Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 8

The shine is back!

The Spider-man pinball machine is starting to shape up. We cleaned and scrubed all the nuts and bolts, ramps, plastics and the playfield. We put on three coat wax and bluffed between each coat and what a glossy shine we have now. It is a good feeling inside knowing that we can give new life back to this pinball machine.

The next step is to start bolting the parts and assemblies back to the top of the playfield and that is the subject of my video here.


For more information on our Project Pinball and how you can help, you can visit us at Project Pinball on Facebook

Dan

To be continued.....

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 10

The subject: A Stern Spider-man pinball machine born on July 06 2007 with over 21,300 games played.
Location: The Children's Hospital Fourth Floor
On-site damage assessment: Filthy, broken and unplayable. Can not repair at location due to sterile environment.

Final note: No Problem!

We have been working to complete the Spider-man for its triumphed return to the Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit at the Children's Hospital. We have set the date for this coming Saturday the 10th of December. I have been burning the midnight oil all week making great progress but having less time to post the videos that I made along the way. So here they are.

First video is about the final results and walkthrough:



Second video talks about the code update and plastic ramps:



Third video is the testing and shows some low playfield game play:


Thank you for watching. We can found also at Project Pinball on Facebook.

Dan

To be continued...

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 7


We have been very busy and it shows by the good progress that is being made on the Spider-man pinball machine.

I have a couple more videos to share with you.

I wanted to show you the shine and the re-graining of the metal guide rails.


Another pinball machine part- the bumpers


Thank you for watching. You can find us at Project Pinball on Facebook.

Dan

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 6


As we continue to de-populate the Spider-man playfield, I have been videoing the process to share here and on YouTube at Save Spider-man for the Children by PinballMole.

The first video shows the playfield farther along the tear-down process.


The next video shows close-up of the damaged targets and metal guide rails then I do a brief description of the next step.


This video is a short video that gives you an idea of dirty the playfield is and how dirty we get from work on it.


If have questions, just post here or on Facebook Project Pinball and I can possibly go into more detail.

Dan

To be Continued...

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 5

I am back from IAAPPA & Southern Pinball Festival.

While I was at the IAAPPA Expo I had a chance to talk to a lot of good people that are very interested in donating parts and other items for our Project Pinball. Which is great and it will help me get this Spider-man back up and running for the kids.

The Southern Pinball Festival was a wonderful success for getting the word out about our facebook, YouTube and blogging pages and our great charity. We had donation buckets located around the event hall that were being filled by the warm and kind pinball people from all over the globe.

I filmed additional footage of the teardown process. The first video is showing the beginning of the playfield being stripped down.



The second video is describing the break down process.



Thank you for watching. You can find us at Project Pinball on Facebook.

Dan

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The boy behind the gift

Jimmy Schneeberger, 11, of Naples died on Thursday April 13, 2000.

Jimmy Schneeberger was a member of the Webelos Den 1, Pack 12 of Collier County and was recently awarded with the Arrow of Light Award ­ the highest award cub scouts can earn. He attended Laurel Oak Elementary School where he was on the honor roll. He most recently attended Corkscrew Elementary School where he was a member of the peer mediation group. Jimmy Schneeberger was among the first winners of the Collier County "Do the Right Thing" award.


This is why we do it.

My wife found out there was a broken Spiderman pinball machine in the oncology department of the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida. It was a memorial gift, donated to the hospital in the name of Jimmy Schneeberger .

We felt it was just wrong to have a great gift and outlet for the kids sit idle because it needed our TLC.

We are working on the Spider-man right now and we are going to fix it in honor of Jimmy and his Family and for all kids that are undergoing treatment in the hospital.

Jimmy and all these brave kids are the real heroes!



If you would like to help the kids please contact us Russelrunt@comcast.net
On Facebook: click here Project Pinball
Or comment at the bottom of this Article.
More information on Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit just click.

Thank you,
From all of us.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Southern Pinball Festival Teams up with Project Pinball

Southern Pinball Festival is ready to kick off this coming Friday!


The first annual pinball show in the Central Florida area, November 18, 19, & 20, located in the beautiful Maitland Civic Center just north of downtown Orlando.



"This festival is driven by the passionate enthusiasts and collectors throughout the state of Florida."



SHOW TIMES


Friday 3 pm – 12 midnight


Saturday 10 am – 12 midnight


Sunday 10 am – 5 pm


LOCATION


Maitland Civic Center641 South Maitland AvenueMaitland, FL 32751 http://maitlandciviccenter.com/


The Southern Pinball Festival owners heard about our Florida charity drive to save Jimmy's Spider-man pinball machine for the Children's Hospital and couldn't stand idle without lending us a helping hand.


The Southern Pinball Festival is sharing our passion and it shows from their huge support. Thank you. They featured an article about our cause on their front home page of the SPF. They help with the arrangements for us to publicize the Project Pinball at their three day event.


We are going to have donations buckets on-site so if you spot one, please help us with a warm gift to the kids of the Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit. Also I will be there for all three days supporting the efforts of SPFs' wonderful event, come and say "Hello". I would love to talk to you.



Dan


We can be found at Facebook: Project Pinball

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 4

I am back with another two Spider-man pinball videos.

The first video is showing the condition and total breakdown of all three of the Jet Bumpers.


The second video is showing what a pinball playfield looks like underneath and a quick description of the worn and broken left flipper and switches as well as the black dust that was everywhere.



I love questions! So if you have any, just post here or on Facebook Project Pinball and I can possibly go into more detail.



To be Continued...

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 3



A comparison photograph for you labeled- A Clean Spot!


This one will be a short article. I know you just sighed with relief.....but you don't get off that easily. I made some videos to take the place of my writing. And my writing is way better than my camera work! LOL


Have Fun,
Dan


PS Any negative comments on my youtube videos will be subject to laws of the house ruling of a five dollars donation per comment for our charity. So if you want to donate and have fun with that, give until you feel good!




Check and follow us at Facebook Project Pinball also.

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 2

The subject: A Stern Spider-man pinball machine born on July 06 2007 with 59,664 balls played.


Location: The Children's Hospital Fourth Floor- Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit


On-site damage assessment: Filthy, broken and unplayable. Can not repair at location due to sterile environment.


Final note: No Problem!


First Step: Remove (steal) the Spider-man pinball machine from Oncology Unit without looking like a super villain! In the cover of darkness (and at dinner time) we rolled out our webslinger to the waiting getaway truck and back to the pin operating room.

After getting the Spidey all set up, I started with the Second Step: Get access to the playfield and backbox. I had to drill out both locks since the keys were no where to be found. Here is a picture of what is under the playfield, almost a mile of wiring, over 3,500 parts, over 100 light bulbs, electrical parts & solenoids.


Third Step: Start with condition and repair assessment. Looking at the playfield I noticed a lot (and I mean a lot) of black grimy dust. Dust stuck to the playfield, metal parts, wires, lamps, plastics, rubbers and under the playfield too, everything that I touch turn me black.


Sticking my head in the bottom of the cabinet I found parts from a flipper assembly. It turned out to be the left flipper had lost some parts. Boo. It happen to be the EOS (End of stroke switch) which is vital for the longevity and health of the flipper coil.


Fourth Step: Get surface black dust out of my way. I rolled Spidey outside and I fired up my air compressor and made a black cloud of debris that had me looking like a chimney sweep. If I chose not to do this every time that I would touch the inside of the machine I would get filthy then have a chance to transfer the grimy dirt to other areas. You can't clean it easily with soap and water because it will just swear or embed into whatever you were trying to clean. Next vacuum lightly to remove remaining black dust and debris.

Fifth Step: Photograph every thing. I whipped out the camera and started recording the condition and position of assemblies and parts for future reference and for me to share here.


Let me get back to the real work, I will write more later.



To be Continued...


You can visit us on Facebook at: Project Pinball

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Save the Spider-man for the Children: Part 1

Hello Dan here,

This is an article about the process of saving a Spider-man Pinball Machine so the kids at the Chrissy Brown Oncology Unit in SW Florida can enjoy it again. The pinball machine was donated by the Schneeberger family in memory of their eleven year old son Jimmy.

This will a daily log of process made of taking this Pinball Machine from a non-operational to full healthy & playable game.

So it begins...

Origin:

"My name is Chris, I’m a Bonita Springs real estate agent and also a Leadership Bonita Student. During the healthcare segment of Leadership training one of the establishments we toured was the Children’s Hospital at Health Park in Fort Myers, Florida; more specifically the Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit. "

Key Facts about The Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit.


  • Established: 1994


  • Type of Facility: Pediatric Acute Care


  • Number of Dedicated Pediatric Beds: 98 (Total)


  • Number of Dedicated Neonatal Intensive Care Beds: 48


  • Number of Patients Seen Annually in Emergency Services: 22,000+


  • Number of Pediatric Providers: 300+


  • Number of Pediatric Specialists: 58+


  • Number of Pediatric Specialty Areas: 10


  • Number of People Helped Through Child Advocacy Programs: 95,000+


For more information about the Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit: http://www.leememorial.org/caring/facilities/tch.asp



"In one of the recreation rooms I noticed a Spiderman Pinball machine, by Stern. It was really rough looking with visible broken components and an overall dirty appearance. It almost looked like it was in a fire it was so covered with black dust."



"Immediately I turned to our tour guide and said, “I know local pinball enthusiasts who wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if they knew this machine was broken, if children … sick children with cancer even, couldn’t play it. It would just break their heart.” I then gave them the contact information and hoped for the best.
Lo and behold, “the best” happened a few weeks later when Sarah Evanglista from Healthpark called invited us to come back and take a look at Spidey. The first general assessment happened late on a Thursday evening and a few emails bounced back and forth and in less than twenty four hours, permission to pick the machine up was granted by the administration."



"Spiderman is taking a short trip to Bonita Springs for a tune up, fix up, face lift and a serious bath. Follow along on on http://www.pinballavenue.blogspot.com/ and the Facebook page, Project Pinball. Of course, donations for parts, materials and cleaning supplies are welcomed and encouraged. "




To be Continued....