Post by: Mike A on April 28, 2021, 09:17:01 am
Starting June 1st I will take visitors by appointment. No groups...yet. A couple of your family members would be fine.
I am fully vaccinated for COVID. I mention that because that could be a sticking point for people. I don't require you to be vaccinated.
Do you have a project you have always dreamed of doing, but don't have space or tools? Make an appointment.
Do you want to drink beers and play real arcade games in a real arcade environment? Make an appointment.
Do you want to help me with a project? Make an appointment.
If you want to come stay for an hour or the weekend just let me know. I have a guest room with an attached bathroom. It has a CRT TV with a NES and an Intellivision.
I only ask that you buy or bring your own materials. I have lots of ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- on hand. I won't charge any more than I paid for stuff.
If this sparks any interest I will create a separate thread to document the adventures.
Post by: bobbyb13 on April 29, 2021, 12:40:56 am
Only place I can think of that I've been in IL is O'Hare now that I think about it.
In spite of having been born in Cedar Rapids, IA
Post by: yotsuya on April 29, 2021, 12:51:01 am
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: bobbyb13 on April 29, 2021, 03:13:50 am
(https://media3.giphy.com/media/3ornka9rAaKRA2Rkac/giphy.gif)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Now that is funny-
And consequently also how I figured people would feel about flying to a tiny rock in the middle of the Pacific
Post by: Mike A on April 29, 2021, 07:46:36 am
Over the last few years I have had multiple people PM me about getting help with projects.
I tell the come on out and use my tools. Nobody has shown up.
Arroyo and Bperkins01 have been out to my place to help me with my stuff and they live on opposite coasts.
I will definitely fly out to Hawaii if I am invited.
I have been to the East Coast to see BYOACers. I have been to the West Coast.
I have been to Zapcon a couple of times.
Get out and meet people.
You would be surprised how much more you learn and how much more fun it is to share the hobby in person.
Post by: Gilrock on April 29, 2021, 09:31:58 am
Post by: Mike A on April 29, 2021, 09:44:03 am
I really don't want this thread to turn into a COVID debate.
Post by: Gilrock on April 29, 2021, 09:49:59 am
Post by: Mike A on April 29, 2021, 10:05:33 am
Post by: Zebidee on April 29, 2021, 10:25:37 am
Haven't seen kids in flesh for nearly 18 months it really hurts. So international travel well we will see. ---fudgesicle--- COVID. :'(
Post by: yotsuya on April 29, 2021, 01:15:14 pm
It is odd.I agree. The best part of ZapCon isn’t the games, it’s seeing all you ---daisies---.
Over the last few years I have had multiple people PM me about getting help with projects.
I tell the come on out and use my tools. Nobody has shown up.
Arroyo and Bperkins01 have been out to my place to help me with my stuff and they live on opposite coasts.
I will definitely fly out to Hawaii if I am invited.
I have been to the East Coast to see BYOACers. I have been to the West Coast.
I have been to Zapcon a couple of times.
Get out and meet people.
You would be surprised how much more you learn and how much more fun it is to share the hobby in person.
The traditional meet up at the Monastery during the early years was the best. Picking up Vigo and Harveybirdman at the airport blasting Uptown Funk (a BYOAC in-joke). Dinner with Ond and his daughter and Jawhn. Tacos with MikeA, Jrok and the AZ crew... the mixing of you guys and the AZ locals is my favorite part of the weekend.
But even before that, we locals in Arizona spend weekends fixing things and repairing things and getting them ready for the show. We teach each other, we help each other out. That camaraderie extends way before and way after the actual show, and it pleases me to no end that people like you Mike, and Vigo, and Opt2Not, and Neph and Jim (both the PBJ and Nexusmtz Jim’s) take the time and spend your hard earned money to come out and play with us. That’s what this hobby should be about to us at this age - reliving memories, and making new ones.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: opt2not on April 29, 2021, 03:45:34 pm
Post by: TacoTownCharlie on April 29, 2021, 04:24:33 pm
At MikeA’s.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Post by: yotsuya on April 29, 2021, 04:42:49 pm
At MikeA’s.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: bobbyb13 on April 29, 2021, 09:06:24 pm
It is odd.
Over the last few years I have had multiple people PM me about getting help with projects.
I tell the come on out and use my tools. Nobody has shown up.
Arroyo and Bperkins01 have been out to my place to help me with my stuff and they live on opposite coasts.
I will definitely fly out to Hawaii if I am invited.
I have been to the East Coast to see BYOACers. I have been to the West Coast.
I have been to Zapcon a couple of times.
Get out and meet people.
You would be surprised how much more you learn and how much more fun it is to share the hobby in person.
Consider yourself officially invited.
Others here too if someone can vouch for them being house-broken!
:laugh2:
I just need to hammer out the habitable space so nobody needs to spend $500/night on a hotel room- unless they feel like it.
Plenty of things in life not worth having unless they get shared.
This place would be one of those.
I've been here 15 yrs and it is remarkable how few of my friends who say they will come out actually do- even with a free place to stay.
For a while I thought it was me but I stay at their houses back on the east coast when I go so I suppose not.
Post by: Mike A on May 18, 2021, 09:18:03 pm
Ask pbj what happens to chicken wings in my vicinity.
Post by: bobbyb13 on May 19, 2021, 03:57:02 am
Mike, would love to put myself on the list. But my ideas of visits to USA for some time are void, COVID sucks.
Haven't seen kids in flesh for nearly 18 months it really hurts. So international travel well we will see. ---fudgesicle--- COVID. :'(
The current climate for travel just sucks.
In a former life I used to get around a lot, but even without coronavirus crap I have a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- load of responsibility at home still at the moment that means I can't go anywhere for the near future.
I will absolutely make an excuse to get to Alpha Centuri on my next trip East.
Would be rad to see any/all of you out here if you can manage (it IS a long ---smurfing--- trip from damn near anywhere) if for no other reason then I need somebody to teach me how to fix this ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- I have re-fallen in love with recently.
Hell free place to stay? No brainer.
Ask pbj what happens to chicken wings in my vicinity.
The Arcade Loft is rather Spartan for your average bourgeoisie (although I could probably happily live out my days in my workshop/The Pouty House) but my buddy Alex's family at the Pa'ala'a Kai Mini Mart makes some damn fine chicken.
Post by: Mike A on June 04, 2021, 11:12:42 am
Stay tuned for details. You will not be disappointed.
Post by: Hoopz on June 04, 2021, 11:19:05 am
Post by: Mike A on June 04, 2021, 11:22:12 am
It was in bad shape. I told the guy that I could be there in 5 hours and 15 minutes. He already had people in front of me.
I tried laying on the charm and I couldn't fight my way to the front of the line.
Post by: Hoopz on June 04, 2021, 01:27:22 pm
That sucks that you couldn't get that one. Had to be disappointing. :-\
Post by: Mike A on June 04, 2021, 02:40:08 pm
Post by: bobbyb13 on June 05, 2021, 02:36:35 am
Just thought, "oh, that was cool..."
Would love to play that one again someday.
So...
Did you buy that pair of driving cabs....?
Post by: Mike A on June 05, 2021, 08:38:01 am
Post by: Mike A on June 06, 2021, 08:52:56 pm
Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
Post by: bobbyb13 on June 06, 2021, 09:17:31 pm
Not like I needed another reason to visit, and I suck at Robotron (still)...
But Star Trek Pinball?
Beam me over
Post by: Zebidee on June 07, 2021, 01:44:47 am
All we need a really loooooooooooooooooong travel bubble that extend from Mike's place to Bobby's in Hawaii and mine in Thailand.
Just got my first jab in anticipation.
Post by: yotsuya on June 07, 2021, 11:12:30 am
God I miss the old Bally pinballs.Good for you! Plan it around ZapCon next year and pick up Bobby on the way!
All we need a really loooooooooooooooooong travel bubble that extend from Mike's place to Bobby's in Hawaii and mine in Thailand.
Just got my first jab in anticipation.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Mike A on June 11, 2021, 07:15:03 am
I ordered some paste wax to rub on the playfield.
There are a couple of other things pbj recommended I should do at minimum.
When I get to that I will start a restore thread.
Robotron works great. I just need to put the correct length sticks on it.
I am moving 3 or 4 games from one arcade room to the other. I could use some help.
Come on out this Sunday. Drink some beer. Do a little manual labor. Grill some animals and throw them on a bun.
Respond here or PM me.
Post by: Mike A on October 22, 2021, 05:32:21 pm
I have 3 or 4 monitors that need to be capped.
If you always wanted to learn to solder, this is an opportunity for you.
Come on out. Setup a time and day with me. I will show you the basics.
And as always, my shop is open to anyone who wants help with their own projects.
Post by: Zebidee on October 23, 2021, 02:30:00 am
Post by: bobbyb13 on October 23, 2021, 02:54:31 am
I can't, but wish I could click like or something, so I'll just post this instead
Ditto.
I'm working on our visitor space here this weekend again finally so hopefully soon be ready for any who could visit here.
I have plenty of monitor work for someone who knows what they are doing!
Post by: Mike A on November 22, 2021, 11:52:28 am
I taught him how to use a ROM reader.
I showed him the first steps I use for fixing a broken PCB. These steps were taught to me by Bperkins01.
He owns a Captain's Chair that is in more complete shape than mine so I am borrowing parts to duplicate.
Post by: Zebidee on November 23, 2021, 05:05:01 pm
Post by: leapinlew on January 02, 2022, 04:11:28 pm
Good job on the Star Trek pinball. I have fond memories of playing that at a diner that had great chicken sandwiches and crinkle cut fries. I can only imagine how much that thing is going for.
Post by: Mike A on August 10, 2022, 08:39:52 am
My shop is open to anyone who wants to work on arcade stuff.
I have:
good table saw
small band saw
Bench top drill press
12" sliding mitre saw
abrasive wheel chop saw
30 inch metal brake up to 18 gauge steel
13 inch planer
router table
12x24" CNC machine
12x16" 60 watt CO2 laser
small air compressor
all of the basic power tools and hand tools
Post by: Mike A on August 10, 2022, 08:42:24 am
good multimeter
JAMMA bench test rig
soldering iron
desoldering gun
tons of wire
tons of connectors molex and otherwise
capacitors, sockets, resistors, etc
ROM reader and writer
Post by: Mike A on August 10, 2022, 08:44:20 am
So tons of different combinations of hardware to test on.
Oh and feel free to come out and just play games too.
I play my games and I encourage others to play them as well.
Post by: bobbyb13 on August 10, 2022, 01:14:22 pm
Sounds like a stellar setup.
Heheh
Post by: Mike A on November 02, 2022, 10:28:02 am
I will be working on random arcade stuff this weekend.
If anyone wants to learn how to do a cap kit, or wire a control panel, contact me.
I will be playing games, drinking beer, and working on games.
Post by: spisi on June 15, 2023, 09:44:40 am
Post by: Mike A on June 15, 2023, 09:45:50 am
Post by: spisi on June 15, 2023, 12:58:49 pm
Post by: Zebidee on June 16, 2023, 11:08:53 pm
Post by: Mike A on February 06, 2024, 05:41:43 am
Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
Post by: Mike A on February 06, 2024, 05:43:32 am
Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
Post by: Mike A on February 06, 2024, 05:44:24 am
Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
Post by: Mike A on February 06, 2024, 05:46:52 am
Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
Post by: Mike A on February 06, 2024, 05:49:13 am
Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
Post by: bobbyb13 on February 06, 2024, 01:01:10 pm
Always good to have a friend with heavy machinery.
And Sinistar?!
I thought you liked yourself more than that.
Let the masochism begin!
Post by: Mike A on February 09, 2024, 06:51:01 am
Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
Post by: bobbyb13 on February 15, 2024, 11:45:37 pm
Couldn't tell how big the building was from the trench activity shot.
This will be awesome.
Post by: Mike A on February 16, 2024, 05:38:58 am
That is only 1/3 of the building.
There are still cars and a boat stored in the rest of the building.
I will be building that out in spring time after all of the vehicles are out.
Post by: Mike A on February 22, 2024, 06:18:50 am
Joists are hung.
Ceiling goes up today.
We tried last week but we miscalculated and then ran out of time.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240222/6054126bea96cfa497247c77488a9e3d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240222/25d2af71432287bfd11b1e95c04d6787.jpg)
Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
Post by: Mike A on February 23, 2024, 07:50:21 am
Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
Post by: javeryh on February 23, 2024, 03:35:54 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240206/45f6cfa064e353ec7643f9766f821122.jpg)
I think there is more property shown in this one pic than there is on my entire block. I'm jealous. Looks like it's coming along nicely.
Post by: Mike A on February 23, 2024, 04:08:02 pm
Anytime someone wants to visit, I have a guest room.
Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
Post by: bobbyb13 on February 28, 2024, 03:02:09 am
If for some reason I'm not busier than the proverbial one legged ass-kicker guy before I become stardust again I will be knocking on the door.
Is this project why we won't see you at ZapCon I assume?
Post by: Mike A on February 28, 2024, 06:39:36 am
Something had to give, unfortunately.
Post by: yotsuya on February 28, 2024, 12:44:52 pm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Mike A on February 28, 2024, 01:26:47 pm
Zapcon rooms were over 300 bucks.
But I really wanted to go.
I will make a trip out your way next year or maybe sooner.
Post by: Mike A on March 08, 2024, 08:46:18 am
Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
Post by: pbj on March 08, 2024, 10:28:53 am
Post by: Mike A on March 08, 2024, 10:34:57 am
I don't have to shove things up in the attic.
Post by: pbj on March 08, 2024, 10:39:25 am
:cheers:
Post by: Mike A on March 08, 2024, 10:43:20 am