Yeah, I'm going to explore options there. Now that I'm thinking of this as prototype 2 and rethinking some parts I see things that are bugging me and could be improved. I want to fasten the spikes on mechanically instead of with glue, so a metal strip is one option to use as a mounting surface. Have to see how they feel, they need to be thin to be workable.

Can you PM me so I don't forget? Visiting family for Christmas and don't have my Excel sheet here.

Nevermind, no need to PM, I'm home and remembered to add you.

I spent the weekend working on re-engineering this. Did some 3D modeling and some materials prototyping work after a trip to the hardware store. I think what I'm doing will improve the feel, make it stronger and more unique, and be doable as a small limited edition run of handmade ones.

I don't have anything I'm ready to show yet, but I'll keep this thread updated as I go.

Next step is to research getting some parts cut on a water jet I think.

Sure thing. If everyone on my list actually wants one then I'm just about tapped out on how many I can make I think. I'll try and accommodate everyone who gets on it though, and I'm sure some people will drop out, so not worried.

Got it. I'll try and make yours just a tiny bit more special than pingod's.

The other things I'm messing with will work on all games!

Heh. I'm still working on the other parts, don't worry. The electronic design is moving along (getting an assist from wolfmarsh on making PCBs thanks man!). Still doing prototyping and figuring out all the parts.

The truth is I'm taking a little break from the art because I just ordered a new toy. Getting a Wacom Cintiq tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to using it to draw for this. So I've kind of stopped doing much until I have it set up, because I know I'll just want to redo anything with it.

I'm anxious to have something show, definitely not dropping this one. This hammer thing is going to be a limited run, I just can't keep up hand building a bunch of them. I will keep exploring ways to make a mass produced version though.

It's old hat to people like Rarehero, but I've never used one. So we'll see what the learning curve is like. Being able to draw directly to digital, with all the controls that a pressure sensitive input device gives you, just seems like too much fun. Probably should have done this years ago, I've always avoided tablets for some reason.

I'm good with a mouse, been using Photoshop for decades, but for straight up drawing there's just no comparison, mouse doesn't cut it. Even without the pressure sensitivity, though that's a big deal for really good stroke nuance.

I was drawing with ink on paper and scanning it in for this, but it's just too cumbersome, that's what pushed me over the edge to just spend the money.

Sweet. The 24 felt too big, I'm going to pair this with a 27" retina iMac, both on articulating arms. So I'll have a large super high rez screen to work on, I just needed the Cintiq to be big enough to not restrict my drawing while I have palettes and tools open. Will double as a handy low rez (1080p) monitor for the iMac too, which is nice for doing things like 300x250 banner ads etc. That stuff looks pretty crap on the retina screen.

I was going to get it tomorrow, but UPS just dropped it off. Sadly the DVI to Display Port adapter I need to actually plug it in is still out for delivery. So can't play with it until later. You enjoying it?

Yeah, it's really a functional mod for me, I really like shooting with it more open, improves the game a lot. Obviously I want it to look cool, but it's not just bling. I am working on blinging out the final production version more though.

I was talking with some friends of mine who might help me work out a mass produced version that doesn't involve 3D printing, I'm not convinced the quality is there for that, and they mentioned making a bracket for the Pro too. Certainly something we can look into after I get the initial hand made batch done and we see what kind of interest there is.

The biggest difference for me is the interactive lighting. Both the color changing inserts and the "color changing" GI. Which is red, blue and white, and each zone can be controlled separately. So for instance when you have one shot left to make cross multiball the GI shifts towards blue. Or during Fade to Black crank it up the whole game slowly fades to just blue light, getting darker as you play into the mode.

Obviously the spinners, those are fun to shoot.

And the snake jaw can close, not only eating a ball inside, but becoming a switch. So you can hit the closed snake jaw to trigger it to open. Fun to shoot, but also gives you a visual indication of where the snake status is.

My pleasure. I didn't intend for this project to turn into anything other than a one-off personal thing, but I'm enjoying figuring out how I can make a limited run. I wouldn't have explored things like have custom metal cut on a water jet for just one, but when you have multiple ones to do it starts becoming more practical.

I have a lead on a water jet place, gonna check that out shortly.

Got my Cintiq. Going to take some practice to get used to drawing on it, but I'm already loving it. Being able to sketch straight to the screen is awesome.

Sparky-Sketch-1.jpg

So I tried to order a 3D print for a test of a hammer armature design from makexyz.com, what a weird site. They took my order, and then 48 hours later told me they weren't going to do it, and they wouldn't take my money. Uh, okay, thanks, but I wanted the print. I guess they farm it out to people and no one wanted to print it?

Never trying to use them again, that's for sure!

Hey Tim be happy to talk to you more about it, you didn't answer my last PM about the best email address to use. Get back to me, I've already started my own 3D sculpting!

I'm not sure 3D printing is the right answer for a "mass produced" version, I think casting is the only way I'll get something I'll be happy enough with the surface detailing, talking to some people about that already. I'm picky about things my name is attached to. But my plan is to 3D print armatures to sculpt over, and I'll need someone who can handle doing enough to cover this list that keeps growing.

I'm already at more than I had planned on making, but we'll see if everyone still wants to stay in when I PM the details.

Added. I'll commit to doing enough for everyone who's on the list, but then I'm gonna say that's it for these hand made ones.

Hey thanks. Except for breaking off one of the spikes (why I'm re-engineering it to not glue them on) I'm really enjoying playing with it. The size just feels much better on the game to me. I'll definitely try and work on a mass produced version that will be cheaper, with less features. The custom ones first though.

Perfect, emailed you a .stl to take a look at, thanks man.

I just can't seem to let go of it! I think it's gonna take something else coming along that I want badly enough to sell it to fund.

Done. My list is officially too long! All good, see if everyone actually wants it once I announce a price. Still working on that, I don't actually know my costs yet. Have to see what the 3D printing and water jet cutting costs me before I'll really be able to calculate that, and I need a sample 3D print to verify my water jet measurements before I can order that.

Made progress on that today though. Also, for the people saying "stop getting distracted!" I spent the rest of the day working on my other Metallica mod, getting closer to a fully functional prototype actually installed in my machine. So I'm multi-tasking, don't worry.

Well for the mass produced ones I think the only way it makes sense would be to mold the spikes in as one piece, and then just paint things.

So the way I see it (subject to change as I work things out) is this:

LE - Limited to a single run, each one hand sculpted and painted, with real metal strips and spikes. I'll sign and number the backs or something.

Standard - If we can make a mold work we'd cast them as single pieces, spikes and all, and paint them. Still be cool, just not as blinged out and personalized.

I honestly don't know if the standard version will work. I'm willing to try for sure, and I just wanted to be up front about such a thing possibly existing so no one would feel tricked for buying the more expensive version. I've got friends with experience willing to help me try and make it work, because casting isn't something I have any skills with.

Hey that's not a bad idea!

I don't think I'm going to use 3D printing for final ones, the quality just isn't there for me. Fine for prototyping or a framework to sculpt on top of (I am looking at that) but not a finished surface. If I did mass produce them the only real way to do it would be casting I think.

Once I have a final design made I'll give one to some friends to see if they can make a cast work. If that doesn't work out there probably won't be a mass produced one. So I'm just telling people that it might happen, but no promises.