Sometimes a need arises for a pinball part that is not easily obtainable. It could be a part that is obsolete, rare, or needed to work with available aftermarket parts. I've tried making several parts to replace what is not available or sometimes to improve gameplay or overall aesthetics.

Starting with something simple, new aftermarket drop target assemblies for Classic Stern games sit a bit lower on the playfield than the originals. The overall height of the new targets were slightly shorter.

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When installed the targets are less than an inch above the playfield in the raised position.

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To raise them up I added a new "lip" that the targets rest on to the drop mech assembly.

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With the new bracket in place the targets are a respectable 1 1/16 inch above the playfield.

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Post some pictures of parts you have made to make your machine play better.

Up next, a Standup Target from Dirty Harry. One of my originals was broken and I was unable to find the plastic replacement targets in this shape anywhere.

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One day while cleaning out some drawers at work I can across a box of expired rabies tags (I work in a vet clinic). I thought the two shapes looked somewhat similar, and the thickness was the same.

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A few minutes at the grinding wheel and I had that tag in the shape of a Dirty Harry Standup Target.

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Drilled a hole in the center, mounted with a new rivet, and applied a new decal (not the original design, I was trying something new).

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So far the aluminum vs. plastic has not been an issue and the target has been registering normally for 50+ games.

Bally wide body apron. I wanted to repaint an apron for a Bally wide body game I was working on, but I did not want to blast the art off the original in case someone wanted to put it back on the machine. I was having no luck finding a used/rusty wide body apron to repaint so I acquired some sheetmetal and made my own.

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I wonder what game its for?

Thanks for the love!

Correct you are. I chiseled out the pattern and used another block of wood (with the metal in between) to pound the form in. I had thought of using my pneumatic flanging tool but it has not been working as well after I tried it on some thicker gauge sheet metal.

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I did not bust out the brake for this one. I used a 2X4 to clamp the metal to the table and then just bent the desired shape over the edge. As you know Cotton, I work with some talented decal people and they cut me a set from vinyl (Don't worry -- those Big Game Spinner Decals are still in the works ). The tricky part was getting those little stripes lined up even.

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I think it may have been 20 gauge sheet metal -- I'd have to go back and measure to be sure. There is a welding shop not far off that I use as a supplier for automotive stuff, they have sheets of various thicknesses to pick from.

The trick to the bends is to clamp the small/short section under the 2X4 and then use the leverage of the large section to make a crisp fold/crease.

New Bottom Panel for a Bally Fathom Cabinet.

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Made a new grounding panel out of sheet metal for Fathom's upper cabinet to replace the original silver paper.

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I believe this sheet was zinc coated or galvanized. I know others have used stainless. . . I would imagine a lot of materials would be a better ground material than paper. If I remember correctly the panel in several of my Classic Sterns was metal, finding the paper material in the Bally's was a bit of a surprise (but not really when it comes to cost cutting measures).

Thread Revival!

I've made a few of my own parts for my latest project -- a Stern Seawitch.

This post covers the wood rails. Here is a pic of my originals sitting on the piece of wood that will become the new set of rails. . . I'll avoid the spots with the bark still on.

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Cut to width and height on the table saw.

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Cut to length with the chop saw.

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Sanded down, a couple coats of stain, and some polyurethane result in a new set of rails ready to replace the old paper covered stuff.

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Sturdier and Pretty. In case you were curious on what type of tree was used that starting piece was Cherry.

Another fabrication or two to come.