2nd pin - Space Shuttle

[jar155]

Care to explain????

Space Shuttle reinvigorated the public and operators. The designers did away with the two level philosophy and put everything on one plane and added the ramp design. The game was suddenly quicker and more exciting. Also, the addition of the space shuttle toy was a big deal as it finally brought something that gave pinball a counterpunch to the video game boom that was really hurting the pinball industry. All of a sudden Williams proved that pinball could evolve and was worth sticking around for.

Toys and the better flowing design immediately jumpstarted a flagging industry. Maybe another game would have come along and done the same sometime soon, but Space Shuttle was first.

 

[gibbous]

Just to update: it's been tough finding time to work on this, but a buddy helped get the board so it's now showing "0" (all tests OK), however I now have a problem with a column of switches (grn-brn for you following along in your schematics) not registering. I swapped it with another column of switches (grn-red) at the header connector on the board, and the symptom moved to the other switches, so I know it's not in the playfield. Going to work more on the board tonight.

Next issue is in a row, where in switch test mode, when I hit the right flipper, I seem to get a random switch in the row (wht-orn) registering instead of just the intended switch (lane change).

I think (not sure) these actually go back to the same PIA, so I will probably first try swapping that.

*sigh* Vids are so much simpler.

 

[Geese]

*sigh* Vids are so much simpler.

But not near as much fun...

 

[endrien]

But not near as much fun...

True that. Pins are a different experience every time, while vid's are fun they are definately repetitive. I haven't worked on a pin yet..but I will soon.

 

[gibbous]

Fixed it! Replaced transistors at Q7 and Q12 and all the switch problems went away.

Flippers feel weak, left one sometimes sticks, and there's a couple of broken switches under the pop bumpers, but it's playable now! Got it working just before bedtime last night so I only got in one game.

I can't wait to get home today!

 

[gibbous]

Got some more pics up, finally.

http://www.arcadecrusade.com/gallery/v/gamerooms/gibbous/SpaceShuttle/

 

[tobyocc]

Gib,

Did you get a good deal on it. I have seen alot of pins pop up in our area but always a little pricey for not working or stuff like that. I want another pin bad but budget is real tight. Looking for a EM though.

Nice job on getting it working.

 

[pseeds]

Looks really nice. I remember playing this game in Houston at a food store near the Johnson Space Center. This is a pinball I wouldn't mind having at some point.

 

[gibbous]

I hear ya, toby (just sent ya PM). I've been looking at prices for about a year and they seem high, but then again, I am coming from vids. I'm happy with what I paid + time and effort put in to repair this one.

But either there's a healthy market around here or the sellers have A LOT of excess inventory, because it seems like even at these prices, the pins seem to move.

I've been told even EM project prices are up from a few years ago.

This is a FUN pin for sure, pseeds. I just got done cleaning and putting a couple coats of wax on it, it's got paint coming off at the raised areas, but no big bare spots, nothing that can't be touched up. I'm hesitating at starting the process of touching up and maybe clear coating it because it means I can't play it for a while.

 

[sjfreddy]

Man, that playfield is nice!!! Most of the ones i`ve seen in the last few years were worn down to the wood deep! Now the next question is do you have the topper ? fred

 

[gibbous]

Yeah, I guess it's not that bad. You can see paint coming off at almost every inset lamp on the PF, but, like I said, very little bare wood showing up at the top where the ball enters the PF and a bit around the center drop target.

I DO have the topper! Also the key chain and an original flyer, and an almost complete set of NOS plastics. Only a copied manual though. Luckily the schematics were still pretty clear.

 

[Steelhorse]

like to see some more pictures of this pinball machine, looks nice and clean for +20 yr. old machine.

 

[gibbous]

Did you see the other pics here?:

http://www.arcadecrusade.com/gallery/v/gamerooms/gibbous/SpaceShuttle/

Among them:

This has actually been stored for a while. I'm getting ready to set it up again with a fresh set of rubbers in my new guest room-turned-pinball room.