Here's a view of what the plastic prototype looks like installed with a new method of installing the starmap PCB. This may be the least amount of modification and may be almost a modification-less install. I'm testing it, needs to run a bit to make sure it doesn't get too hot (still not sure why they spaced the original starmap out so far). Ignore the glare, my phone camera is pretty crappy in low light.

You can see how close it gets installed to the backboard, not noticeable once the playfield is pushed all the way in.
Starmap Close Install (resized).jpg

Waiting on some parts now to make a custom starmap replacement LED board. It uses an LED array (similar to what the starmap uses) and a microprocessor to create a realistic twinkling star background. All other methods (aside from fiber optics) produce a non-random pattern (every other light turns on and off, etc) and fiber optics are prohibitively expensive and time consuming to install. This should pretty much be a drop in addition that is plug and play and has a large area (basically between both ships) that lights up with stars. Much bigger than the original light board area. I think it will cost around $50, give or take.

Yeah, sorry, specific to the SE. Drop the board in place, plug it in and put the plastic on top. 10 minute install, blinking stars in the background

This is the correct product: https://pinballmods.co/full-width-galaxy-starmap-backboard-plastic-jjp-potc

BUT if you were waiting for a lit version for SE (with the twinkle stars behind it) I haven't listed that yet. I'm still waiting for those parts to arrive so I can confirm function. I have to do a bit of programming on the controller to set the twinkle up so I want to make sure that is all easy enough to do.

For those asking for a view of the LE/CE version in my game, glass on, here is that. I didn't replace my purple lights, sorry about that.. I will do that. And my camera sucks... I need a new phone. Any glare or misalignment (you can view a few LEDs below the plastic) is just from this video, the plastic will have the same finish as the existing starmap plastic, same color depth, etc.

I think I'll do two other versions of this if I can get CPR to print just a few. I was thinking of one more of a horizontal look at the ocean at night. So you see part ocean with waves and then a moonlit/starry sky (allowing the proper dark area for existing starmap lights to look correct). It would sort of coincide with the perspective that you'd see if looking at the ships at the angle they are at. Like side art but for the backboard.

Another it something like above but with more "piratey" imagery. I doubt there is imagery I can use from the movie but I can probably find similar stuff. So maybe a few ships in the background, rock formations... pirate flag... maybe even with a few lights to highlight specific pieces (like ship windows or something). Maybe a cloud "formation" in the sky that looks like a "hidden" pirate skull and crossbones.

Down the road, but I think they could be fun.

Production sample is here! Good news, it's about 99% there. I have a few changes and decisions to make. Good news, it's easy as hell to install even with a starmap. Plus, I think I can lose the screws right in the middle of the starmap. Bad news, it's a bit dark...I am sending some updated artwork to CPR and am going to get some produced. Not a lot of orders so far, so probably won't order that many.

The one in the image has screw holes and transparent holes for the LEDs. I have another that does not have LED holes which I am going to test. I think it might be preferred. The white lights on this one are SO bright because they are perfectly lined up with the plastic and very close to it.

Galaxy Print Sample (resized).jpg

I'm going to install the other this afternoon on my LE to confirm.

No star light cutouts are needed, IMHO. They shine through just fine. I am going to order all of them without cutouts and without screw holes. I'll mark the screw holes on the back if anyone wants to drill them (or I'll drill them for you) but I don't think they are needed. The way it is cut and fits, pressure holds it in just fine. The PCB moves around a bit so either I'll screw that in with the original screws behind the plastic, actually drill the plastic holes or use some double sided tape for it as well. It barely needs anything to hold it in place.

Fair warning, the price is likely to go up. Waiting to hear back from CPR on final cost but I probably priced it too low (assuming lots of game modifications needed, that I'd do all the work on my end to make the plastics, etc). So if you already ordered, you got the early bird discount and until I change it anyone else who orders will get it too.

Anyone who ordered the routed backboard is going to get a refund. It's not needed.

No other modifications are made to the game at all

Here is the plastic without the hole cutouts for the star lights, definitely not needed:

Here is a quick demo of the arduous process of installation. Steps not shown, for LE/CE, unscrew the starmap plastic

Just spoke with Kevin from CPR. Will be putting in final approval shortly, limited initial production run of 20. Several are already spoken for.

LOL! It's on the list.. it seems like the only real upgrade is a better camera so it's hard to justify $1k on a phone.

Ha.. actually yes. A few, here are some I was toying with. I have to still line these up with what is visible and where the stars are located but just general concepts. Skyline will be lower on the one with the ship. Trying to get all of the stars in the sky, ideally.

StarmapTest1 (resized).jpg

StarmapTest2 (resized).jpg

I have a LG V20 which used to be an awesome phone. I don't know what happened to it... it's hella slow (maybe android slows it based on batteries shitting the bed like apple) and the video looks crappy. I used to marvel at it.

Then I toyed with grabbing a fairly new Pixel 2 and then the 3 was announced and I have to battle in my mind not to go grab a $1k+ phone (you know, it's gotta be the biggest screen and most storage). And then... I gotta buy one for the wife (we have the same phone/age).

Isn't that money best put towards more pin stuff?

I keep seeing the whole buy-1-get-1 offers for these kinds of phones too, but you gotta add 2 new lines which means we have to change our phone numbers. Still might do it.

Nothing is stored in my phone, all directly to various clouds. Fuck backing up!

I should reformat. It's a bitch setting everything back up even with Android reinstalling it all. Even with fingerprint, password managers, synced data, etc.

It seems like phones last 2 years. So I can get a year old phone for half the price of bleeding edge, which lasts twice as long. Planned obselenscene maybe. How far apart so I want to spread my payments. The 2 for 1 is also monthly payments, no interest.

I have a tracking number, plastics are on their way to me. I think they are going to ship in seperate boxes than any other item (aside from decals) so even if you ordered the window mod likely the plastic will ship out next week.

Here are the really detailed, very complex installation instructions:

It's 5 minutes of a 1 minute install, lol. Basically remove the old plastic, put the new one in place.

Btw, if you want to use screws (if you're adverse to the double sided tape) you can. I just didn't see the need, the plastic holds everything in place. If anyone wants the holes drilled in the plastic just let me know. I have the template.

Cool. I just got notification that half of the lighting kit is here. Waiting on the LED micro controller and then I just need to program it, hopefully.

Starlight so damn bright! I may be jealous of the SE owners now.

Btw.. those are RGB so it doesn't have to be just white stars!

Starlight (resized).jpg

Nothing has shipped. I'm trying to get the lights setup so you can all see before I ship. Plastics should be here this week.

You can add the lights before I ship or they can be added later. Easy install.

Thanks

The SE lighting kit would give the illusion of a starmap. It is a light array with a microcontroller that will created random, twinkling lights in the backboard that will look fairly similar to the starmap. They won't interact with the game at all, more just decoration and fun, completing the look. Shouldn't be too expensive, just two components I think is all I need. Going to program the device over the holiday and see how it turns out. By all my investigation it looks like it will be a nice solution.

If it all works out I'll list it as an option for the galaxy plastic and as an addon if you already purchased the plastic. Should be able to ship them all together.

Damn you! LOL... yes, already on my list to do. The only problem I see is that the lights may look different. But yeah, I'll test that out, I have the parts already to do it.

Mwhahahaa! It's alive!!

Yeah, still playing with the speed and coincidence of stars, but you get the idea. And that plastic is a production sample, no dots in the real one.

Someone with an SE who wants to pull up their playfield. Let's see if the connectors are all there for the starmap. Long shot.. but maybe an "aftermarket" starmap can be retrofitted (with even more leds!)

100% customizable

I'm gonna do an add-on kit for existing starmaps

I'll send you a video of what to look for initially. Then will need to do some testing on my end.

Thanks... figuring out power for this mod. It's pretty intensive so I think I'll have to supply a power adapter to pull line power as I don't think any existing circuit could handle this.

Btw, all of the plastics are going to get a "matte" finish. If anyone is adamantly opposed to this let me know and I can leave yours out. I am going to test and see if it can be removed easily (I think it can) in case you change your mind later. The reason is that the stock plastic is just way too shiny and everything glares off of it. I tested with a prototype and I think it looks much better. Again, this is not the production version (it has the holes, it has darker artwork) but you can see the finish on it compared to prior ones I posted.

pasted_image (resized).png

Like just the jjp original implementation compared to my lights? Let me know what you want to see. I'm working on my twinkle program to look more like the original style.