Well...you can have a few drinks, think/worry about it, then try more clear. Or... just consider it an insignificant and mysterious annoyance in what has been a pretty cool project, live with it, polish the hell out of it and move on.

Painting when it is humid is always a crap shoot, sometimes you get away with it, sometimes ya don't. Surely at least one semi-major step will go smoothly!

I was thinking painting the mortar might look way too busy--better to leave it how it is. Looking forward to seeing video of you flipping this!

Lockdown bars are relatively cheap, I'd just get another one and swap them out on occasion. Will make your wife happy that you gave some thought to her idea.

Evidently that Firepower was plenty happy in the dumpster. You are almost there--just a little more!

I'm no wiz on any of this--you have done a great job, but if the solenoid keeps firing doesn't whatever tells it to fire have to be stuck on (or is continually open)?

Now I see. Man, that coil seems awfully weak--or the kicker assembly isn't put together correctly--perhaps?

Wish you were closer, I'd have you do the hair trigger target adjustment on all my pins.