I'm excited to announce that Rick from Planetary pinball has approved the CAD blueprints and artwork for High Speed pinball arch remakes (Part #31-1008-541-RD). The aprons are being made in 18 gauge steel, powdercoated in high gloss black, and silk screened with high quality enamel inks. The artwork was vectored in Adobe Illustrator by James Ahlschwede. Now's the time to replace your old rusted ball arch and makes a much easier alternative to sandblasting your old one, repainting, and applying decals.

If you would like to order an apron and shooter gauge the cost will be $99.95 through Paypal to [email protected]. Please be sure to include your Pinside username in addition to you "Real" name and address where you would like the apron and shooter gauge shipped.
Shipping as follows $15 US, outside US PM for shipping quote, each set only $5 more in shipping.

If you would like to send a check, please send me a message letting me know so I can set aside an apron before they sell out. Checks and money orders can be sent to:
Merf's Pins
2612 17th Ave NW
Rochester, MN 55901

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_{Post edited by merfeldma: Price change}

Here is a sample of the completed artwork for the apron.HighSpeed Apron-719.jpg

Rick is working on setting up sales with distributors. The idea of the first pre-order is to get a good idea of how much demand there is. Since distributors will need to make a profit we can't promise that the price won't need to be raised on there end either.
Don't worry I haven't forgotten about Medusa!!

We can do the shooter gauge, but it will add additional costs since a screening press will need to be set up and additional tooling made. I will have to work out costs to find out how much more.

I'm glad people spoke up and told us how important the shooter lanes are, and I agree they will tie together much nicer as a set. The real question now is whether everyone agrees they should be sold as a set? If we meet our goal of 50 pre-orders we will be able to offer both the apron and shooter lane for $120 USD with shipping prices as listed above. Unfortunately, even though it seems like a small piece it still requires new tooling and silk screens to be made and aligned for proper image placement.

With all that said I think everyone who orders is going to be very happy with replacing their worn out, rusted, damaged aprons with a shiny brand spanking new High Speed ball arch and shooter guide.

I agree, I think it as the way to go. Now there will be difference in powdercoat or ink colors in case there was going to be a small discrepancy between the old ink colors and the new.

We are close to finalizing artwork to both the apron and shooter guide so we can get started.

Not to mention the cost of a apron decal is $40, then you need to strip it, paint or powder coat, and apply the decal w/o bubbles. After seeing tedious the process of restoring an old apron is and the results are decent, but no way close to original I thought there had to be a better way. Good thing I have access to all the equipment to actually make them

Things are coming along well with the aprons and shooter guides. Finalized the artwork and have the CAD blueprints finished.

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If F-14 uses the general System 11 that should be next in line.

In the process of getting the pantone inks. Once the inks arrive we can get started on production.

Bob- good question, no we were never planning on screening both parts at the same time for the very reasons you are talking about. We have received our Pantone inks from our supplier and are finishing up the last bits of tooling so we can begin manufacturing the parts. We are planning on a lower end number for our first project to see how well they sell. If anyone wants to be added to the pre-order list now would be the time.

Bob, unfortunately just about every ball arch is different in one way or another starting in the late 80s. High Speed is very close to general System 11 but with different screened artwork and changes to the apron itself. Funhouse is on a list of games we would like to have done this year. There is no plan on selling blank aprons, but we are making aprons for the great guys at Pingraffix who will be doing custom graphics.
Our business is making metal parts of all sorts so there are no shortcuts being taken. All new tooling, such as the de-boss tooling is being made right now.

That's a possibility. Right now I have an equal number of aprons and shooter gauges. The plan for machines with stickers on the shooter gauge would be to supply the apron complete with sticker so the user doesn't have to worry about it.

Sneak peak of the finished aprons for Pinsiders. I'm still waiting to get final approval from Rick at Planetary Pinball, but couldn't resist sharing the pictures. The powder coat and silkscreening turned out great.

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All surfaces were powder coated in gloss black before silk screening.

The powder coat should resist ball marks much better than the standard paint that Williams used as well.

I've got the approval, just waiting on the Williams Hologram stickers to start selling.

Update, the Williams hologram stickers have arrived from PPS and we are ready to begin shipping out aprons. Pricing and shipping are listed above.

We are always in more need to artists to get more games started. Anyone is welcome to PM for interest in becoming a Merf's Pins artist and we can talk reimbursement details.

Bump for the night crowd

Bryan Kelly, official Merf's Pins artist. You heard it here folks.

Send me a PM and we can discuss BOP.

Send the pictures to my email listed at the top of the post and I will check it out.

Bob, if you supply the artwork and it meets Williams/Bally standards we will credit you with the artwork. PM me and we can work out further details of reimbursement.

Exciting news, we found out that our next game shares tooling with High Speed so our costs will be going down for this run. As a way to extend our good news we have decided to lower the costs of the apron and shooter set for High Speed to $99.95 plus the regular shipping rates. All customers who ordered at the regular price will be receiving a refund of the difference Monday when we ship out.

If you would like to order please send $99.95 + Shipping ($15 US, $20 Canada, $50 Europe, $60 Australia). Each extra set will only be $5 more in shipping to [email protected]. Please be sure to include your Pinside username in addition to you "Real" name and address where you would like the apron and shooter gauge shipped.

If you would like to send a check, please send me a message letting me know so I can set aside an apron before they sell out. Checks and money orders can be sent to:
Merf's Pins
2612 17th Ave NW
Rochester, MN 55901

Night bump

Bay Area Amusements will also be stocking a few apron/gauge sets in case you miss out on these before they sell out.

Nothing but the best for you

Busy weekend printing labels. Let me know if you need an apron and shooter gauge, they are going quick!!

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Maybe at a later date. We made just enough shooter gauges to go with the aprons to be sold as sets.

Bump

That's always something for us to look at later down the line.

BTW, we still have some HS aprons in stock for anyone that needs them.

Just got the last batch of High Speed aprons done. Better get them now before they are sold out.

Bump

The plan for right now is to release another game shortly. For the next run I'm considering doing a paid pre-order with a set number necessary to start production, kind of like a kickstarted. If enough aren't sold everyone will get their money back.

CAD files, CNC tooling, and artwork package are complete. Right now the we are trying to decide how many to make and if we are going to do a pre-order so we don't end with extra inventory.

That's right, we are taking pre-orders for Tales of the Arabian Nights right now

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pre-order-totan-apronball-arch-repro

There are still a few of these left in stock if anyone needs them before they are sold out for good.

PM Sent