Is that an original playfield? It looks really nice. Does it have a playfield protector on it? If you do a swap, would you considered selling it if it’s in good shape?

Hi there, Bad Cats!

Yep, it’s original, does not have a playfield protector on, but does have the factory mylar intact. There is some typical wear above the USA rollovers, around the pops and behind the center drop target. It’s a very functional, playable pf, but I would say it’s got typical wear. I can send you pics and you are welcome to having first choice if I swap in the new one, which I plan to do this summer.

Can someone tell me what “3ADV” means in front of both scoops? It’s probably obvious, so I apologize if so. But it’s not mentioned in the rules. In fact, multiball and the locks aren’t mentioned in the rule card or the owners manual, that I can find. Odd.

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"3 ADV" is (rather cryptic) shorthand for "Advances bonus value by 3" (3,000 points).
Also your playfield looks very similar to the one on my own- looks good under factory mylar, some minor bits of wear outside the boundaries of that cover, but overall still plays great.

Thanks! Yep, mine looks quite good overall and under mylar also. Just the usual planking, with mild wear at the rollovers and around the pops, although most of the mylar around the pops is still there. No major wear. Plays great and haven’t noticed any odd rolls on the pf. I still haven’t hit 3M on this pin, 2.7M is my best. But it’s a ton of fun. I’ve gotten 6x bonus and 6,000 spinner value.

I have literally been wondering this since I got the game. I could never figure it out. LOL!

Also, I could be wrong but I don’t think Williams did factory Mylar on System 9 games. I don’t think they did on anything pre-WPC.

That could be. This pf has a very old mylar protector over about 2/3 of the pf. Someone could easily have added that. Held up tho decent tho.

Mine has mylar on bottom 2/3rds as well, looks like it was factory. I'm glad it was there, kept the pf in good shape.

I will go out on a limb here and say that the mylar installed on the recent images of the Space Shuttle playfield is not factory.

shuttle.jpg

• red arrow show factory mylar ring for pop bumper skirts
• gold arrows show "hand cut" edges of non-standard "mylar"
• gold rectangle shows "free form" edge cuts around the drop target

Factory cuts are typically computer generated. The arcs are perfect. The spacing is regular and consistent. Hand cut (after market) "mylar" shows all the hallmarks visible in this image. Don't believe me? Look at some other System 11 machines (I know this is a System 9 machine) with factory mylar. You will see beautifully cut, smooth edges.

Yep, pretty clearly not factory. Like I said, someone prob stuck it on years ago, I imagine. In any event, this functional pf will get swapped this summer with a new CPR pf, which should play like butter! My first full pf swap…

My old machine! Love that you are going to do a playfield swap! Going to love to see the mirrored glass too! The translite I bought for it works but the mirror glass will be much better. New ramp looks great. I be watching to see how this turns out! Good luck with the playfield swap!

Yep! I am restoring the cabinet, adding the backglass and I’ll do the swap sometime this summer or fall. I wanna play it more first before I’m ready to have it out of commission for awhile. I need to match the blue cab paint too. I wonder if anyone has had good luck with that. Oh, and I have that brand new backbox light board you included! I need to swap that out too.

If you happen to get a perfect color match for the blue cab paint please post the color code. Mine could definitely use some touch up paint! I can't get a sample to bring in to home depot (or the like) for an identical match.

I’ll do that. Does anyone know how large the sample needs to be for them to match it? I’ve never done that before. I will try to find a chip to take to HD.

Somewhere in this thread from a couple years back someone color matched the cabinet and posted the home Depot formula. The answer you're looking for might be in this very thread.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/space-shuttle-crew-members-club-prepare-for-liftoff/page/74#post-6575129

See if you can get a paint fleck, put it in a ziplock bag and take to Sherwin-Williams; they can color match it. Might be better to get your own color match so that it’s mixed to your games exact color and how much it has faded versus any other.

Thanks guys! I didn’t consider the rather obvious issue of fading, as nearly 40 years of light will surely affect each pin differently. I’ll get a fleck off mine and color match. I’ll share the result just as a reference. I think my cabinet has good color still, but I haven’t compared many other examples.

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Every cab is going to fad and yellow differently, Pinkitten's color match is going to be different than your cab. Best to color match your cab for paint touch ups.

True. These are each a little different from 4 decades of varying degrees of exposure. I’ll share my results tho for comparison.

My new CPR mirrored backglass arrived. I’m impressed, so far. The mirroring seems legit to me, for now at least. Some have said it wears off or becomes less reflective over time. Right now it is reflective. You can see my ugly mug in one pic, and the “pinball love” sticker on the back of my phone in the other. And the packaging by CPR is first-rate. It’s very well protected. I’ll install the new backglass on Friday.

Here it is…

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Definitely more mirrored than my Firepower back glass I bought from them.

Way better than what I got from them....mine is more just a silver.....no real mirror at all

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Yep that’s how mine is.

Maybe they heard the feedback and dissatisfaction and improved the process. I’m sorry for those who only got silver paint and no real reflective mirror. Anyone considering getting one, I think it looks nice and would buy it again. This is my second, I bought one for TZ too. My new cpr playfield arrived today. Here it is…

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New playfield swap will happen later this summer or fall. But added cpr backglass, new shooter, grey flipper rubber and t-posts. Oh, and Major Tom! The papers want to know whose shirts he wears.
Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong! Can you hear me, Major Tom?

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Working on a playfield swap for my Space Shuttle, and thinking forward to reinstalling the metal lane guides (for the return/outlanes). They have the hollow metal cylinders as posts which flare at the bottom where they touch the playfield. Screwing these back into the new playfield is just going to cause the same damage in this area as on the original. Any tips on how to protect this area?

Randy

Check out Vid's guide to repopulating playfields. He addresses this.

Hmm I've looked through that guide a couple of times and couldn't find it (though my wife claims I can't find anything...). Maybe a different thread?

Ah, it was in the restoration thread, not the repopulation thread.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-to-ultimate-playfield-restoration/page/88#post-3779355

Hi guys

The ball saver cap for my space shuttle is wrong, it is orange instead of red and is all cracked ect.....anyone got any tips on how to remove exisiting cover and refit new one?, For the life of me can't get it to budge....it's the last thing I need to do in my restore, seven or so months after the fact......any advice?

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Orange is actually correct. The old one pops off.

Yes, I noticed that when I had a closer look at the new one, old one is just a little faded so it appeared lighter in colour

Friend of mine is doing a Space shuttle playfield swap. He wants to order new red eject shields for the two kick outs on the PF. Does anyone have the part number or vendor that might carry them? Unfortunately he does not have a manual for reference.

Eject Shield:

https://www.pinballlife.com/eject-shield.html

Thanks dmacy, looks like a standard Williams eject shield. Wasn't sure if there was an earlier iteration for Space Shuttle.

Not on SS. At least not the one I had just done. I used the clear ones and lit them up blue.

I'll Have to pass that idea on to my friend. Thanks!

More pics of the

NP! Some pics of it here:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/space-shuttle-launching-18-mar-2023/page/3#post-7572248

Amazing. nice job!!

Hello !
I've searched in the manual but I didn't found the answer to my question.
Is there any tips to reset the credits (and only the credits) ?
I mean after testing the coin door, I want to reset credits to 0.
(play all the game is not a tips )
Thanks in advance !

Start a 4 player game then hit the coin door slam switch. rinse and repeat.

Wow, it works perfectly. Thank you !
I don't like free play mode.
I really appreciate to put a old piece (5 francs) to start a game
All my pinballs work like that at home.
And it is really good with the childrens
" You aren't cool boys, no pinball today ! "

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nice - I keep my DM coins in a cardboard box about the same size.

I run coins thru my SS too. I kinda like it. You wanna play some Shuttle? Ante up!

DECALS: Anyone have 4 drop target decals to spare ? Which ones are correct ?

Apparently Williams switched from the red, white, and blue with a star to the satelite dish during production. So both are correct.
https://www.actionpinball.com/parts.php?item=03-7478-SSA-3

I have the ones from Space Station on my game, because I prefer the shuttle image.
https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/31-1437

I did the star one on the T target right out font of the shuttle ramp and then the satellite ones on the three at the spinner lane. Looks pretty cool.

I went with the stars because that's what is on the original flyer for the game. I can't confirm/deny that they may have switched to the satellite dishes during prod. I find the satellite dishes kinda ugly but to each his own.

https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/31-1329

I think I have a good scan of them somewhere if you want to print them yourself but for $7 from Marco why bother...?

That's funny, I have the exact opposite opinion. I think the stars look so out of place.

Okay guys....need some advice with links

I'm a fan of undercab led strip's

My normal supplier doesn't make them plug and play for this pin

I have a mate who has one on his space shuttle

He told me all I need is a led strip with a switching power supply and connect it into the 240v power supply in the cab

I just can't find what I need, I'm guessing I just don't understand properly what I need

Can anyone shed any light for me?