(Topic ID: 65903)

Flash Gordon: Saviors of the Universe Club

By TheShameGovernor

10 years ago


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  • Latest reply 12 hours ago by mad_carl
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There are 2,794 posts in this topic. You are on page 10 of 56.
#451 7 years ago

I talked to Sam Jones that day and he told me that Bally never gave him a pinball machine, & always wanted one.

#452 7 years ago
Quoted from dracula40:

I talked to Sam Jones that day and he told me that Bally never gave him a pinball machine, & always wanted one.

You would have thought with Bally making so many of them, that would have been a given. Too bad....nice to see a signed backglass by Flash Gordon himself.

#453 7 years ago
Quoted from dracula40:

I talked to Sam Jones that day and he told me that Bally never gave him a pinball machine, & always wanted one.

Hopefully you took a copy of TED with you to get him to sign that too. Death to Ming !

#454 7 years ago

Just joined this club earlier this year but didn't see this thread til now. I love this game and how tough it is. Funny thing is I have two machines at my photography studio and just today folks were talking about wanting me to teach them how to play better. They all said they don't like FG b/c it's too hard. The other machine is an America's Most Haunted which gets played all day, but FG doesn't get the love. I think if any of my employees end up really getting into pinball they'll appreciate it more

#455 7 years ago

FG is a ball drainer for sure

#456 7 years ago

Hi all, I recently (and finally) acquired an FG, and will begin a full restoration on it.

One thing that needs attention is that it has a chipped plastic, the one behind the 4 drop targets on the lower left side. I need just this one plastic, but would be OK also to purchase an entire set if required.

Appreciate in advance anyone who may have either the plastic or the set for sale, thanks.

#457 7 years ago

I'm looking for a nice FG if anyone is thinking of letting one go.

Added over 8 years ago: Edit: Found one!

#458 7 years ago

Looking for a CPR/NOS playfield. I have a WTB ad up, but figured I'd ask here. I've had a few leads, but for some reason everyone's playfields have damage (even though they're "new"). I can throw a few bucks to someone who gets me in touch with a successful purchase - a "finder's fee", if you will. Here's hoping!

1 month later
#459 7 years ago

Hi all, I'm looking to join the Flash Gordon club, but there doesn't seem to be any available in my local area.

If anyone has one they might be ready to part with I am open to a straight sale or also have a decent Black Knight or a players Class of 1812 I'd be willing to trade.

Thx.

#460 7 years ago

Hello,
I have a non working strobe. Doesn't seem like any replacement bulbs or repro boards are available from the usual sources. Does anyone have advice on a way to troubleshoot and repair these boards? From the searches I've done it seems like most have just replaced the bulb or the whole assembly.

#461 7 years ago

Big Daddy had some boards last time I checked. I tried rebuilding my board with a new strobe bulb and capacitors and had no luck

2 weeks later
#462 7 years ago

I am happy to say that I joined the FG club this week when I picked up my machine! It has a number of issues:
- Left flipper coil is burnt up and disconnected
- Game will not coin up/start
- There is a constant hum coming through the speakers when it is powered on
- A drop target is broken
- A few of the rollovers are broken out
- The playfield is terrible

That said, I have it and a winter coming up to work on it (no more yard work distractions). And the strobe unit is working which is a plus. I am attaching a pic of the playfield, or what is left of it. The kicker is that while breaking the machine down I pulled out the factory mylar sheets that came with the game and the old owner says "I thought about putting that on when I got the game 25 years ago but never got to it."

So add me to the looking for a NOS/CPR/good looking playfield club.

playfield (resized).jpgplayfield (resized).jpg

2 weeks later
#463 7 years ago

Hey guys. Looking for help on the FG rules. What is the proper behavior of the lower left drops? On this one I'm playing, they reset at the start of each ball, but once you hit them all down during the ball, they stay down. Is that correct?

#464 7 years ago

No they should reset.
1 or more of the 4 drop target switches isn't working.

#465 7 years ago
Quoted from bballfan:

No they should reset.
1 or more of the 4 drop target switches isn't working.

Thanks! I'll look into it.

#467 7 years ago

I once got a beautiful, unfaded and hardly routed FG out of a small warehouse find at an old operators garage. I own it together with a friend now. It's in his garage, waiting for some small repairs. Planning to clearcoat it too... the playfield is beautiful, and I'd like to keep it that way. I'll post some pictures when I get it out. It's probably the best preserved original Bally SS I've ever seen. And I've seen some.

Talking about beautiful FG playfields... I was in Rome last month. The guesthouse I stayed in had a dining table made of five pinball playfields. Two of these playfields were FG's, but not made by Bally: they were copies from the Italian company Bell Games. What struck me especially is the beautiful shape these playfields were in. Almost looked NOS. The reason? Italian companies like Bell Games and Zaccaria had clearcoated playfields. Also, the Bell Games playfield is different from the Bally one in a couple of places. Can you spot them?
20160913_170847 (resized).jpg20160913_170847 (resized).jpg
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#468 7 years ago
Quoted from Jappie:

Two of these playfields were FG's, but not made by Bally: they were copies from the Italian company Bell Games

Funnily enough, I was just going to post that I finally got my Bell Games Flash Gordon up and running.

I imported it (and a Big Game) from Italy last year. Both had been in storage for a lonnnnnnng time. When I plugged the FG in, smoke came out of the transformer lol.

So yesterday I finally got it up and going for the first time. The sound isn't going though, the amp is running but I suspect the roms need replacing after 10-20 years of storage.

I'll post some pictures in a week or two when I am next back in Pukekohe.

rd

#469 7 years ago
Quoted from rotordave:

Funnily enough, I was just going to post that I finally got my Bell Games Flash Gordon up and running.
I imported it (and a Big Game) from Italy last year. Both had been in storage for a lonnnnnnng time. When I plugged the FG in, smoke came out of the transformer lol.
So yesterday I finally got it up and going for the first time. The sound isn't going though, the amp is running but I suspect the roms need replacing after 10-20 years of storage.
I'll post some pictures in a week or two when I am next back in Pukekohe.
rd

Cool to hear that at least one Bell Games FG is actually in one piece and working! Is it in good shape? Looking forward to see your pictures.

#470 7 years ago
Quoted from Jappie:

... the Bell Games playfield is different from the Bally one in a couple of places. Can you spot them?

The arrow inserts are round with arrows printed on them instead of being arrow shaped and none of the inserts are completely translucent.

Do I win???

I'll PM you my address so you can ship me my "prize" FG that's just sitting in your friends garage...

#471 7 years ago

The inlane guides and pop bumper bodies are different.

#472 7 years ago
Quoted from bballfan:

The inlane guides and pop bumper bodies are different.

Don't know how I missed that!

The plastic posts aren't faceted like the Bally ones either.

#473 7 years ago
Quoted from Jappie:

Cool to hear that at least one Bell Games FG is actually in one piece and working! Is it in good shape? Looking forward to see your pictures.

Yes, it's in good shape. Playfield is mint, cabinet is very good. Probably because it's been in storage for so long.

The cabinet has slightly different artwork to the Bally game too. When I do the pictures I'll also get them up on IPDB.

rd

1 month later
#474 7 years ago

Hi All. does anyone have a link to a hi res image of the FG backglass?

thanks in advance

1 week later
#475 7 years ago

Gentlemen, looking at installing some LED's on a Flash Gordon I am restoring, just wondering if anyone has a list?

Thanks

#476 7 years ago
Quoted from LongJohns:

Gentlemen, looking at installing some LED's on a Flash Gordon I am restoring, just wondering if anyone has a list?
Thanks

I am also doing this now!

FG has very lightly colored translucent inserts so I'm leaning toward using a single LED clear retro bulb for those, partially based on this comment from another LED thread:

Quoted from dothedoo:

I like the retro clear warm white in early EM and SS inserts. I think they look closest to incandescents with the brightness about equal to a 44.
I don't like frosted because they look like a glowing orb under translucent inserts. The clears, having the thin LED, can almost pull off the look of an incandescent filament.

For GI not sure either sunlight or warm white, possibly 2 smd?

I'm a traditionalist so colored GI is out, looking for a brighter version of incandescent basically.

#477 7 years ago

Was hoping for some feedback on what a good fit is for FG GI LEDs would be before the Comet sale ends today...

Anyone have any suggestions based on their experiences?

#478 7 years ago
Quoted from Fytr:

Was hoping for some feedback on what a good fit is for FG GI LEDs would be before the Comet sale ends today...
Anyone have any suggestions based on their experiences?

1 led retro. Warm white for all, except color match red, blue, green.

You'll need the boards from seigecraft (also having a sale) to make them not flicker

#479 7 years ago
Quoted from djblouw:

1 led retro. Warm white for all, except color match red, blue, green.
You'll need the boards from seigecraft (also having a sale) to make them not flicker

Thanks. Same for the GI, or is it okay to go with something brighter there, Warm White?

#480 7 years ago
Quoted from Fytr:

Thanks. Same for the GI, or is it okay to go with something brighter there, Warm White?

Something brighter will be okay. Probably stick with warm white or sunlight. I like the 2led comfort from comet. But to each his own.

Oh, and everything needs to be frosted-both GI and controlled

#481 7 years ago
Quoted from djblouw:

Something brighter will be okay. Probably stick with warm white or sunlight. I like the 2led comfort from comet. But to each his own.
Oh, and everything needs to be frosted-both GI and controlled

Okay, thanks for the help - order placed!

I went with clear for the more translucent inserts (Orange, Green, Blue), I've liked that combination better on other games.
I also went with Sunlight for the GI bulbs, as I don't have much experience with those. If they don't light the plastics with a warm enough color temp. I'll swap them out for Warm Whites, which I can source locally. And I used 1 SMD warm white frosted for the rollover switches, based on a recommendation in another thread.

That's the thing I hate about LEDs, you have to bet on the ones that will look good on your machine, or order way too many and spend way to much $.

Thanks again!

#482 7 years ago
Quoted from Fytr:

I also went with Sunlight for the GI bulbs, as I don't have much experience with those. If they don't light the plastics with a warm enough color temp. I'll swap them out for Warm Whites, which I can source locally. And I used 1 SMD warm white frosted for the rollover switches, based on a recommendation in another thread.

I used sunlight in my Xenon and they look great. It really needed the brighter bulbs. I used clear, but most prefer frosted for better dispersion and less blinding effect. Can't say how they would look under the warmer colored plastics of FG, but I think they're warm enough to pull it off.

2 months later
#483 7 years ago

Does anyone have an photo or drawing of the inline drop target assemble? I think I might be missing something.

Thanks,

Brad

#484 7 years ago
Quoted from Enochsmoken:

Does anyone have an photo or drawing of the inline drop target assemble? I think I might be missing something.
Thanks,
Brad

I just got done tearing one apart, powder coating and reassembling it. What do you think you're missing? IMG_1548 (resized).JPGIMG_1548 (resized).JPGIMG_1550 (resized).JPGIMG_1550 (resized).JPGIMG_1551 (resized).JPGIMG_1551 (resized).JPGIMG_1552 (resized).JPGIMG_1552 (resized).JPGIMG_1553 (resized).JPGIMG_1553 (resized).JPGIMG_1554 (resized).JPGIMG_1554 (resized).JPGIMG_1555 (resized).JPGIMG_1555 (resized).JPGIMG_1556 (resized).JPGIMG_1556 (resized).JPGIMG_1584 (resized).JPGIMG_1584 (resized).JPG

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#485 7 years ago

Thanks,

I see now that I am missing those brackets which the springs are connected to. I took mine apart 2 and 1/2 years ago. How do they attach to the back of the assemble? Yours looks great.

#486 7 years ago
Quoted from Enochsmoken:

Thanks,
I see now that I am missing those brackets which the springs are connected to. I took mine apart 2 and 1/2 years ago. How do they attach to the back of the assemble? Yours looks great.

Thanks. The screws for switches on the backside go through the back plate of the body and screw through the reset spring plates sandwiching everything together.

#487 7 years ago

Great thanks.

Now I have no idea where those brackets are.

1 week later
#488 7 years ago

Only Saviours will appreciate this. Pix at end, please bear with the story.

Sam Jones came to the local 'con this year. Rather than bring in an apron for signature, I decided I would figure out how to get my backglass safely in and out of the con, with his signature on it. It wasn't easy. I had manufactured this "envelope" thing of cardboard, paper, and bubble wrap. It did the job as far as keeping things safe. THe hard part was getting past security.

I was turned away the first time ("sorry kid, no glass permitted"). Wait, what? I found some other security guys and explained the issue to them. They offered to escort me into the building so that I get it signed and then get out.

Sam was more than happy to sign the glass. He seemed pretty impressed and, I must say, the looky-loos were as well. One asked if it was a translite. I actually laughed..."Are you kidding? This is vintage glass baby, straight out of a working pin". Sam helped me get it out of its wrapping and safely on the table. The silkscreen has be triple-thick coated with triple-thick so potential damaging effects of being on the table are minimal.

The silver marker I brought didn't work well. Sam educated me on the finer points of autographing glass, stating, "You'l note I have no silver on my table for just this reason...doesn't work...see? But, you at least you will have a unique signature now with some silver and black."

He did state he never had a pin of his own but will be receiving one this year in Texas. He said, as someone else had posted, that he was never offered a machine. We talked a good bit about pinball...just two guys having a chat. Except for me it was chatting with Flash Gordon! Before I left I asked him if he was ever sampled for the voice synthesis. Explaining FG was the first mass market machine with a voice. He said no, he wasn't, and was curious if it was actually his voice. I said I only know "a voice" is that says "FLASH" occasionally in the game. Not that it was his voice specifically. Which is why I was curious if he was sampled for that machine. He said he wasn't.

Anyway, attached are a few images from the experience. The third image is taken when we were talking about the voice module.

The glass is now safely back in its back box.

IMG_0561 (resized).JPGIMG_0561 (resized).JPG

IMG_0546 (resized).JPGIMG_0546 (resized).JPG

IMG_0552 (resized).JPGIMG_0552 (resized).JPG

#489 7 years ago
Quoted from AGEguy:

Explaining FG was the first mass market machine with a voice. He said no, he wasn't, and was curious if it was actually his voice. I said I only know "a voice" is that says "FLASH" occasionally in the game.

FWIW...
you have 'emperor ming awaits!' and there are more ming lines

Gorgar and Xenon (first bally with it) both pre-date Flash Gordon with speech.

But cool story w/getting the sig. Its neat that he actually hung out with you a bit. Love the shirt too

#490 7 years ago

From IPDB.org:

"First split-level game from this manufacturer. First game to use the "Squawk & Talk" board, and the second production Bally game with speech. (Bally's 1979 'Kiss' prototype was the first, but the production game did not contain speech. Bally's 1980 'Xenon' was the first production Bally game with speech.)"

So, first with squawk and talk is more accurate. Also, my point to him was that despite the numerous Ming lines, the only non Ming line is the one that says, FLASH on launching a ball...also at other points. I wanted to know if SJJ was sampled to produce that line.

1 month later
#491 7 years ago

Rebuilding AS-2518-35

I just finished repairing and rebuilding my AS-2518-35, which I started over two years ago. I don’t recall which IC chips I needed. And which one has the game program.

Thanks for the help,

Brad

#492 6 years ago

I just bought in and have started shopping it out. I got lucky on this one since it has mylar on both the lower and upper playfield. At some point a prior owner tried to cut a few areas back but the majority of the artwork is still there.

No broken plastics and a near mint backglass. Somewhat faded cabinet. A few hacks that I need to fix.

I am looking forward to the light work in getting it up and running. I am even happier not to need a cpr replacement playfield!

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#493 6 years ago

I should have posted this here earlier, but I managed to get one of the Flash Gordon gold sets mentioned here: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/reproduction-bally-aprons

Looks amazing!

FlashGordonApron (resized).jpgFlashGordonApron (resized).jpg

#494 6 years ago

Good for you. Looks great. Love the alternative flippers and black rubber as well. Are they transparent? Looks sharp.

#495 6 years ago

I just joined the club. Shopping it out now. I'm having trouble understanding what they are saying in the game. Especially in attract mode. It say some one awaits. I would think it is Emperor Ming awaits but it doesn't sound like that. Does anyone know what it is saying? Also mine resets if it sits in attract mode for about an hour. I checked voltages and all are at good levels. I also watched the voltage while it was resetting and it stayed strong. Any ideas?

#496 6 years ago
Quoted from kguenther6:

I'm having trouble understanding what they are saying in the game. Especially in attract mode. It say some one awaits. I would think it is Emperor Ming awaits but it doesn't sound like that.

I always joked back in the day that it sounded like "Emperor will reap points".

#497 6 years ago

I'm reviving a Flash Gordon that's been waiting for too long. I have no problem hearing Emperor Ming Awaits! All speech is loud and clear. My issue is I only hear the sounds for all the switches on the 1st ball. After the 1st ball drains all the switches when engaged for the rest of the game respond with a 5 tone drone that's almost like the spinner. Everything triggers the same sound and the strangest part is when the game is over the background noise continues to play even though the displays are showing the end score then high score?! Has anyone ever heard of this?

#498 6 years ago

Hi everyone.

So I have this FG that I am working on and have a question - are all the displays 7 digits? The one I have has a 6 digit display in the credit/player area. No idea if it works as the game is currently far for being in 1 piece and I got it DOA (was a real basket case, missing parts, etc).

Some before and current pictures attached.

Thanks

IMG_1239 (resized).JPGIMG_1239 (resized).JPG

IMG_1240 (resized).JPGIMG_1240 (resized).JPG

IMG_1371 (resized).JPGIMG_1371 (resized).JPG

IMG_1372 (resized).JPGIMG_1372 (resized).JPG

#499 6 years ago

^^ Yes, the credit & ball in play is a 6 digit and all others are 7 digit.

I have a question too. Where does this green wire near the light board flasher go?

20170406_181810.jpg20170406_181810.jpg

#500 6 years ago

Attach it to the strobe casing with the lower left screw.

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