Other problems like a FIRE! That one had alotta play left compared to this one out of a Flip-a-Card I did a couple years ago:

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Although the "Grand Tour" may have concluded, I think there is a certain convenience attached to keeping this thread ongoing. Even if the posts become far less frequent. It's a body of work that has continuing reference value, and refers back to prior content.

Nic, remember that Spin-A-Card you "referred" me to a while back? Well, I was a little horrified when I saw it's AS unit, thought finding a replacement would be tough...then came across Steve's great repro. As he pointed out, one side of the unit carries 25v the other 6v. And the 25v side is top most and collects more dirt. Anyway, turned out to be an easy fix thanks to PBR.

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Nic: Will you be maintaining both your Youtube pinball channels,
Nic's Amazing and the Roanoke Pinball Museum channel or combining them?

Are 3 yr olds exempt?

Ahh. Welcome to the world of "public" game operations! For 25 or 50 cents, they feel they "own" the game. For $1.00, it's theirs to destroy.

that ceiling looks amazing!

Indeed it does. Venue lighting is an interesting (and perhaps touchy) subject. When I've been to PHOF at night, I think there was mainly just the light coming from the machines themselves. Not necessarily adequate. For example, you couldn't read much of what was on the background info cards, where they had them. Banning handles this better, though it's still not entirely satisfactory. At your location, it looks like there should not be much of a problem seeing or reading anything.

Agree.. is that a tent-like roof or was the wavy curve fabricated in somehow. Its a nice touch to add some fun and whimsy to the area.

That place is not a tent. The building is really something you need to experience. Huge fish tank, color-changing LED ceiling on the first floor, multiple floors to explore, a killer children's museum on the floor above the museum (with a few pinball machines to boot!). Just go experience the place before I ruin any more of it for you.

for me it looks like some kind of plastic (or acrylic, who knows the exact material) panels.
it reminds me of fairs and my childhood when all I saw was colorful shapes and bright lights and couldn't care less of what it actually was. very cool!

it seems only right.

would love to see more!

I like the plate.

Not many other folks who could legitimately drive around with a plate like that!

mmmm, 1st we pinball, then we eat.

Do or do not, there is no try.

Thanks Nic I agree and should be priced accordingly. Translation lower your price if it's not totally fixed and stop saying I'm low balling if it's not.

I saw the listing for that Hi-Score Pool it must of been bad to pass that up.it said working but so did my Williams Little Chief.just because it turns on does not mean it's working.

I know you are more of a "physical" than "virtual" guy but while you are recuperating, have you ever looked at the computer game: Adventure Pinball - Forgotten Island? its a different take in that instead of trying to simulate a real table, you are the ball. The camera follows the ball as it moves around and in some cases becomes the ball. It can be a bit disorienting but makes for a different experience.

I think its a free download these days, take a look at it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=671&v=e_sdFV5mMs8

Venetian Snares did a version of this and its my personal favorite

Pace yourself friend as one's passion can exceed one's physical limits - if not now then someday. At least limit work to 80 hours per week until you let some of that local pace sink in. This is a great move for you - all the best Nic!

How does “pinball school” work? I just found this thread and hadn’t heard of the museum. The kids and I will be making a pilgrimage very soon!

I was always a toothpaste tube pump man
(usually AquaFresh as I liked the red,white&blue stripes)

But then everyone stopped making them (except for kids flavored bubble gum)
until recently Crest reintroduced its tube pump.

I know not the most economical,
but i hate the conventional tube and putting the cap back on.

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Well this being Earth Day
Lets all make a pledge to do something
to help with that effect.
Pick up trash at the beach
Forgo using store provided grocery bags (paper or plastic)
and bring your own reusable tote bags instead (Calif has mandated that).
Drink all your beer from the tap or out of refillable growlers.
Demand that Fast Food ban plastic straws and go back to paper straws.
Every little bit helps.

Lots of area trying to ban plastic drinking straws, probably 50,000,000 used per day. Even getting those out of peoples hands will be a small help

Okay, I now have to bring (or pay for) my shopping bags now. They have outlawed styrofoam in many areas in California (which keeps the drinks cold longer).

But leave me my plastic straws. I hate the feel of paper ones.

In our area, We recycle just about everything now. How 'bout the rest of the States catch up. I can't stand it when I travel and no one has even heard of NOT just tossing their plastic water bottles. I am sure just one bottle will make up for quite a few straws.

Nic, I'm assuming that your first job is to get all pins working 100%. Now I've come to realize that "working" means a lot of different things to different people. To a casual player this may mean that all parts function correctly enough so that the logic and scoring of the game proceed as designed. To others it may mean tuning a game so that it plays and even sounds exactly like it did when it first left the factory (or even better). Importantly, if someone has never played an expertly tuned game they often can't tell how crappy many games are. When they do experience a finely tuned one though, even a familiar game feels like something they've never played before - it's just feels great.

Could you talk about how you approach prioritizing how you work on games? Do you keep a list of things to come back to after other things of greater importance have been addressed? (like "this pin could use a flipper rebuild" or "score reels work but are a bit sluggish" or "chimes could sound better" or even "this stepper is very dirty and could use a rebuild" etc).

Also wondering at what point do you stop tuning to perfection vs looking for new games to get to just basic level of playability? What is your ultimate goal for these pins here under your care?

If I lived in the area....i'd be IN!

(in case you want to switch the thread to a toothpaste one!) I recommend Toms of Maine - primarily in that they don't have SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) in it. Using a toothpaste with SLS gives me frequent cold sores. Since switching to a SLS-free toothpaste I haven't had one in years.

Our local Earth Day went well, lots of participation and the local breweries partnered with the cleanup crews - everyone was happy!

That is a big plus over the PHOF. I've had to leave and drive to get something to eat and didn't go back both times I was there. (mental note for next time, bring food and refreshments so I can stay there all day. I'm like a kid in a candy store there)

They need a food truck at least so we can stay there and play the games instead of starving.

The plus side is I found two EMs there that were so much fun that they're on my very short list of two games that I won't pass on if available locally. (Royal Guard and Apollo)

Can't wait to check out PHOF. Can anyone comment on maintenance quality there?

Good to see you the other day Nic...back from Atlanta now, so going to unload that game and finish it up. Nice operation you guys have up there.

Is it just me, or does James look like a young Mike Pacak w/o hair.....?

Just me? Okay, move along.

They maintain the em's pretty well. The brand new Sterns are usually ok for the first year or so. Don't bother playing anything else. Tim loves his em's and is seen constantly working on them, but 1990's Bally/Williams and ss era not so much.

I see Tim working hard on maintenance. With that many games it's not easy for sure. Their Royal Guard and Apollo played like new and were the best EMs there that I had a chance to play. I only played half of them before leaving for good to get some food.

BTW, be sure to bring plenty of food and drink if you plan to stay a long time unless you're fine with leaving and driving somewhere else to get some food and drink then going back.