F-14 Beacon Reproduction

My F-14 didn't have any of the mechanism I was luck it had the lenses. Motor, pulleys and belts should be here tomorrow.

#6 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen

Waiting to drill the hole for the mount bushing until I get my motor. Pretty sure its a 3/16" diameter shaft but I want to make sure before I do anymore work.IMG_20140519_172042_654.jpg

#7 9 years ago

JON

Schwaggs

Gameroom Mods

10y 105K 4,760 10

Wow! Nice work!

#8 9 years ago

TRB

Fifty

Pinside member

9y 74,900 2,328

Is the die in your OP one piece? Man that looks heavy.

#9 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen

Yes its a piece of 4" 4130. It was 7" originally turned the female first flipped the piece over and machined the male. Then sawed it apart. Here is a picture before it was cut apart. It was drop from a larger piece that was used at my work.IMG_20140517_134639_450.jpg

#10 9 years ago

TRB

Fifty

Pinside member

9y 74,900 2,328

Damn! Where does one find a chunk of metal like this?

#11 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen

I have a fully functioning beacon sitting on the bench!IMG_20140525_165052_656.jpgIMG_20140525_184446_141.jpgIMG_20140525_184457_792.jpgIMG_20140525_184438_941.jpgIMG_20140525_210023_850.jpg

#12 9 years ago

ZPY

zippydapinhead

Inactive member

Albany, OR

12y 78,450 3,484 12 32

OP
Quoted from Ghoen:
I have a fully functioning beacon sitting on the bench!

Hooray! Post a vid!

#13 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen

F-14 Tomcat Pinball Beacon:

#14 9 years ago

ZPY

zippydapinhead

Inactive member

Albany, OR

12y 78,450 3,484 12 32

Name that tune...
3
2
1
GO!

#15 9 years ago

NAT

Pinball_Nate

Pinside+ Frequent

Nice, the motor assembly and belts actually look like an improvement over the originals........are the beacons all supposed to fire in the same direction (ie: light shot out in tandem) or were they originally all three random????

Looking at an F14 for 1200, is that a decent price you think? All working, pf looks good.......

#16 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen

1200 isn't a bad price, played 950 for mine without the beacon mech. Check the play field inserts for any that have raised.

#17 9 years ago

_'_

Pac-Fan

Inactive member

11y 36,650 488

Quoted from Pinball_Nate:
are the beacons all supposed to fire in the same direction (ie: light shot out in tandem) or were they originally all three random????

While you could theoretically set them to be in tandem, the fact that it's using rubber belts across nylon pullies means it will never retain a synchronization (over just gears alone) since the tension in each belt will change with heat, wear, etc. So basically they will always be random. I tried it and it didn't keep in sync even over 1 game.

#18 9 years ago

NAT

Pinball_Nate

Pinside+ Frequent

Thanks, pac-fan makes sense........man, I can't find any pins below 1000 these days!.....?........may hold out for Taxi.....

-Nate

#19 9 years ago

DAV

wayout440

Pinside member

Berea, OH

11y 113K 11,267 3 12

Quoted from Pinball_Nate:
I can't find any pins below 1000 these days!

EMs everywhere below $1000.

#20 9 years ago

NAT

Pinball_Nate

Pinside+ Frequent

Um, I mean SS pins - wayout440 is awake!!!

#21 9 years ago

PBC

Pinballerchef

Pinside member

New Windsor, MD

12y 79,300 2,860 10

Quoted from Pinball_Nate:
Nice, the motor assembly and belts actually look like an improvement over the originals........are the beacons all supposed to fire in the same direction (ie: light shot out in tandem) or were they originally all three random????
Looking at an F14 for 1200, is that a decent price you think? All working, pf looks good.......

I thought you had owned a F14 already??

#22 9 years ago

DAV

wayout440

Pinside member

Berea, OH

11y 113K 11,267 3 12

Quoted from Pinball_Nate:
Um, I mean SS pins - wayout440 is awake!!!

The last time I found a decent SS pin under $1000 I was only dreaming.

#23 9 years ago

NAT

Pinball_Nate

Pinside+ Frequent

@ Pinballerchef -

I did own an F-14 for about 3 months - it was a purchase for my bro, who had purchased a GoldenEye for me where he lives (western Mass) - when he came down we did the swap!

I enjoyed it so am looking for one, but only have space for one more and Taxi is really what I'm after..........

Ok, back to the beacons - what a great job!!

#24 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen

Thanks for the bump haha... I need to order the 3 pin Molex connector but should have the mech in F14 in the next couple days and I will get a better video of it working.

#25 9 years ago

PBC

Pinballerchef

Pinside member

New Windsor, MD

12y 79,300 2,860 10

Quoted from Pinball_Nate:
@ Pinballerchef -
I did own an F-14 for about 3 months - it was a purchase for my bro, who had purchased a GoldenEye for me where he lives (western Mass) - when he came down we did the swap!
I enjoyed it so am looking for one, but only have space for one more and Taxi is really what I'm after..........
Ok, back to the beacons - what a great job!!

Ooooooh ok...makes sense. That's a solid swap Taxi is one heck of a pin.....I'm wouldn't be into owning one as I can only get my thrills from it for more than a few games but I'd always drop some money in one out in the wild. Stay patient for a NICER condition one....the beaters just aren't worth it as TAXI is only fun when playing 100% and is in decent shape. Good luck!!

#26 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen

Got the beacon installed in F14.
Home Built F-14 Pinball Beacon:

#27 9 years ago

chucktee

Pinside member

Gladys, VA

12y 40,400 368 3

OP
Quoted from Ghoen:
I have a fully functioning beacon sitting on the bench!

IMG_20140525_165052_656.jpg 164 KB

IMG_20140525_184438_941.jpg 166 KB

IMG_20140525_184457_792.jpg 136 KB

IMG_20140525_184446_141.jpg 154 KB

IMG_20140525_210023_850.jpg 121 KB

What lamp sockets did you use for your assembly? I bought a beacon assembly for my second Tomcat several years ago AND...one of the lamp socket housings broke off!!! If I can fix that I could at least get it installed in the old girl and hopefully finish putting it back together someday

#28 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen

http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/077-5107-00

I used this socket for mine. You could always trim the original mount arm back drill a hole and mount this one in its place.

#29 9 years ago

KAM

kvan99

Pinside member

12y 97,050 6,031 10

Nice job indeed, where we're you 2 years ago when I was scouring the world for a beacon assy. Lol. Hopefully you will make a few for the the less fortunate.

#30 9 years ago

ZPY

zippydapinhead

Inactive member

Albany, OR

12y 78,450 3,484 12 32

OP
Quoted from Ghoen:
Got the beacon installed in F14.
Home Built F-14 Pinball Beacon:

Looks perfect! Nicely done!

#31 9 years ago

INK

Inkochnito

Pinside member

Piershil

12y 91,650 3,169 12

Looks like the original!
Now it's time for a price tag.

#32 9 years ago

Blackbeard

Pinside member

12y 106K 12,106 6 20

build more and sell.

Great job.

#33 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen

Who would all be in for a complete mechanism or even just some reflectors?

#34 9 years ago

JWS

Soapman

Pinside member

12y 79,900 1,293

Nice work.

1 month later

#35 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen

Still been working on getting a few more made got the mounting brackets welded yesterday. Now for some clean up and off to plating.IMG_20140722_173933_309.jpgIMG_20140722_181712_070.jpg

#36 9 years ago

JON

Schwaggs

Gameroom Mods

10y 105K 4,760 10

WOW! That is impressive! Nice work!

I'm not in the market for one as mine came with the stock one...

How much do you think you need to get? You should post a new FS thread with the completed pictures to gauge interest.

#37 9 years ago

KAM

kvan99

Pinside member

12y 97,050 6,031 10

Looks like the original...

#38 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen

Thats what I was aiming for Kvan. The only difference on the Reflector is the aluminum for the reflector is .04in thick vs. .025in on the original. Price was going to be cheaper because the .04 was stock aluminum where I had the reflector laser cut at, otherwise I would have had to buy an entire sheet of aluminum.

#39 9 years ago

ABC

Crash

Pinside member

12y 141K 14,138

Will you be selling parts and complete mechanism kits?

#40 9 years ago

INK

Inkochnito

Pinside member

Piershil

12y 91,650 3,169 12

Nice progress.....

#41 9 years ago

KMJ

Ghoen