pinball custom graphics

[tylfly]

our company is looking to get a pinball machine for our lobby. we are looking into getting a refurbished machine but we want custom artwork on the machine. any ideas on the best way to go about getting some one to do custom graphics for us?

 

[druadic]

our company is looking to get a pinball machine for our lobby. we are looking into getting a refurbished machine but we want custom artwork on the machine. any ideas on the best way to go about getting some one to do custom graphics for us?

Talk to Grizz at VP Forums. He's a MASTER of "custom" graphics as well as restoring original images from a real machine.

GO HERE:

http://www.vpforums.org/index.php?

You'll have to register to talk with him OR PM me and I'll send you his email addy.

Good luck;

Will
AKA druadic

 

[tylfly]

I had one company suggest a print shop that could ilk screen or laser jet to plywood glass and plastic. Apparently their company won do anything less than 100 runs of an image

 

[faralos]

Most printers balk at small runs so they start at around 100 or so
it's just too much hassle to swap out the rollers for small batches
also ask HassanChop over at Vpforums.org too he is another fantastic
'conceptual' artist: he did ALL the artwork on my Sanatorium pin

 

[tylfly]

so does anyone know any shops that would do a design and one off custom paint job? or what our best course of action should be on this?

 

[tylfly]

Does anybody have an opinion on the most durable machine makers? Gottlieb? Bally? Williams?

 

[StevOz]

Generally speaking I'd say Bally or Williams were the most robust of machines.

 

[Shockman]

I agree with Steve.

I think it's hard to imagine nascar or POTC for examples to live as long as say Kings and Queens has.

 

[tylfly]

I'd heard that the gottlieb were the more durable but the Williams were more desirable.

 

[tylfly]

Also what year range should I be looking into?
What kind of general maintenance are we going to be looking at with a pinball machine? Problems, Average cost, etc...

 

[FIXNWILLIAMS]

Also what year range should I be looking into?
What kind of general maintenance are we going to be looking at with a pinball machine? Problems, Average cost, etc...

No one has replied to this part yet so I will, you want to get a SS pinball machine. SS = Solid State. Easier to find parts = easier to service. If you want a modern them with modern sounds etc.

However if you want a pinball that is to be themed after what you do or business is etc. then you can more easily make an EM ( elctro mechanical ) pin into your theme, as the sounds are bells and buzzers, so you could more easily change the artwork to your theme and not have the game mess it up with voice call outs during gameplay based on the existing theme. Any good artist that can hand paint or airbrush really well can do your playfield art. Then you have it cleared with an automotive grade urethane, then you polish and wax it and re-install it and re-populate the playfield with new plastics targets and rubbers. It is alot of work even for an expert, time is time. I have actually thought of getting an EM and go all through it like this and custom theme it for a project. Hope this helps.

 

[FIXNWILLIAMS]

Also average cost is about $1000 to $3500 depending on popularity of a machine. I think most pins from 77 on down are EM. You can get a good EM probably for $900 - $1500. Most afordable SS games start at $1500-$3500 depending how much it is desired. If it was super popular I have seen prices as high as $20,000! Too rich for my blood. I also agree with the other posters that Williams / Bally are the best for durability, parts availability,and also best titles. Good Luck! Hope I was some help.

 

[tylfly]

we are looking into some mid 80's machines that have music but no voice. prices range between 1500 and 3000 from the company I am looking into. some of the earlier posts are turned up some help with the pricing on the custom designs.
I am open to all suggestions as to which games would be good choices of redoing.