Author Topic: Party at Mike's part 2 (Read 18502 times)

Mike A · « **on:** March 25, 2019, 01:03:16 pm »

Party at my place. Games, food, beer, booze.

Come on out. The party is family friendly. All of my friends have young children. They are all still alive. One of my friends is an ER doctor. We haven't required his services... yet.

Saturday April 20th.

I have 11 games working right now. Tempest stops working intermittently. Monaco GP is Out of Order.
I just got my Time Pilot cab delivered from MN. A KLOVer from MN was picking up a pin near my house.
I might have that up and running before the party.

opt2not · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2019, 02:03:58 pm »

Sounds like a good time!

Is Lew invited?

yotsuya · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2019, 02:11:36 pm »

I can’t wait for the facepunching to commence!!

Mike A · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2019, 02:14:04 pm »

I thought you guys were my friends.

Titchgamer · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2019, 03:10:20 pm »

Are flights included with the beer?

yotsuya · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2019, 03:39:41 pm »

Quote from: Mike A on March 25, 2019, 02:14:04 pm

I thought you guys were my friends.

Mike A · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2019, 09:00:51 am »

Game line up as of today.

Centipede cocktail - working
Asteroids Deluxe cocktail - working
Rave Racer - working
Pleiades - working
Championship Sprint - working
Defender - working Using a JROK board until I fix my actual PCB
STUN Runner - working
Monaco GP cockpit - NOT working -not sure if I will ever get to it. There is an FPGA board in the works.
Pole Position 2 - working
Tempest - sort of working. I can play a few games and then it stops working. It is on the repair list.
Vanguard - working
Pac Man cabaret - NOT working
Pengo - working
Candy Cab - working. I have several PCBs I can shove in there. Right now its WW Cowboys of Moo Mesa.
Time Pilot - diagnosing. All of the parts are there. I also have spare CRTs and a known working PCB.
MAME cab - working

yotsuya · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2019, 08:24:25 pm »

Nice lineup man!

So, no fisticuffs with Sweet Lew? Bummer. Still, have fun!

Mike A · « **Reply #8 on:** March 28, 2019, 12:20:14 pm »

My Vanguard machine works well except there was no "pew pew" sound when I hit the fire buttons.

I read through a couple of Vanguard repair logs. One of them had the exact same problem. The culprit was a burned out LM3900. I tested mine and it was toast.

I ordered up an new chip and a socket for it.

"pew pew" is back.

I am really inexperienced with desoldering. I have a cheap desoldering iron with the vacuum bulb attached. It is a chore to use.

Is that a bad tool for the job or is it just difficult to desolder 30 year old blobs?

Gilrock · « **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2019, 12:31:12 pm »

I had always used copper solder wick and its been a pain to desolder anything. So when I was going to do my recent cap kit I looked into desoldering stations. I saw a guy doing a cap kit in a video and he showed a Hakko desoldering iron that he said was awesome so I paused the video thinking I'm going to jump over to Amazon and buy one. I searched and it popped up costing $350 and I fell out of my chair. I mean I like having nice stuff but I'd need to be doing it daily to justify that price. So I found another station that was $129 on Amazon and it has worked awesome. Brand was Anesty. Suck the solder off the pads in a couple seconds and the caps would fall out or easily be pulled off the board. If I ran into stubborn spots where the old solder didn't want to melt I sometimes would add a touch of new solder which would break the ice and allow the whole ball of solder to melt. I also tried one of those flux pens but it seemed to be more trouble than just adding a bit of new solder first.

Mike A · « **Reply #10 on:** March 28, 2019, 12:47:15 pm »

Thank you for the information. I will look into that.

pbj · « **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2019, 01:27:21 pm »

Pop off the bulb from your desoldering iron, put some tubing on it, and run the tubing to a shopvac. Control the shopvac with a foot pedal (constant air flow will make the tip too cold). As mentioned, melt a little fresh solder on everything first. You'll make quick work out of it.

Mike A · « **Reply #12 on:** March 28, 2019, 01:29:00 pm »

That sounds good. I have tubing and I have a shop vac. I will give it a shot.

yotsuya · « **Reply #13 on:** March 28, 2019, 01:37:17 pm »

Bro, just buy a Hakko. Don’t Jim it up.

pbj · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2019, 02:01:12 pm »

Meh, $20 versus $200 for a tool you're gonna use twice.

yotsuya · « **Reply #15 on:** March 28, 2019, 02:04:02 pm »

Quote from: pbj on March 28, 2019, 02:01:12 pm

Meh, $20 versus $200 for a tool you're gonna use twice.

You’re nuts dude, mine has paid for itself a hundred times over. I use it, I share it at repair parties, I’ve even used it to fix clogs on my 3D printer.

opt2not · « **Reply #16 on:** March 28, 2019, 02:14:28 pm »

Quote from: yotsuya on March 28, 2019, 01:37:17 pm

Bro, just buy a Hakko. Don’t Jim it up.

Seconded. You pay for quality tools. The Hakko is amazing, no fuss, no question of cheap chinese parts. You'll be happy with your purchase after you use it for the first time.
Many people here will always side with cheaper price as a priority, but there are some things that you should spend a bit extra on if you want the job done right and efficiently.

I used to use a soldapullt frequently, I tried braids, I tried bulb suckers...all would take me forever to desolder, and it wouldn't come out clean or I would burn traces. After getting the Hakko, desoldering takes a fraction of the time and the results are clean and burn-free.

Gilrock · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2019, 02:32:40 pm »

All I know is mine worked awesome. I'll use the money I saved to buy you a beer. Heck it could be years before I need it again.

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Desoldering-Station-Anesty-Professional/dp/B07542D82F/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1JHSO0I8HDYLE

Mike A · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2019, 02:36:40 pm »

I have some thinking to do.

Gilrock · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2019, 02:40:56 pm »

It's too late for me but if I had seen the Hakko for $200 I might have bought it. All I see on Amazon are $300 and up except one is $263 and its not Amazon Prime.

Mike A · « **Reply #20 on:** March 29, 2019, 10:15:21 pm »

Time pilot is now 100 percent playable. I had to hook a button up to the coin input for now. The guy before me stripped the coin door down probably to paint it. There are no mechs.
This game plays like butter. I bought a thoroughly refurbished Monroe joystick from A KLOVer. Two places near me have Time Pilot cabs. They both have a cheap replacement stick. It is just not the same.

opt2not · « **Reply #21 on:** March 29, 2019, 11:43:27 pm »

Fantastic. Time Pilot deserves the love. Unlike Zaxxon.

Mike A · « **Reply #22 on:** April 01, 2019, 01:18:44 pm »

I have to reschedule the party. A few of my friends told me the day before Easter wouldn't work. The next weekend is my daughter's 21st birthday party. The week after that I am at Zapcon. It looks like May 11th is the new party date. That gives you guys a couple more weeks to not come to the party.

I have a Rastan PCB that is working, but displaying colors incorrectly. It should be operating correctly by the time the party rolls around.

Mike A · « **Reply #23 on:** April 27, 2019, 10:35:54 am »

Took some pics before my daughter's party. I am still working on the video display and game control area. I have a bunch of conduit to run. Everything is extension cords for a couple of weeks. Come on out May 11th.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Titchgamer · « **Reply #24 on:** April 27, 2019, 10:39:12 am »

Quote from: Mike A on April 27, 2019, 10:35:54 am

Took some pics before my daughter's party. I am still working on the video display and game control area. I have a bunch of conduit to run. Everything is extension cords for a couple of weeks. Come on out May 11th.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Thats looking great Mike!

Wish I had a room like that!!

nexusmtz · « **Reply #25 on:** April 27, 2019, 05:00:16 pm »

Quote from: Mike A on April 27, 2019, 10:35:54 am

Took some pics before my daughter's party.

Looks like a great place for a party! I hope that she and her friends have a good time.

opt2not · « **Reply #26 on:** April 27, 2019, 06:12:54 pm »

Mike, that’s a beautiful space!

Mike A · « **Reply #27 on:** April 27, 2019, 06:29:02 pm »

Thanks. She had a great time. So did everyone else. It was a great night.

luizw81 · « **Reply #28 on:** April 27, 2019, 09:35:07 pm »

Showed my wife pics of your space Mike and now her wheels are turning. *fingers crossed*

Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk

Nephasth · « **Reply #29 on:** April 27, 2019, 10:04:24 pm »

That ceiling is tits!

Vigo · « **Reply #30 on:** April 28, 2019, 12:15:50 am »

Looks excellent!!

yotsuya · « **Reply #31 on:** April 28, 2019, 12:45:48 am »

Anyone get facepunched?

opt2not · « **Reply #32 on:** April 28, 2019, 05:11:10 am »

Quote from: Nephasth on April 27, 2019, 10:04:24 pm

That ceiling is tits!

Fuckeneh it is. The all-wood room with those beautiful cabinets...this space gorgeous.

This is my favourite photo out of the bunch:

I don't know if you did this on purpose, but all the lines from the hardwood point to your machines. Even in the corners, where it's like "look at this ---smurfing--- Monaco GP cockpit, bitches!". Great work there!
And the center ceiling slat arrangement is what really sells this room. Breaking up the hardwood pattern really accentuates the center of the room, and if I were you Mike, I'd arrange your cabs with the most impressive ones in your collection at that arrow point in the room.
I'd put Stun Runner in the corner where Pengo is, in a sense mirroring Monaco GP as the racing corners of the room. Then put Pengo where Tempest is, and put Tempest where Stun Runner currently is. A beautiful colour vector cabinet should be the in starting lineup, and that Tempest looks like a gem, it should be in the center room area.

I totally respect that Ok Baby candy you got in there. Especially as a "Multicade". I'm assuming it's Mame? Candy cabinets are made for utility, so it's a great choice to have that cab be the bastard child among these dedicated originals.

Yellow (non-wood laminate) Pacman cabaret, be still my ---smurfing--- heart! I'd totally jam on that for a while!

Dude, I'd play every game in your arcade! (maybe except for Vanguard). But this looks like a fantastic space to play in. Nice taste in games, and great aesthetic choices for this space. It really looks like a place that deserves a name, and can be proudly called Alpha Centuri. You gotta be very proud of this space!

Mike A · « **Reply #33 on:** April 28, 2019, 07:42:54 am »

Thanks. When I bought the candy cab it had a 60-1 in it. Now I rotate PCB boards in it. I am going to build a frame so I can shove several PCBs in there and get a multi JAMMA adapter.

Mike A · « **Reply #34 on:** April 30, 2019, 07:23:38 pm »

My Rastan PCB is working now. It is going into my candy cab.

pbj · « **Reply #35 on:** April 30, 2019, 09:06:23 pm »

What was wrong with it?

Mike A · « **Reply #36 on:** April 30, 2019, 09:11:35 pm »

Typical problem for my advanced skill level. It was producing random problems since I acquired it. I cleaned the edge contacts and I cleaned and reseated any chips that were in sockets. Luckily that fixed it. My repair skills are rudimentary, but it is surprising how many boards and monitors I have been able to service with the most basic knowledge set.

Mike A · « **Reply #37 on:** May 07, 2019, 03:45:49 pm »

Saturday May 11th 5pm Party.

A couple KLOVers said they are coming to the party.

My regular friends are coming.

It looks like it will be dry so if the wind cooperates we will have a bonfire. If anyone has an Arcade 1Up I could use some kindling.

Mike A · « **Reply #38 on:** May 09, 2019, 11:46:46 am »

I decided to make pizzas for the party. I prepped a bunch of dough on Tuesday for a 4 day cold rise in the fridge.

I will prep some flaky buttercrust dough on Saturday morning.

Today I need to restock my beer fridge.

Circus Charlie will be available to play. I just have to run it in my Time Pilot cab.

Mr. Do is a definite maybe.

Mike A · « **Reply #39 on:** May 12, 2019, 04:59:20 pm »

The party was awesome. The kids were all trading off on Wild West Cowboys of Moo Mesa. I need to get my act together and rehab that Konami 4 player cab I picked up. A guy from KLOV came out. I never met him, and he turned out to be a cool guy. A couple of KLOVers hope to make it to the next party.

pbj · « **Reply #40 on:** May 12, 2019, 06:56:09 pm »

No pics = no party

Mike A · « **Reply #41 on:** May 12, 2019, 07:01:04 pm »

Sorry. No pics this time. I usually leave my phone on the night stand during parties. I will try to remember to take pics next time.

pbj · « **Reply #42 on:** May 12, 2019, 08:10:23 pm »

Dropping the ball, bro. Do a gofundme for some cameras the next time your daughter's hot friends come over.

Mike A · « **Reply #43 on:** May 12, 2019, 08:17:09 pm »

I will get some pics just for you next time.

javeryh · « **Reply #44 on:** June 12, 2019, 01:07:18 pm »

Damn Mike - you have a super sweet set up. I'm totally jealous. Is that just a side room attached to your house or a separate building on your property? Either way - it's sick.

Mike A · « **Reply #45 on:** June 12, 2019, 03:36:30 pm »

It s attached. It looks like it was a garage that was converted to living space before I moved in.


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