Hi all,

For a while I am also the owner of a very nice TOM pin. While I am pretty happy with the pin, one thing really stands out, as it's the translite of the machine I just can't stand to look at. When I bought it I didn't gave it much thought, but I've since then put in LEDs in the whole thing, including the backboard, and the colours are just... off...

This is a closeup of the translite, looks quite normal from here, but that's just the camera...
2016-01-06_11.38.57_(resized).jpg

THIS... is how it sort of looks like in person. The colours are very white, and the dark areas are nowhere near as dark to be considered pretty. It's also rather spotty. Now one could argue that its the bright LED's that make it look like this, but I have multiple other pins that have a good looking translite with the same LEDs. Better color and more darker so to say.
2016-01-06_11.39.04_(resized).jpg

This is how it looks from the back. I can't see anything that stands out or looks reproduced/new.
2016-01-06_11.39.49_(resized).jpg

These are the LEDs used, just standard warm white superflux with some highlight spots.
2016-01-06_11.40.52_(resized).jpg

What does pinside think, is this normal for TOMs? Do I have a (bad) reproduction? I know there are repro translites out there, because I've considered one, but if I already have one I'm not sure if I should take the gamble of buying another one like this. I thought it could have something to do with the translite not properly 'sticking' to the glass. I'm not sure how to explain it, but when the translite is sitting right on the glass it kind of gives the effect of a layer of moisture between the art and the glass. This will bring out the colours better.

This is an older pic from when I just got it with normal lamps. Just half of the translite is visible.
2015-05-21_18.44.48_(resized).jpg

Hmm, I agree that the white backing isn't as good as it should. Dammit, maybe I do have to see if I can get a proper one somewhere, I don't think frosted LEDs will do the trick, I want it to look good, not half-assed.

Nah man, I wrote already that these exact same LEDs are in many of my machines, and thay don't have the problem. My STTNG for instance looks very good, very even lighting. LEDs are from Pinballcenter in Germany, those superflux LEDs give out nice light, and they certainly aren't blinding. That could be the picture though.

Anyway, thanks for the responses all.

Allright, I almost forgot this thread, but it's SOLVED. A couple of months ago I got a genuine translite for free from another collector who had one to spare.

Ye olde printed crap:
2017-01-08 23.15.35 (resized).jpg

The new and actually real translite:
2017-01-09 21.48.13 (resized).jpg
2017-01-09 21.53.49 (resized).jpg

Looks much better, and really happy with it.

2017-01-08 23.18.33 (resized).jpg