Not soon by me but expect JodyG or I will get to them at some point.

Last Demo Man ramp formed and finished. Heading off to the NW Pinball Show tomorrow and will arrange with the ramps' donor when I can test fit in his machine next week.

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Demo Man Ramps update..

So did the NW Pinball Show this last weekend...Great show! Got to play the new Haggis Fathom....very impressive!.

This week I will assemble the prototype pieces for Demo Man and arrange with my friend to test fit them. Not sure if I already mentioned it, but I will be making all 6 of the pieces out of my thicker .150" plastic. I did mention that I found most of the pieces in Demo Man to be quite fragile, so the .150" plastic will be a great improvement.

Something new I have not encountered before was on the Cryo-Claw piece. The rivet heads where the ball rolls were actually recessed into the piece. Given the thickness of the plastic, that recessing results in less than 1/16" of plastic under the rivet head. At least on the donor piece I have, that is where the cracks initiated...so, the .150" plastic will strengthen this issue.

I just spoke to the license holder for Bally/Williams and looks like I will be able to get the 4 decals for the 3 ramps. The Subway ramp has a metal protector where the ball drops and I will make and install those. Ramps will of course include entrance flaps, however, the exit brackets (exits to wire forms) are unique and not a simple thing to reproduce. While I will predrill for them, those brackets will need to be transferred from the original ramps to the new ramps.

On the list!... Test fitting all pieces in machine today.

Ummm....Check with JodyG

Already on the list!

Demo Man update...

Got to visit my friend today to test fit all my pieces in his game. The Center Ramp example I was initially given was quite damaged. Fortunately, he had another example of this ramp and I was able to identify a change I need to make to mine to make it perfect. I will modify this mold today and I suspect to begin production (Forming) of the ramps tomorrow.

I had also posted a question earlier concerning the slots cut into the top of the car tunnel that I thought the ramp would look cleaner without them. Pinsider @Kogi responded that his only thought was they were there to test the Optos for the tunnel. When I went to test fit today, before I could tell my friend about the discussion on the need for the slots, he asked if I could eliminate them. I explained I had posed this question and we could see that the optos can be tested outside of the ramp. He requested that his tunnel be made without the slots. So I will be considering selling this piece both ways.

I also learned today that the plastic set for Demo Man has been produced in the past (My friend has the full set). Dropped a hint to Planetary to see if he might do another run. Maybe...

Another Pinsider had asked if I could do the Cryo-Claw piece in transparent blue. I have actually dyed an unfinished piece blue and as soon as I get it done I will post a photo. My friend commented that the blue complemented the blue in the Cryo-Claw tunnel approach pieces.

All for now....Mark

One more thing...

GraniteStatePin had posted a request for the right side entrance protector for the Demo Man Center ramp. Posted that if my friend had it I would make him one. I borrowed his second example of this ramp which has the protector mounted on it, so I will be able to make him one.

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I had to make some changes in the Demo Man center ramp mold so will refinish another and test fit it on Sunday or Monday. Also, as promised, here is a shot of the Cryo-Claw piece in clear and transparent blue.

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Did anyone ever post a photo of that piece?

Have you at like #8 on my list.

Not familiar with POC ramps. First request I have seen for them.

Demolition Man Pieces...

I have successfully formed and rough cut out my first batch of complete ramp sets. 4 out of 6 of the pieces, due to their shape and elevations must be nearly completely hand finished. I was asked by a Pinsider if I could include the exit brackets which are riveted to the ends of all three ramps. Generally, I choose not to provide intricate pieces. These brackets are a bit of an intricate cut plus the bend. I reached out to Marco and they will source the part for me. At the moment, I have purchased 48 pieces (Enough for 16 sets of the ramps) and they are on the way to me. Marco had these in stock, but I was cautioned that, future request may be higher in price. Planetary Pinball has reproduced the 4 ramp decals and those were shipped to me today as well.

Some of you know how to do riveting and some are yet to learn! Riveting is really pretty easy....it's kind of like soldering...80% the proper tool and 20% the needed skill. The exit brackets on your existing ramps can be transferred to the new ramps, or I will provide new brackets installed for $7 each ramp. JodyG aka rampomatic.com has just restocked his rivet kits with the rivet tool. Both Jody and I are more than willing to help you through the learning curve....seriously, it will take just minutes and you will be riveting like a pro.

Even with me offering the exit brackets installed, there is still other riveting involved with these pieces. While some things like flasher domes or associated light sockets can be attached with screws, the Cryo-Claw will need the two switch brackets riveted to the new piece.

That said, here are the prices...

Large Right Diverter ramp $170 (Includes entrance flap and decals...add $7 for exit bracket)
Center ramp $120 (Includes entrance flap and decal...add $7 for exit bracket)
Left Ramp $115 (Includes entrance flap and decal...add $7 for exit bracket)
Cryo-Claw clear $90
Cryo-Claw transparent blue $100
Subway $55 (Includes stainless steel ball drop protector)
Auto Tunnel $75 (Available with or without the slots cut in the top)

Shipping to be determined.

I am producing enough full sets for a little less than half of what I have on my "Interest" list.....not that you must order a full set, but this initial release will help me adjust future production to what is wanted. I will start down the "interest" list as soon as I have stuff finished and ready....probably about a week.

In the mean time, I would appreciate anyone clarifying what they will want.

This one has been a long time coming and appreciate the community which is always so patient with me. Usually we reproduce one, two or maybe three pieces for a particular game. Demo Man with 6 pieces is the most I have done for any one game.

Cheers!....Mark

Felt like taking a break to, reflect!

The art of vacuum forming or vacuum forming 101. We use different thicknesses of plastic based on what the originals were made of and then we can select a different thickness if it will improve the ramp. Ramps are formed on either male molds or female molds. On a male mold, envision a ramp upside down. When the heated plastic is pulled down over the mold, the plastic first contacts the top of the mold which is the bottom of the ramp. Then as the plastic is drawn down over the rest of the mold it will thin as it is stretched into the recesses of the mold. On a female mold, envision the mold upright and when the plastic is draped over the mold it first contacts the top of the ramp and then is pulled down into the ramp shape, again, thinning as it does so. While some ramps can only be formed on either a male or a female mold, some ramps can be formed either way. A good example of ramps that can be formed either way are the Hook Rufio ramp and the Comet Center ramp. The Rufio was originally formed on a female mold and since the ramp is pretty deep, the plastic thins a lot as it is pulled down into the ramp. This is why they all fail at the start of the turn from the lower entrance. Male molds simple put more plastic on the bottom of the ramp and most importantly, male molding results in thicker plastic at the lower edges of the entrances....again a common failure point.

In the case of both the Rufio ramp and the Comet center ramp, I not only reverse formed them to male molds, but also increased the plastic thickness from .125" to .150". Bottom line is these ramps are much stronger than the originals.

My current project is the Demo Man pieces...6 of them! I was initially able to form all 6 pieces in two pulls on my large machine. Everything formed successfully, although the Cryo-Claw piece is difficult due to its shape and must be positioned adjacent to the subway ramp in order to form correctly.

So I ran a bunch of them. Then begins the finishing process. Due to their shape and elevations the three playfield ramps and the Cryo-Claw must be completely hand finished. Since I have so many pieces to do for Demo Man, I start with the most difficult which for me are the Large Right Diverter ramp and the Cryo-Claw. Yesterday I moved on to the center ramp and today the left ramp. Both the Large Diverter ramp and the center ramp came out beautifully.

As I began to finish the left ramp, my first thought was that I might lower the price on it. Then I discovered that due to the shape and depth of the mold, it was not forming as I hoped it would. The plastic thinned excessively on the inside of the exit. Too thin for my liking. So now I must reform them on the smaller machine one at a time and use a "plug" to assist the forming. Using a plug during the forming process enables me to force more plastic to a particular area. Just formed one and rough cut it out and took a photo to demonstrate the effect plugging has to resolve a forming issue.

In the attached photo is a closeup of the left ramp exit with the first formed piece on top and the latest assisted pull (just rough cut out) that demonstrates the improvement at the exit. I circled in red the corresponding areas.
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What I was most concerned with was the thickness for the mounting screw.

Demo Man decals will arrive today. Exit brackets will arrive on Thursday. Anticipate shipping to begin this coming weekend.

Honestly, a very difficult piece to form as JodyG stated and likely very low demand with very low production.

Sorry...my response was actually to the request of the MNF ramps....won't be doing that one. POTC...Never say never, but not anytime soon by me.

Thanks for letting me know! Appreciate it!

Cliffy has them...Just not on his website. Just reach out to him.