Been working on an Independence Day I grabbed a couple months ago. Was a bit of a basketcase. Needed multiple new opto boards, microswitches, coils, board work, etc. It's about 95% done now. Cleaned up nicely. 1 week or less should be done. Fun pin I must say. Fast. Good ramps. Fun layout. Entertaining call outs from the film. 20200418_201546 (resized).jpg

I’m sure they very well may be. Awesome looking example man, even the apron.

And to think I could’ve had one 8 or so years ago for $600 when I first got into the hobby.

Honestly ... Catacomb is not a super great game.

There. I said it. Flame suit on.

Iron Maiden gets a bad rap - but I quite like it. You need to work out the rules I think to enjoy it.

Did some painting today

7576CFC5-C511-45BA-92D0-BCF12CF09E0F (resized).jpeg

DF9BA16B-6C03-4967-9D91-4593082D6FB2 (resized).jpeg

BC9139B9-5048-486A-B078-9F86589DA3D0 (resized).jpeg

AE4579FB-C4EA-4532-B0A1-390F4FA46A55 (resized).jpeg

5A915B16-4C67-4002-A783-4447542B3687 (resized).jpeg

Here’s two that I finished today.

Both had mechanical gremlins ... of course, one thing led to another and both ended up getting shop jobs. lol.

rd

A3B5BE48-AECF-48C4-86BE-0EFEBF178DF2 (resized).jpeg

52290370-D849-49CD-BEE1-5CE02ED4FC5E (resized).jpeg

Not a pinball machine but still a pin, I designed these and posted them for sale. If you love classic sterns then maybe they will be your thing!

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1255-tommy-s-pins/03710-stern-electronics-collector-lapel-pins

I finished up my Ripley's today. It's playing so fast and so good!

IMG_20200423_184545 (resized).jpg

IMG_20200423_184526 (resized).jpg

Like most the classic Sterns it's very unique, which means it's not everyone's cup of tea.
The bonus/color matrix is really cool, but not everyone likes the bagatelle.
I personally like the MB system, but it is somewhat (very) random.
I'd like it more than Nine Ball, but its def a kind of tight PF, "only" 1 spinner, and no way to get to the top rollovers.

Catacomb would’ve been much better as a wide body layout.

I'll agree only if you add another drop bank and increase the bonus
Edit: At least move the D bank up, and add a path/orbit under it w/spinner that feeds to the top

Spoken like a big game lover

Catacomb would be much better if it was a Meteor instead.

rd

Edit - clearly some people don’t have much of a sense of humour. It’s a f**ken pinball machine people! Lol.

Haha. I didn’t say it also needed 4 flippers! The game just feels so cramped.

I’m getting ready to repopulate the playfield after a hardtop install on Flash Gordon. I finished the cabinet restore last week. Almost done

A594B9D0-45D0-4D05-B77B-D3E9137594F6 (resized).jpeg

1647FAA9-30E8-41F8-9883-30F9BAAF328B (resized).jpeg

B6294112-35BE-4A09-957C-35EC4630C67E (resized).jpeg

F01BBC7A-5D7D-4513-A41C-CFCCD36A259F (resized).jpeg

Love seeing crisp repainted FG cabs. Looks great!

Cabinet before and after is awesome and that pf is sweet!

Added some new GI leds to the FP. Jury is still out if i like how bright it is. Idk Ill leave and see how i like it in a wk or so.

748F9DF2-F213-4EF5-9ADB-3DECC93D0ACA (resized).jpeg

Got a nice row all working and shopped (Contact rubber kit on order)...switching gears to this thing that was tucked away in a corner.

Was able to play with it a little and get some sounds and lights, but it’s not booting and no control buttons illuminated. Tube display not running.

Anybody else ever work on one of these? I haven’t.

0E6DBBBE-1F19-4525-B609-03469C633233 (resized).jpeg

B0BF698C-D981-4B44-9B3C-ED8D8AB02972 (resized).jpeg

BC593AC9-83C2-4C0B-B53A-E5DA67DBDDE8 (resized).jpeg

06E7777B-9744-4363-BCD1-75ABE3160E8D (resized).jpeg

Working on my Space Shuttle. You know, I've had it for over 6 years now and it's never been 100% so I'm taking this Michigan Shelter in Place time to work out the kinks. I'm an essential worker so I don't have a ton of extra time but it keeps your mind busy So far, fixed a pop bumper, a few lights and switches, replaced a couple transistors, now I'm onto sound. And from what I've read, everyone has had sound issues at one time or another.

shuttle (resized).jpg

Yeah, I remember the $500 Quicksilver I passed up. I wish I could go back and smack myself.

We all have those stories ... Passed on Addams for $1800 - $2000 NZD back in the day, they’re $10,000 NZD now ... oh well. Can’t complain.

My shopped up BSD rewarded me and Danni with billion point games just now. It’s hard to get more than 100m on that bloody drainy thing, so 2.3b is awesome. Highest ever score is 3.5b. That’s on 3 balls, no extras. I have all my games set like that now.

When I got the 30 MILLLLLLIONNNNs pumping, the hairs were standing up on my arms. Still one of the best things in pinball ...

rd
4D9E3EF9-E3C8-4B97-BE04-2656578B1689 (resized).jpeg4FC3FF2A-1BB5-45CA-9C54-1DC295D4AA7C (resized).jpeg

Finally restored my AFM cabinet and installed a couple of playfield protectors.
Jury is still out for me on these. Going to take some getting used to for sure.

BF61C791-D406-498D-B9EC-5C6C48D73E5E (resized).jpeg

EACA46E4-2955-40D8-AB3B-A10BF8ED8878 (resized).jpeg

887E9624-8D78-47DE-9BD8-DBA77F3A7192 (resized).jpeg

E8866D5B-98FF-4703-8F35-5B4374F276F8 (resized).jpeg

2246D8E9-C873-48D9-B6DF-CACFD45D873A (resized).jpeg

A3E1D76C-F296-4385-941B-F57DA8A716DB (resized).jpeg

FAC2601D-BB85-4835-8D3E-157817055A0E (resized).jpeg

1EC046E7-10AE-479A-BDC5-20F9FD8A0478 (resized).jpeg

Time to start another project

64F61D8F-16CC-4542-AA38-8A32A872B8C4 (resized).jpeg

image (resized).jpg

Thinned the herd a little over the last month ... which enabled me to switch around the orientation of the classics in my room.

Filled in a couple of hours ....

Elektra is leaving - restored Paragon and Skateball will slot in there next to Led Zeppelin and the Evil Evel.

rd

5127F24D-35BC-4E78-B4E1-D13110BAF657 (resized).jpeg

9ECB03FD-4CC0-4538-9610-824723E6B8EA (resized).jpeg

F05381EE-D857-4335-8B17-B987DADAE8BD (resized).jpeg

Spent time last weekend repairing this battery damaged board. 2 ICs, 8 resistors and NVRAM were needed. I had to rebuild some traces with 28 AWG wire because of how bad the alkaline ate up the traces in the one area. 20200419_172952 (resized).jpg Also last weekend finished up this one I started with 3 months ago. Last part was to change the IC9 socket and upgrade to NVRAM. 4 IC's were required on this one because of the leaking external battery pack that was mounted in the game above the MPU board. Owner got lucky on this IC9 socket as there was corrosion on the socket pins, but there was no damage to the ASIC pins at all. 20200419_173032 (resized).jpg20200419_173058 (resized).jpg Finally, this weekend, yet another one that required 4 ICs, 12 resistors because of the damage. NVRAM upgrade of course.20200425_182607 (resized).jpg All 3 boards belong to 3 different local collectors. Shows the alkaline batteries show no mercy. Upgrade to Lithium batteries at the very least if you don't upgrade to NVRAM.

Wanted to play this thing, so forced to spend some time rewiring the rectifier board on the Stern Drac I picked up yesterday. And it’s a newer Rottendog, so of course I had to replace two fuse clips that had snapped already too.

Resoldered some wires under the PF, de-puked it and changed up some LED’s. And always switch to the free play price plates.

Then played the hell out of it without even moving the game.

F0EB367B-2DD7-4154-813B-1902B4574A9A (resized).jpeg

3FAF9BA2-6312-4228-B113-099B0F326CFB (resized).jpeg

102D6FC0-2E70-42F0-912C-719FA7ED3FE7 (resized).jpeg

Picked up a really nice Stern Pirates a while back that had a couple issues and just finished fixing those.
The ship wasn’t registering when you hit it, although it worked perfect in test mode. Found one wire on one of the optos that was disconnected. Re-soldered it and that fixed it.
Auto plunger wasn’t working and fixed that as well. Turned out that the plastic plunger link was busted off (0.79 cent fix).
Game seems to be playing 100% now.

Rounding the corner.

C090B082-56DF-44C0-8F33-A15639B144D1 (resized).jpeg

Stern POTC. MMR next. Then all my pins are done.

LTG : )

DSC00229 (resized).JPG

Congrats! You had to squeak the corner of BBB into that picture too huh?

Not on purpose. I was sitting in my corner behind the counter taking a break and thought I'd add grab a picture without moving so people could see the Stern Pirates I'm working on torn open. BBB just happens to live in that spot.

LTG : )

As long as I'm on a roll. That Stern Pirates is one of the first 12 with the red translucent compass center.

LTG : )

DSC00230 (resized).JPG

Enough with pinballs for now!

Back to my building site today for the first time in 5 weeks!

I’m restoring an historic 1919 3 story house near the centre of Auckland.

Chaos reigns.

rd

BAF68455-8148-4B7B-AE57-73E3724B7FF8 (resized).jpeg

D3DDA112-9B73-4878-AC44-034FEDCA05B6 (resized).jpeg

I didn’t even know the first 12 had that. You’re always educating me Lloyd. That thing looks cherry.

I shifted gears tonight. Stoked to get this thing up and running about 95%. Reflowed the display to get that fully working, reflowed the MPU, replaced all the lights. Got all the rust/oxidation off the gun barrel and pedestal.

Still have 4 targets not working.

On to the mechanics! Calibration off? There has to be some way to calibrate this thing.

9228381C-B6B9-4360-B807-397A34A419B9 (resized).jpeg

D4EAB43B-0A7E-4FBD-9BA9-E30615DCA27E (resized).jpeg

Ripley's is all done and I've moved on to major shop job on NBA fastbreak. Metal is tumbling away and comet got my led order on the way to me in 1.5 hours

IMG_20200428_151752 (resized).jpg

My pins are working in good condition so I decided to change a few LEDs. So far so good. I like it very much.

83A7441B-4E42-4D99-82E2-FFDA76B952BF (resized).jpeg

Worked on Twilight Zone and Swords of Fury last night.

Scoop and Twilight Zone wasn't kicking the ball back out after plunge.
One of the wires came loose from the coil.
Re-soldered it and good to go.

Swords of fury was having issue with the drop targets on the upper play field coming back up.
It seems a previous owner at some point though it was a good idea to put grease in the coil sleeves and they were all gummed up and sticky.
Took the assembly apart, cleaned it and put brand new coil selves.
Works great now.

Trees need a slight trim.

Finished clearcoating and refurb of Flash monday.
Plays and looks great.

2020_0422_19194600_kindlephoto-69147980 (resized).jpg

2020_0424_03000300 (resized).jpg

2020_0425_05032200 (resized).jpg

2020_0426_04375800 (resized).jpg

2020_0426_04383700 (resized).jpg

2020_0428_10245200_kindlephoto-11408402 (resized).jpg

Looks awesome! Like the blue rails, and post/rubber choices.

Just picked up a Deadpool pro. Shopping it out and modding now. Awesome fun game and modding is a blast!!!

POTO.
Got the first half of parts I ordered in the mail today. Just waiting on Cliffy and Titan and I’ll have it all.
Did the tear down tonight. Cleaning and repairs tomorrow.

121EF7C8-286A-47B6-9DEB-7E34A2BC7ABF (resized).jpeg

1EFA2EB8-13B5-41E3-AB1D-789EFD9EF0B5 (resized).jpeg

Really close to wrapping this one up. Been working on it off and on for about 1 month.

4B9C4CE8-FF22-45DA-BB30-5367EDEC7574 (resized).jpegC607DC25-A1D0-4DBA-B5FD-39AAB36534F8 (resized).jpegEADF18E3-8D2F-452B-9B9F-A144B1FBC1B1 (resized).jpeg4300C5E3-2B15-4350-A163-6406EC24D071 (resized).jpegF5218026-7349-442D-A33F-358D88D5150E (resized).jpeg

After dozens of hours, replacing IC sockets, sanding/neutralizing/cleaning different areas of the board that the battery alkali had damaged, replacing connectors, replacing the battery damaged parts, and rebuilding several traces, I am done with this Bally Night Rider MPU for a local collector. NVRAM install was the easiest since the IC socket was previously replaced already.

Here is a before picture of the front and after of both sides.
20190117_073028 (resized).jpg
20200501_223752 (resized).jpg20200501_223806 (resized).jpg

I have started a LTG help fund . All profits of any sales on the list will go towards helping LTG out. IF you need anything... now is the time to help out for a good cause. He's helped a lot of folks throughout the years... Let's help him back.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ltg-help-fund-help-him-out

Spent the afternoon repairing the power supply HV section on my Countdown and working on the punch list for my Riverboat Gambler. I need to move these out of the garage and into the game room, the weather is getting nice and I’d love to get my Miata out of the garage for a drive but these machines are blocking the way!

BC1D52E9-5EBF-498C-B202-FC3CFAA13AEE.jpeg