Been wondering when a PM Owner's thread would happen.

Here's something that Kerry and I worked on a while back:

http://www.mantisamusements.com/pmdrop5.htm

If you look at your lift plate for the 5-target bank, you'll probably see that there are nearly holes all the way through from where the factory-issue aluminum plate makes contact with the two adjusting screws.

I experimented with a few different possible solutions, but in the end a little persuasion motivated Kerry to make a replacement plate of stainless.

Been working flawlessly in my game since installing it over a year ago.

I highly recommend you inspect your target lift plate and consider ordering a stainless replacement from Mantis.

Right now, Pinbits has a subset (slings and a couple others). Having worked with Martin before, and talking with Bryan already, I can guarantee that Pinbits will be offering a full set of clear PETG protectors as soon as we do some test-fitting.

By the way, we're also shipping a NOS playfield out to Cliffy to get protectors made for two two main wear areas (genie bottle hole / under trunk on left side, and the skill shot hole on the right) and the shooter eject.

-Brian

I'd never doubt you, however, I know of four down here near me and I've confirmed that at least three that have wear in the exact same area -- at the right edge of the genie bottle hole (in front of the target). The fourth probably does as well, I just haven't been forwarded a picture of it yet.

-Brian

Interesting, I had one of the 5 targets on my low plays (probably HUO) example of PM that was different from the other four as well....

Could be that we each had a target that broke, or could be a mixture of targets from multiple supplers mixed in the bin at the assembly plant back in the day....

It was actually a fraction of a milimeter shorter than the other four, which concerned me, so I bought a whole new bank assembly from Australia.

Well this one seems to have same area affected.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/for-sale-pinball-magic-capcom-1995-1996

Man that sucks. It's stainless, so you can probably find someone local to weld it for you. Even PSP Australia doesn't carry this item. If beyond repair, you could try to reach out to Kerry at Mantis to see if he'd invest the effort to reproduce it. http://www.mantisamusements.com/pinball.htm

That's what Kerry @ Mantis does -- he makes them better than the originals! You need to ping him and express your need, otherwise he'll never know how large the opportunity is or how desperately the community needs this item.

If you can get his ear, tell him to put me down for one. Sounds like it's bound to break sooner or later, and since PM won't be leaving my collection anytime soon, I'll be glad to purchase one to have on hand as a spare -- or better yet, I'll install it to preserve my original one for posterity

Also, if you reach out to Kerry, don't forget to purchase one of those 5-target lift plates he makes -- demand the stainless version over the Aluminum one though. We worked together on this and the SS one he made for me has been flawless!!!!
http://www.mantisamusements.com/pmdrop5.htm

Just like the improved design one Kerry @ Mantis sells
http://www.mantisamusements.com/tz.htm

Not if you have one of Herg's LED OCD kits!!!!!

I'd recommend a dry lubricant. Silicone and other wet lubes will attract dirt and "gum-up" again.

I use Tri-Flow Dry Lubricant in situations such as these (as well as exterior door locks and bicycle chains):
http://www.amazon.com/Tri-Flow-Lube-Drip-Bottle/dp/B000C17R7Q

PINBALL MAGIC PLAYFIELD PLASTICS

Going through a shop-out of my PM, and had to source replacements for a few cracked plastics. Wanted to share the results of the effort with the group.

I'm working with Martin over at Pinbits and I've scanned every plastic. Martin's templated and cut a set of protectors and we're on the first round of test-fitting. This was the most important, as I didn't want to source NOS plastics only to have them get cracked again. Stay tuned to this thread and/or Pinbits store for when we finalize the full playfield plastic protectors kit.

Finding replacement plastics was neither simple nor inexpensive. Pinball Spare Parts is less expensive per-piece, however, if you're anywhere but the island, the shipping is expensive. That's why I ordered as much as a I could, including almost two complete sets of PF plastics. Shipping was a couple hundred bucks to the USA.

As a primer, all the PM plastics are AW00123-xx, where xx is a 2-digit number between 01 and 41.

Here are search links to the distys:

Pinball Spare Parts (PSP): http://www.pinballspareparts.com.au/parts-by-machine/capcom-parts/pinball-magic.html?p=1

Marco: http://www.marcospecialties.com/control/keywordsearch?SEARCH_STRING=aw00123-

The most common plastics that are cracked/broken (and who has them as of this post date) includes:
06 – Shooter Lane "Skill Shot" - PSP only
08 – Sling Short Right - PSP only
09 – Sling Shot Left - PSP only
14 – Stage Ramp Left - PSP only
22 – Jet bumper lower plastics (Capcom numbers as a 2-piece kit - distys sell individually as 22 and 22B)
-------> 22 - Marco only
-------> 22B - PSP only

The second most commonly broken plastics are:
07 – Playfield mid-left - neither disty has this plastic available
12 – Large (top) Jet Bumper plastic - Marco only
20 – Playfield mid-right - Marco only

Also worth noting is that both distys sell a version of the 23 plastic that is not the same as the plastic found on a production game. I'm guessing that what they have is a sample or prototype plastic, but certainly doesn't match the screening nor does it line-up with the screw holes of a production game's plastic.

In addition to plastics, you might need or want to get some spare decals:

Decals: AW00138-y, where y = 1 through 8

Marco seems to have them all in stock:
http://www.marcospecialties.com/control/keywordsearch?SEARCH_STRING=AW00138-

Finally, if you place an order from PSP, I'd also encourage you to stock up on the following parts since you're paying for shipping anyway (demand they do a real good job bubble wrapping this stuff though -- otherwise you'll have damaged goods):
- 5-target drop target assembly A-00154, because individual plastic targets PL00148 and springs do break, and you can't purchase those parts individually!
- Capcom Slingshot kicker assembly A-00157-1: PSP $38 (also available from Marco for $58/each)
- Blue CAPCOM star posts, PL00172-BT & PL-00197-BT.

Hope this info saves you all a bunch of valuable hours...

Unless you get one from Bryan Hansen, the game's designer, who's indicated he has a few plastics left in his private stash, you might have to get it reproduced. I've read posts about people being able to print new plastics. If you can find a plastics printer, I'll send you a 1 PDF scan of that plastic.

Anyone else notice that their genie bottle scoop/weldment has broken welds?
I used to think that the playfield damage I've been seeing on numerous examples of this title was unavoidable, but have now learned that it is most likely due to broken trough welds.

In particular, I found my weldment had two broken welds. Didn't actually realize it until the weldment was removed. That amount of play was allowing the ball to make contact with the playfield resulting in the damage seen in the attached picture.

I'm already conspiring with Kerry to create a replacement and reinforced weldment and attempting to design it with edge protection for the common wear area.

PM me if interested and I'll let you know as we progress.

PS. If someone would be willing to ship (loan) Kerry an unpopulated playfield, that would really allow us to make this the best it could be! Again, PM me if you're willing to help in this regard.

Playfield_damage_area_(common)_(resized).jpg
Weldment_with_suggested_mods_(resized).JPG

If there are NOS versions out there:
a) I can't find them (looked at Marco and PSP Australia)
b) the original weldment design is poor, thus even a replacement NOS one would eventually break again, and
c) Kerry will improve the design with reinforcement tabs and a full 'collar' to prevent the common playfield edge wear.

Hey folks. I just posted a new topic on the reinforced Genie Bottle scoop/weldment that Kerry is going to produce for this title.
The new topic is to gauge interest and has a survey attached.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/capcom-pinball-magic-scoopweldment#post-3249702

Kerry @ Mantis has the ramp. We're working on a new, reinforced scoop right now. Pinbits has plastic protectors for it now, as we just completed the second round of test-fitting.

Tip: more protection for the plastic drop-targets (5-drop target bank).

Add a second rubber beneath the standard one. The standard one rests in the post's groove. The extra rubber sits below that.

This helps because the second rubber prevents the targets from being pushed back to far, which is the primary reason they break.

This is actually an old tip that Cliffy posted to RGP ages ago, yet still relevant until someone 3D prints some oblong posts to better solve the issue....

This came up in a recent conversation where Cliffy were discussing the protectors he's going to eventually make for the game. Thought I'd share....

-Brian

PM-Doubled-Rubber (resized).JPG

Another tip Cliffy shared with me last week.

The glass receiver at the base of the speaker panel is made of metal, instead of plastic like B/W, for a reason:

It's designed to be strong enough to support the back of the playfield when you''re working on the topside of the playfield.

Well thought out back in the day.

pf-up2 (resized).JPG

It's the way the hinges are designed. Pretty ingenious....

Someone should make customized stage doors and top banner for the stage area

Mimic what's drawn on the printed plastic using pleated velour covering (maroon, dark green, gold, or even something with a pattern).

Cut new plastics out of plain PETG and save your original plastics for future use!

Perhaps there would even be a way to use only fabric for the curtains and then have them pulled to the sides just like a real stage curtains ...

^^^ See previous post in this thread about resting the playfield atop the metal channel for the playfield glass. https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-magic-club/page/10#post-3316747

Signs of more good things coming to conceal and protect this rare game.... This is test fit #1... a couple last kinks to iron out...

IMG_20171007_182229 (resized).jpg

IMG_20171007_182245 (resized).jpg

IMG_20171007_182237 (resized).jpg

Yes, been working with Cliffy on these for quite some time. Have to make a few more adjustments and of course test-fit on more than one game and then they should be ready for release.

I worked with Kerry and sent him my worn lift plate to use as a template many years ago.
1) If you purchase one, purchase the stainless steel version, not the Aluminum version. The SS version is much more durable!
2) Even if you think you don't need it, purchase the Genie Bottle scoop/weldment as well. Not only will your original one eventually break, the one Kerry and I worked on is superior (PF edge protection and target reinforcement tab).

Another post which should be important to all Pinball Magic owners:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/where-to-find-capcom-flipper-parts

I can't stress how important it is to purchase these HTF parts while you can -- eventually yours will break and NO ONE is currently offering a flipper rebuild kit for Capcom.

Someone needs to try to 3D print that trunk...