Wow!! What a good fit!

Playfield swap on this one is probably as involved as it gets.

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Please document it for future swappers! And good luck!

How many games were on the old playfield? How bad is it?

I’d love to follow along with your progress!

Is the code complete now and no bugs ? Was longtime ago i checked ?

It's interesting the original style (silver vs. blue) ramp flaps appear to be in such good condition!

Code's 110% good.

Looks better than I was thinking it would. Some Cliffy's and a good topside clean and I would have called that good to go. I can't imagine how many hours a swap for this game would take.

It wasn’t too bad, it just needed a complete tear down to clean and every toy was broken so while I was at it… I got the playfield on sale cheap and had it cleared locally. Cliffys going on too. Polished the ball rails and installed, that is the part that scares me most but got it done. Grind off the barbs and take the sharp edges of the guides to make installation easier.

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Looks really nice. This is a game I wished I would've bought when it came out.

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What's the thought behind getting a new playfield clear coated? The rails are so shiny

Kind of.
The Coins (which are the same as the ones in the LOCK graphics) & Kili's runestone are Weta movie props you can find for sale. I linked a couple, but just Google/Ebay/Amazon around. Weta also made a shinier gold version (I opted for the less shiny myself)
https://www.bonanza.com/listings/The-Hobbit-Dwarven-Treasure-Coin-Set-Lord-Of-The-Rings-Cast-Metal-Replica-New/857881502?goog_pla=1
https://www.otakusquare.com/products/the-hobbit-the-desolation-of-smaug-prop-replica-kili-s-rune-stone/view

The swords (Orcrist, Sting & Galmdring) are Noble Collection letter openers (shiny metal, reflect the lights great). Come in a set or individually.
https://www.noblecollection.com/Item--i-LET-HB-1210

The Erebor Key is actually a pen from the Noble collection (with the pen part removed):
https://noblecollection.co.uk/product/thorin-key-pen-and-lenticular-bookmark/
**Although I might replace it with this one: https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1166-pixels-arcade-games/04669-new-glowing-key-to-the-lonely-mountain-mod-for-hobbit-

The Map to Lonely Mountain, Burglar contract & Bilbo portrait are tiny replicas made by a guy on Etsy that makes tiny movie replicas. Hunt around there. The burglar contract actually fully unfolds all the bits just like the movie version (I just have it folded up to cover the bare metal book stand)

Bag End is a 3d printed model by a guy out of Poland for the War of the Ring boardgame, I just asked him to print it larger than normal with a 5cm base. Then I primed and hand painted it myself, varnished it with polyurethane to give it enough shine to reflect pinball lighting. (I actually ordered two, one to practice painting on first). I just checked and unfortunately his store is closed right now due to cancer (best wishes man!), but you might find something similar on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EagleNest3D

The Giant Eagle is a D&D miniature. Primed, hand painted it (movie clips as color reference), varnished it then pushed a clear rod into it, put a wiring clamp bracket on the other end of the rod and mounted it to a post so it is suspended above the playfield. Playfield art shows an eagle flying up the right orbit so I mounted the Eagle so it looked like it flew out the left orbit.
https://www.miniaturemarket.com/wzk90202.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=&scid=scplpWZK90202&sc_intid=WZK90202&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-NaJBhDsARIsAAja6dMZEqqeQqv2JyuZMdUIWpEOOvTJ_xouWqAlg8wUrXMuhIuItiMwVykaAtzGEALw_wcB

The Giant One Ring is the same ring used in the shooter rod mentioned earlier (I also got the shooter rod). They sold me one separately. McGuyvered a metal bracket from wiring clamps and covered it with white heatshrink, mounted it to a post so it's suspended out above the right outer ring lane.

The Arkenstone mod & Arkenstone mod lighting mod (ha!) you can also find for sale here on Pinside. The lighting from Trumpanche who posted just above me. Led lighting in the back probably can find here or mod stores as well. Same with the volume controls, trough led lighting. Spotlight risers, Bag End shot 1-way door etc... Probably forgetting something.

Hope that helps

I was on a tear, had 3 others being done so I threw it in the mix. Didn’t really need it and not sure it will wear any better than factory clear but it sure do shine

Just killed Smaug, haven’t done it for a while. Really can’t think of another moment in pinball that beats the feeling. The nature of the shot under pressure. The precise shot required when you get there. The flippers dying, the video, light show, sounds. What a game. Had it since new, can’t ever see any chance of selling it. How lucky we are to have this incredible piece of engineering and magic in our lives. There is a pinball god.

Here posteth mine shrine.

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Jealous. No one has ever beaten him at my house. Not sure, but I think we've only had one guy even come close. Owned it since launch and not really sure we even know what to do to kill him. Ha!

I’ve had two attempts at the final shot and failed both times!

Proud new owner of BA 165

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Took me forever. When it does finally happen, and it will eventually, it is even better for all the time spent trying. The best pinball "moment" I've ever had by far.

My favorite pin I own

I'm contemplating buying this game... just wondering what the pros and cons are about it? Is there much strategy in the gameplay? Are the rules complicated? I heard that the scoring is a bit 'mathematical' if that makes much sense... there's an LE for sale with 210 plays which I'm seriously tempted by! Thanks for any input!

Does this game suffer from the playfield issues? I've heard bad things about some JJP games in this respect..

Buy with confidence, no playfield issues i've ever heard of.

The soring is more complex than a computer game, 51 modes and noone knows how they all combine.
Good news is that you don't need to learn it to any real level to have a blast. The game does not revolve around scores like GnR, it revolves around an Adventure. And as everyone knows, an Adventure starts by taking one step outside your door.

Sounds cool, I've just taken the plunge! It's probably the quickest pinball purchase I've ever made... from having no intention of buying the game to commitment to buy in about 20mins

That's awesome! Nothing wrong with that!
r/
Mike

Here's pics of the game I just agreed to buy... I've no idea what's standard on the LE... can anyone tell me if there is much in the way of add-ons on this? Thanks!!

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To a fellow pin-head it probably seems perfectly normal

LE gets trim upgrades over SE - such as the Seaside bronze powder coated body armor, Premium Clear Coated Playfield, INVISIGLASS and Shaker Motor. Oh and the slings have little axes that swing when the sling fires.

the Black Arrow added black flippers and black captive ball... obviously different art on cabinet for each of the editions too.

never seen those blades before. they are beautiful

Your first JJP pin, make room, you have opened the door. They breed.

So they're not standard then I take it...

Actually, they already started breeding, I already have PotC

I've never seen them, but mine is a BA. Haven't seen them in photos either.

I didn't see them on any of the flyers... seller lists the 'features' as:
Rad cals,
Green convolux,
sideblade art.
Any idea what the Rad Cals and Green convolux are? Seller is a dealer, I think he's just passing the info on...

Radcals are Mirco thick and shiny cabinet decals from JJP . Green convolux… I would guess they mean the aftermarket green plastics protectors.

I’ve never seen those kind of mirror blades either.

With as many games as you have in your collection I'm surprised it took you 20 min haha

Welcome to the club!

Swap coming along, reassembly half done.
If you have never done one, let alone a beast such as this, it’s really not that hard.
I take pictures of the playfield from every angle being sure to get at least one image of every visible post. Take more pictures than you think you’ll need.
Then remove plastics and ramps, leave rubber on. At this point you can see what post goes in what hole.
Repeat picture series.
Remove remainder of top hardware.
Then from the bottom, for this game specifically I removed all the major assemblies, 3 drop banks, 4 pop-up target assemblies. Take a lot of pictures again from every angle. Then I marked the playfield bottom with pencil what light board went where noting wire colors rather than disconnecting the boards from the harness. Then I unscrewed all the led boards and gi from the wood, leaving them on the harness. Take pictures if you think there is a chance something might get mixed up when putting it back. Once the harness and boards are free from the wood, slide something sturdy enough to lift the whole thing off the playfield without straining any wires or connections.
Transfer “T” nuts to new playfield, remove them by screwing in a screw a little and pry off with a claw hammer. Then be sure to straighten out the barbs with two pair needle nose pliers or they won’t seat on the new board. I used a flat punch to seat these.
For reassembly I’ll start by installing all posts, rail guides and rubber. Then from there reinstall everything on bottom after cleaning and repairing as needed. Finish on top with ramps and plastics.
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As a person who will do at least one playfield swap one day, this is great to see.
I didn't expect it to be difficult either, so long as you're detail oriented and document the disassembly well.

I know which one!

Pick me! Pick ME!

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Heh. I will do Wonka CE at some point - already bought the playfield, mylars, plastics, nuts etc. Everything I need to refresh it which we WILL need to do one day as we're approaching 10,000 plays. Susan has agreed to do a stream for our 10,000th play which may include a costume.

I'll do GNR CE too.

Strangely my Hobbit is holding up spectacularly save for minor rub wear at the scoops which I covered with Cliffys.

POTC CE looks great too, as this machine was protected with wider posts/gummy washers very early. Cliffys there too.

The Gold SE I have has all those upgrades as well. I think every model is just artwork and color differences with the exception of shaker motor and invisiglass (with the standard not having those)

On modern pins its really quite easy compared to older titles.

I really do intend the thin the heard, to at the most half! it's got beyond ridiculous... promised myself I wouldn't buy any more, but found it hard to resist this one... deep down I knew I was lying to myself anyway

Thanks! Looking forwards to getting to grips with this game!

Have you got a Multimorphic?

No... I'm curious about it, but something about it puts me off... not sure I'd like a playfield that's constantly doing stuff... would like to play one though to experience it.

Great decision. Enjoy!

I want those Blades. Never seen them and I've literally spent hours googling blades for my Hobbit on multiple occassions. Also tried buying gold blades with black chrome, gold decals mixes with other art etc... and no one will sell me a mixed n matched set .

I want.