So, I started my involvement on this topic on another thread... "Space Station Ramp - Interest", which was actually started about 5 months ago by another Pinsider. He indicated that there was not enough interest for him to do these and hasn't really been back on here since..... There was enough interest and need for me to do it..so I decided I would follow through with it.

I had borrowed a friend's machine (Thanks, Roy!) to develop the mold for this. Some of you have seen, and purchased (thanks!) the clear ramp I did for High Speed and I started into this one with the intent to do another upgrade from a black ABS stock ramp with a clear one. I will be making a clear one, but due to popular demand, I have figured out a way to do a transparent blue one out of acrylic. The clear will be made form PETG plastic. PETG is much stronger than acrylic, but unless you are willing to order a couple thousand pounds, you cannot get it in colors. The PETG should be strong enough not to need any metal ball guides at the entrance. However, due to the fact that acrylic (plexiglass) is not as strong, I plan on riveting balls guides on both sides at the entrance.

I will sell a clear PETG pre-drilled for mounting as well as the upper right switch plate and with entrance flap installed for $100.

The Blue Acrylic with all of the above plus spring steel ball guides at the entrance for $125. The blue is tougher to source and I must order from out of state. Note that the spring steel I use is naturally dark blue in color, so with the exception of the rivet heads, it will blend in nicely.

I will consider doing a black ABS (personally...yuk!) for those that want one like the original. Pricing would be the same as the clear one.

There is some riveting involved with attaching parts from your existing ramp to the new ramp. Just like with High Speed if you want me to do this, you could send me the necessary parts removed from your ramp and I will polish and rivet to the new ramp for $8.... BUT... unlike High Speed where the rivets could actually affect ball travel, this is not as important on the Space Station ramp. So you might get away with using screws....maybe use some Loctite on the nuts and grind the heads down a little it they do affect the ball travel.... your call.

Shipping and handling... $15

I have ordered the clear PETG (Get that locally) and will order probably enough blue to do 24 ramps. I will start producing some clear ramps early next week and expect the blue will take 10 to 14 days to be in my hands.

I am also looking at some lighting mods for this ramp as well, triggered by the drop target at the entrance.... perhaps similar to the one Dennis_AZ had shown, but all done electronically. My son, Aaron with FAST Pinball, has got me interested in taking the mod to a new level with programmable color changing LED's and tapping into to various switches or modes on the game....that would be one way to express "green" mode. Anyway, more to come on this part.

Thanks everyone for your interest.... Mark

As info.... photo of test form on clear acrylic to see if the blue would be possible...

IMG_0523.JPG

Sweet!

Thanks, man! My son left me some toys to play with... addressable LED's 'n stuff.

While I'm waiting for my plastics, I was actually going to airbrush one of the test forms with Creatix transparent blue just to see what it does. Maybe finish with a clear coat. We'll see...

I think I could, but it would all be custom fabrication and likely the existing leaf switch set up replaced with a micro switch which would likely mount much cleaner. hmmmm

Still working on the lighting mod.

OK... I'll give it some serious thought. Probably use the test acrylic I did to make a prototype.

I won't have the clear plastic until sometime Tuesday. I could probably get one out to you via USPS Priority possibly Wednesday or Thursday (Still need to set up a few things). I'll keep you posted.

I don't actually have a blue ramp cut out yet. The only one I have actually broke during the forming process (Cast acrylic....using extruded acrylic going forward). I will be picking up locally the clear PETG on Tuesday. The blue acrylic is being shipped cross country and I hope to have it late next week. As soon as I get the blue I will get one formed and cut out right away so I can post photos.

So... another option. I had a request to provide pricing for a "plug and play" ramp. In other words, I would fabricate the small metal ball stop and provide the switch in the upper right lane. While I'm waiting for my plastic, I am going to complete one of my first forms to see what is involved to do this. The stock switch plate is not something that is available to purchase, so must come up with a substitute. What I've found is a generic switch plate and a micro switch that will work. This would allow you to simply remove your ramp and install the new one. I will do this for an additional $20 if I am successful. I will post when I've finished the test ramp.

So, if your existing ramp is in good shape, you won't have to destroy/disable it for the new ramp...just keep is as a backup. If you ramp is beyond saving, you would be better off to send me your parts and I will install.

I will need to order the switch plates and micro switches, so would appreciate if you could indicate any interest in this latest "option".

Thanks... Mark

No disrespect taken...at least by me. Personally, I if was buying a new ramp, I would approach it the same as you. In your case, in addition to not wanting the switch mounting holes pre-drilled, I probably wouldn't even want the mini-ball stop rivet hole pre-drilled....I think a small piece of foam would work better. But,...what I have found is that not everyone is experienced with the work necessary to install a new ramp. When I did the High Speed ramp, I offered similar options for me to do the assembly, and at least 90% took that route. I offered the service because I did not want folks to receive their new ramp, then scratch their head with the amount of work remaining to get it installed. Note that if you bought a generic black reproduction, you would be faced with the same work to get it installed.

I offer this stuff just to make it easier for folks to enjoy while keeping the associated cost reasonable....very reasonable in this case!

I haven't played with EL wire yet. I need to get into it to figure out the electronics side of it...brightness based on length. All the kits I've looked at so far just have a set length based on a prescribed power. Last night I successfully tested my theory for hooking up an LED mod to the existing Opto switch on Space Station. I will be able to optimize the brightness based on number of LED's (Done with resistors). Once I establish the maximum safe brightness, I will also include a dimmer if they need to be toned down.

Thanks for the input, guys. Pretty much one less thing I have to explore!