Modify your pinball machine

For some people having a regular pinball machine is not unique enough. Here are some modifications you can do to make the machine look better.

Stern Insider Connected kit installation guide NEW
How to install a the Insider Connected kit in your Stern pinball machines. Connect your pinball machine to the internet and collect online achievements.

Stern shaker motor installation guide NEW
How to install a shaker motor in Stern SAM and Spike pinball machines.

Jersey Jack Pinball Coil strength upgrade
How to increase or stabilise the coil strength on JJP pinball machines. Most JJP machines have weak flippers. There are options to make the flippers and other coils more powerful.

Replace a led dmd on Spike machines with a plasma dmd
Stern Spike pinball machines have pinled displays installed. If you don't like the look of the red displays, you can retrofit a real orange plasma display.

Replace a broken dmd with an lcd screen using a DMD Extender
DMD Extender is a kit that allows you to display the dmd animations on an lcd screen. You can either run is separate from the machine or as a replacement for your dmd, and configure 4 colors. Here it's installed in a Sega Baywatch to replace a broken dmd.

Copy 3D objects in resin with a silicone mold
Read how I reproduced 3D plastic parts for my Cactus Canyon pinball machine myself. Learn how to make a silicone mold to replicate parts using resin.

Game-specific mods

Iron Maiden led colored filter mod
Many 'Pro' versions have white leds whilst the premium version of the game has colored leds.
It's easy to use cinematic color gels to change the color of any white led into any color you want, and add a splash of color and sophistication to your playfield.

Iron Maiden pharaoh eyes mod
DIY mod - easily make a mask out of black paper so the eyes are lit. The led behind this plastic is too strong and gives a huge white spot.

Iron Maiden Eddie figures
Install the 3D Eddie figures from the premium model in your pro Iron Maiden pinball machine.

Cirqus Voltaire backbox bell
Install a real bell in your Cirqus Voltaire pinball machine.

Attack from Mars led kit
Add leds to the mini-saucers on your Attack from Mars pinball machine.

Lord of the Rings multicolor led mod
How to install a multicolor led near the Palantir ball.

Theatre of Magic light mod
Light up the skillshot ramp on Theatre of Magic.

Shadow Battlefield light mod
Light up the Battlefield mini playfield on Ballys The Shadow.

Indianapolis 500 mod
Light the racetrack on Indy 500.

Revenge From Mars 3rd saucer mod
Add a third saucer to your RFM pinball machine.

Who Dunnit light mod
Light the telephone dial better on Ballys Who Dunnit? pinball machine.

The Addams Family light mod
Light up the right side of Ballys The Addams Family pinball playfield.

Add lamps to Hurricane bumpers
Most Hurricanes didn't have lamps in their popbumpers installed. Detailed instructions how to add them yourself.

The Shadow and Medieval Madness led mod
Add leds to your The Shadow and Medieval Madness pinball machine.

Add a real knocker to your Cactus Canyon
Bally's Cactus Canyon doesn't have a real knocker coil installed. It's not difficult to add it yourself as the software does support a real coil.

AFM Cow mods
Cow abduction mod for the Bally Attack From Mars pinball machine.

Custom and home-made pinball machines

Many people are creative and build their own pinball machine. Here's a collection of articles about custom build machines. Most are built in the period of 2000-2010.

G-Star BVB pinball commercial
A custom pinball machine was made to star in a commercial for jeans brand G-Star, featuring Borusia Dortmunt soccer players.

Paco Rabane Invictus pinball
A custom pinball machine made for Paco Rabane Invictus perfume. Can you defy the gods?

Big City Zoo
Review of a hand-made custom electro-mechanical pinball machine by Henk De Jager.

Custom jukebox and bimbo box
Custom made jukebox and bimbo box.

Merlins Magic
Review of a custom, hand-build pinball machine by Henk de Jager. This is one of the most complex electro-mechanical pinball machines ever made.

Calypso custom bingo machine
Henk de Jager created an electro-mechanical bingo machine.

Custom Elvis bimbo box
Another handmade bimbo box. This one is Elvis Presley themed and has the cutest teddy bears.

Build your own virtual pinball machine
How to build your own cabinet with Visual Pinball and Future Pinball software.

A transparant Nip-It ?
Bally Nip-It pinball machine with clear plexi playfield. Many people have created transparant pinball machines to display the inner mechanics, this was one of the first existing back in 2003.

Interview with Ben Heck
Ben Heck created on a custom pinball machine with Bill Paxton as theme. (2009)

Interview with Jeri Ellsworth
Jeri is also working on her own custom pinball machine, 'As seen on TV'. (2009)

Interview with Greg Freres
Greg Freres started Whizbang Pinball together with Dennis Nordman. They now create custom pinball machines. Their first project is Whoa Nellie.

Galactic Girl custom pinball machine
An electro-mechanical custom pinball machine by Dominique John.