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Magnet Apron Mod

mwong168

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Nov 14, 2012
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I have had this idea of covering up the factory aprons for some time now. The look of the original aprons don't even match the pinball machine they are attached to in most cases. I have a friend who is a professional artist. She generally does artwork for comics and such but she was willing to help me out with these apron designs. All artwork is original and printed on high quality magnets. We have quite a few other designs in the works that will be revealed in coming days and weeks. Thanks for looking.

-Bill

pinside ongoing magnet apron mod thread:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/my-magnet-apron-mod

NinJaBooT's (aka Bill) pinside profile page:
https://pinside.com/pinball/community/pinsiders/ninjaboot

I've been following this thread on pinside by NinJaBoot out in AB in regards to these new magnet apron mods he has been working on with an artist. I just thought I would share here in case you aren't on pinside and priced reasonable for $50usd too compared to other apron mods/replacements I've seen from other vendors.

Here are some magnet aprons he is currently working on or finished:

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DRANO

Super Member
Nov 15, 2012
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Mississauga
Oh man... those are fun.
I'd seen the Shadow one somewhere but didn't realize there was a whole series.

Love the FT and WH2O.
Part of me likes seeing the original apron and price/instruction cards, but some of these are REALLY nicely integrated. I may have to try one to see... but just one ;)
 

Seven

Active Member
Oct 6, 2015
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Prince Edward Island
www.pinballorama.com
That's a nice idea and some of those look great.

I don't think I'd ever use one because I like the apron - even if they are plain. They are sort of a frame to the playfield. With the magents, with the added artwork from the playfield, it looks like the playfield is extended and is kind of bare; or the flippers are too far up in the playfield. It just looks odd to me.

I'll reserve judgement until I see one in real life because I also really like the idea. The right design on the right machine would probably look really cool.

It would be cool to have some generic ones for machines with rusty beat up aprons. It would be an easy way for someone to give their "man cave" machine a cleaner look.
 

mwong168

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Nov 14, 2012
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The nice thing about this magnet apron mod is that it isn't permanent or require any sort of modification to install.

A similar idea to this has been done by replacing the entire apron from a company called Pingraffix. They did games like MM and FH which have blade artwork too to tie into their aprons too. The aprons are $129.95usd and blades are another $65usd.

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mwong168

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I forgot they also did AFM too but maybe all these got shut down by Rick at PPS since I don't see them available anymore from the site?

img_4716.jpg
 

scylla

Member
Mar 13, 2013
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Toronto, ON
These are very nice and the price is great. But for my MM, I still really want to get one of those illuminated ones that cost like $500 USD. Wish I'd never found that thing.
 

mwong168

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Nov 14, 2012
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These are very nice and the price is great. But for my MM, I still really want to get one of those illuminated ones that cost like $500 USD. Wish I'd never found that thing.

Did you know they made one for TZ too? :eek:

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For MM I am assuming you are talking about this one scylla?

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Fifty

Active Member
Apr 22, 2014
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PinGraffix stuff is really nice, but it's limited. No White Water, No Creech... :(

Tilt Graphics is making pinblades as well now. One of their artists left and started his own company.
 

DRANO

Super Member
Nov 15, 2012
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The Donut Heaven sign is genius!

I'm not usually a fan of side art, but I'm liking the FH. Not so much the apron.
 

mwong168

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Nov 14, 2012
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Here are some pics Bill posted of the material used to print on and how it looks installed from a different angle on the apron

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Fifty

Active Member
Apr 22, 2014
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Ottawa, Ontario
One thing I don't understand is how these appear flat. An apron has two locations for apron cards that sit lower than the rest of the apron. So why don't we see any sagging or a dip in the magnet these are printed on?

The first image looks like the magnetic material is super thick, but in the second it appears very thin. Are there two layers or something?
 

Seven

Active Member
Oct 6, 2015
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Prince Edward Island
www.pinballorama.com
Probably the magnet is stiff enough - and the tension from the rest of the magnet grabbing the metal around it - is enough to keep it somewhat flat.

If it started to sag you could just stuff something under it where the cards go. Folded up paper, business cards, anything really.
 

NinJaBoot

New Member
Feb 4, 2016
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St. Albert, AB
Hey guys! Thanks for hooking me up with this forum Mike. We got plenty more magnet apron mod designs in the works.


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