.

[yotsuya]

If you want the best deals, it's certainly always about networking. That's been my experience.

All I can say is a good thing your name isn't Elvis.

[Peabo]

The EM machines are still sub $500, it's the solid state and DMD pins that more costly.  That's because EM's take much more maintenance to keep running.  Chance, if you don't have one yet, you'll need to pickup a leaf adjustment tool and a points file and a can of "Super Lube".  Anything that has a bushing should be cleaned out and re-lubed with Super Lube.  The grease that was used in these older machines dries out over time.  I have 2 EM's, Klondike and Flipper Clown.  The Klondike is pretty good at working 100%, but the Flipper Clown...  you have to fix, play and never shut it off.  It seems to break if it's off for a day or more. 

Good luck

[pbj]

If something works - leave it alone. 

[RandyT]

I'm with PBJ.  My High-Speed had a broken target, bad rubber, missing gumball light and some rough spots on the playfield when I got it.  Surprisingly, the whole light assembly was stashed in the pile of stuff inside the cabinet, and the owner didn't even know it was there.  Fixed all of those things, played it a while and a flipper went dead.  Replaced a coil and a transistor and it's been great ever since.

This is a godsend for touch-ups.  Primary colors are included, so mixing to get the right shade was no problem.  Seems to be holding up well too.

But I have bored quite a bit of the machine, after playing it often.  Have the bug now for a full-sized VP table.  Won't be long before that becomes a project priority

[vwalbridge]

Have the bug now for a full-sized VP table.  Won't be long before that becomes a project priority

Are you building it yourself? If so please start a build thread here. I've resigned myself to the fact that I will never own a real pinball machine so a VP machine is my only hope. I'd love to watch one get built here.

[yotsuya]

Have the bug now for a full-sized VP table.  Won't be long before that becomes a project priority

Are you building it yourself? If so please start a build thread here. I've resigned myself to the fact that I will never own a real pinball machine so a VP machine is my only hope. I'd love to watch one get built here.

Search here for Chris' Virtual Pinball machine (Star Wars theme). Best one I've ever seen. Subtle, but nice.

[RandyT]

There are lots of documented builds, probably even a few here.  I think I'll leave that to those who like to do, or have already done that kind of thing.  I'm a "Git'r done" sort when I get going on something of this nature, and I invariably leave out a lot of important details (i.e. i'm usually three steps past something before I realize that I should have taken an important photo )

But Vpins don't really need to cost a fortune to make.  I've seen some mini-tables which I am sure are just as fun to play as the full-sized ones.  This is based on the experiences I had as a kid with the old tabletop pinball games.  I probably would have wet myself if I had the option of a Vpin table of the same size in those days 

[yotsuya]

There are lots of documented builds, probably even a few here.  I think I'll leave that to those who like to do, or have already done that kind of thing.  I'm a "Git'r done" sort when I get going on something of this nature, and I invariably leave out a lot of important details (i.e. i'm usually three steps past something before I realize that I should have taken an important photo  )

Same here. Once I start tearing into something, the last think about it "Hmmmm, I really should take a photo of all the sawdust that has gathered in the corner" or "Damn, that drying spray paint looks bad ass on all those screw heads." I'd rather just move on to the next step.

[harveybirdman]

, and I invariably leave out a lot of important details (i.e. i'm usually three steps past something before I realize that I should have taken an important photo  )

Same here. Once I start tearing into something, the last think about it "Hmmmm, I really should take a photo of all the sawdust that has gathered in the corner" or "Damn, that drying spray paint looks bad ass on all those screw heads." I'd rather just move on to the next step.

It's ok Brofessors, that's why we have people here like Chance...

[yotsuya]

, and I invariably leave out a lot of important details (i.e. i'm usually three steps past something before I realize that I should have taken an important photo  )

Same here. Once I start tearing into something, the last think about it "Hmmmm, I really should take a photo of all the sawdust that has gathered in the corner" or "Damn, that drying spray paint looks bad ass on all those screw heads." I'd rather just move on to the next step.

It's ok Brofessors, that's why we have people here like Chance...

Yeah, I commend anyone with the patience to do it. My first couple projects I tried to start with a lot of photos to document things, but it always fizzed out. Now that I know how to do things, I don't see the point.

[vwalbridge]

, and I invariably leave out a lot of important details (i.e. i'm usually three steps past something before I realize that I should have taken an important photo  )

Same here. Once I start tearing into something, the last think about it "Hmmmm, I really should take a photo of all the sawdust that has gathered in the corner" or "Damn, that drying spray paint looks bad ass on all those screw heads." I'd rather just move on to the next step.

It's ok Brofessors, that's why we have people here like Chance...

Yeah, I commend anyone with the patience to do it. My first couple projects I tried to start with a lot of photos to document things, but it always fizzed out. Now that I know how to do things, I don't see the point.

...but I'd rather see pictures of Brofessors that know how to do things right, not threads of n00bs that don't.  (like mine) 

[BorgDog]

I just got my first real pin last week as well, and I gotta say my mini-vpin sitting next to it is very hard to play on after the real one, it is so small!  I do plan on building a full-size vp in the near future though and putting the mini at the cabin.  I'll try to document and share when the time comes.

Here's my new toy.  I'm really liking it, best of both worlds, em feel, look and sound as it has chimes not electronic beeps, but ss brain for low maintenance.  Thinking more gottlieb system 1's may be in my future.

[yotsuya]

, and I invariably leave out a lot of important details (i.e. i'm usually three steps past something before I realize that I should have taken an important photo  )

Same here. Once I start tearing into something, the last think about it "Hmmmm, I really should take a photo of all the sawdust that has gathered in the corner" or "Damn, that drying spray paint looks bad ass on all those screw heads." I'd rather just move on to the next step.

It's ok Brofessors, that's why we have people here like Chance...

Yeah, I commend anyone with the patience to do it. My first couple projects I tried to start with a lot of photos to document things, but it always fizzed out. Now that I know how to do things, I don't see the point.

...but I'd rather see pictures of Brofessors that know how to do things right, not threads of n00bs that don't. 

I think there are already plenty of great project and documentation threads that have great photos of how to do things, so why add more noise? There's only really one way to spiffy up bolts or put a piece of plexi over an LCD running a 60-1, and it's already been shared.

I like seeing photos of stuff I haven't seen before, really.

[jennifer]

    Every project and builder has its own challenges, You may think you have seen it all Yot, But yes maybe not so much.... Pbj in his "don't touch or fix anything" and "do as little as possible" is experience with pins, not him just being cheap, What Chance is talking about could very easily destroy the value of that game. Pins are highly condition critical, and dealing with a relatively small niche market of large collectors.

[yotsuya]

    Every project and builder has its own challenges, You may think you have seen it all Yot, But yes maybe not so much.... Pbj in his "don't touch or fix anything" and "do as little as possible" is experience with pins, not him just being cheap, What Chance is talking about could very easily destroy the value of that game. Pins are highly condition critical, and dealing with a relatively small niche market of large collectors.

Good points, Jenn. One of the enduring, raging debates on KLOV has to do with restoration and preservation. It raises the question... just because you CAN do something, does it mean you SHOULD?

[wp34]

Build threads are for newbies anyway and are what keep this forum fresh.  When I started in this hobby I tended to follow the threads that were new and being updated at that time.  I suspect others do/did the same.  Those threads may have been rehashing old techniques for all I knew.  I'd hate to see people stop posting build threads here for fear of being redundant.

[Ginsu Victim]

Build threads are for newbies anyway and are what keep this forum fresh.  When I started in this hobby I tended to follow the threads that were new and being updated at that time.  I suspect others do/did the same.  Those threads may have been rehashing old techniques for all I knew.  I'd hate to see people stop posting build threads here for fear of being redundant.

Certainly helped me a ton.

[Token]

Build threads are for newbies anyway and are what keep this forum fresh.  When I started in this hobby I tended to follow the threads that were new and being updated at that time.  I suspect others do/did the same.  Those threads may have been rehashing old techniques for all I knew.  I'd hate to see people stop posting build threads here for fear of being redundant.

This.

I'm sure there are plenty of build threads from 2008 showing how to vectorize artwork or modify the nubby 4-way Zippyy restrictor. But if it ain't stickied at the top of a forum or linked in an active poster's signature, I probably haven't seen it.

New detailed build threads keep the hobby growing (for better or for worse).

[yotsuya]

Build threads are for newbies anyway and are what keep this forum fresh.  When I started in this hobby I tended to follow the threads that were new and being updated at that time.  I suspect others do/did the same.  Those threads may have been rehashing old techniques for all I knew.  I'd hate to see people stop posting build threads here for fear of being redundant.

That's certainly a good point. But that's my rationale for not taking tons of photos - I don't see myself adding anything new.

[pbj]

All I'm saying is that it's very easy to permanently screw up the cosmetics and that Playmatic is probably already nicer than 95% of anything remaining from that era.  Just think about it before you go slapping nail polish on it.


Taking apart functional assemblies on a working EM is an absolute recipe for disaster.  That EM repair guide and its "clean and adjust every single switch" advice has killed many machines.

[chopperthedog]

You lost me with considering the sound mod. Get leds for the back box, but they look like crap on the play field (box of 100 bulbs is $8). Replacing all caps should be the very first thing on your list. Good luck with it.

just my 2¢



good day.

[ChanceKJ]

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[ChanceKJ]

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[pbj]

$20 says it's gone in two years.

[ChanceKJ]

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