Lord of the Rings
Stern, 2003I've been making a few of these for people and someone suggested I start a new thread separately so here it is.
I am making these and selling them for $120 shipped in the us. If you are outside the us pm me and I can figure out shipping costs.
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Pm me if you are interested. I have one ready to ship out now and two more will be ready in about a week. After that I will be getting in another batch of about 5 more.
image-778.jpgI originally did that mod back in early 2004....soon after receiving my NIB LOTR. I sent pictures of it to the Stern designers and they actually wrote me back saying how much they LOVED it! I think I still have some pictures from 2004.
How are you wiring yours up? I wired mine to the Balrog and the staff would then pulsate and flash right along with the Balrog. Looked really cool.....especially during Balrog Bash.
To answer the wiring question, I originally had mine wired to the gandalf insert, but there was too much ghosting so I now tell people to hook them to a GI bulb under the playfield and it works much better. No ghosting at all. I send them with alligator clips soldered on the end but if anyone wants you can cut them off and tie it in anyplace you want to. I just found that I wanted to make it as easy an install as possible.my original one has been on mine for months and I've never had any issues. I think it looks great when it's on.
Mine's plugged into the machine's power (I have a 1 to 8 splitter from Pinball Life), so Gandalf's staff is always on (like the Statue of Liberty!). It looks really cool during path of the dead modes when he's illuminated by the staff on an otherwise dark PF.
Mike does GREAT work, and I would highly recommend this mod!
Quoted from beelzeboob:Mine's plugged into the machine's power (I have a 1 to 8 splitter from Pinball Life), so Gandalf's staff is always on (like the Statue of Liberty!). It looks really cool during path of the dead modes when he's illuminated by the staff on an otherwise dark PF.
Mike does GREAT work, and I would highly recommend this mod!
I use the alligator clips to make it easier to connect, but if anybody has a specific type of plug let me know and I can try and accommodate.
And thanks for the kind words Randy
This is the connector that most Stern's have on them: http://dkpinball.com/wiki/index.php?title=Connecting_Mods_to_the_PIG_2
You could connect it to a PIG 2 and have it flare up whenever the gandalf insert is lit.
I have one of my original prototypes up for sale. The head of the staff has an extra hole drilled out in the back and the staff was broken in two places. It looks perfect when in the game , but i will sell it at a discounted price of $95 shipped. First to pm me will get it. image-243.jpgimage-520.jpgimage-569.jpgimage-333.jpgimage-238.jpgimage-273.jpgimage-964.jpg
I have two more complete gandalf ready for sale and also have a discounted one that had a broken and repaired staff. The new ones are $120 shipped in the us and the other is $95 shipped. It looks perfect from over 12" away but I can't sell it for full price.
Quoted from oropuro:Do you have just the staff for 1/3 the price? Have a Gandolf on horseback.
You have a Gandalf on horseback but don't have the staff that comes with it?
That's the way my machine was...had the Gandalf on Shadowfax, but no staff. I think there are a lot out there like that.
I have horseless Gandalf that came with mine and a horse version I bought from ebay. How much just for the staff or LED to add to mine? I would think you wouldn't want to give up staff's though as they are a set.
They're not difficult to make. I made my own using a cheap plastic flag pole from my kids army guys set, thin telco wire, shrink tubing, 100 ohm resistor, 3mm white LED, alligator clips, and white paint. Clipped into nearby GI (I don't recall which I tapped). It turned out nice. I'll put some pics up later. I think I have less than $5 in it.
I have a batch of staffs only that I am making up. I've been real busy with kids sports but should have them finished in about a week or so. I have been selling them for $50 shipped. They are all set to glue into gandalfs hand and come with alligator clips to hook to a GI bulb under the playfield.here are som pics from the last batch.
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This is a stock staff I lit and one I made
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Quoted from DarkWizard:I have Gandalf, and the Staff, just need the light/wiring.
Radio Shack
Quoted from Astropin:Radio Shack
Cool, thanks!
If I go in and ask for the right LED, wires and clips to light my Gandalf staff they'll bring me the right stuff? Hopefully it comes with a little manual too with tips on installing the LED without breaking the staff.
Quoted from DarkWizard:Cool, thanks!
If I go in and ask for the right LED, wires and clips to light my Gandalf staff they'll bring me the right stuff? Hopefully it comes with a little manual too with tips on installing the LED without breaking the staff.
I did mine back in 2004.
Walked in (this was pre LED's) bought a tiny incandescent light bulb and some thin wiring.
Went home and carved out the back of the staff with an x-acto knife stuck the bulb in there, wired it to the Balrog underneath the playfield....easy peasy.
The cool thing about the incandescent bulb is that it pulsated with the Balrog.....very cool effect. That same bulb was still working when I sold LOTR in 2012.
I just want to let those who are on the list for a staff mod, I have not been able to do much on them the last few weeks, my son made the all star baseball team and we have had tournaments Friday thru Monday for the last few weeks. I will have them finished within a few weeks. Sorry for any delays.
All the staffs are spoken for as of now( I have all Pm's to those who wanted them)I'm not sure I'll be making these at least for a while as I have been very busy with work and kids sports.
I have two full gandalf figures that are done and ready to ship if anybody wants
Glad you like it, looks great.
I have two full gandalfs still left. I don't think I'll be making anymore of these or the staffs for a while. Life is too busy lately. Also have a full gandalf with a staff that was broken and repaired that I'll let go cheap. cant see it from 12" away, $90 shipped on that one $120 shipped on the others. US shipping, if you are outside the us let me know and I'll check the rates.
Quoted from Hdmike444:I have two more gandalfs made up and ready to ship.
I also have one more staff only left
And I have the Gandalf on Shadowfax if anyone wants to buy that and match it up with your staff.
I have three more gandalf mods I'm getting ready to make up. $120 shipped
I have one aftermarket ( homemade ) staff left ready to ship. $50 shipped
I just got three real gandalf staffs that I am going to light up, these will be $70 shipped. I may be able to get a few more as well.
Pm me if anyone is interested
I've got an extra Gandalf on Shadowfax (no staff) if you want to buy it from me and add your mod. LMK.
I am installing one of your mods for a fellow pinsider. Wondering how you tied off the wiring to take the weight off of the staff. I looked at the pictures and can see how it is dressed down to the plastic. I can wing it no problem but since this one came with no directions I was curious.
This is the way to go. Gandalf linked into his own insert light. This adds some variety to his staff light.
Not shown in the video is that it turns off once you start Fellowship multiball and lights up again when you're ready to get Gandalf again and then stays lit once you have him... etc...etc..
I like when his staff is always on and lights him up from above when the rest of the playfield is dark. He's like the friggin' Statue of Liberty in there! 
Quoted from beelzeboob:I like when his staff is always on and lights him up from above when the rest of the playfield is dark. He's like the friggin' Statue of Liberty in there!
Yeah, I tried always on. It was too much for me.
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