Phantom of the Opera

Again, a very cool theme.  I don't come across these very often but have played it and enjoy the gameplay.  I like the Data East games - similar to the Playboy I have and the Secret Service I had.

I found one just outside of Edmonton so bought it an brought it home. 

I think I overpaid by a couple of hundred as it needs work.  And the backglass is OK but not 100%.

Still we will fix it up and play it.  No worries.  The backglass is super cool because it lights up and you can see the Phantom's grisly face underneath the mask.  Plus the music is very heavy and gothic.

Stargate

Stargate was a cool movie from 1994 I believe...

I found a pinball machine on that theme and played it a bit.  It was pretty cool. 

I vowed if I ever found one for cheaper I would buy it.

And today I found one and added it to the collection.  It's made by Gottlieb in 1994.  There are a few issues - the DMD has 2 dead lines right in the middle and the spaceship doesn't come out of the pyramid.  I haven't played it very much.  It's in the garage warming up.

But I think I can fix it and get it back to 100%..... Stay tuned!  Lol.

Happy Halloween

So I picked up a new pin in Vancouver - The fact that it came up for sale on October 31 seemed kind of perfect.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Superman flies away

I sold my Superman.  It was never going to get all of the work done to it while it was here.

Bummer.  But the garage is a bit less full.

I can't wait for the mods for Creature to get here - I will clean it at the same time I install the LCD in place of the 3D creature.  Should be cool.

More info to follow.

Cleaning

Today I cleaned and waxed Monster Bash.  I removed the ramps to do it.  It probably took me 3 hours.

It plays excellent now - very fast and fun.

I also bought the Creature mod from PinballMikeD.  It uses an LCD screen in place of the hologram.  I have the tv - just waiting for the mod to come in the mail.  I will update when I get it installed.  I will probably clean the machine at the same time as it is grimy.

Monster Bash

I found a monster bash in the USA.  I got it for a good price.  I really liked playing the game at the Northwest arcade and pinball show - never thought I would own one.

It is in pretty good shape.  Just needs some love and a good cleaning.  No keys so I have to replace the locks...

Bye Bye

Sold my T2 Pinball.  Wasn't getting played all that much - kind of a repetitive game.

So BuhBye

Of all the bands in the world, This is definitely one of them!"

Went on a shopping spree and picked up a Guns and Roses pinball made in 1998 by Data East. There were only 3000 made so they are a bit hard to find.  This one is in OK shape and plays fine with only a few slight issues - light playfield wear and a goofy kicker solenoid I need to fix.

It's fantastic.  Plays a fair number of their songs. Lots of fun.

So far it's in the garage (which is getting full again - lol)

I also have a lead on a Monster Bash - which is kind of a grail pin for me.  We will see where that leads in the future but right now having fun playing GnR.

Enfield Continental GT: or The Garage Continues to Fill

I had heard the news about Enfield releasing a new model called the Continental GT.

It looked super cool in the pictures. 

 

Reviews called it a bit underpowered but said it sounded great and had lots of soul.

I don't really need to go a hundred miles an hour any more.  And I can do that on my R1.  So the GT seemed to be an interesting bike for me.

It took them a while to come to Canada but I went and looked at one in a shop here in BC.

I bought one - new with only 6km on it.  It's the first vehicle I have ever bought new.  So far I have only put 50km on it for break in.



I'm going to get some bar end mirrors to replace the ugly old mirrors that are on it.  And the muffler is a bit fat and non-retro - kind of looks out of place on it - so that needs to get binned.  They also make red fenders for it - which again look very chic.

Overall it's a very cool bike and I am quite pleased with it.  Kick and electric start.  Disc brakes. And new.  Nice to have the funds.

Super!

Found an Atari Superman that was for sale - not working.

It's in the garage to get fixed.  So far it lights up but doesn't boot up.  I sprayed the back glass with Krylon Triple Thick to get it to stop flaking.  It looks ok.  There is still a lot of work to do on it.

Games Room

Here is a shot of the games room as it sits right now.  Pretty good lineup.

You Cheat Doctor Jones!

While back in Edmonton I got a good lead on a Williams Indiana Jones Pinball game.  It was not mint but in players shape.  It has always been one of those pinballs that I liked to play and I have always loved the movie franchise.

One of the call outs if you tilt the table is Short Round who cries out "You Cheat Doctor Jones!".  The rest of the game is awesome fun with good voices and lots of challenges to complete.

So I struck a deal, packed it up, and brought it home.

It is heavy - the heaviest pinball I own.  Right now it is in the garage but we will bring it upstairs and add it to the lineup.  I will post pictures of the playroom later.

Moving and shaking my collection

I was in Toronto for work and went to visit some Hamilton friends I haven't seen in a while.  I left to go to the airport and on a whim stopped at a place called Toronto Coin Exchange.  They had a good collection of games and in their showroom they had a Viking pinball.  It's a game I have always wanted so I bought it and shipped it to my place in Edmonton.

Then I loaded up the Star Trek and the Spiderman in my truck (plus my Triumph Thruxton) in Vancouver and headed back to Edmonton to drop it all off.

It was a 12 hour drive but now I have a bit more space in Vancouver and have stored those pins until I can get a permanent place.  The gig in Vancouver will only last another year and the next project seems to be shaping up to be in Toronto.

Fun in Tacoma & Pinball = Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show

I went down to the Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show to take in the sights.  The show was really good - maybe a touch echoish for my tastes - but still fun.  We played a bunch of different games that I have never played before.  I could have spent a few days there.

I also picked up another 1978 Bally Playboy (now I have 3) plus a new playfield for it and 2 sets of plastics.  There is a rumor that CPR is going to be doing a run of back-glasses for these games, so I'm all set to get at least one good machine for my collection.

There was the new Star Trek game so we played it a bit.  Here's a pic....

Playboy Redux Deux

Ok - I really like playing the Data East 35th Anniversary Playboy pinball game that I have.  And Bally made a Playboy in 1979 that I thought would look cool next to it - the artwork is fabulous and I like older style games.

So 2 came up for sale in the USA - Olympia WA.  And I pulled the trigger.

I now have a lot of pinball machines......

They are in rough shape and we will se if I can restore them to past glory.  I may only get one out of the two but that would be ok.

New Pins coming to the home

So - I sold the Dracula pin for exactly what I paid for it.  Hope it went to a new home.

I found a deal down in Beaverton OR for a pinball I have always wanted so I took the plunge and purchased a Creature from the Black Lagoon.  It's a very fun game and had some LEDs in it.  I will post pictures in the future.

I also grabbed a Terminator 2.  It is blowing the fuse for the left flipper so I have to trouble shoot that - but it's still fun to play.

Spiderman! Spiderman!

Found a guy in Washington who was selling a Gottlieb Amazing Spiderman just like the one I own.

I went down and bought it because it was in excellent shape.  It even has the string holding the wires together.  It has not been played much and was thus super clean.

I'm going to use the best parts out of both games to make one really good game that I will keep - then sell the other in Vancouver.

As an aside I was trying to back my truck into the garage to unload the pin and I forgot how tall it was.  The head hit the garage door and broke it a bit - so I need to repair that....

Some Changes to the Collection - and a 1979 Star Trek

Quick update - I sold the F-14 Tomcat because I wasn't playing it all that much.  I sold it for a bit of profit which was nice.  Pins are becoming more popular it seems and there are a few F14's on Craigslist in the $2000 range. Crazy!

I also sold the Secret Service as I wasn't putting in the time to fix it.  I was kinda sad to see it go.  I bet it would have been fun to play.  But it went to a guy who collects so I figure he will get it working.  Made money on it too.

I posted the Dracula but it has not sold.

And I picked up a new pin - a 1979 Star Trek by Bally

It's in great shape and originally came from an arcade in Edmonton.  Plays nice.

Porsche

I was cruising Craigslist in my area and found a 2001 Porsche Boxster for sale.  It was priced low so I went to take a look at it. It was an American import and seemed in great shape.

It has a lot of km - 220,000 but is mechanically sound.

It will do nicely as a summer car for days when I can put the top down.

So I officially joined the Porsche owners club.

The garage is getting full though - I need to sell a few things...