more solenoids

playing with solenoids today was fairly succesfull. i now have a clearer idea of what the final outcome of the experiment will be and where it will hopefully lead me.
initially, in the last one i set up the pin wouldn't come out after the voltage was supplied. i over came that problem by moving on from initial set up:

to integrating the spring into the solenoid:

this resulted in the end come flying off in very fast ( with potential to damage someone or something) so that is not what i want either. i need it to push up but not fall out entirely. this is very reliant on the type of spring used:

so using a light spring in compression is a better solution. i managed to get it 'popping' slightly but not enough. after a meeting with gareth, i am going to look at using very tiny springs that go inside the solenoid and i have also orderd a solenoid with a spring built into it.
after i get the right spring and the right solenoid...it will ( should ) all start happening.