Addams Family, The
Bally, 1992and then I started noticing the clear and the cnc work
20220714_151728 (resized).jpg20220714_151810 (resized).jpg20220714_151949 (resized).jpg20220714_152209 (resized).jpg20220714_152657 (resized).jpg20220714_153505 (resized).jpg20220714_153617 (resized).jpg20220714_153821 (resized).jpg20220714_154746 (resized).jpg20220714_155857 (resized).jpg20220714_155917 (resized).jpgI couldnt put these in better order. The sanded pfis the totan gold that I am working on.
The polished glossy totan is one that I am finishing right now. It didnt come out as good as I wanted so I re-did it, and added 2 coats.
The pics of the SS are a mirco that I have 4 coats on now.
So often people will say, "why would you pay someone to clear a new pf you just spent 900 on?"
This is how I earn my living. I cant imagine installing this pf as it was before I started working on it. First off many of the holes are clogged up with burrs or clearcoat. The original clear didnt look good after it cured for the first 4 months of its life. It takes me so much time to carefully remove clear coat.
20220714_153024 (resized).jpg20220714_153037 (resized).jpg20220714_153052 (resized).jpg20220714_153157 (resized).jpg20220714_153208 (resized).jpgGreat example of what you said regarding why would you reclear a new playfield. This is why! “Gold” my ass!
Yes they look like butt holes to me too.
Once this clear gets hard, its harder than the plastic. I have wrecked a couple of these inserts and its no fun. you have to be super careful, and no shakes. If you take a razor to this much clear, there is all kinds of collateral damage to the clear or the insert. I have broke so many x-acto blades trying to clean these out. sometimes blades work best some times the kruzman install kit works best. and sometimes they get screwed up.
Once it starts raining today, I am going to do all of this little grinding work. I prepped 5 pfs yesterday and all but one need to be dremiled. That was my whole days work. prepping 5 pfs! some times its not all sex drugs and rock n roll.
20220714_135007 (resized).jpg20220714_135015 (resized).jpg20220714_135022 (resized).jpg20220714_135049 (resized).jpg20220714_135057 (resized).jpgYou can see in the first pic of the Space invaders pf, that I was sanding from the top down and saw those roll overs and said "I gotta get a pic of this!"
I should clarify that I wasnt posting these pics to say everyone's work besides mine sucks, or everything pisses me off.
I just wanted to show, why people pay me to tear up their new pfs and make them better.
Looks like I fall into that camp too - very curious to see what you find on that bronze Banzai Run that is headed your way... on the fence if I should send you the upper PF but I think in general those hold up pretty well and it looks pretty good.
Quoted from kruzman:Does anyone know about this? It looks like the small shooter lane is going to send the ball to the right. I dont know if it will matter. I will put a straight edge on it today. Its possible it just my eyes
The shooter lane is bent to the right. The coil will blast the ball, it will bounce off the side right rail (leaving dimples) and then hopefully activate the roll over switch wire. Looks like a reject board to me. Short of filling in the shooter lane and re-routing it, I don't know if the fix is worth the squeeze.
Those Star Roll Overs look awful and deformed. Love your before and after shots....
On the BR, I agree with you about not doing the top pf. We are not alone in that belief because I have cleared about 6 cpr BR pfs' but never a top one.
I havent prepped the BR yet, but I will take pics and hopefully its pretty easy/straight forward.
The way I look at it, is we put a man on the moon, we can get a pf right. if not I can say I tried my best. usually its just a matter of more work is all.
I wanted to save those pics of the totan until I was done with it to do before and after pics, but I am not good at that. when I buy a christmas present for someone I always give it to the when I get it.
i am guessing the reason why I have so many messed up pfs in a row, is because people install the ones with no issues. That makes sense to me. Everything is so expensive.
I saw a basically stock TAF game sell today for 13 grand. It had a couple updates, led's but cab, pf, and most stuff was stock. Nice game. It said may be HUO, and it may be. Its still 30 years old, and they made 22,000 of them and they sell quickly at 13 grand. Its an odd time in america. Have you folks seen what the american dollar is worth compared to all other currency's? It must be a good time to travel internationally if you are american or have american green backs! The Kruzman econ/pf Report. ha.
Quoted from kruzman:Not sure if you can see how the wood grain has raised and cracked the ink
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
Ron - how do you go about repairing that? Do you sand it back to the wood to stop any further raising / cracking, or do you simply put down a coat of clear and then paint over that to cover the damaged artwork? Also what causes the wood to do this in the first place?
Quoted from kruzman:Prep work all day yesterday. Ready for the last coat on the prem.
[quoted image][quoted image]
Can’t wait to see the final coat!! Looks awesome
Quoted from Manny65:Ron - how do you go about repairing that? Do you sand it back to the wood to stop any further raising / cracking, or do you simply put down a coat of clear and then paint over that to cover the damaged artwork? Also what causes the wood to do this in the first place?
It is called the 'Kruzman Magic' TM.
Quoted from Manny65:Ron - how do you go about repairing that? Do you sand it back to the wood to stop any further raising / cracking, or do you simply put down a coat of clear and then paint over that to cover the damaged artwork? Also what causes the wood to do this in the first place?
so to answer this question. First when you see the pics it looks like the cracks are valley's, but they are actually mountain ranges, if that makes any sense. Its really important for me to sand down to the lowest point of the clear. So sanding off the tops of mountain ranges is way easier that sanding the top part of the valleys. When I have to sand down there I have to take the mountain ranges down to their level.
I talked with the owner on this matta hari, and he wants me to repaint the areas that show the cracks, that have any chance of showing under the plastics and stuff. Since I dont touch up, I repaint the color in its natural boundaries of key lines and other colors.
Another fact that most dont know is automotive epoxy clear, like I use does. NOT ABSORB IN TO THE WOOD. That's why I use polyurethane on the back side, because I want it to soak in to the wood. auto clear sits on top (it was designed to sit on body panels.
Also I really appreciate the kind words. I am proud of the level of achievement I have made, but its important to me to be a good person as well as doing good work. After I went to college to be a investor banker, and decided to go in to the building trades, I started my own gig like I did in pinball. I learned as much as I could where I could. I get joy to be a part of a positive thing or project that people really love. There was plenty of repair work like when a tree when on a house or roof leaked, where you just need to make it work again. surprisingly those situations make a lot more money, because they are necessary NOW. I have found that I would rather be involved in something that brings people joy, and pride, excitement, (name all of the emotions) during the job, and then in the years after. I am always looking for the meaning in my life, and this situation gives me a lot of that. Its a big reason I havent gone in to a situation where I hire people to do the work and I cash the checks (and them blame them when the job is not right).
I think the combo of the pandemic and the baby boomers retiring with plenty o money, has allowed a lot of people to be artisans again for the first time since in america since before ww2, after which, the key to the middle class was factory work. Close to meaningless factory work. The workers dont have any attachment or love for what they make and the executives make more than 10X their wage to never get their hands dirty. I totally understand doing what you have to do to put a roof over your families head, but there seem to be a lot more people than any other time in my life building a garage business. Its a very positive thing for the people who are doing the work as well as the people who are enjoying the product rather than another china import from wallmart. Of course I am exaggerating to make my point.
To say it on one sentence, I am very aware how blessed I am in the work situation. Not lucky. Blessed.
Lately I have been trying to communicate more with my customers, and its having positive results on my life. I really enjoy getting to meet the people who want to tell me about what they are doing, and they often will ask questions both personal and professional. I really dig it. I live alone out at the compound, and except for the girl at the gas station, I dont stand face to face with another human, very often, for a week. I always thought I was a loner, maybe I was, but I am not any more. Soooo. its all very wonderful. Most people dont get the opportunity to say that about work.
Ron,
This is one of my go-to threads but I let it get away from me. I’ve has been busy the past couple months and I let Pinside slip to the sidelines. I just spent hours going through 6 pages of posts since I last checked in.
Quoted from ToucanF16:Ron,
This is one of my go-to threads but I let it get away from me. I’ve has been busy the past couple months and I let Pinside slip to the sidelines. I just spent hours going through 6 pages of posts since I last checked in.
Hopefully its less the kruzman show, and more the pf channel.
I am sorry I have to keep asking but hopefully someone will respond.
I am looking for a used high speed pf to make a dimple pattern. It can be a nos or repro also. I wont even scuff your pf in the process, and I will pay shipping, and I will be greatly in your debt.
Right now I have a super nice customer needing a high speed to make a template so to dimple, also I need to make a template for a 72 FIREBALL pf
so fireball and High speed. Please help if you can. It wont cost you. you will be helping some very cool people in the community.
lastly, another super nice pin person is restoring a Viking and he needs pics of the underside of the pf really bad. sounds like the braid line is his prob right now. If you have a viking, and can click some pics you would be really helping out a good guy. here is his contact [email protected]
for the HS and fireball, please contact me, since I have to make the template. If it is easier to sell the pf, that may be a possibility also. I feel like one of those commercials for the starving children, "So please help!"
And 2 others I have been trying to find for months now. The poor pfs have been sitting for months!!! I need a Champ pub, and a who dunnit to make a dimple pattern.
Once I make a pattern, I can use it till it gets sloppy (like 5-7 times)
Be a part of your community!
Quoted from Ballypalooza:Parts - For Sale
High Speed Partially Populated Playfield
New!
Used, fair condition “I have several partially populated playfields that I am selling.
This High Speed playfield should clean up very well and could be used for a restoration, stripped for parts, and/o...”
11 hours ago
Rock Island, IL
TFC100
175 (OBO)
Thank you, I just sent kevin this info
I will admit that the big money jobs can be a bit stressful. This is a NOS IJ. Its an odd one because the print is fantastic. It was mylared, and dimpled, but not used. I would bet it was simply left over when production stopped. Think about it, there is always a point in production where you don't have enough parts to put together another, even though you still have a bunch of some parts.
So this pf only had the working, lock down clear, but wasn't diamond plated. When I bought the group of pfs from that fella that was the shop floor boss of linc smith, I learned that pfs were printed in 3 places, including sun, and then they were all shipped to Sun Processing to get the final Diamond plate. I dont know if that fits in to the situation, but I am dropin knowledge here
. This pf was owned and handled by someone who very much cared for it. It would have been so easy to scratch or scuff.
So when I looked at an angle, I could see the different heights of the screened inks. That's how thin the coat was, and not only does the wood expand, but inserts are never quite level. So I had to sand this one by hand, with the grain, plus file and dremmil. Long story long, I got it done better that I guessed. This is going to be a very nice plank when its done I believe
20220715_190638 (resized).jpg20220715_190701 (resized).jpg20220715_190730 (resized).jpg20220715_190737 (resized).jpg20220715_190754 (resized).jpg20220715_190808 (resized).jpgOutside lane arrows are never level. No matter the maker, and even the age. For some reason the outside lane arrows always have one edge up. its either the shape of the insert or the fact that is an inch or 2 from the edge of the plywood.
Here is some follow up. I painted the 2 key lines around the star roll overs on the quick silver, and I restored all of the paint I am going to on the rocky and bullwinkle. I dont have a customer for this pf, I just love the game that much.
Matching wood is so difficult. There used to be some guys over by brian kelly I think (playfield renovation) who did great paint work, mostly with airbrush. Their best thing was they could paint under the apron, and with the airbrush do the grain in the wood. It looked amazing. I dont even try to grain any more, I have found that if I get it right on a couple, I will not on all of them. The colors involves with painting wood tone, are colors that totally change under clear. worse that anything else. I dont like the way the wood touch up came out on the I500 I just did. It was great before the clear, and then bummer. With all of the non flat area involved in the wood color touch up places, I cant sand it and redo it, and I will have the problem with paint floating on clear, so I live with it. Once installed I know it will disappear.
On the rocky and Bull I painted the white all over. The flowers at the top look way better. I ended up painting all of the green at the targets on the right (middle) because of the hairlines from inserts, but I couldnt get in to that blue that has the big round insert. Blue is very difficult to get perfect, before you even clear it. I was going to change the art a little and get rid of the lower part of the dot fade. There was too much a chance it would draw attention and then look restored. That is just a personal issue with me. My main goal is for it to look new, not restored.
20220718_121502 (resized).jpg20220718_121516 (resized).jpg20220718_121526 (resized).jpg20220718_121541 (resized).jpg20220718_121559 (resized).jpg20220718_123836 (resized).jpgSomeone really took care of it. the colors are super bright. I had it next to a really good repro, and the colors are stronger, brighter, which gives even more contrast. I was so relieved when I was done. I still have to get to all of those star roll overs, on the other prepped pf's, which are also nerve wracking.
I am guessing from feedback that people like the progress pics, and like seeing their pf in the thread. If I am making it to bread and butter let me know.
All prep again yesterday. Lets start with this CPR BR. This a screened bronze version, and its a good pf. I found onequite small issue that they must have down graded it for. It has the usual wood grain expansion. Its great for me when i get these pfs that are over a year old, because they have all ready dried, and for the most part stopped moving around and shrinking. Its no ones fault that wood dried/cures. I think this wood is ordered as kitchen cabinet grade, and for that use this pf works for pinball and cabinets.
There is a lot of work that doesnt come out great, and there is issues that just are what they are.
So I want to point out again that since I show the flaws I am not saying the pf is bad or bad work. That would make me a crappy business and also make me look stupid because I get to do this for a living because some people have a higher expectation. My job is to be able to spot the stuff that can be fixed, and bring it up to a higher level.
All that aside I would have graded this one gold except this one little flaw in screening. So its cool that cpr flagged it and marked it down. Very cool. Its hard to put grades on your work. There is so much involved with that. Are you grading it for the company or for the customer, and are your standards the same as the customers... see what I mean. Grading would be hard. Like I mentioned to a customer this morning. All I do is the best I can do (kruzman treatment/kruzmanize whatever you want to call it) and I do that on every job. In hind sight I should just say add money. whatever. This morning is complicated.
So hopefully this BR will be agreeable. Its a nice pf.
as I am loading pics I see that there was only one insert that cracked. This is unusual. Its usually several or none. Very rarely just one insert.
20220719_162002 (resized).jpg20220719_162009 (resized).jpg20220719_162037 (resized).jpg20220719_162844 (resized).jpg20220719_162929 (resized).jpg20220719_164935 (resized).jpgI have been looking for a dimpled version of this pf for almost a year! Just haven't found one. There are not a lot of used pfs floating around I am guessing.
So I am just going to do it, and when it gets installed the installed will just have to use the install kit to remove the cleat before drilling in to the clear which everyone does anyway.
Before every coat I use the grinder to keep the edge around the inside edge of the counter sunk areas. I dont know how it installs, but I dont want to fill the area with clear, so its just more hand sanding, and thank god/ron for the kruzman playfiled install kit!!!
20220719_135252 (resized).jpg20220719_135304 (resized).jpg20220719_135322 (resized).jpg20220719_135341 (resized).jpg20220719_135350 (resized).jpg20220719_135358 (resized).jpg20220719_135407 (resized).jpg20220719_135411 (resized).jpgQuoted from ibis:That TOTAN is unacceptable. Shame on CPR, that one must have slipped through.
Ron, is there any way you could use a template to paint the circles around the inserts? Seems that would be the easiest way to get circles.
I am not sure what you mean. Please send me a pm if you have a concern with your pf. I dont know who's is whos when it comes to pinside names, peoples names and emails. So at any time if you ask me a question, just make sure to mention the pf title and maker and I will know what we are talking about. I am not at the shop, and at the shop the jobs dont have peoples names on them unless they put them on there (which is not a bad idea).
So let me know.
Quoted from kruzman:I am guessing from feedback that people like the progress pics, and like seeing their pf in the thread. If I am making it to bread and butter let me know.
I got my playfield a couple weeks ago but this thread is a perma bookmark for me nowadays. I've basically become addicted to seeing all the pretty pictures. That goes for people doing the swaps as well, by the way. If you get your playfield back and do the swap - please come drop a pic or two. I like drooling.
Quoted from Beatnik-Filmstar:I got my playfield a couple weeks ago but this thread is a perma bookmark for me nowadays. I've basically become addicted to seeing all the pretty pictures. That goes for people doing the swaps as well, by the way. If you get your playfield back and do the swap - please come drop a pic or two. I like drooling.
I agree. I love to see my work installed. I really enjoy being a part of these restorations.
NOTICE:
I have a LOTR pf here that I finished about 2 months back. I cant find the owners info, but it goes to europe. I also have a record that I will ship with it.
So I know things are tough in europe, but please get a hold of me and we will get this out to ya.
Thanks. kruz
I honestly feel this pf is priceless, even though I sold it for 17 or 1800$. Its one of the prototype 3 mag pfs. I dont know how many were made. The cool thing is, it is going in a proto game!!! Its like putting a motor in a 63 vette and finding one with the correct numbers. Its about impossible. When this game is done its going to be something special.
Ready for paint work
20220720_143055 (resized).jpg20220720_143456 (resized).jpg20220720_143511 (resized).jpg20220720_143522 (resized).jpg20220720_143537 (resized).jpg20220720_143556 (resized).jpg20220720_143608 (resized).jpg20220720_143626 (resized).jpg20220720_143643 (resized).jpgNice matta hari. Love that christensen art. I figure either him or chuck conners (the rifleman) is my actual biological father.
In the 5th pic i am pointing at my armpit stain from carrying it.
20220720_125610 (resized).jpg20220720_125619 (resized).jpg20220720_125926 (resized).jpg20220720_133032 (resized).jpg20220720_133044 (resized).jpg20220720_133058 (resized).jpgI bought this Sharkeys shootout from a really nice guy I had never met here on pinside. This was my first DMD game, and I got it in 05 I think down in central IL maybe 06. Its an awesome game. Total rip off of 8 ball de-lux, but way better. I paid 1800 for it back then which was a lot for the game, but it had less than 300 plays on it. Of course it got sold since I figured I would someday replace it.
When I saw this I figured I would bring it back to its former glory, and see if it sells. One of the hardest part of my job is I always buy the wrong titles to flip, because I buy the stuff I love, and I have weird taste to say it nicely. Not only do I like the red headed step children games, I love red head chicks from hard childhoods!
20220720_133323 (resized).jpg20220720_133338 (resized).jpg20220720_133349 (resized).jpg20220720_133420 (resized).jpg20220720_133440 (resized).jpgQuoted from kruzman:I am not sure what you mean. Please send me a pm if you have a concern with your pf. I dont know who's is whos when it comes to pinside names, peoples names and emails. So at any time if you ask me a question, just make sure to mention the pf title and maker and I will know what we are talking about. I am not at the shop, and at the shop the jobs dont have peoples names on them unless they put them on there (which is not a bad idea).
So let me know.
I was looking at your photo of the Quicksilver and how you were hand painting the black ring around the insert. I was just commenting that if you had a template, that ring painting would be must faster and less stressful.
Quoted from ibis:I was looking at your photo of the Quicksilver and how you were hand painting the black ring around the insert. I was just commenting that if you had a template, that ring painting would be must faster and less stressful.
Surely you know you're giving advice to a master?
Quoted from kruzman:I honestly feel this pf is priceless, even though I sold it for 17 or 1800$. Its one of the prototype 3 mag pfs. I dont know how many were made. The cool thing is, it is going in a proto game!!! Its like putting a motor in a 63 vette and finding one with the correct numbers. Its about impossible. When this game is done its going to be something special.
Ready for paint work
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
EARLY SAMPLE PLAYFIELD, going into a EARLY sample Twilight Zone. 
Once I get this from you? You will be getting an ACTUAL pre-prototype playfield, that will NOT be going into a game, to preserve it. ❤️
I can't friggin' wait.
Quoted from Coyote:EARLY SAMPLE PLAYFIELD, going into a EARLY sample Twilight Zone.
Once I get this from you? You will be getting an ACTUAL pre-prototype playfield, that will NOT be going into a game, to preserve it. ❤️
I can't friggin' wait.
Will you please share your knowledge on how they did proto's and samples, about how many were made. You said before that the arcade you worked had one of the samples. Do they call you and ask how its going or did they come in and look at it? I know it takes a lot of time to write, and i know you told your story once all ready on this thread, but I would like to know more about samples/protos in general. also does the seril number mean anything to your project? So when you have time, I think it would add to this thread a lot.
In fact I would like to remind everyone that the angle of this thread is pfs. I put my work in there to fill time gaps, and also so folks what pfs are like out of the games. I realized thats what I should look for stuff to photograph, rather than just a pic of the whole pf.
Also if you have a sweet pf, please feel free to post a pic. (then I can bug you to sell it to me. ha!)
Quoted from kruzman:When I saw this I figured I would bring it back to its former glory, and see if it sells. One of the hardest part of my job is I always buy the wrong titles to flip, because I buy the stuff I love, and I have weird taste to say it nicely. Not only do I like the red headed step children games, I love red head chicks from hard childhoods!
Thank you for posting this! I like the title for a lot of the reasons you posted and a bunch more.
It's probably my favorite Stern. People think "that's crazy". But I like pool and I like the history of pinball so it makes sense for me and that's all that matters. I searched for a true HUO Sharkey's for a very long time and I know I own one of the nicest examples of the game on the planet... well at least until you finish yours. I know why pinball people go crazy for games like TZ, AFM, and LOTR, or even the latest Stern but I don't really care to own any of those games... you can play them literally EVERYWHERE now.
Sharkey's was a pinball on location (when not many "locations" still had pinball) and it was making money in a year that Gary Stern essentially saved pinball. Don't get me wrong, that game did not alone save the industry but in my opinion, it was the first title that really stood out for Stern. It let operators and pinball players both know they can make a good pinball product that has easy to approach rules and also has great replay value... even though it was a recycled design back when they were still Sega Pinball.
So a customer/friend sent this one over, almost as a surprise. I had never heard of the game, and never seen the pf. I want one!!!! This belongs to matt/goose-W.
I cant tell who made it because the clear seems way to thin to be mirco. I would think on route this one would dimple up and wear pretty quick, but thats what they are made to do. Play pinball and make quarters, right?
I havent looked for pics on the data base to see if those flippers sink in to the pf or if it is just the way they designed the assembly (which is what I would bet on).
I used to mess around on the track with a few bikes. 88 or 89 GSXR750 slingshot, as well as the 88-89 1100cc version that I took to the drag strip more than las vegas race way, or gratten mich, or mid america.
Since I honestly do not have a competitive bone in my body, I dont get in to racing, but I love going around the track with others. I just could care less who "wins". When I play golf I play with others I dont care about their score compared to mine. I think its a gene mutation or lack of testosterone. Plus no father around, and didnt play any sport in high school except getting my ass kicked before I hit puberty and grew heavier than 112 at 6ft 3, in my junior year.
I trailered my prized possession GSXR slingshot to califorina when I moved there. When I moved to CA, I had only been there once on a vacation, so I gave away everything but the necessities, put them in a trailer, and drove the 10 till I hit the beach in santa monica. I think this was 1992, anyway 2 days after I got there the riots started (rodney king riots with the national guard and martial law).
On day 7, I got an apartment at 28th st and wilshire in santa monica, and a job at the roxy on sunset. I was in a dream. I returned my uhaul that day, went for a ride on the bike from sunset on the 5 or 405 I forget what its called, and took sunset all the way to the ocean. perfect ride. Got home and parked my bike in my car port. One cryptonite cable lock around the back tire to the car port beam, another cryptonite "U lock" around the front tire. Took a nap, and woke up, still day light, and the bike was gone, along with the locks. Called the police and they said they would send a report in the mail.
A couple weeks later I picked up a 1985 or 86 Kaw 600 ninja. It was the first year with the name ninja which I didnt care for. It had been stolen and joy rode and was so smashed up the owner didnt pay the impound, so I got it for 900. leaked motor and fork oil from every where. Every single body panel was smashed, and I didnt have to lock it ever. in fact, it had no key ignition. You could start it with any key or screw driver. Possibly a dime. Only a serious bike person could even tell what that rat trap was
When I went back to michigan I took the gsxr 1100 with me, (I bought that about a year after the Kaw when I lived in vegas, and had access to all of the open roads) and sold it quickly to a man for his first bike. It was the fastest production bike made until the haybusa like 4 years later. I sold him one of my helmets because he didnt have one. I am sure he is waiting for me in the afterlife. In 2000 I bought the new triumph daytona (I think it was a 955. could have been 999). It was fuel inj, with lotus heads, and was 130 hp and about 450lbs from the factory. Of course I had it tuned out and piped, all the usual crap. I got that bike to 171 which is the fastest I have ever been in a car or bike on the 75 about an hour south of macinaw. When I got pulled over they said I was going 149, so I didnt argue.
I went back to harleys after that. This is the 3rd summer of no bike for me.I have never gone 2. Oh well. The deer are too much around here.
And back to pinball. So I cant wait to check out this game. I really want one of these pf's
20220720_161549 (resized).jpg20220720_161558 (resized).jpg20220720_161604 (resized).jpg20220720_161609 (resized).jpg20220720_161613 (resized).jpg20220720_161631 (resized).jpg20220720_161647 (resized).jpg20220720_161754 (resized).jpg20220720_161802 (resized).jpgQuoted from snyper2099:Thank you for posting this! I like the title for a lot of the reasons you posted and a bunch more.
It's probably my favorite Stern. People think "that's crazy". But I like pool and I like the history of pinball so it makes sense for me and that's all that matters. I searched for a true HUO Sharkey's for a very long time and I know I own one of the nicest examples of the game on the planet... well at least until you finish yours. I know why pinball people go crazy for games like TZ, AFM, and LOTR, or even the latest Stern but I don't really care to own any of those games... you can play them literally EVERYWHERE now.
Sharkey's was a pinball on location (when not many "locations" still had pinball) and it was making money in a year that Gary Stern essentially saved pinball. Don't get me wrong, that game did not alone save the industry but in my opinion, it was the first title that really stood out for Stern. It let operators and pinball players both know they can make a good pinball product that has easy to approach rules and also has great replay value... even though it was a recycled design back when they were still Sega Pinball.
Great point!
WPT is one of the 2 games I have in my living room. I bought one new for 2850 from jersey jack when he only sold games, and didnt make them yet. He was great to buy games from. He was closing these out along with wheel of fortune because no one was buying them. Then it got sold, and about 2 years later I ran across one in box for still under 3 grand. Played that one for a year or 3.
Then last year I decided I wanted another, and one came up in detroit within a couple weeks. So I have owned this title 3 times. I love it. Its typical steve ritchie, but with 16 drops, and it has some shots that are so far or long. One is a hole in the pf backboard. Like when playing pool, the longer the distance between when you hit the ball and the hole the tighter you have to be with your shot. The added length multiplies the angle trajectory, if that makes any sense. hard to put in words.
So after owning this game 3 times I noticed yesterday that there is a pair of sunglasses under the flippers and you can see cards in the reflection. NEVER noticed it. So thats one vote in favor of all of these pics, and what they are good for
20220720_183459 (resized).jpg20220720_183511 (resized).jpg20220720_184659 (resized).jpg20220720_191451 (resized).jpgQuoted from kruzman:In fact I would like to remind everyone that the angle of this thread is pfs. I put my work in there to fill time gaps, and also so folks what pfs are like out of the games. I realized thats what I should look for stuff to photograph, rather than just a pic of the whole pf.
Honestly, like I've personally said before, I love any and all PF pictures. I find them all gorgeous how the wood, paint, and light makes the 'art'.
Quoted from kruzman:Will you please share your knowledge on how they did proto's and samples, about how many were made. You said before that the arcade you worked had one of the samples. Do they call you and ask how its going or did they come in and look at it? I know it takes a lot of time to write, and i know you told your story once all ready on this thread, but I would like to know more about samples/protos in general. also does the seril number mean anything to your project? So when you have time, I think it would add to this thread a lot.
Certainly - and I can keep it in a spoiler tag to not distract from the PF pictures. 
My knowledge is from the early/mid-90's, and with WMS/Midway, so other mfgrs and times, things may have been different. But this is long. Only unhide if you want to read. I get really chatty talking about this crap.
And some details about how T. Zone playfields fit into that..
Then the samples were made. The first run of samples have the third magnet hole (like all samples), but has alternate coloring at the entrance to the main ramp. Early samples have the right spiral insert labeled as "GUM BALL" (and nod 'SPIRAL'). Our test game was shipped with it saying 'GUM BALL', and at one point a tech from the distributor came in with a knife, and scraped it off - he was supposed to replace it with a decal that says 'SPIRAL', but.. he lost it, and never installed it on our game. (This game is now the one in my possession.. when I had THIS playfield clearcoated, I specifically told them NOT to put the decal on it - to keep it's uniqueness.)
Sample fields were updated - the third magnet was kept, but the colors changed at the main ramp entrance, and the spiral insert was corrected. LOCK ws still green. This is the most common type of 'Sample' playfield out there.
And then production fields happened. LOCK was changed to the orange color. The autofire ramp was changed, and a few other small things were changed. There's reports of the pup-bumper posts, getting changed in and out during production. My take on it is that they were removed back during the Sample phase, but one PF manufacturer didn't remove the drills from their CNC setup, so I believe that playfields from one PF maker always had them, while the otherwas sent new drill files and they were removed. No basis behind this, but that's my belief.
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Okay, I ramble far, far too much. And apparently, 'spoiler' tags don't work well. Sorry 'bout that.
The field you're doing for me is a very early sample - it has the wrong colors in front of the Main Ramp, 'GUM BALL' on the Spiral insert. Other difference include T-Nut countersinks on the underside for ALMOST all posts. A couple moved posts around the metal autofire ramp..
Once I get that field from you, I'm shipping back one of the VERY FIRST playfields - one that was printed with the wrong Door Panels, red inserts in DEAD END and CAMERA, and more. I'm actually very, very curious, when you do this one, what you'll find that *I* missed. This one can't easily be put into a game, as this one NEVER HAD the 'Clock Millions' target drilled in, and the Rocket Kicker posts are wrong. It's COMPLETELY uncoated - there is NO clearcoat on it at all - you can FEEL the layers of ink on the wood. My desire is to get it touched up (storage causes a few tiny little scrapes in the ink), and clearcoated to protect it.
Fantastic read. I know its hard to write that stuff without falling in to rabbit holes. Good job. Lots of info I was wondering about. I had the same thoughts on the pf serial number, as well as the post in the pop bumper area (which threw me off for years)
Its such a trip that you got the original game that was in your arcade way back then. It would have been a crime for the pf to go to anyone else. I am so happy to be a part of it, and just the fact that its going to get put together. Puts a little wind in my sails
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