I had not seen this option, thanks.

Peter

I peeled mine off by hand without any special tools (because it was late at night and I was annoyed that the ball would occasionally catch the edge of the mylar in the right orbit).

...and it lifted the insert decals right up with it.

So...don't do what I did.

PS - anyone want to sell me a partial set of decals? I need the two for the right orbit, and the set of three for the fish standups on the right side.

Miss mine. Anyone have a FT in so. Cal?

Is anyone getting the cpr playfield or thinking about it? My machine has the usual wear on the fish and the tackle box. There's really no need to get a whole new playfield, but yet I'm looking at the pre-order page twice a day

I guess my brain tells me that I'd never get that 800 bucks back if I ever sell the machine, but boy, wouldn't a new playfield just look great!

Yeah, I'm on the list for a CPR playfield. I'm not worried about getting my money back, because it's not going anywhere.

Got my project FT up and running reliably. I really like the topper, and the way it shakes the whole game. I did not expect that!

The video mode is cool as well, and I have never seen an extra ball in video mode. Don't want to miss that when it passes!

What a fun and fast game!

I too look at the CPR preorder page regularly and just hover over the button!! Of all the playfields they've produced, I'm really surprised FT has dragged out as long as it has. FT is always heavily insert damaged, I know mine is.
I've considered insert decals but im put off by how bumpy it may make the pf. Has anyone tried them? Do they disturb the ball much? Id be interested to hear.

Pretty frequently, the ball will get hung up balanced on the left inlane/outlane post. Seems like there must be a tiny lip at the edge of the inlane insert. What are my options for fixing that? Sanding it to make it more even? Would love some advice.

I get the extra ball all the time. As long as I hit a percentage of boaters the extra ball goes by for the kill. Perhaps your machine is set harder than mine.

I put green rubbers on my FT, and I think its a huge improvement.

Thanks Jaybird and Sciddleybop. I'm still resisting the temptation, but my willpower is fading

I heard that it appears after you shoot 3 of each type (jetskis, speed boats, and big boats), but I haven't confirmed 100%. With a little practice, you should be able to get it every time.

I just went and played 5 games and as long as I hit 5 of anything in a row the EB came up.

Interesting...but even if you hit the first 5, it doesn't show up till towards the end of the round, correct?

Yes ,I believe that to be correct.

Im going to apply the decals next weekend, to hold me over until whenever the CPR is done. I'll report back on how it affects gameplay

Sorry for the confusion. I often get the EB in video mode. I meant to write - I can't recall any other pin that awards an extra ball in video mode.

I read the EB will appear if you hit a certain number of targets, and the strategy if you miss the EB is to save your torpedoes and wait, and it will go by again as long as you don't run out of torpedoes or time.

Speaking of extra balls. I don't think I have ever hit the extra ball target on the playfield when it is lit. Tough shot!

On the flippers or everywhere? Lets see some pics!

back-hand the shot w/the right flipper. It makes the shot pretty easy to get.

Try cradling the ball with the right flipper, then backhand the extra ball target

I can think of a few: Indiana Jones. Medieval Madness. STTNG.

BSD and TOM as well

And HS2 The Getaway... very hard to get though.

With FT the extra ball seems almost guaranteed.

I've owned this game for many years and never realised there was a reason EB came up, just always seemed to come up near the end, after 19 shots I will always save one for it.

Yesterday I tested the extra ball target because I thought it didn't register, but it did.
With the ball in the shooter lane I hit the target a few times and noticed there are points added to the score, but the hits just don't make a sound.
I haven't tested it with extra ball lit, but then you can see you hit the target.

I don't know if this is frowned upon, so if it is, I apologize in advance. If any of you folks in the club are thinking of selling your FT, please keep me in mind. Looking for one in nice condition and willing to pay a fair price.

Thanks!

Not frowned upon at all, but mines a "keeper" Good Luck in search there's a lot of them out there

I'd like to get the opinion from some of you "Casters"!

I've been looking for a while for a FT now....with not much luck. The Canadian dollar exchange is taking a shit kicking right now, which essentially rules out coming Stateside to pick one up. I've had an offer of an extremely nice copy for 5K Canadian, which equals approx 4K USD.

I know thats on the very high end for a FT, so would like some input from you folks who own the pin already. Would you pay 4K for a FT? Few pics attached. Here's what the seller has to say about it as well.

NOS PLAYFIELD - 8 COATS OF DUPONT CLEAR-SIGNED BY MARK
NEW BOAT RAMP
NEW DMD
NEW LEGS
TOTAL SHOP-REBUILD
SOME NEW PLASTICS
Nickle plated handle by Mike Chestnut
LED'S
VERY LITTLE FADE ON NICE ORIGINAL CAB
NICE TOPPER
WORKS 100%DSCF2875.JPGDSCF2876.JPGDSCF2878.JPGDSCF2880.JPGDSCF2890.JPG

Don't get me wrong, I think FT is still an underrated machine, but I wouldn't pay $4k.

You do not find many in that condition.

I would say 4k is cheap, but then again I have one in similar condition and have offers well over that.
A nice minimal fade with clearcoated pf is pretty rare and cant be compared to the players condition games of many folks.

I would say that 8 coats of clear is a bit concerning as the # of layers means nothing. The quality of the job is what matters.

4k is a solid price and FT is a fantastic game.

This guy is looking for $6k for his. But It is a beautiful restoration. Still would not pay $6k.
losangeles.craigslist.org link

Rockin' the boat!image.jpg

Yeah, I'm only speaking personally. I would rather have a players machine plus cash.

I would rather buy a routed or a player's condition. With the difference you can get new pf from cpr, new plastics, new ramp, a color dmd and new decals and still save some money. If you don't feel to do the pf swap I guess 4k for a mint it is probably reasonable

Thanks for the input/feedback everyone. I've decided to pass.

8 coats? Thats a lot. I would think you would have problems reattaching posts and any other through bolts with that many layers? Had a similar problem when I restored my SOF.

Welcome back!

If it's a lifetime keeper, the $4K cost shouldn't matter.

If you *might* want to get out of it in the future, then $4K will not likely be recouped, and you might want to accept that up front, if you are ok with that, then there's no issue.

I would assert that very few people would be willing to put $4K into a near-CQ FT, since $4K can buy you a lot of pin, and FT can be had in VG condition for ~$2200.

It doesn't mean you can't sell it at $4K, it just means you may need *considerable time* to fish for finding another guy like you, and is that ok with you? Be prepared to sell it for $3000 in a pinch. If that's ok with you, then go for it.

It's only worth $4K to the venn diagram of:

1. People who WANT a near-CQ FT
2. People who don't prefer other titles in the $4K range
3. People willing to spend $4K on a pin

That's quite a tiny target to hit. If you accept that going in, there should be no problem.
-mof

Got the set of left and right for $20 here at little shop of games. I only needed the right as well, but the paint was messed up on my left plastic so I splurged -

http://ns8313.hostgator.com/~gameshop/product/fish-tales-water-plastic-set/

I'll check if I have an extra.

Oh you got one on there, eh?

Looks great. I've been meaning to get stuff plated, but Mike Chestnut isn't taking any new orders right now for plating. Does anyone have any other guys they would recommend?

Just joined the club. I'm ordering a new rubber kit & I'm unsure what size I need for the Lightning Flippers. Thanks for the help.

Also. Do you guys leave your fish "on" so it flaps it's tale? It is sort of annoying, just curious what the consensus is in the group. Can it be turned off in the 'Menu" or just unplug it?

Normal size flipper rubbers work fine on the Lightning flippers, not sure if you can turn the fish off in settings but the connector is easily accessible behind the light panel

drop dean foam on the fish coil tip and kicker plate is my prefferred option. It deadens it but does not take away the effect.

Snow, What's "drop dean foam"? I've never heard of it.

drop dead foam

sorry, I can't type

stuff like this
http://www.pinbits.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=131

high density foam with sticky tape on one side

I installed a cheap toggle switch behind the topper and I can turn the flapping tale off and on easily. I keep it off when I'm playing and 'saving' it for visitors. That's when I turn it on. It's easy to work back there. I installed 5 extra flasher lamps behind the fish (blue LED's) and it throws a magnificent light show on the ceiling and wall. Easy to do.