Issue 52 February 2026

Step 1. Cut the sides (A) and mark up as shown. The playing field slopes down towards the player. The 1cm thick allowance is marked for the ends. Cut two strips of balsa (E) to glue underneath this sloping line to sit the playing field on. Make them about 95mm long and 10mm wide. Glue in place. Step 2. Glue the ends (B) in place between the sides. Step 3. Photocopy the playing field artwork on page 9. This should be 40mm wide and 110 mm long. Glue to (D). Miniature Time Traveller 7 Project: How to make a (non - playable) pin ball machine. Materials required: Use 2mm balsa wood for the sides, playing field and the back. Use 2mm strips of balsa wood for the back framing and the front frame that hold the clear acrylic sheets. The legs are wood for strength. 4mm x 5mm strips, cut at an angle at the top. The finishing piece on the top, back, is also balsa. You will need a thicker size (1 cm thick) of balsa for the ends of the carcass. Cutting list. 2 x sides 12 cm x 5 cm deep (A) 2 x ends 5 cm wide x 5 cm deep x 1cm thick. (B) 1 x back 13 cm x 5 cm ( C) 1 x playing field piece, 4 cm x 11 cm (D) 2 x strips of balsa to hold playing field in place. (E) For back light box: 2 x 8 cm x 1 cm wide strips for sides (F) 2 x 4.5 cm x 1 cm wide strips for top and bottom. (G) Top finishing strip: 5.5 cm x 1. 8 cm wide. Back support: 5cm x 1 cm strip. (H & I) Top frame: 2 x 11 cm x 5mm wide strips for sides (J) 2 x 4 cm x 5mm wide strips for ends that sit between the side strips. (K) 2 pieces of clear acrylic sheet; 1 x 11cm x 50 mm & 1 x 70mm x 45 mm wide. (L) Other: strips of 1mm card. Stick on diamantes. 4 x magnetic LED lights. Beads for controls on the end. Tacky glue. Acrylic paints: Green and yellow. As you are using an easily cut wood like Balsa, this project can be made at your kitchen table with little mess and bother. With a bit more time and some engineering experience you could make this a working model. Some flashing lights gave motion in this example. Have fun! A great project for a rainy afternoon.