(Topic ID: 220286)

Reach for the Stars!.. Stern Stars club.. Space travelers welcome.

By o-din

5 years ago


Topic Heartbeat

Topic Stats

  • 570 posts
  • 114 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 3 hours ago by Billc479
  • Topic is favorited by 82 Pinsiders

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Linked Games

  • Stars Stern Electronics, 1978

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Topic index (key posts)

6 key posts have been marked in this topic

Display key post list sorted by: Post date | Keypost summary | User name

Post #40 Playfield Parts and Rubbers Map Posted by TractorDoc (5 years ago)

Post #98 CPR Mirrored Backglass Posted by PinZig (4 years ago)

Post #131 Coil Stop - #6 Holes Posted by TKDalumni (4 years ago)

Post #155 Full Playfield Reference Scan - Low Resolution Posted by pavel_one (4 years ago)

Post #164 Swinks Drop Target Replacements Posted by o-din (4 years ago)

Post #173 Pantone Playfield colours Posted by A_Bord (4 years ago)


Topic indices are generated from key posts and maintained by Pinside Editors. For more information, or to become an editor yourself read this post!

There are 570 posts in this topic. You are on page 1 of 12.
#1 5 years ago

The question is often raised- what if you could have only one game in your collection.. I believe Stars would fit the bill. Fortunately it hasn't come to the yet...
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#2 5 years ago

Another one I'm working on.

Perhaps the greatest cabinet repaint of all time!

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#3 5 years ago

The Norse God of Pinside strikes again! You are an endless source of entertainment! I agree Stars is FANTASTIC and more people need to discover this gem. It is one of those sleeper games that has legendary status with certain people in the know.

#4 5 years ago

Thanks!

First I was surprised there wasn't already a club. I did search.

Second, it was starting to seem like I was the only member. Story of my life. Start a cool club and none of the other kid's mommys would let them join!

#5 5 years ago

Club license plate frames.
Mild...
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And Spicy...
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#6 5 years ago

SK-4 if you want to include his work while at Gottlieb.

https://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?searchtype=advanced&ppl=Steve%20Kirk

4 weeks later
#7 5 years ago

does anyone in this prestigious club know what the the little doohicky is called in the shooter lane that keeps the ball from coming back down the lane that is positioned just outboard of the right side spinner?

My Stars is lovely and plays terrific, but that part was missing when I bought it - and I haven't been able to find one since.

thanks

#8 5 years ago

I'm not in the club, but can look shit up. There's a game manual in the IPDB calling it a ball gate asm. p/n A-471
Good luck

#9 5 years ago

I'm in the club! One of my favorites.

#10 5 years ago

Stars is a good one for sure. Working on some classic Sterns myself but haven't had a Stars come up in years.

#11 5 years ago

I sold both of my Stars. One left last year and the second one last week. Feel a bit saddened by it all.... Snif, Snifff.... One day I'll get another. What an awesome game!

#12 5 years ago

I picked up this one, and put it back to the way it's supposed to be:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stern-starswtf-is-this-spinner-doing-here

#13 5 years ago

This is my pride and joy. Number one played game. Dialed in to play hard and fast. Beautiful clear coated playfield, great backglass, and stripped and stenciled cabinet. Took a long time to finish. Definately a keeper.

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#14 5 years ago

I was able to score a free Stars awhile back and was thinking of turning it into a coffee table or a lit pf wallhanger because the head is completely gutted. I think id now rather get the game up and running because the pf and cab are in decent shape. I know i can get a BG resto bg but how hard would it be to find a head harness, light board, and boards? Anyone happen to have a spare head they want to part with...

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#15 5 years ago

My stars is in a rough shape, but I plan on getting It up running.
The cabinet is very rough, so I will probably just buy a new one.
Where can you get new stencils?

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#16 5 years ago
Quoted from poppapin:

I'm not in the club, but can look shit up. There's a game manual in the IPDB calling it a ball gate asm. p/n A-471
Good luck

yep - I found that too - just haven't been able to match that with an actual part that I can buy. Appreciate you looking it up though.

1 month later
#17 5 years ago
Quoted from chiefbrody:

does anyone in this prestigious club know what the the little doohicky is called in the shooter lane that keeps the ball from coming back down the lane that is positioned just outboard of the right side spinner?

I must have been on sabbatical when you first posted this, or might have got it to you much sooner.

Anyway, glad to get word that the one I sent you made it safe and sound.

1 week later
#18 5 years ago

Mine arrived today. Looking pretty good overall. It’s set to free play though and in the few seconds I looked at it nothing stood out. Will resolve that later.

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#19 5 years ago
Quoted from desertT1:

It’s set to free play though and in the few seconds I looked at it nothing stood out. Will resolve that later.

The only way it's set to free play is if it has an aftermarket board like an Altek I believe. Easy dipswitch setting to take it off free play.

#20 5 years ago

Yup, otherwise you just set the replay as low as you can.

#21 5 years ago
Quoted from TheLaw:

Yup, otherwise you just set the replay as low as you can.

Or go the old fashioned method and drop quarters in it.

On mine, somebody added a little red button on one of the plastic 25 cent things that does the same thing. It's going away though.

#22 5 years ago

No- an alltek will NOT do free play on old sterns. Low replay only option or install a doorbell.

#23 5 years ago
Quoted from CrazyLevi:

No- an alltek will NOT do free play on old sterns. Low replay only option or install a doorbell.

I was wondering how long the original Stars super promoter would take to get here! Welcome!

I think though the Altek I recently put in my Stars does actually do free play. At least I think it does.

#24 5 years ago

Nope, Alltek free play is only for the Bally games.
Classic Stern gets the high hard one when it comes to the free play setting O-Dizzle.

#25 5 years ago
Quoted from NimblePin:

Nope, Alltek free play is only for the Bally games.

Then how come I haven't had to add any credits to my Stars since I put that board in a month ago, you button pushing cowboy?

#26 5 years ago
Quoted from o-din:

Then how come I haven't had to add any credits to my Stars since I put that board in a month ago, you button pushing cowboy?

I don't understand this myself.

There is a new free-play ROM for stars, but it's not in the alltek.

Maybe you are just so damn good you get replays every game?

Stars rules! It has awesome code with so many nice touches that complement the addictive playfield.

I need to service mine, the drops are falling on reset. I think I'm on my 4th Stars now.

#27 5 years ago
Quoted from CrazyLevi:

I don't understand this myself.

To help understand, when Nimble comes over, he instantly maxes out the credits on any game I have that's easily accessible to do so. No wonder I didn't realize it wasn't on free play without looking at it a little closer. I'll leave that button on there for now.

I'm not that great as high score isn't lingering very high, but it pleases me to no end watching my kid try to beat it.

#28 5 years ago
Quoted from CrazyLevi:

There is a new free-play ROM for stars, but it's not in the alltek.

Yes, Nvram.weebly.com is a much better choice if you need a new MPU board and want to use the new or homebrew ROMs for your classic Bally/Sterns and not want to rely on what was already coded in the Alltek board.
Cheaper to boot too!

Quoted from o-din:

you button pushing cowboy?

Yes, I did dern pushem ‘dem buttuns on dat dern Stdars.

#29 5 years ago
Quoted from NimblePin:

Yes, I did dern pushem ‘dem buttuns on dat dern Stdars.

Galaxy was not immune either. I didn't take any pics the short time I had it, but it sure was lovely.

#30 5 years ago

My left spinner is not working and this is how it is wired. Anyone have their playfield up to take a picture of a working one to compare?

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#31 5 years ago

Technically speaking your wiring looks fine to that switch (pending continuity check on wire of course) so I’d start moving back to the board and check the wire associated in the molex connector and any cold soldering joint to those pins on the board.

Now on to the medium ramble for other visitors:

More often than not, a reflow of ALL header pins on EVERY board is a good habit to get into when purchasing these old solid states.
(New caps don’t hurt either.)

I’m guessing your game doesn’t desertT1 due to the free play comment but, if it also has the old battery still attached, clip it off, neutralize any acid that might have leaked and inspect board for any further damage due to the dead battery.
Good replacements:
Cheap.
1. a SuperCap memory capacitor rated at 1 or 1.5 Farads.
Not so cheap.
2. The 5101 NVRAM replacement that Rob Anthony sells here: http://www.lockwhenlit.com/products.htm

I’ve also seen some .100 connectors where each hole was completely filled with aqua green “goop” due to the expired battery.
Not too good when you’re trying to make a solid electrical connection.

Hope that helps.

#32 5 years ago

Probably a connector or broken wire along the way.

#33 5 years ago

Ok. I wanted to confirm if that wire setup was even functional (even if not proper) before moving into other areas.

#34 5 years ago

Yeah, factory one should look more like this...
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But your stack is missing a dummy tab, hence the floating wire.

#35 5 years ago

I measured continuity, and that was there through the switch. I wanted to play a game, and now the switch is working. Ok, I’ll take it.

There is a phantom 10 points happening sometimes when you flip, and sometimes just because. All switches look like they are properly gapped, so still searching.

1 week later
#36 5 years ago

Looking to add a nice Stars. Where is a good price to pick one up in nice shape with replacement MPU? Thx

1 month later
#37 5 years ago

I'm in!

Mine could use some polishing but its still fun to play.

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#38 5 years ago

Looking to buy a Stern in the NYC tristate area!

2 weeks later
#39 5 years ago

Got a Stars for $150. Had to repair the boards, alkaline damage from the battery. Got a decent backglass from a Pinside member in Atlanta. Put in led's.

And then made my own playfield protector.

First buy the plastic :
https://www.walmart.com/ip/3-pack-PETG-CLEAR-PLASTIC-SHEET-020-24-X-48/911517885

Then I used transparency sheets to make a template.

https://www.amazon.com/School-Smart-Medium-Weight-Transparency/dp/B003V1BPXG/ref=sr_1_2ie=UTF8&qid=1539052545&sr=82&keywords=transperancy+sheets

You lay them on the playfield. Use a marker to mark where they need to be trimmed. Cut them with scissors and when happy with the fit , lay them on the playfield and tape them together.

Then trace the template onto the plastic.

Cut it out with scissors, spade drill bits, and an exacto knife.

Install and enjoy.

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3 weeks later
#40 5 years ago

Adding a scan of the playfield map from the manual as a reference for folks that do not have one.

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#41 5 years ago

I don’t own one of these machines but I thought you guys would like to know there is a Stars on display in a retro AirBnB on episode 2 of Instant Hotel on Netflix.

2 weeks later
#42 5 years ago

I'm selling my Stars. Pm me if you're interested.

1 month later
#43 5 years ago

I just picked this game up yesterday after a pretty long search. There's some adjustments to be made, but its playing strong.

My BG is poor, and it doesnt look like there are many options for replacement.

2 weeks later
#44 5 years ago

This is one of my favorite games!! I've owned mine for awhile and it is one machine that isn't going anywhere soon.

Does anyone else have a center post that was placed off center? It adds some difficulty to an already difficult machine. I watched PAPA's video of Stars and I can't do the ball transfer bouncing off of the center post because of its position.

#45 5 years ago

I haven't measured mine.. maybe that's my problem. Should you be able to do that on demand from either flipper? I can bounce from left to right, but right to left seems to get hung up, even with a good nudge and some flipper adjustments.

#46 5 years ago

I'm guessing each machine is different, but my post is obviously off as it isn't close to the center of the star. I doubt that Kirk planned it that way, but maybe...

#47 5 years ago

It could be that the screening on the playfield is not perfectly centered.

#48 5 years ago

Anyone removed the center rubber from that post? I noticed it wasn't challenging enough with it, so I removed it, and now it's a killer.
Anyone else do this? How does PAPA set it up for competition?

#49 5 years ago
Quoted from La4s:

screening on the playfield is not perfectly centered.

visually, the paint looks good, the post looks off. I'd have to measure to be sure though.

#50 5 years ago
Quoted from Methos:

wasn't challenging enough

WoW! and I mean WoW!!

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