Backlit Wall Hangings
Over the years I've made an assortment wall hangings and toppers from original and reproduction promo plastics as well as used playfield plastics. Build details for each project can be found in that game's respective section of my website.
Since I don't have The Simpsons pinball machine, I'll cover that project here. In 2024 I bought the Bart sign. The wall hanging is built up in a manner similar to how a playfield is built up.
I made the base by tracing around the sign with a flat washer such that the base is slightly larger than the sign. The base is made from two layers of ½" plywood with the rear layer serving as a frame around recesses for the bulb sockets and wiring. The horizontal center cross portion has a beveled undercut to hang from a screw in the wall.
Backside of the wall hanging.
The sign is lit by #47 bulbs powered by a 5 volt wall wart. The power supply plugs into a switched outlet such that the wall hanging comes ON with the rest of the gameroom lighting.
5 volt, 3 amp power supply.
I painted the front of the base an off-white color (because old playfields tend to age to an off-white). Next I applied a layer of frisket. I cut the frisket using photocopies of the sign. The frisket was cut slightly smaller such that no white is seen when the wall hanging is viewed straight-on. Pro tip: before spraying black, I lightly sprayed the same white base color. This seals the edges such that the black doesn't bleed under the frisket.
The sign is supported with Stern yellow star posts.
Front side of the wall hanging.
Sign installed.