I just redid the LEDs in mine yesterday. I always found the game to be very dark and difficult to play in low light. I added a couple spotlights, and tweaked the LEDs around the flippers. I'm very happy with the results. It can now be comfortably played in total darkness.

TZ #1.JPG

TZ #2.JPG

TZ #3.JPG

TZ #4.JPG

TZ #5.JPG

TZ #6.JPG

A lot of people have them wrong. They were wrong on my game when I got it. The key is that when you hit the red skill shot, the red pop bumper should light. When you hit the orange skill shot, both the red and orange should light.

Those look great! I actually have a new mini playfield that I haven't gotten around to installing yet. My original one has some planking. I'm definitely gonna install star post lights when I swap it out.

That's a darn nice example you have there. I'd say it would be somewhere in the $6,000-$6,500 range. Possibly more if you get the right buyer.

What is the best way to get rid of ball marks on the magnet cores? Can I sand them?

Coasterguy had that crazy wireform on his. I think he got it from those guys in Germany, but I'm pretty sure they're not available anymore ...

http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/tz-for-sale

I recently had my clock apart and used a few drops of this stuff. Worked like a charm.

Labelle 102.jpg

The door flashers are a mod that someone added to your game. Pinbits sells a kit for this. I believe the only games that came with those flashers installed from the factory were the prototypes. Yours is a sample, and not even a particularly early one. For example, My TZ was built on 3/24/93. It doesn't say "FLIP HERE" on the mini playfield like yours does.

This article from a couple years ago has a ton of information on the subject ...

http://gameroomblog.com/guides/twilight-zone-pinball-prototype-vs-production

I was playing the other day and the far back left flasher suddenly became stuck on. I have incandescent flashers installed, so I immediately turned the game off. Does anyone know which connector on the board goes to that flasher? That's the first thing I want to check. I circled the one that's stuck on ...

(photo courtesy of HEP)

TZ.jpg

That game looks barely played. Great find!

http://pinballpro.net/shop/twilight-zone-diverter-magnet-tz-dm/

FWIW, I have an early sample game, and I recently replaced the original scoop with one of Kerry's upgraded scoops. The new scoop fits great, and it delivers the ball perfectly to the right flipper every time. The only modification I had to make was to saw off a little of the target support arm. It was extending a bit too far on my game.

That's not all that early. Mine was built more than two months before yours ...

TZ sticker.jpg

TZ lock insert.jpg

The main reason I went with the Mantis scoop instead of re-welding my original is because the front left of the scoop had gotten pounded by the ball over the years, and it looked like crap. If it was just the weld points, I probably would have gotten it repaired.

Jeff at Classic Arcades recently introduced some new clock faces with the art directly printed on them. I haven't seen them in person yet, but it's a very cool idea:

ebay.com link: Bally Twilight Zone Pinball Machine BRAND NEW PETG 3 Piece CLOCK Plates

This is good advice. On top of this, you should closely examine the slot machine scoop to see if it is dented, or if any of the welds are broken. The target next to it often gets bent back. This causes the side of the scoop to be exposed and take a real pounding. Also, you should perform a clock test and make sure that all four optos are registering every time the interrupter on the minute hand passes through them. Lastly, make sure the bridge diverter is working properly. It has a tendency to get jammed on some machines. It should rest on the wireform, swing fully back when it dumps the ball, and then return back to its original position every time.

Hey Rock,

How was Despicable Me?

I like to have the powerball in play during regular multiball, because it will award you a double jackpot if you score it with the powerball.

+1

That's where I got mine years ago.

TZ was my first game as well. Talk about diving in with both feet!

It sounds like you probably have one of Tom's custom startfield backboards ...

http://home.myfairpoint.net/vze8f4tt/tomstwilightzonepinballmachineaccessories/id25.html

This is a common problem. The fix is to stick a magnet on the back of the diverter. The magnet will help to keep the ball properly situated in the diverter as it flips ...

TZ Magnet (resized).jpg

That small upper middle one goes over the shooter lane. See this photo ...

http://christopherhutchins.com/gallery/album366/16_G?full=1

Beautiful restoration! The thing looks better than new!

I'm in the camp that rules should be on the game even in a home environment. I often have guests over that aren't pinheads but enjoy playing. For them, it's handy to have something to quickly refer to that tells them what to shoot for.

If you are running the home ROM, is there any way to turn it off free play? I am having an open house on Saturday and I want to leave the games on for ambiance, but I don't want anybody to be able to start a game. I can obviously unhook the start switch, but I was hoping for a more elegant solution.

Thanks, Lloyd!