I heard that Stern is going to release a Tron VE to make up for this and it'll be available this year with no wait time after purchase.

You would have to post a pic of it, but if it has thin metal covering the perimeter of the hole, you can expect that to get peened into the filleted shape of the hole edge.

I have a cliffy on order... pondered getting a mantis as well. See if one allows shots better. I get some decent rejects.

Let's be thankful it doesn't start out Clantis! We could call it Dunder Mifflen, but that's already taken for sure.

I'm not sure I know what you mean.. the protector wraps around the edge in spots (as most cliffy's do for mounting)... I don't recall any metal ring around the PF cutout.

This is from my MBrLE. There’s an outer cliffy style protector and also an inner mantis style protector. But yeah I’m beginning to see some pounding on the outer part.

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You're right, it does look like a Mantis-style protector in there. Like I said before, if you have a properly set Mantis, there is no need for a Cliffy-style on the edge, so says my MB. I guess it might make you feel better with the additional protection, but it will also detract from the beauty as it inevitably becomes dented/dimpled over time.

I agree with you as I have other games with just a Mantis only protector and they have been fine. This is just how my game came from Chicago Gaming.

Cliffy is testing! https://www.passionforpinball.com/wip.htm

"Rush scoops, vuk, target bank and ejects in PLAY TEST now. Email me at [email protected] to get in the wait list. Play testing as of 3/15/22!"

Thanks for the heads up!!! Got on the list.

Here’s my opinion on this.
What I think they should do from the start, is take about a 1/3 of that blue rubber off
So it’s sitting back more and sturdier but I’m wondering if they are trying to use that rubber to prevent corners from bending up?
Is that what is going on?

I had no idea about any of this, but happened to play it on location today and was so dumbfounded by what I saw that I took a video (stills here). Pretty wild.

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That looks like something out of a horror thread...

I choose to believe its a stopgap they're sending out to buy time until they come up with a solution that actually holds up. I don't want to be convinced otherwise.

Im waiting for my Rush game to arrive and then I plan on measuring up the hole. ive done a decent amount of sourcing of deep drawn stainless parts over the years. I believe a proper deep drawn stainless part with appropriate radiuses on both the "brim" of the hat as well as having a full perimeter drawn section into the playfield hole may prevent a lot of the warping. The current designs are just a series of ears dropping into the play field. as a result these don't add to the stiffness of the plate section.

Ya - my pro is getting like this. Ball gets stuck.

Not sure what to do - fix seems slow to come from Stern.

I'd get on the list for a Cliffy. He is very reasonable with his prices and you will most likely get it before Stern has a solution.

Yeah but Cliffy is in the process of testing right now and he posted that he's not happy with how his front scoop protector is holding up.

https://passionforpinball.com/wip.htm

I like how honest Cliffy is and that he stated the fact on the product's information page. I knew this debacle was not going to be an easy fix. Both scoops get slaaaaamed and Mantis may be our only hope.

Need a Miffy like yesterday, at least I am not hot to trot for RUSH anymore and am looking forward to see what Gomez does with the 007 theme. Hoping they will do extensive beta testing this time around.

-Hey Miffy your so fine you blow my mind-Hey Miffy! Hey Miffy!

For those of you who are not aware, a new scoop protector is available from Aniraf and is called the TPU or Ninjacamp. It is made from polyurethane and preliminary testing is very promising. It's in production (with many sales already) and so there will be plenty of real world test data soon.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-official-rush-owners-club-1/page/60#post-6833224

It does look interesting but it also looks like it does not lay completely flat? Not sure how thin you can get with plastic without breaking? Does the height affect the ball travel at all? How many plays do they think they will hold up for?

Who would have ever thought-a plastic miffy?

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Don’t remember which thread I saw the dude posting in, but it is that 3d printed plastic stuff. He has videos of him hitting it with a hammer and crumpling it up in his hand, etc. Its not gonna break. Not in love with the way it looks, but it may be at the very least a decent temp fix.

Edit: just noticed the guy above mentioned both the thread and link to it.

I asked him about it laying flat and he says it absolutely lays flat - the picture is deceiving. All your questions will be answered by fellow pinsiders soon as these are shipping right now.

It's not a Miffy - there's nothing about this that resembles a Mantis. It is a plastic Cliffy though.

Looks great to me, mine should be here in a day or two, but I'm on cliffy list as well , to be safe.

Nice-give us the review and I really hope they work.

If all else fails there is always Duck Tape-it fixes everything (;

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Mantis is available now. I like the Ninja better.
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Now we’re talking!

Does this mantis version fit the pro model cause the pro model doesn’t have that large metal plate that the LE/prem seem to have?

Where’s the protection for the top ?

Mantis doesn’t protect the top explicitly. The internal protection prevents top damage.

Yes, the thick, hard liner provides a top "rail" that that ball makes contact with instead of the wooden edge of the scoop hole. As long as the ball cannot hit the edge of the hole, no damage will occur.

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Mantis mentions in his PS thread he's working on the upper scoop protector.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/new-mantis-parts-available-1#post-6853828

That's a good question. ???

My MET Mantis doesn’t come up that far, but you can see that it’s done it’s job over the past 9 years (ignore the wax residue inside the scoop). It comes right up to where the bevel starts.

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I have a MET, too. Mine has a Cliffy. However, mine also has a playfield protector on it just like yours. I think the playfield protector guards the edge of the hole. If the ball can't hit the edge, it can't damage it. I do see a minor chip on the right edge of yours. A lot of times the hole will get wallered out when the ball is ejected from the scoop, and the Mantis is a great barrier to that kind of beating. I've seen some MB scoops you could almost put a billiard ball in.

For God's sake, wipe that gob of wax off there. What are you - an animal?

will do

Believe it or not, there’s no protector on that playfield - I just clean and wax it religiously. The shiny part is the factory mylar, which oddly is missing on Rush.

I do have a playfield protector for my Rush, the first time I’ve ever done it. I’m liking it so far.

I had access to a Pro in addition to my LE during the prototyping of the protector. The Mech attachments and posts are identical. The only reason I can think of for Stern to use the plate on the Premium/LE was to help the ball transistions between scoops as they behave different on the two versions. That being said I have not physically tried Mantis' prototype to the Pro.

Here are some pics comparing the two, with the later being from a Pro:
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I don't see any dimples and it looks like there are some flecks of chaff or whatnot that might be trapped under a plastic sheet is why I thought yours had a protector. Must be the camera angle. Anyway, I don't recall ever seeing a Mantis that low in the pocket on any machine, and it looks like Kerry is making sure that the Rush protector is set near (but below) the playfield plane.

I put the ninja scoop protector on today. It kind of pulled up where the posts tightened down, but otherwise seems very flat. Played the monthly tourney afterward and no one even noticed or said anything. I had a little indent in the wood on the right of the front scoop, not sure this will protect super hard hit balls? but i'm just glad to have something on the wood for a route game.

Has this been posted? If so, sorry for the re-post.

Stern protector junk after 50 plays. Ninjacamp protector perfect after 200. You can decide.

Another happy Ninjacamp customer

Thanks guys.. This product is super impressive. My game finally plays like it should have out of the box.

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I agree!!

I just received the updated version from stern. It will stay in a box.
What I’m wondering is….. will stern be using the updated version for all front scoops on future machines? I sure hope not

For a guy like Me, watching Borg do it makes Me wonder if I'll ever get it back together correctly?

Don't put that one in, buy the ninja. 30 minute install, very easy. Looks 100x better too.

Cliffy is shipping his now! Nice.

I'm not super handy and I was able to do it.

Just be careful not to lose any pieces and go slow.

Thanks will go with Ninja. Is there an install video for them?