It's been a week since my last post, but that's just because I've been busy with other things..

The good news is that this weekend I did some clearance shopping, and found some tasty parts!

First, I found two different sized soap bubble wands for a buck or two each. When i get the soap out, I'll have two different sized clear cylinders. I plan on using the larger one for the ball launch tube, and I'm not sure what the other might be used for (assuming the ball will fit in the smaller one)...

The big find, was this:



I basically have a Lego type ramp set, including sensors, that I can do all sorts of things with! There is even a magnetized rail that can hold a steel ball (I don't yet know if it will carry the Zizzle pinball - expect the results of that test in the next post).

This guy normally goes for almost $100 - I got mine for $25. The one I have (not the one in this picture) has a white ramps with a black controller block. The box is a little beat up, but everything is in there.

I can't wait to get this open and inventory all of the items I have to work with. I'm pretty sure that this will solve the problems I was facing with creating new ramps to move the ball around. I also like that it's very much in the hacking spirit of taking one thing, getting it cheap, and using it for something else.

I have ordered a pair of "universal" flipper return lane guides to replace the rods that served that purpose on the Zizzle playfield. I don't know if I will have to adjust the width of the playfield for the ball to smoothly roll down the in and outlanes, but once I test it, I'll know if I need to make it an inch wider to fit - it'll be worth it for that upgrade.

I have also ordered a set on new, standard, flipper rubbers, and a set of 30 standard white plastic posts to replace some of the Zizzle posts, and to add posts in front of the flipper guides, etc...

That's all for now,

Larry