project is to shop all my games. This was inspired by my PCB repair guy walking past my Monster Bash and saying: That thing is filthy!

Hell Yes! No one would every have to wax a playfield again. Just spritz a little windex on a rag, and give the protector a wipe.

I had a friend over playing one of my games (a much better player than I), and he started talking whole playfield protectors. He said he was thinking about getting a couple, but did not want to until he played a game with one installed, so he could see if it played differently. I pointed out that the game he was playing had one, and he hadn't noticed. He ordered a couple for his older games...

BTW:

As part shopping my games this winter, not only am I installing a whole playfield protector on each and every game, but I'm also installing silicone rings and replacing every f'in bulb in the playfield with an LED.

My Winter 2020 Project was to build a Virtual Pinball Cabinet, so I can play pretend pinball. Is is as good as the real thing? No! However, it let's be get a flavor for games I would otherwise never get to experience.

Yup, I can't tell the difference. And, if I could, I would not care.

Pinball machines are are like golf courses: Every one is different. Even 2 of the same model play different. The playfields are at different angles. The flippers are at different angles. Every mech on the playfield has slight variations in placement. Linkages and coil sleeves have different amounts of wear. The playfield itself is not perfectly straight. Power supplies (and capacitors) performance change as they age. Even the local humidity affects game performance.

Perfection is not required to have fun.

- Mark

All;

I've completed my Class of 1812 Whole Playfield Protector. I've attached a picture before I peeled off its protective film, so you can checkout the fit. The edges are clean, any wrinkles is just the protective film coming off of the plastic.

It's made of 0.02" PTEG. I cut it out using a drag knife on my CNC machine. My CNC is only 2' x 2', so I had to use tiling. Tiling allows me to cut projects of any length, 2 feet at a time.

If you would like a copy of the design or close-up pictures of the fit: Please send me a Pinside Message.

- Mark

20221211_101225.jpg

It took me over 2 years to find a Class of 1812 with a good playfield. At the time I was looking, every playfield seemed to be worn down to the bare wood. (Although others have since posted some great looking playfield pics on this thread.)

- Mark

I wish you luck. It took me 2 years to find a nice one.

- Mark

Whew! I originally misread, and thought you were going to drill the cabinet, not a set of legs.

OK Mark. Take a few deep breaths, calm down, everything is going to be alright....

- Mark

I had to remove the back box to get mine home.

It's a pain.

Just have a fine point marker and label any connectors not already labeled. Also write down a count of how many connectors are disconnected from each board, or take a pic of each board before disconnecting anything.

- Mark

Good luck with the move.

And, welcome to the club!

- Mark

3. The platform that the hand sits on is just floating there in my game. Is it supposed to be like this or should it be secured with fasteners somewhere?

It should be secured with plastic push rivots.

4. Did this game come from the factory with a center post between the flippers? Mine seems to have it removed and the hole is filled. I'm wondering how people feel about the game with it in or out.

Yes, it had a factory center post. Some people remove it, as the game is relatively easy. Personally, I prefer factory correct games. Also if another pin kicks my butt, I can come back to Class of 1812 to feel better about my skills.

- Mark

I also have Comet LEDs. I prefer warm white, as it's closer to the original look.

There are a couple exceptions.

The blue insert in front of the right ramp faded, so I used a blue bulb.

Also be careful with the flashers, the ones I installed are way to bright. I'm just waiting for my next order to find something a bit dimmer.

I also left the above play field indicator lamps as incandescents.

- Mark

It's inside the chattering teeth, stuck like peanut butter to the roof of the mouth.

I don't have a part number, but I'll post a pic of mine later.

- Mark

It too me 2 years to find a nice one...

- Mark

Do not buy from them. I posted a review of them in this thread with pics. Post 158.

- Mark