Built a Fold Down Virtual Pinball Machine

[divetravis]

Last summer I started thinking about purchasing or building a virtual pinball machine. We don't live in a large house nor do houses in my area have basements so my biggest concern was space. I had seen photos of a machine where the playfield folded down. I really liked the idea but I did not want to bolt something to my wall. Using this idea I built a machine that is self standing with a fold down playfield. My machine has a 32 inch playfield, when in play mode it extends out 45", when folded it only extends 16". It is also on wheels so it can easily be rolled around. I started on the design about 8 weeks ago and it is now complete. Had to learn lots of stuff along the way and my woodworking tool set is a bit limited but I am really pleased with the results. This project would have been much more difficult, maybe impossible without MJR's Pinscape Build Guide and Nailbuster's Pinup Popper. During the cabinet build and finishing I also had lots of help from my wife, doing some of this alone would have been very painful. I will also post this in a couple of other places. Anyway here are a few photos...

[GeorgeH]

Really nice!

[m693663]

What a great idea! I'm in a similar situation and this looks like the answer for me. Thanks for posting.

[Dipkid]

Folded down, the cab looks like it is BEGGIN for a detachable arcade control panel, and voila, you got a full size Mame Cab.

[benge]

Great idea. I too have limited space. I have to take the pinball from my man cave if I want to play pool. This may just be the solution. 

[griffindodd]

Very creative, I like your approach, now you have to add an arcade control panel so you can play MAME games in the folded up position. 😃

 

Here is my wall-mounted fold-out that I built a year or so back.