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Author Topic: Mike A's Big Adventure  (Read 17150 times)

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Mike A

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Mike A's Big Adventure
« on: August 27, 2018, 07:21:54 am »
This past weekend I embarked on an epic arcade journey. Well, not really epic, but a journey nonetheless.

It started last week. I put in an offer on KLOV for a Vanguard control panel. A guy had one for sale in Minnesota. He just happens to live a few miles from a high school friend of mine.

This is the deal that came together.

I picked up a pinball machine for the Minnesota guy in suburban Illinois. I delivered it to him in Minnesota. I paid him 550.

In return I got:

A working Vanguard machine in a pretty ratty but salvageable cab.
An Eagle machine in a pretty decent cab that plays blind. It coins up and you can start a game and play it.
A Time pilot cab in salvageable shape.
A no burn, working 19 inch CRT.
Original manuals and schematics.



I headed up to Minnesota on Friday. I got a room in Minneapolis because I contacted Vigo and he agreed to meet up.
We went to a Barcade called The Up Down. We had a freakin' blast.
Vigo gave me a 33 inch CRT that may work or it may be a boat anchor. I hope to return the favor someday.
More people should try to reach out to other members. It is well worth the effort.




I left Minneapolis in the morning to drive 1.5 hours to my friend's house.

The KLOVer agreed to meet me at my buddies's house. It doesn't get easier than that. He was a really nice guy. His family owns a funeral home. We used a casket cart to move the cabs around.
After that is where things went wrong. Uhaul screwed up my reservation on Saturday. It is a small rural area so they were having trouble getting a trailer for me. I had to wait until Sunday.
Early Sunday morning I got a call and a friend urgently needed help back home. It is a long story, and it is not mine to tell.
I had to head back home immediately. So I packed up the Vanguard cab and my CRTs in my minivan. I had to leave the other two cabs with my friend in his garage. I will get them next time I go up there or he comes down here.




I am terrible at remembering to photograph stuff. I forgot to snap a pic of Vanguard.

I am really glad Vigo agreed to meet me. You always worry that these things will be awkward. We were talking like old friends right away. Gobs of alcohol probably helped that along.
This kind of stuff is what I like most about the hobby. I enjoy building and troubleshooting, but meeting new people is the best part.

jdbailey1206

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2018, 07:50:54 am »
You always worry that these things will be awkward.

If you want awkward come visit me in Michigan. 

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2018, 08:18:07 am »
Be careful what you wish for. I may be in the neighborhood some day.

Malenko

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2018, 08:46:38 am »
Just have your buddy send that Time Pilot to me in Delaware.
If you're replying to a troll you are part of the problem.
I also need to follow this advice. Ignore or report, don't reply.

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2018, 09:04:08 am »
Not happening. ;D

I have a nice refurbished Monroe stick to complete that cab.

Vigo

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2018, 11:06:35 am »
 :cheers: I had a great time hanging out as well.  We are on the same wavelength about a lot. The nice thing is, neither of us are necessarily the kind of player that is rolling over machines on a single token. Made playing those non simultaneous two player games a little more of an even experience.

Mike, sorry to hear the trailer didn't pan out. Still a great haul once you can get those cabs back to IL.

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2018, 11:17:00 am »
Yeah it is a good beginning of a Centuri row.

javeryh

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2018, 11:25:30 am »
Sounds like an awesome time.

Man, I really really wish I had room in my house for more arcade cabs so I could do stuff like this.  It bums me out just thinking about it.

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2018, 11:32:09 am »
You always have options.

Convert the kitchen to an arcade. Cook outside with a grill.

Convert the garage to an arcade. Park in the driveway.

convert a kid's bedroom int an arcade. Kids are small. They can sleep anywhere. If you get an X Men 6 player, you can build bunk beds inside it.


jdbailey1206

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2018, 11:35:38 am »
You always have options.

Convert the kitchen to an arcade. Cook outside with a grill.

Convert the garage to an arcade. Park in the driveway.

convert a fish tank into an arcade. Fish are small. They can sleep anywhere. If you get an X Men 6 player, you can build the tank inside it.

FTFY

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #10 on: August 27, 2018, 11:37:28 am »
I forgot that option. My aquarium took up the space of 3 cabs. I should have built the aquarium into the cabs instead of moving it.

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #11 on: August 27, 2018, 11:51:14 am »
I picked up a pinball machine for the Minnesota guy in suburban Illinois. I delivered it to him in Minnesota.



That's a crazy trip to make on a lawnmower.

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2018, 11:55:18 am »
Slow and steady wins the race.

javeryh

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2018, 01:10:34 pm »
You always have options.

Convert the kitchen to an arcade. Cook outside with a grill.

Convert the garage to an arcade. Park in the driveway.

convert a kid's bedroom int an arcade. Kids are small. They can sleep anywhere. If you get an X Men 6 player, you can build bunk beds inside it.

These are all viable options for sure.  I don't think the wife would allow another cab on the first floor of the house after having the DK in the formal dining room for 5 years.  I'd love to convert the garage but I need the space for my lawnmower, rakes, etc.  It is a detached single car garage that we already don't park in.  I traded a basement arcade for a basement theater but I really wanted both.  I could convert a bedroom eventually...

opt2not

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #14 on: August 27, 2018, 07:02:16 pm »
$550 for 3 cab projects, a working CRT, paper stuffs, AND you got to hang out with Vigo?  Sounds like a fantastic trip!

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2019, 08:13:30 am »
Well. Mike A's Big Adventure will finally be completed soon.

I am heading up to Minnesota on Friday Oct 4th to pick up the last Centuri cab from this deal.

I am going to meet up with everyone's favorite Carpathian on Friday night. Some place with video games and beer.

Feel free to stop by if any of you are in the twin cities area. I will buy you a beer or three. Vigo and I had a blast last time I came up there.

PM me or post here if you want more information.

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #16 on: October 05, 2019, 09:17:08 am »
So Vigo and I checked out a new barcade in Minneapolis and this happened while we were eating nachos. Unfortunately  they kept their clothes on.

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #17 on: October 05, 2019, 11:43:41 am »
When the arcade machines aren't pulling in enough coin drop... supplement!
%Bartop

opt2not

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #18 on: October 05, 2019, 01:44:53 pm »
Oh hey I see her “coin slot”!

pbj

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #19 on: October 05, 2019, 04:47:21 pm »
They busted out ribbon dancers at a professional conference I was at in Vancouver.  My line of work is probably 80% women.  It was some weird ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, I just sat in the corner tucking away 3 plates of smoked salmon.  It’s like pole dancing but classier?

She’s cute, though, you ask her to position your pole or konkey your dong?






Mr. Peabody

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #20 on: October 05, 2019, 04:58:31 pm »
You're supposed to be watching the routine, not her figure. Geesh.


@pbj: it's called aerial silk: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_silk

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #21 on: October 05, 2019, 06:13:35 pm »
Peabody. What the hell planet are you from?

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Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #22 on: October 05, 2019, 07:14:20 pm »
Well I got what I came for.

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #23 on: October 06, 2019, 12:44:27 am »
Damn cool artwork.  Ond is a faint shade of envy green. 

pbj

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #24 on: October 06, 2019, 07:55:24 am »
That is one nice sheet of plywood

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #25 on: October 06, 2019, 08:24:42 am »
No back door. Just need to protect it till I get home.

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Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #26 on: October 06, 2019, 10:54:19 am »
Things got weird after the first girl did her thing.

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Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #27 on: October 06, 2019, 10:55:31 am »
This was my first experience with self serve taps.

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Vigo

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #28 on: October 06, 2019, 12:31:33 pm »
Yeah, very interesting barcade, to say the least. Not a massive selection of games, but some really cool mechanical ones, and a few rarities. The dancing, yeah, that was interesting. They tried to throw in some sort of interpretive plot, like the monkey girl who just wanted to suck down bananas.


pbj

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #29 on: October 06, 2019, 01:16:32 pm »
You two might enjoy the app Sneaky Cam.  Put me on your distribution list once installed.


Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #30 on: October 06, 2019, 08:02:49 pm »
The Eagle has landed. Now to shuffle around my entire arcade room.

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #31 on: October 06, 2019, 09:19:53 pm »
Eagle sideart is amazing

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #32 on: October 06, 2019, 09:23:42 pm »
Yeah. I have to arrange things so the artwork is visible in my lineup.

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #33 on: October 07, 2019, 12:17:49 am »
Those older "space era" cabs always look extra cool.  Unfortunately they are also all variants of Galaga so it's hard to justify having more than one from that time period. 

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #34 on: October 07, 2019, 04:05:39 pm »
Peabody. What the hell planet are you from?

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I come.....FROM SPACE.


Aren't men today supposed to say what I said? Isn't it likely the performer wishes to be appreciated for her ability and spirit, rather than her native accoutrements?

Not that I have a concern, it just came to mind.


Re - plywood: I thought it was to protect the back of the cab from scratching, as well as make it easier to move.



Those older "space era" cabs always look extra cool.  Unfortunately they are also all variants of Galaga so it's hard to justify having more than one from that time period. 

They're all clones of Space Invaders - but Galaxian was the first decent game. Galaga was the step up, 80s version. Moon Cresta and Phoenix were second-tier games, Eagle a licensed clone of Moon Cresta.

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #35 on: October 07, 2019, 10:10:04 pm »
The Eagle cab that plays blind?

It turns out that the monitor the dude put in there must not be original. It was definitely a custom mounting job. It is a Toei 100v. The monitor power came from the main cab transformer.

I grabbed a 100v isolation transformer I had laying around and like magic the monitor came to life.

It needs some adjusting, but it is totally playable.







The screen looks better than the pic, but it does need work.

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #36 on: October 07, 2019, 10:17:08 pm »
I do have some questions why this worked.

The transformer that was originally powering it was outputting 113v according to my multimeter.

My isolation transformer is putting out 110v.

Is that really what fixed the issue?

The guy I bought it from says it played blind. I plugged it in and it played blind.

The isolation transformer immediately fixed the problem.

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #37 on: October 07, 2019, 10:27:27 pm »
No questions, only Eagle now.


opt2not

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #38 on: October 07, 2019, 10:39:22 pm »
I do have some questions why this worked.

The transformer that was originally powering it was outputting 113v according to my multimeter.

My isolation transformer is putting out 110v.

Is that really what fixed the issue?

The guy I bought it from says it played blind. I plugged it in and it played blind.

The isolation transformer immediately fixed the problem.
Faulty iso’s are faulty iso’s. Could be there’s more to the bunk iso that the monitor didn’t like.
What’s interesting is the burn-in being at a different image size than what you have running now.

You planning on capping this monitor? Or swapping tubes?

It’s good you got to the bottom of the problem fairly easy. Now with a little tune-up it should be good for a while.

Mike A

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Re: Mike A's Big Adventure
« Reply #39 on: October 07, 2019, 10:45:23 pm »
I do plan on capping it. First I would like to get it adjusted. I need to wait until my daughter is home tomorrow so she can help with the adjustments.

I am just basking in the glow of buying 1 working cab and 2 non working cabs and with very little effort I magically have 3 working cabs.