So, I make it a rule not to start a thread about a homebrew until I get it flipping. Well, I'm going to talk about Escape from Hell, even though it's an autofire kickback instead of a flipper.
EfH started life as a Gulfstream that had a rotten cabinet. It was stripped of parts and art, and passed around a few times. A friend had started the effort(you stomp ass, Nicole!), and when I took it over, it was late last year and we went into overdrive to get it done in time for Golden State Pinball Festival 2023.
My artist son saw the remaining arrow inserts and decided it was a devil's pitchfork. And thus, the theme was created.

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After scanning it in, he started on art and I began brainstorming alterations. My trusty shop companion Odin was there to supervise. I chose alphanumeric displays from cobrapin to go with the driver board.
Art was slowly coming together.
I chose to rehab a torn up old Data East Star Trek for the cabinet.

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I worked on the cabinet and display. Got the display going.
And, finally, the art arrived!

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He's a 22 pound behemoth that would bash the game right back!

Then it was time to apply the playfield protector I cut and start installing parts.

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Videos

Test animations with the displays:

LEDs:

First solenoid firing:

More to come!

I don't think I'll have time to finish side art for the show. Alas...

Thanks! He's a good QC engineer. Sniffs out all the problems.

It's an HP Chromebox J5N50UT. I replaced the firmware and installed a Linux OS on it. I followed these instructions: https://rianoc.github.io/2020/04/19/Linux-Chromebox/

Worked so well on my first homebrew that I bought several more. They are generally pretty cheap, and will run Mission Pinball Framework very well.

Yes, it is running the MPF stack. Prior to going this route, I tested one with the MPF test machine, which included a lot of videos, gifs, etc. It passed with flying colors.
I'm currently testing on a laptop while the playfield is being wired up, but I'll check on the python version when I next boot it up on one of those machines.

After some trials, I got all of the matrix based autofire solenoids firing.

Also fit the playfield to make sure I had enough slack in my wiring.
I should just put a flipper in the mech to test next.
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Didn't get a video, but I set up the flippers tonight. I'll get a video tomorrow. Time to wire the cabinet buttons.

Figured out the trough optos.
The receivers are easy. The transmitters require big resistors to limit the current. So, I grabbed a handy protoboard and got it built.
If you look closely, you can see the mistake I made and corrected.

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That's a great board for individual optos. For the trough boards, it's easier to make a simple board like this that can handle the 6 optos that are linked together on the board.

The plastic I cut to cover the playfield is warping. So, it's going naked to the show. I don't expect the art to survive. Once I get through the show and get the rough spots dialed in, I might recreate the playfield and have it clear coated.

It was being held down.

Well, I got up this morning with a "fuck it" attitude and this is the result. Now it floats and shouldn't warp. Not the prettiest, but such is life.

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Thanks! I appreciate the kind words. It's heartbreaking sometimes, but that's life.

I'm ok with the floating protector. It will do the job, and that's the most important thing.
Today's agenda:
Cut the final hole for the shooter assembly.
Finish painting the cabinet
Finish painting the apron.
While that's drying, get the base mode coded up.

It is a vinyl adhesive. I was going to cut holes for the inserts but it was thin enough that I didn't bother. I cut all of the through holes with an exacto knife.

Thanks! My son did a great job on the art! I didn't put anything on the sides yet. It's just getting painted black for the show. This summer, my son should have time to finish the cabinet art.

So, today, I got the shooter rod assembly squared away, and got the cabinet primed. I did help get another homebrew get a huge step forward today, as we got the p3-roc boards working and started a game!
I'll be working on code tonight if everything goes well.

Last night, it was all about getting the music right(since I couldn't work on the physical machine). Messed with sound_loop_player in mpf fruitlessly until I finally realized that the regular sound player can handle the issue. Duh.
Waiting on some post lights to wrap up the GI. Another coat of paint, and the cabinet will be ready for final assembly.
Moving right along.

First flips!

I can also say that the throne of hell kickback is every bit as brutal as I thought it might be.

The throne of hell kickback.

As it should when fighting in hell!

I went searching for a subwoofer for the cabinet, and lucked out with a set of subwoofers from a home stereo unit at a thrift store. I should be wiring in the new amp and speakers tonight, so the next video will feature the soundtrack.

Got the amp working tonight. Had to set up another rectifier to pull 12v from the transformer to power it. Also got the main mode scoring complete, though I will probably tweak the scores.

The main theme, courtesy of Alexander Nakarada.

The sound system works great. Added the trough device and scoring. Might be stuck with some ugly temporary plastics if I can't find time to cut proper ones.

Thanks! I found his music, then reached out to confirm it was cool to use in my game. There are three themes that will play(main theme, multiball and a wizard mode). I'm still picking out sounds, and those will likely change. Lots of little things left to do before the show!

I might take you up on that. My original plan was to make the throne by hand, with a support layer of pvc and a hand sculpted throne on top. The main thing I have to do is protect the solenoid wiring and keep balls out of the corner.
I'll ping you as my plans evolve.

Working on the plastics today.

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