Ordered one directly from the manufacturer on ebay. Came in the estimated time frame from NL, about ten days. I was surprised at the box it came in, but it rolled out flat with no issue.

Rather than pull the balls guides out from the playfield as would be required since there are not slats cut in the protector but only holes at each guide's end, I cut out slats between each end hole for the guides, and that worked well.

Had to drill to holes for the two pins in the bagatelle. No problem there.

It installed easily. Removed and cleaned up the pop bumpers and removed the mylar. Nice to see the artwork around the skirts now.

The first adjective that comes to mind when you first play a ball on the protector is eerie. Complete silence. You do not hear the ball contacting the playfield.

Plays very well and fast on it.

BUT, there is a major problem with the Atlantis version. I cannot understand why they decided to accommodate the star rollovers with the unnecessarily large cutouts. These cutouts change the ball trajectory when encountered. The manufacturer needed to engineer the cutouts to be simply in the shape of the stars, and this would be a perfect product. Sensitivity of the switches underneath could be adjusted to take into account the higher height of the playfield surface. Maybe this was the reason for the current approach.

I tried placing mylar over the cutouts, but of course that looked lousy and did not help. Still cogitating over how to correct this problem. Yes, I know Wade is running playfields, but the artwork on mine is fine; cupped inserts were more the issue, and I already overpaid for the game, so I thought I would try a less expensive possible solution. Although I have used clear lacquer to fill in cupped inserts with good success on my C37 and Sing Along , I thought I would try the protector since available for Atlantis.

YMMV. For games without midfield cutouts, this must be a great product, but for Atlantis, it needs to be improved.

Dan

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Probably will collect dirt.

Thought the cutouts could a problem before buying, but tried anyway.

Dan

I had already installed the pins, so when I laid the protector over the bagatelle, I pressed the protector onto each pin to get a visible indentation.

I used a bit a little bigger than the pins, supported the raised protector with one hand and used the bit in a dremel to cut the hole with gentle pressure.

I probably at some point will remove the protector and fill in the cupped inserts with clear lacquer.

Good tip about using compressed air.

Dan

Thanks,Vid. That makes perfect sense.

Dan

Wonder if only a circular cutout close up to the edge of where the white star meets the playfield cutout would work.

By Christmas, if course!

I think this thread has a bromance brewing!

Surely others prefer to pull out the rails as well. Many will benefit from the tips you mention.

I prefer not to disrupt anything on EMs unless absolutely necessary. Each time the rail is removed, the hole probably enlarges, and the fit is not as tight. Admittedly this isn't a daily occurrence.

If for any reason I need to remove the protector, I can do so without disturbing the rails. Better design would have obviated removal of rails.

Brought back memories!

Not only weren't you to not sit on the furniture, but you weren't even allowed in that room.

Sitting on those plastic covers without air conditioning in the summer was horrible. Had to go in there only because it was forbidden!

Cotton,

You already arrived where my thinking was taking me.

I thought raising the star inserts could be a good approach but not with how the current cutouts are in the existing protector.

That led me to consider getting a blank sheet and making my own to allow for raising the star inserts.

But before I do that, I received unsolicitedly a PM from a parts manufacturer who has been following this thread. He has offered to send me his version of a protector for Atlantis at no cost to try and review.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. Just gonna take a little longer to get there.

Dan

Appearances can be deceiving,
but that's why God gave us Vid!

I don't have a problem creating the openings for the rails. Gonna request if possible just the cutouts for the stars. Don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth as it was quite an unexpected and generous offer.

Absolutely agree with the potential for quick wear where the triangular cutouts are. I would put mylar there if I kept this version on the Playfield. Hope others have. Maybe someone will produce protectors for this protector

It would flex enough. Thought about doing it that way, but decided cutting a gap between end points had a more finished look. YMMV.

Okay, but you would have to swear to never remove a guide rail again!!

Maybe he will reach out to you as well, but cannot speak for him.

I cut mine with a razor and straight edge, and you can see at the left out lanes where I went and cut long and scratched the protector. New blade and more patience next time.

Gottlieb EMs have a bumper body wider than the skirt making removal of the pop bumper necessary, so cleaning on these games not so easy. What I did was make a cut at twelve o'clock on each of the bumper cutouts about 1.5 inches long. You cannot see them when you play, and they stay flat not affecting the roll of the ball. This allows you to get the extra diameter needed to get the protector off the bumpers by separating the cut and sliding the opening around the top edge of the bumper body. I did this as a quick attempt to put it in place and later tore apart the bumpers, which needed cleaning anyway.

Very fast. Plays great for sure.

I got some pics of the new design, and here is what I notice.

The shooter lane piece looks full length.

There are cutouts for all the rails.

The two middle center rail cutouts seem a little longer to accommodate the two pins.

The rollover cutouts are simply circles. Don't know the diameter yet to allow raising the inserts. Should receive it in about a week and will let all know.

There may be more improvements that my eye is not picking up as slight increase to bumper cutouts and edge on target section.

I believe we have a better mousetrap!

Many thanks to you know who you are

Joe,

Did I buy your flip a card at York a couple years ago?

Dan