Is that different than the comical Benny Hill scoop protectors the LEs are arriving with? Those are just the Pro version with the wings literally cut off existing stock and two forklift forks to hold the top surface flat.

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Except stern support be like "Sorry for any confusion or misinformation, but we do not have any kits or fixes available yet.”

back of the line!

While the wing cutoffs look obvious... the material does look different from the originals. The originals looked like a polished metal, these look brushed. So maybe they got batch #2 - Right material! and then went crap... rev #3 - change the design, mod the batch #2 parts..

Or they wanted to cost reduce a few pennies out of the Pro version and had the better metal for the Prem/LEs but with the wrong design from the Pros already made. Who knows? It's Stern.

Stern said they weren't ready to ship out the real protector fix...but on the list...

After how many years on route?

Here is a real world reference . On route over a month. And most of this chewing on the right side is superficial. Would clean up well.

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People at home won’t get that volume kind of play… and majority are LE owners who have the topside covered

Kerry says Mantis is working on a solution for this problem. I'm betting it will be better and more robust than Stern's "fork" patch.

I was comparing the Rush scoop to the Mandalorian scoop. I'm thinking the Mandalorian doesn't have this issue because there are posts at the front of the scoop protecting the area around the scoop. With that in mind, I'm curious if there's a way to use a different plastic or other covering over the scoop that could be anchored with either new posts or that has a floating post of some sort that would protect the scoop. That'd be a pretty involved heavy duty fix. Not sure if that's realistic.

1 - ‘mando is not narrow like rush
2 - mando is not a scoop where the ball passes through the playfield- the eject mech is flush with the bottom of the pf vs going into a chute.

Mando is not a good reference for these reasons - never mind the geometry differences

True Scoops like addams, tz, etc are more similar- but neither is as small. Kiss is really the closest physical comparison.

Cliffy has Rush scoop protectors in production now, and they are described as "beautiful". Just send Cliffy an email to get on the waiting list.

Cliff is the man...Im on the waiting list, he will get this issue fixed!

As I posted before its actually the same size scoop as Metallica, that's Mantis' Metallica scoop protector in place:
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Man, that just looks like a bullet-proof solution if the mounting can be worked out. It may even be able to be mounted from the topside with some mounting ears going to the same posts that the fork fix mounts on. It may get bashed in at the edges after many plays, but I can live with a replaceable sacrificial liner. And I can also live with it making the shot more difficult. My money is on Mantis!

Ya I’m excited to see/use cliffys!

Cliffy could even employ a Mantis-style protector in his design. Would that be a Clantis or a Miffy?

I bought one of those, in hopes that it will work.

Thank you for posting this-I now have some hope. I was worried the scoop would be too narrow to accommodate a Mantis. Looks like it fits perfect and will work well. Not sure I would use a Cliffy with Mantis? Mantis is designed to not need a Cliffy and I would go Mantis before Cliffy. The beveled edge will never get damaged with the proper leveled Mantis and I still think a thin proper hardened Cliffy will still be susceptible to some damage because of the location of scoop getting hammered by upper, etc.

Now need to make a sketch of center pf band member cartoon art-so a replacement sticker can be made. Also would want to get the QR reader off apron-wish Stern would move to coin door-such an eye-sore it hurts my eyes.

Looks like the metal plate will need to be removed and drilled for holes(or drilled carefully in place) to attach the Mantis. Could probably get away with using a small self tapping tek screw of some kind but removing the plate and drilling holes with metal drill bit and then using small wood screw would be ideal.

Mantis to the Rescue!

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Not a fan of Stern's V3 scoop fix. #1 it is fugly! #2 it blocks the scoop shot and makes the shot super tight. The upper cliffy is still going to get slaaaaaamed! If only Stern would have used Mantis protectors from day one? Wonder how many replacement pf's are being sent out for this faux pau. If I had a RUSH with a mangled pf I would not be a happy camper.

-Also the guys in the RUSH thread-please stop stating that mylar is a good fix and works well-total band-aid solution and has me shaking my head.

Stern scoop fix (resized).png

Is that seriously what they are installing at the factory now?

Not true at all. It’s still a very easy shot, and the ball goes in there more often than not if I’m flailing a multiball.

No wear at all on any of the Rush games at LAX. Mine got about 450 plays, still looks brand new. I used mylar on my upper scoop, but the other Rushes without mylar looked fine too.

After 483 plays:

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Being devils advocate-you should not have to put down mylar to protect your generic cliffy from getting damaged. Plus it looks like ass

The scoop shot is still makeable but adding the side blinders looks cheesy and it does reduce the angle substantially. Would you rather have big blue blinders and mylar over cliffy or just a really simple Mantis that should have been installed since day one? I recommended a Mantis months ago when first released and not sure if they have cotton in their ears or what? I honestly am surprised they did not retro-fit premium run with some kind of Mantis. -Rant over

From the past. Mantis from underneath didn't "stop" wear a the wood lip going into scoops..... so I'm not sure just a mantis would completely solve this rush scoop issue.

I am very confident in a Mantis approach

My scoops with Mantis still look pristine, and with the beveled edge-may be the overall best solution

Agreed, I’m going to take the mylar off, now that the show is over. I think it does cut down on metal-to-metal ball wear though.

I’m just not having any problem hitting that shot at all.

My MB scoop with thousands of plays begs to differ!

Are yours home games? It is hard to compare hundreds of plays vs thousands and tens of thousands from route. 10 years ago I always saw people putting both cliffy and mantis on scoops. The mantis would not be level with the pf so when the ball rolls over that wood edge, it would wear. Another issue with rush is the scoop is so close to the flippers, in a highly hit spot because of being in the middle and the balls always rolling into that scoop set...it is going to have to be some serious protectors to help keep it from not having issues in a higher play instance.

Glad you've had good luck with just the one protector. The mantis is good at being hidden and not seen.

good! this was all stuff that when I was getting into the hobby 10+ years ago, was a thing... I 've never had a mantis on my games, and my home games barely get played.

A Mantis that is properly seated and leveled to be just below the surface of the playfield plane, will never allow the ball to touch the filleted edge, so no damage can occur. Also, obviously, the ball cannot impact the sidewall of the scoop hole, so no damage can occur.

FYI: I’ve been working with Kerry Mantis and I’ve let him borrow the Stern plate shown in the pics, he is working on a solution and has been for a few weeks. Haven’t said anything so far in order not to get everyone’s hopes us prematurely. He will announce when he has a solution, just requires some patience.

I vote the Miffy, been called that forever,
a take on my last name

The upper scoop will need protection, see picture.
Also, I have seen slight wear with Mantis type protectors, on Metallica, Tron, And Guardians. All 3 have that basic Metallica one people are recommending. The Mantis ones are just slightly below the level of the PF, allowing a slight ding on the side where the curve of the scoop forces the ball into the playfield.

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Are you sure that wasn't Iffy? I did a search on Pinside and didn't get any hits for Miffy.

If you look at Chicago Gaming's MB remake, the protector for their scoop looks like a hybrid of both.

and mine is getting chewed up with low plays :/

No comment !?

Screenshot 2022-03-16 at 16.43.14 (resized).png

? Seems just like a cliffy.. and it gets deformed and bent up pretty regularly too. </maintains MBR on route>

MBR scoop is the bane of my existence...

I've got an original MB, and it is a standard Mantis that mounts from the underside of the playfield. I think Rush would be better mounted from the topside (both scoops) which is normally how Cliffy's mount. I'll bet this is what will end up being the final solution, but it needs to be a true Mantis in that it lines the hole with thick metal and leaves the filleted edge uncovered. Thin metal over the edge will just peen and distort as already evidenced.

Swing and a miss. Strike three.

Oh come on, that’s trivial to replace. I’ll stock up on fat BNODs.

I don't think it's trivial if you have to replace it every month. Also, it never gets any prettier no matter how many times you replace it!

Every month? I doubt it. The games at LAX all got 400-500 plays and no BNODs broke.

Do premiums have this issue? Just got mine last week. Only 20~ plays on it so far.

All I know is this "fix" has been out about a week, and there it is in all it's glory. There is a better way - you'll see.

Let's just say my name starts out miff

The top of the protector looks like a Cliffy, but the inside of the hole looks like a Mantis. Best of both worlds?

Hopefully someone comes up with a good solution.