Leesburg, VA
Ok... I know I've been waiting for 5 years now.. But I need some updates!!! Let's do this.
(Topic ID: 98847)
Linked Games
Whirlwind
Williams, 1990
Topic Gallery
2 weeks later
Leeds
Quoted from toyotaboy:I like the "hack the planet" text
Gibson baby, Heh heh heh, "you won't be having any more trouble from them..." ha ha ha ha
If you need testors, I can even solder 
Would definitely be willing to assemble a board myself and test if you need it. (Im guessing you dont, but the offer is there).
Anyways, so excited for this! Such a great game to begin with, and with a DMD is going to look awesome!
Quoted from applejuice:Gibson baby, Heh heh heh, "you won't be having any more trouble from them..." ha ha ha ha
I trust you've avoided "crash and burn" for this one tho 
Awesome to see progress, and I'm excited to see what's next!
Ringsted
Assembly progress
IMG_6283 (resized).JPGIMG_6293 (resized).JPG
Regarding self assembly of boards to pass the time, i've got no problem if you want one to build yourself and will happily sell you one. At the moment though these boards are just prototypes, so i need to build one first to see if it all works. Sometimes things need improving etc so thats why i make protos first.
Sounds good! Once you get it tested out, I'd be more than happy to assemble my own and help out any way I can. Need something to pass this "always at home" time anyways. I'm like a little school girl screaming on the inside I'm so excited . Keep up the good work!
Quoted from goingincirclez:I'm down for a DIY kit whenever they're ready... but don't wish to rush perfection of course Take your time!
Is the board designed for all thru-hole components or will I have to learn SM skills?
It looks 100% thru hole.
Lots of holes, yes, thankfully! But given the relative scarcity of thru-hole components for certain functions these days, I wouldn't begrudge if a few sm pads had to sneak in. Couldn't tell if it was "100% thruhole for sure" and didn't wan't to take for granted.
Melbourne
Quoted from yaksplat:It looks 100% thru hole.
It is 100% hole through. That what 99% of the boards i make are. I specialise in making plate through replacements for games and spend a lot of time finding dil socket chips. see my store on https://mypinballs.com
Things like the main processor, sound dac and rPi obviously have smd parts on them but fit into regular dil style sockets or ribbon cables etc so can be treated as single ics/sub boards in their own right.
This is an awesome project I'm going to watch. Sad the cost will likely be more than the total cost I paid for my fairly beat up routed Whirlwind about 20 years ago. That said I love that you are doing this and can't wait to hear about the progress.
Warman, SK
Our Whirlwind is the keeper in the house, many pins came and went out. Highprice pins like MM, LOTR, WOZ, BKSOR, etc, pp ... all went out some day expect: Whirlwind.
It is now for over 15 years in the gameromm, therefor ... I will be in in this great project !!
Maybe Chris Grannar is willing to do the sounds in stereo ...
2 weeks later
Super excited for this project. If everything goes to plan, I'll be picking up a WW this Saturday, which I'm also super pumped about. I'll be following your progress closely, and I hope things go well enough that this project will be a viable mod/conversion for the rest of the us to experience. Good luck!
1 month later
I did get my WW. So woohoo! I wonder how this project is coming along? Any new teaser photos perhaps? 
2 months later
Donabate
Quoted from applejuice:Assembly progress
[quoted image][quoted image]
Regarding self assembly of boards to pass the time, i've got no problem if you want one to build yourself and will happily sell you one. At the moment though these boards are just prototypes, so i need to build one first to see if it all works. Sometimes things need improving etc so thats why i make protos first.
This is class, love my Whirlwind, definitely up for a kit when they are available to purchase
1 month later
Quoted from applejuice:Whirlwind is moving up to the code office! And i've started to look at the firmware for the controller board.
Yes!!! This is fantastic!
So exactly what part of the process are you in? Previously you showed a built prototype board, now you mention working on the "firmware" for it.
To be clear, is this "firmware" the basic i/o separate from the game code to ensure your proto has no design flaws, or is it the actual running game code you're testing (ie prototype board has been fully validated with no design changes needed)?
Regardless, this is exciting news!
4 weeks later
1 week later
1 week later
Whirlwind controller progress. Bringing the first proto hardware up and running. A lot of work on the firmware. Switches inputs working, lamps working, coils working, display working. Still lots to do and the hours go by fast!
The game code is also running with the new conversions to support the dmd, though it’s early days with some of the screen integration. The game code comes from my earlier alphanumeric project rewrite
There have been a few tweaks needed on the PCB side and I also need to install the auto launcher mech on the playfield to
DDDBB247-D09A-42EB-9EAE-8543C06FD82E (resized).jpegC14948AB-B0E1-401D-94D5-C87ADA182DBF (resized).jpegA8188CAF-E61E-48AF-9A76-D0D8EC041FA8 (resized).jpeg09B451E8-B8A4-4AFA-8E59-5A6B35A8DC7B (resized).jpeg
Unknown City
Paris
Quoted from applejuice:Whirlwind controller progress. Bringing the first proto hardware up and running. A lot of work on the firmware. Switches inputs working, lamps working, coils working, display working. Still lots to do and the hours go by fast!
The game code is also running with the new conversions to support the dmd, though it’s early days with some of the screen integration. The game code comes from my earlier alphanumeric project rewrite
There have been a few tweaks needed on the PCB side and I also need to install the auto launcher mech on the playfield to
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
really impressive.
Fantastic - a true beacon of light in this abominable year! And therefore all I want for Christmas man, so get crackin'! (Just kidding. Maybe only a little. Haste v. waste and all that... but dang, that's impressive and surely worth the wait).
BTW are you still rocking an old IBM Aptiva (did they sell those there) at the bench? Haven't seen one of those in ages but it looks strangely familiar. Used to love me some locking drive-swap caddies back in the day... ah, the things we did before cheap flash memory.
Quoted from goingincirclez:Fantastic - a true beacon of light in this abominable year! And therefore all I want for Christmas man, so get crackin'! (Just kidding. Maybe only a little. Haste v. waste and all that... but dang, that's impressive and surely worth the wait).
BTW are you still rocking an old IBM Aptiva (did they sell those there) at the bench? Haven't seen one of those in ages but it looks strangely familiar. Used to love me some locking drive-swap caddies back in the day... ah, the things we did before cheap flash memory.
Thanks, that’s my trusty rom programmer xp pc
Volume adjustment
https://www.instagram.com/p/CHKs5NOnagc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Just take my money already!!!!
WW is going to be my next restoration, so I'm hoping to time it to incorporate your amazing update (I hope!). Can I ask, are you planning on keeping the original code in there also as a variant? And if so, have you thought about using the DMD to replicate the original Alphanumerical display? I love the old Sys11 pins, and as much as I love what you're doing, keeping it as original as possible appeals greatly.
I'm loving what you're doing btw!!!
Here’s a thought how about adding a 4-way combo. Left orbit + 2 small orbits + side ramp. Has anyone ever pulled that off? I know I haven’t,because that small orbit is super fast but it would be a cool challenge.
Thanks for the build, nice to see someone else love this game as much as I do
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