Hello all.

Hoping to get some advice. I'm completely new to owning my own pinball machine, and I have a Star Wars Premium coming soon I hope. Question I have is, what sort of protective components are advised for home use for this machine? I've seen various "plastics protectors" and "shooting ramp protectors" which on the surface sound like a good idea. I feel comfortable enough with tinkering, so that's not a concern so much as not wasting time / money on stuff that's not really needed. Thanks!

--Dan M.

I haven't played pinball since i was a kid, 40 years ago. But I've wanted one for s long time, so i picked up a premium Star Wars.

While i love the aesthetic, and even the pay, I've been really bummed about one aspect of the game most: the left outlane is VERY hungry, and there's no finessing your way out. It makes it difficult to learn how to even pay the game when you're in the middle of doing some task and it goes out the left... It's almost unenjoyable for me -- I'm essential a complete novice, but this seems like something you have no control over.

I did see someone post a picture of a 3d part that protrudes out a bit too reduce the frequency of the losing the ball out that way.

What is the general thought on this? Does anyone have the file to print this extended post?

--Dan M.

Thanks for the posts on this problem of mine with the outlane. I hate the idea of modifying the original design/intent, but I'm only looking to enjoy at home, and the kids are definitely frustrated and don't enjoy it as-is. I might try and design my own post to 3D-Print something that works like the "siamese" double post, or John_I's custom part.

--Dan M.

Couldn't wait to get something, so I just mocked up my own an 3d printed it. Will probably redo in blue or white petg.

Although it looks tight, it still drains out that left side and still more than on right side. In the end, it's much more enjoyable for me and they family, and the kids especially.

--Dan M

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Here's a new question:

Now that I'm able to last a few rounds, I find myself a little confused over the gameplay. Is there an official/unofficial guide that describes how to progress through missions and unlock different modes? Google search produced a list with some strats, but I have a hard time visualizing. I've seen a few gameplay / strategy videos that describe some things, but it would be interesting to see each mission described using an image of the playfield so you could know visually what you're shooting for. I get so focused on trying to keep the ball in play that I can't even pay attention to the back display or the millions of flashing lights, trying to find the purple lights when there's blues and lost of other lights flashing.

Really enjoying the game now though. Even if I'm can't fully figure things out yet. Thanks!

--Dan M.

This is very helpful. It's strange that there isn't something official that describes how to play the games. But like so many video games as well, there's no incentive to create the guides. If only there were millions of pinball players out there, that it would support something like a "prima guides" type of book > Thanks!

--Dan M.

After a couple requests for the STL files I used for my outlane post mod, I thought I'd put my version up on thingiverse to share with those folks who had a 3D printer to print them. Since they are already there, I figured I would share with anyone who wanted to try them out. I used an fdm printer, but a resin printer with a non brittle type resin (abs-like, or 'resilient') should work.

There are 9 different models with the post position set at multiple spots. The one in my pics is probably the most aggressive at 22mm from left wall, and 2mm up from bottom hole. The least aggressive is 12mm from left wall and 12mm up from bottom hole. They are spaced at offsets of 5mm from those positions.

I could easily modify if someone had a specific request.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4857256

--Dan M.
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Does anyone find that the Death Star shot doesn’t take, about 75% of the time? I hit it pretty hard up that ramp and it just kicks back down. Sometimes it drops behind the pop up ramp when it bounces back. There is a setting i saw, "Death Star holding power" which defaults to 85. Would that affect things? It's frustrating enough to hit as it is, but to see out kick back so much...

Got it. Thanks for the info. I've just relied on the built-in bubble, and used my iphone to level left/right. I'll see if I can get something more accurate. It's not like I don't ever make it, but it seems like there's a mechanical issue (maybe design?) more than anything else. If you make the shot with a reasonable amount of force, it should take IMO. I mean, I hit it pretty hard up in there...

Could you (or someone) provide link to video? I searched the forum, and I did find the image of the hyperloop adjustment (the lock nut). I've already ordered a digital angle guage, but I'm thinking hyperloop adjustment for sure now that I saw the previous message about adjustments.

Thanks!

--Dan M.

This was happening to me. About 50% of the time. I couldn't even get a piece of that ball as it jetted right down between the flippers. I found a setting somewhere, called "right eject" or something similar. I adjusted this down quite a bit. Don't remember the actual value. But maybe like 30 or something like that. It bounces out down to right flipper or the right triangle bumper thingy (sorry, not up on the lingo).

-- Suppose I should read ahead first... Seems like this was answered! Good luck.

--Dan M.

I feel your pain. I think... I'm not a complete spaz on the machine, and feel like I can control the ball coming down the middle well enough, but I found that the left outlane eats balls like, well, a lot... With just myself and kids playing, I found this really damped the mood. More importantly, I couldn't figure out the game because I never got far enough ahead to see how things worked. After a few days, I ended up making a mod for this that you can 3-D print to replace the post on that outlane. If you have one, or access to a 3D printer (FDM or Resin) I put the files up on Thingiverse:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4857256

There are 9 versions with the post at different locations. Mine is the most "aggressive" (see image below).

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stern-star-wars-clubmay-the-force-be-with-you/page/215#post-6276590

At some point, I might mesh this with some themed scenic item, but that's not really in my wheelhouse...

--Dan M.

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I get it. Control. But when the ball gets bouncing between the two triangle bumpers, there's a good chance it's going out the left outlane. What kind of control can you have to stop that from happening? Maybe I need to be slamming the machine around a bit to get it to bounce in advantageous ways. Seems you can do that to some degree without tilting. I've started to do it to keep the ball draining out of the right outlane when the escape isn't active, with mixed results.

Speaking of slamming the machine around: I saw a video of a guy who did a move where the ball was coming down the right outlane, about to drain into the center. He waited until just the right moment and slammed the machine hard to the right so the ball bounced into the left metal wall and then back up the middle into range of the flippers... It didn't tilt the machine, and he got it back... Neat trick. The channel called "Dead Flip" and I'm sure everyone who's into pinball knows about it, but I'm so new to this, I didn't realize it was so popular. Until I saw that shot, I didn't realize what was really possible. Back in the day, when I would go to the arcade with all my paper route money to play pinball, I didn't get to see a lot of good pinball players. The video games were drawing all the players away from the pins, but I still really like playing them.

--Dan M.

This gets me to thinking now... After playing for a while, and seeing completely new players play, I will say that I think part of the problem is that new players are pretty much spazes with the flippers, so they're not trying to control the ball or the shots, and the ball is bouncing around a lot more randomly rather than with any control. Control would probably keep it from draining out the left so much... It is also why I made a few of those posts to be a lot less aggressive. Barely sitting out from the original position.

Honestly, I appreciate all the feedback. As I've said many times, I'm newly re-introduced to pinball and never was a "regular" player to begin with. But I do feel like I have some control now, compared to when I started. Thanks.

--Dan M.

I have a Star Wars premium that I’ve had for two months now. The right outlane diverter twitches but never stays engaged. I power cycled it a couple times, same result.

Under the diagnostic test (with the 48v switch bypassed) I can see it twitch when I do the test. I’ve tried holding it in place to see if the coil holds, no go. I’ve put a volt meter on it and can see it come and then almost immediately it’s off. It is the same behavior measuring with the coil attached or not.

It seems like whatever is driving the coil is damaged. It just happened, and I’m planning to contact the folks I bought from (cointaker), but I had a couple questions:

A) has anyone needed to service their pin within first month or two, and what was that like?

B) has anyone had a similar problem? And is there anything on my end I can do to further isolate this—I’m quite comfortable with electronics and have tools.

Really bummed about this. Not sure what to expect service-wise. Thanks

Tab, eh? Okay. I get it now, and it makes sense. You would not want to be driving the coil to hold the gate open, there must be a mechanism to hold it, like a pushbutton switch that push on, then push off... Maybe if someone else knows more and could offer any suggestions? I'll check it out now that I have that to go on. Thanks...

--Dan M.

I see… I’ll check this out tomorrow. Just got done lighting up some mass fireworks. Thanks for the tip.

That was absolutely it... It makes sense now. When I was first looking at this, I could tell that the initial movement was very "tight" And it didn't occur to me that the stop would correct that. With the stop adjusted, the initial movement is much smoother, which allows the coil to pull the gate. And then there's probably a holding current that traps it, since I could not see any other mechanical mechanism. I should have known better, since this is the technique I used on a prototype direct drive telescope that used a friction brake held by about 8 of these types of coils.

In any case, you solved this one for me! Thanks!

Regards,
Dan M.

I have a gameplay question. I've had my SW premium for about three months now. I've tried to find this info in rules, and on the forums and webs, and tried to figure out from gameplay as well, but nothing explains it that I could find:

1) The "escape" lane activates after the second round of force targets. What determines when it deactivates? Sometimes I go in, and it makes one sound, and it stays active. Other times, I hear a different sound, and it deactivates. I tried to pay attention to as many things as I could but was not able to figure out how to keep it active. Is it random, or something else?

2) The three shot multiplier lanes... They sometimes drop to two, or even one. I can't figure out what triggers that. As suggested for the less nimble players, I keep it set at hyperspace/left horseshoe, left ramp, and then right horseshoe. All lighted green. Every time I go to video mode, I don't get the multiplier -- like it went down to two active lanes. I have to move the active lane over at least one, but usually I have been moving it to the right horseshoe to get the multiplier if I'm going to do video mode.

Thanks!