The Nell drop targets have two modes. There is one mode that is triggered by dropping all of the targets once and then you have to hit one more target to collect the 25 Million points (or 50 if you've started it a 2nd time). This mode is timed and last for 15 seconds or so, and will use the log mechanism, and the mode sound is the narrator of the show talking about time ticking down.... "just in the nick of time!".

There is another mode called Nell Drops. Its part of the modes you can start through the puzzle pieces you collect, and might also be available through a mystery award... in this mode Nell is tied to the tracks and you need to hit the drop targets as many times as you can to collect 2M points each before the timer runs out. This is the mode where Nell says SAVE ME SAVE ME. The log mechanism doesnt run in this mode (at least on my machine), and that sort of makes sense, since in the story in this scenario she is tied to tracks, not the log.

I am pretty sure this is by design, it will keep looping around, so you do need to stay on top of the inlane returns to get it where its optimized.

at least that part of the machine has no impact on the game play! Game on!

For Color DMD, I believe you'll need to program the unit with the color code for Rocky and Bullwinkle. There should be a USB port on the Color DMD unit, and there are instructions on the Color DMD website for how to update the code. Code download for the DMD for RAB should be here https://colordmd.com/download1.php?rom=RAB_3_0

I would check the coil and mech for the diverter to make sure it is opening up far enough and long enough to allow the ball to be diverted into the VUK. if the sleeve or linkage/coil stops or something are not in great condition, I could see it partially opening and causing the ball to not make it in there.

Also, any obstructions in the path to the VUK? Game is not set too steep? Flippers are powerful enough to launch the ball around the orbits normally?

One thing that has helped me a few time with shots that have bad feeds was running the slow motion video record from my phone and capture the shot failing. It let me see where my ball might have been getting hung up along its path and what i could bend/adjust to clean the feed up.

It was actually my game up until yesterday around 5 PM. A number of years back I told Chance he could buy it from me someday for a bro price, and he showed up with a surprise stack of cash and got'er done. Moving the game out Saturday, but I sent him home with the Freeplay40 repro left ramp and the manual so he didnt feel like he was going home empty handed. I'm a little sad to see it go, but at least its not going far. Excited to see how he ends up modding it with powder coat, and lighting, etc.

Spin and win will do it, you need to activate this mode by shooting the scoops to collect the puzzle pieces and eventually you will get it as one of the modes. During spin and win you shoot the right ramp as many times as you can during the timed mode and it diverts to the left flipper to set up your shot again to the right ramp.