LOTR habitrail mod-My mission to save the world from ugly plastic.

Any chance you'll be making more to sell? I wouldn't mind one.

#4 11 years ago

CRS

SilverUnicorn

Pinside+ Frequent

I like it alot! I did not have the plastic on my machine when I got it. I added it when I got a NOS plastics set. and took it off shortly afterward. In my experience the ball got stuck on the plastic, and I have not had it come off the habitrail once. Is this a big issue?

Your mod is very nice and looks factory! If you decide to make more, please let me know and I will buy one.

Chris

#5 11 years ago

BOB

beatmaster

Mods for your pinballs

Beauharnois

12y 102K 7,387 7 17

excellent idea, fit the game a lot better.

#6 11 years ago

CAT

DCFAN

Pinside+ Frequent

Chantilly, VA

12y 148K 12,776 34

Nice mod. It looks like it was something that came with the game.

#7 11 years ago

DEL

SealClubber

Pinside Moderator

14y 127K 11,060 246

Quoted from SilverUnicorn:
In my experience the ball got stuck on the plastic

Did you have the Pinbits plastic protector kit installed? That increased the height of the ramp but not the plastic guard above it. I had to add a taller mount. My ball kept bouncing off the ramp without it.

#8 11 years ago

CRS

SilverUnicorn

Pinside+ Frequent

No, it was just the regular plastics. I never had an issue with the ball coming off the habitrail. Just lucky I guess?

That scenario would make sense though. Maybe the washers uner the sling plastic were thicker than original (if there were any on there originally)?

Chris

#9 11 years ago

flashburn

Pinside member

You might just need to tighten the nut that attaches the habitrail to the slingshot plastic. I found if it isn't tight enough, it would cause the ball to get stuck against the plastic.

#10 11 years ago

HKD

HOOKED

Hooked on Pinball

Cherryville, NC

20y 109K 4,808 16 18

Nice looking mod -looks as if it should have been there from the start.

#11 11 years ago

???

jalpert

Pinside member

Unknown

14y 70,050 7,517

Wow, hell just froze over. A home made mod that I actually like. This looks very nice.

#12 11 years ago

SAZ

Baiter

Pinside member

Westminster, CO

12y 69,400 3,910 13 15

Much better looking than the original! How was it made, with the brass rod and a pair of pliers?

#13 11 years ago

???

AkumaZeto

Blocked

12y 5,026

WOW. Well played sir. *CLAPPING*

#14 11 years ago

FRX

Frax

Pinside member

Conyers, GA

12y 103K 16,662 2 9

Quoted from SilverUnicorn:
I added it when I got a NOS plastics set. and took it off shortly afterward. In my experience the ball got stuck on the plastic, and I have not had it come off the habitrail once. Is this a big issue?

Mine flew off the habitrail all the time, actually. =\ Plastic didn't prevent it either. It would come around that curve so hot it would just ride up the side and fly off. You can put a few washers under the plastic to get it to sit a little higher so the ball doesn't hit it. I had same problem.

This, however, is an excellent upgrade appearance-wise.

#15 11 years ago

CKA

ryan1234

Pinside member

Quoted from Baiter:
Much better looking than the original! How was it made, with the brass rod and a pair of pliers?

This is exactly how it was made(a heavy set of needle nose pliers). Nothing to complicated. The angle at the top has to be there so the ball coming from the shire can clear it. I just bought some 1/8 inch solid brass rod from the hardware store and started bending(this was my second attempt-- complete failure on the first). Then I used good old novus #2 to polish.

Quoted from flashburn:
Any chance you'll be making more to sell? I wouldn't mind one.

I could sell some but, it was fairly easy to make and the brass rod was $7.00 for three feet (thats a lot of mistakes worth).
If you don't want to try, PM me and I can make some more.

#16 11 years ago

flashburn

Pinside member

Okay cool, that sounds easy enough. I think I'll give it a try. Thanks a lot for sharing your idea.

#17 11 years ago

GEM

Silverballer

Pinside member

14y 88,300 3,238 51

Looks great and its so much more than just a mod- Bravo! Thanks for sharing.

1 week later

#18 11 years ago

CRS

SilverUnicorn

Pinside+ Frequent

This mod is great. I can't believe how great it looks! Absolutely factory looking.

Thank you Ryan!

Chris

lotrmod1.JPG lotrmod2.JPG lotrmod3.JPG

#19 11 years ago

GIO

Zdoor

Pinball Refinery

Templeton, CA

11y 77,050 2,137 1 10

Quoted from SilverUnicorn:
This mod is great. I can't believe how great it looks! Absolutely factory looking.
Thank you Ryan!
Chris

Is he selling them?

#20 11 years ago

BOB

beatmaster

Mods for your pinballs

Beauharnois

12y 102K 7,387 7 17

it look so good i just did a new piece of plastic and i'm thinking of taking it off and do this.
wondering, is that piece that important? a never saw the balls going out of the ramp of knocking on the plastic, ever. at some point i was wondering why it's there.

also, since i'm going to install mirror blades, i was a little bit scared that this plastic and the metal spacer that holds it was going to scratch the mirror blades, now if i put this mods i won't have to worry about that.

so not only it's a nice mod but also a practicle one.

#21 11 years ago

CRS

SilverUnicorn

Pinside+ Frequent

He sold one to me I would PM him. I don't know if he is actively making them, but I would imagine he would if you asked. I don't want to speak for him though.

Chris

#22 11 years ago

CKA

ryan1234

Pinside member

SilverUnicorn-
Glad you like it. I only have one good Idea a year and I am sure this is it.

P.S. I removed the post where the plastic was mounted (4 screws)
Then painted the 4 screw heads black and replaced just the screws.
You can hardly see them now.

For pinsiders ONLY-
I will make these for $15 including shipping-
Or try making it yourself (I would love to see others variations)
Just PM me

#23 11 years ago

flashburn

Pinside member

I got my mod today as well. It works great, thumbs up for Ryan to take the time to make one for lazy asses like myself! It really looks like it belongs there from the start, unlike that piece of plastic that looked more like a bandaid.

I think I'll also paint those screw heads black like you did.

3 weeks later

#24 11 years ago

JDS

judremy

Pinside member

Farmington Hills, MI

13y 67,800 2,213 5 8

Pic from my machine with the mod from ryan. Gave a view from behind the shire VUK plastic so you can see how it protects the plastic:
2013-01-09_17-59-37_13.jpg

#25 11 years ago

GKG

goldpins

Pinside member

Castle Rock, CO

12y 54,150 198 12 14

Just confirming.....

This is the plastic that this mod is replacing, correct? I think it looks great! Good job ryan1234.

LOTR.jpg

#26 11 years ago

JJD

coasterguy

Pinside+ Frequent

13y 133K 9,574 9

That's modding to perfection!

#27 11 years ago

DO!

MrDo

Pinside member

Florence, KY

12y 46,650 1,162 3

Now if only there was a way to keep scorchers up the ramp ON the ramp up to that point.

#28 11 years ago

JDS

judremy

Pinside member

Farmington Hills, MI

13y 67,800 2,213 5 8

Quoted from MrDo:
Now if only there was a way to keep scorchers up the ramp ON the ramp up to that point.

This does a bit. Had one bounce off it where it angles in. Also had one come flying down and it put on the breaks as it rode the bottom of the new piece. It works great!

#29 11 years ago

flashburn

Pinside member

You might want to tweak it a little bit. I've had the ball still fly between the new rail and the habitrail, and then into the outlane. I'll probably try bending it a little.

1 month later

#30 11 years ago

flashburn

Pinside member

Quoted from flashburn:
You might want to tweak it a little bit. I've had the ball still fly between the new rail and the habitrail, and then into the outlane. I'll probably try bending it a little.

As an update to this, Ryan was kind enough to send me a new one which he tweaked a bit. This one goes a bit further down the habitrail, and I no longer have any balls flying out from the habitrail!

Thanks again Ryan. This really looks like it should of been there from the factory.

#31 11 years ago

???

Atomicboy

Inactive member

12y 81,150 7,318

I want to order one of these, but the height of my LE slingshot may not allow it.

I have the plastic protector set, with the pinbits footies plastic, as well as the two spaces, that are like additional plastic washer protectors for each nut. I'm guessing it looks tight without this stuff, and likely wouldn't work on mine.

Anyone with protectors try this?

#32 11 years ago

HLT

herg

LED OCD

13y 110K 5,551

I have one on a SE with protectors. It fit, but I ended up using thin lock nuts rather than the standard ones.

#33 11 years ago

flashburn

Pinside member

Mine has plastic protectors, fits fine.

10 months later

#34 10 years ago

POP

Nevus

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 129K 6,681 1

Bump for recent interest

#35 10 years ago

???

Shoot_Again

Pinside member

Vancouver, WA

12y 83,400 8,453 2

Looks very polished and nice. Much better than the plastic. If it performs the same then Excellent mod.

GLWS

#36 10 years ago

MJP

twinmice

Pinside+ Addict

Canyon Country, CA

11y 111K 1,539 12

I'd be in for one.

#37 10 years ago

BAD

BC_Gambit

PinMod Industries

Unknown

11y 70,550 3,532

Assuming shipping to Canada is reasonable and these are still being made, Count me in as well!

#38 10 years ago

HAN

QuickSilverShelby

Pinside member

Canmore, AB

11y 70,300 1,610 7

I'd like one if they are still available.

QSS

#39 10 years ago

RUM

yoshootme

Pinside member

11y 60,900 1,115 6 13

Quoted from QuickSilverShelby:
I'd like one if they are still available.
QSS

count me in.

#40 10 years ago

RYN

S37VEN

Inactive member

West Caldwell, NJ

11y 37,800 860 3 15

Could use onefor metallica right ramp too.

#41 10 years ago

T V

Olddragon

Pinside member

11y 66,050 636 4 9

I have one of these and it looks more original and natural than the plastic shield that comes with the game.

#42 10 years ago

CKA

ryan1234

Pinside member

I am still making this rail mod for any Pinsider who is interested- please feel free to PM me.
Or try making it yourself- it is very easy and cheap.

2 weeks later

#43 10 years ago

JOE

BestShot31

Inactive member

Upper Freehold, NJ

10y 65,400 739 4 56

Bump for this useful post.

I hate the plastic piece, the brass wire looks much better. Looking forward to making one myself, but might just order one from Ryan.

#44 10 years ago

MAN

Manic

Pinside member

Alexandria, VA

10y 60,400 2,381 17

OP
Quoted from ryan1234:
I am still making this rail mod for any Pinsider who is interested- please feel free to PM me.
Or try making it yourself- it is very easy and cheap.

If the brass isn't clearcoated it will tarnish real quick. Do you have a way of ccoating these?

Looks nice btw!

#45 10 years ago

RAC

DarkWizard

Pinside member

Bethlehem, PA

11y 78,900 1,617 2 110

PM sent

#46 10 years ago

CPB

LitzDoc

Pinside member

Location, NH

11y 55,050 1,365 3 9

I just ordered one from Ryan. 15 bones shipped. Not bad since I am not handy.

#47 10 years ago

VolunteerPin

Pinside member

Knoxville, TN

11y 88,650 3,977 10 11

Any way you could make something similar which would help the ball from jumping out of the rail when it comes off the Path of the Dead?

I have a ball diverted installed but even with that I'd say at least half the time or more the ball will hit the rail and then bounce into the Shire.

#48 10 years ago

CKA

ryan1234

Pinside member