Episode 607 Reboot request

If you still want to use a pinball mechanism, then perhaps look at the Ben Heck Show episode archive, as he built a number of pinball machines from scratch.

That's one I'll have to see. Thank you for pointing me to his stuff. I still want the horses (or cars) to race across the wall or on a table top. Thank you  

Instead of rolling pool balls into pockets you could use a pinball type setup which perhaps would allow for a smaller user input panel. You could try scaling down the balls and still hand roll into pockets but I'm not sure that would feel quite right somehow.   

The patent I linked to for the rabbit version flips a ball into a wheel causing it to rotate forwards or backwards which then turns the rotary switch to provide power to the track. That could be quite compact.

A mini pinball game could be used as the basis to roll smaller balls into the pockets. 

/challenges-projects/element14-presents/benheck/ben-heck-exclusive/w/documents/3384/mini-pinball-kit-12-the-end-is-nigh----episode-334

You could use a Galton board type setup where each output channel has a different weighting advancing the horse by different amounts. Depends on whether you want use skill or luck to drive the game.

The overall design can be split into two - the user input mechanism that decides whether or not the horses should advance or not, and then the output display mechanism that moves the horses.

I was thinking golf ball size. I like your idea about the box being wider at the player's end and narrower at the opposite end. Or I might have to reduce the number of players instead. 

I'm taking a break from this and letting it wander in my mind. Too many choices are making it hard to plan a path. I'll come back to this in a few days and create a list of what I want and how I want it, watch some videos and learn, then move forward.

I'm glad you didn't say basketball there

A squash ball is of similar diameter to a golf ball but may not be heavy enough. Pool balls might be good although slightly larger.

I suspect that it may take a bit experimentation. Rig up a board, clamp on some sides roll some balls and adjust various angles until the rolling action feels about right. Draw some targets and see how easy/difficult it is.  

That's my plan.  And I'm going to make the surface bumpers to force the ball off track. Just a couple of bumps in the road. 

In the final design, you may want to make the play surface a replaceable element so as you can easily swap it out for a different design.

I suspect that over time you may want to refine it a bit as you get more confident with the different aspects of the build.  

You could have swappable themed designs for different seasons or events. Or you could perhaps swap a roll a ball for a pinball design.

Perhaps keep an eye out for some of the DIY pinball machine forums as they are likely to have some tips on how to make interactive features that work reliably.

In the final design, you may want to make the play surface a replaceable element so as you can easily swap it out for a different design.

I suspect that over time you may want to refine it a bit as you get more confident with the different aspects of the build.  

You could have swappable themed designs for different seasons or events. Or you could perhaps swap a roll a ball for a pinball design.

Perhaps keep an eye out for some of the DIY pinball machine forums as they are likely to have some tips on how to make interactive features that work reliably.

I like that idea. Thank you