(Topic ID: 220286)

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

By o-din

5 years ago


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  • 570 posts
  • 114 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 1 hour ago by Billc479
  • Topic is favorited by 82 Pinsiders

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  • Stars Stern Electronics, 1978

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There are 570 posts in this topic. You are on page 10 of 12.
#451 11 months ago

Naptha will help some, but you aren't getting it all the way out most likely.

#452 11 months ago

Yikes! Magic eraser didn't do much to remove ball wear on my Stars either. You might just have to live with it, tbh.

#453 11 months ago
Quoted from TateCenter:

Anybody else playfield this dirty? I have tried magic eraser with alcohol, and novus 2. Im not sure what else to try without hurting the paint.
[quoted image]

Mine looks about the same and I tried all those along with simple green and didn’t make much progress either unfortunately.

10
#454 11 months ago

We gave Stars a little refresh recently. Changed all the posts to clear posts and put color LEDs under each post around the stars and color matched them to light when you hit the star targets.
Hard to capture with a camera but looks great in person.

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#455 11 months ago
Quoted from gliebig:

We gave Stars a little refresh recently. Changed all the posts to clear posts and put color LEDs under each post around the stars and color matched them to light when you hit the star targets.
Hard to capture with a camera but looks great in person. [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Yeah...I might just steal that idea. Nice work!

#456 11 months ago
Quoted from gliebig:

We gave Stars a little refresh recently. Changed all the posts to clear posts and put color LEDs under each post around the stars and color matched them to light when you hit the star targets.
Hard to capture with a camera but looks great in person. [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Nice job!

#457 11 months ago
Quoted from gliebig:

We gave Stars a little refresh recently. Changed all the posts to clear posts and put color LEDs under each post around the stars and color matched them to light when you hit the star targets.
Hard to capture with a camera but looks great in person. [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Fantastic! Is it as easy as just hooking up to each star’s lamp socket or is a diode or something else needed?

#458 11 months ago
Quoted from Xtraball:

Fantastic! Is it as easy as just hooking up to each star’s lamp socket or is a diode or something else needed?

This was a simple install. I just placed 2 star post light boards on either side of the star stand-up, and fed the wires down behind the stand-up. I then soldered both star post LED wires together to the star insert right infront of the stand-up. No diode/resistor was needed.

A couple things of note. I used purple color LED for the pinkish red star. The Yellow and orange are dimmer than the other colors (common for those colors in LED). I had thought about trying the warm white in place of the yellow to see how it looks, but have not ordered the leds yet. It adds a nice color pop to the playfield that you don't notice until you drain and all the starts reset.

These are the star post lights I used: https://www.pinballlife.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=abl_SP

#459 11 months ago

Just joined the club today with a wonderfully playing Stars! Great game. Cheers!

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#460 11 months ago

What coil type or number is best for the flipper coil? Was wondering if the standard in Manuel (25-500) or the 25-475 coil in later classic stern pins for upgrading. Don’t know if there is a big difference or not. Just checking if others have tested the difference or recommend one over other for this game.

#461 11 months ago
Quoted from China_Grove:

What coil type or number is best for the flipper coil? Was wondering if the standard in Manuel (25-500) or the 25-475 coil in later classic stern pins for upgrading. Don’t know if there is a big difference or not. Just checking if others have tested the difference or recommend one over other for this game.

Stock with a waxed playfield is fine. Stars doesn't need super duper power like the later multilevel games do, or the longer playfield wide bodies.

#462 11 months ago
Quoted from slochar:

Stock with a waxed playfield is fine.

Hard disagree.
I just upped my flipper coils to match the ones used in Galaxy and Meteor and it was like “Ah! Finally!”
Would not hesitate. Improves the gameplay significantly.

#463 11 months ago
Quoted from sethbenjamin:

Hard disagree.
I just upped my flipper coils to match the ones used in Galaxy and Meteor and it was like “Ah! Finally!”
Would not hesitate. Improves the gameplay significantly.

So the hold coil on Meteor & Galaxy are slightly stronger; ignore the upper flipper on Meteor as a -600.

Galaxy spec'd at 450's is ridiculously strong for that game, it does not need it even at crazy high incline. I think I put 475's in mine and it's still ridiculously overpowered, as in will whale into the galaxy candy cane kickbig and come right back out.

Meteor's solenoid on the power stroke of a 25-500 is exactly the same as Stars'.

I guess if your PF is slow and you're missing the aha moment, sure, up the power. Start with stock though.

As always, 'opinions vary'.

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#464 11 months ago

My buddy said he played a Stars with WPC flippers at TPF and the spinners just RIPPED. That seems so wrong, lol

#465 11 months ago
Quoted from KSUWildcatFan:

My buddy said he played a Stars with WPC flippers at TPF and the spinners just RIPPED. That seems so wrong, lol

I’ve considered doing that

Also have been interested in that new aluminum flipper bat/bushing system for classic Stern. I’m gonna give that a try most likely, just out of general interest. I don’t have anything against classic stern flippers (actually like them quite a bit), but am curious to see. It’s non-destructive, so can always go back to trad.

#466 11 months ago
Quoted from slochar:

Galaxy spec'd at 450's is ridiculously strong for that game, it does not need it even at crazy high incline.

I dunno what to tell you, man; I’ve always loved my Galaxy’s game play, it’s fast as hell and always fun. (Put the Dick Hamill code in and *holy smokes*.) Mine has the original coils (25/500-35/4500) and I haven’t had any desire to try and squeeze more out of it. (Same value on Meteor lower flippers.)

First thing I did when I brought Stars home was install the flipper rebuild kit that came with it. Having done that the flippers were way better than any other Stars I’d played to that point. But they still felt a bit like they were “shoving” the ball compared to Galaxy.

Got my Meteor and it had such nice strong, fast flippers. Couldn’t figure out why the difference.

It may not make sense that the hold coil would make the difference, but I went from 25-500/34-5050 to 25-500/34-4500 and the difference was immediately apparent. Stars felt like Galaxy and Meteor, and the whole game pepped up a bunch. I can’t do flipper rollover passes like on Meteor, but that’s due to the spacing. Otherwise it just generally has more snap and responsiveness; I can do little tap passes where before the flipper didn’t respond fast enough to save the ball from draining.

Personal preference, maybe. I like my games with as much pitch as I can get and playing as fast as they can get without destroying themselves, basically.
To each their own ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#467 11 months ago

Hm… I just picked up a Stars and have some NOS wpc flipper mechs on the shelf. What do I modify to make this happen?

#468 11 months ago

Vid’s Guide to rebuilding flippers talks about that, I think you basically just have to be sure you’re using 24V coils, but I can’t swear to which value you’d use. (And rotate the plate so that original style can be reinstalled down the line if anyone wants to!)
I think using WMS flipper mechs was more of a thing back before reproduction parts were available. Less popular now but I’ve always been curious to see just how differently the machines would play…

2 weeks later
#469 11 months ago

What grommets work best when rebuilding a chime box on a classic stern like Stars, Stingray, etc?

#470 10 months ago

^^^
Someone posted this already but I can’t remember who to credit for this but anyway:

Stern Chimebox Rebuild Parts
8x Gottlieb 2752 Grommet
8x Bally M122-24 Eyelet
4x Short bell sleeve (flanged)
4x Bally Plunger A550-6
Per Pinball Resource

#471 10 months ago

Thanks, I did a thread search for "grommet" and "grommets" in this thread, the stern electronics club thread, and a couple others. I couldn't find that anywhere. I was gonna call Steve one day to just ask and order but I prefer email ordering.

#472 10 months ago

I prefer email ordering too, but last time I tried a few weeks back I got an auto response that said no more email ordering: the guy in charge of that was moving on to other stuff and no more email ordering.

Quoted from play_pinball:

Thanks, I did a thread search for "grommet" and "grommets" in this thread, the stern electronics club thread, and a couple others. I couldn't find that anywhere. I was gonna call Steve one day to just ask and order but I prefer email ordering.

#473 10 months ago
Quoted from mikeflan:

no more email ordering.

Email ordering is available again at Pinball Resource.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/steve-young-s-pinball-resourse/page/7#post-7527660

#474 10 months ago
Quoted from ant_:

Email ordering is available again at Pinball Resource.

Oh thank god!
I’ve actually never been berated by Steve, but always figured that’s just dumb luck that I caught him on the right day.
Nevertheless, I fear him, and do my ordering via email as much as possible!

#475 10 months ago

Looking to join the club if anyone is interested in parting with a Stars. Thanks.

Mike

1 month later
#476 9 months ago

WTB a CPR play-field.
please message if you have one to sell.

#477 9 months ago
Quoted from RumRunner9:

WTB a CPR play-field.
please message if you have one to sell.

Also check out Beehive Pinball. They were somehow making original playfields in the past as well, not sure if they still can make an original but if you look at their description of their custom playfield it says originals available "on a limited basis". If you contact them and they only can do a specific production run let me know, I'm getting more and more inclined to put my money in updating the pins I have as prices go up on new pins. I'd be interested in joining you in a order.

https://www.beehivepinball.com/product/stars-custom-playfield

#478 9 months ago
Quoted from dtrimberger:

Also check out Beehive Pinball. They were somehow making original playfields in the past as well, not sure if they still can make an original but if you look at their description of their custom playfield it says originals available "on a limited basis". If you contact them and they only can do a specific production run let me know, I'm getting more and more inclined to put my money in updating the pins I have as prices go up on new pins. I'd be interested in joining you in a order.
https://www.beehivepinball.com/product/stars-custom-playfield

Good to know, thx. I’ll check out their website.

#479 9 months ago

Both play field manufacturers appear similar- request through the respective websites.
If they get enough requests, they may do a run.

Here’s hoping a bunch of people get on the wait list.

#480 9 months ago

Beehive playfields are really nice.
I put in the 2.0 in my Stars and I’m sure the classic reproduction is equally high quality. I’ve been scheming on a Nine Ball scratch build for a while and have one of those on the rack for that project as well.
Mike does this as a sideline/service to the hobby, small runs of maybe 6 at a time, all analog, no digital, in his basement using traditional silk screening. I’m a big fan. It will take time to get a playfield from him as he is doing this when he can and has energy for it but it is worth the wait. Very high standards and a seriously nice guy to deal with.

#481 9 months ago
Quoted from sethbenjamin:

Beehive playfields are really nice.
I put in the 2.0 in my Stars and I’m sure the classic reproduction is equally high quality. I’ve been scheming on a Nine Ball scratch build for a while and have one of those on the rack for that project as well.
Mike does this as a sideline/service to the hobby, small runs of maybe 6 at a time, all analog, no digital, in his basement using traditional silk screening. I’m a big fan. It will take time to get a playfield from him as he is doing this when he can and has energy for it but it is worth the wait. Very high standards and a seriously nice guy to deal with.

That’s really good to hear! I’m going to get on the list for a Stars 1.0

#482 9 months ago

I just DMed him as well. Let's see if we get a run going.

1 month later
#483 8 months ago

Joined the club today. Have not played it yet. Changed the posts ( new I read this thread and see clear) may need to try this. New rubbers, Leds, order new drops from Marco pinball and see I should have ordered flat ones. I repainted the front of the head. Hope to set it up tomorrow. Playfield is really nice original.

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#484 8 months ago
Quoted from tatman9999:

Joined the club today. Have not played it yet. Changed the posts ( new I read this thread and see clear) may need to try this. New rubbers, Leds, order new drops from Marco pinball and see I should have ordered flat ones. I repainted the front of the head. Hope to set it up tomorrow. Playfield is really nice original.
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That playfield looks pretty nice. I would not replace the drop targets.

#485 8 months ago

Damn that game looks about as king as any Stars I’ve ever seen.
Agreed, don’t replace the drop targets unless you’re gonna use Swinks, those Marco ones brick something awful and really diminish the game play significantly. Originals or Swinks drop readily and are sweepable. My machine had replacement drops and when I switched to Swinks I couldn’t believe the difference that made.

#486 8 months ago

Beautiful playfield! Is this the game that was listed a few days ago in Chicago? Stars rocks!

#487 8 months ago
Quoted from Xtraball:

Beautiful playfield! Is this the game that was listed a few days ago in Chicago? Stars rocks!

it is the same one.

#488 8 months ago

So are all stern drops the flat ones? My dragonfist had the wrong ones then?

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#489 8 months ago
Quoted from tatman9999:

So are all stern drops the flat ones? My dragonfist had the wrong ones then?

Dragonfist should have flattops like you show, however they are supposed to be red with no design. Yours likely had broken ones and someone replaced with what they had.

Dragonfist does have some variations on what was shipped re: the pop bumper caps, some are yellow, some red, some blue. AFAIK the drops were always red though.

Stars shipped with the chichlet style with the star printed as you show, with the center star a different color from the outer 2 in each bank.

#490 8 months ago

Got a link to the swink targets? Might be time to replace mine!

#491 8 months ago

Can I install the new style flipper assembly in stars ?

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#492 8 months ago
Quoted from DK:

Got a link to the swink targets? Might be time to replace mine!

https://www.shapeways.com/product/7DWXN34SZ/stern-tombstone-drop-target-13a-11-no-rib?optionId=65605234&li=shops

He has 3 options I believe, this one with no guide rib, a similar one that does have a guide rib, and an upgraded one that’s designed to be more stiff than the originals.

#493 8 months ago
Quoted from DK:Got a link to the swink targets? Might be time to replace mine!

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stern-tombstone-drop-targets-13a-11-any-interest

buy direct from swinks, just send a PM I believe

#494 8 months ago

Does the wiring look right? My left flipper is not working after changing

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#495 8 months ago
Quoted from DK:

Got a link to the swink targets? Might be time to replace mine!

yes, just send me a pm with quantity and I can give you a quick quote but work on:
- $10 AUD each
- 2.5% discount on 10 or more
- 5% discount on 20 or more

cheers

Jady

#496 8 months ago
Quoted from tatman9999:

So are all stern drops the flat ones? My dragonfist had the wrong ones then?
[quoted image][quoted image]

They are the hooded targets and the flat tops are known as the tombstone drops.

Tombstones are no longer remade as the original mold was modified back in the day to hooded only.

PBR, Planetary and Marco and other companies that sell the now hooded all come from PBR and they unfortunately used a softer Nylon PA12 material resulting in a more flexible target which rebounds back and then forward and not dropping = bricking.

The ones I have created are tombstone but professionally printed in Nylon PA12 which is laser bound nylon particles solid filled target but are firmer resulting in far less bricking.

hope that helps

#497 8 months ago

What is the best dip switch setting on stars?

#498 8 months ago
Quoted from tatman9999:

Does the wiring look right? My left flipper is not working after changing

Do you have a DMM? I've had new switch contacts that wouldn't register as closed until I roughed them up just a tiny bit. Especially if you are wired similarly and only one flipper is not working.

As for settings, I prefer 3 Ball (Switch 7 OFF) and Roving Special for 100,000 pts (More than one per ball allowed) - 30, 31 & 32 OFF.

#499 8 months ago
Quoted from newovad:

Do you have a DMM? I've had new switch contacts that wouldn't register as closed until I roughed them up just a tiny bit. Especially if you are wired similarly and only one flipper is not working.
As for settings, I prefer 3 Ball (Switch 7 OFF) and Roving Special for 100,000 pts (More than one per ball allowed) - 30, 31 & 32 OFF.

This was exactly what was the problem. It was the EOS switch. Moved it a few times and all is working. The flipper are stronger with the new style and using 25.475 coils. Can really rip the spinners now. Or the old ones could have just been worn out.

#500 8 months ago
Quoted from tatman9999:

What is the best dip switch setting on stars?

If you like a harder game, set dip switch #9 to ON. That means after you knock down either set of 3 drops which gives you double bonus, you need to hit both sets of 3 to get triple bonus and then again for the WOW.

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