Arcadeworthy Rescues - Tail Gunner 2

[ArcadeJason]

that joystick looks great!!! i would suggest a resistor inline with the speaker rather than changing r74 but either way would work. to those who don't know there are different revisions of the sound board that produce different volume levels. there are also different revisions for different harnesses. for example the sound board from my tailgunner upright with blow a fuse when plugged into my cockpit.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Here is the corrected Joystick drawing.

The pins switch on the pot with the Green Wire at Pin 2. Violet moves to Pin 1, Red to Pin 3, and it works.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

One last question (as this isn't in any of my Exidy 2 manuals)

Is this a legitimate Tail Gunner 2 Test Pattern?

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Bump to see if I can get @CaptainHendry or @ArcadeJason to chime in, since both have a working game.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

This is a fun mode to get into. You have to hold the START button while plugging the game in (Or lifting the door to the interlock until it is in the neutral (off) position, and then lifting it up while holding the START button.

This was obviously left from Tail Gunner where this may have been more possible, although I've never seen one so maybe not.

I sat in the game and held the START button down, and had my wife flip the switch on the filtering power strip I have to control power to the game to get there.

 

[ArcadeJason]

i have not verified this but i thought the test pattern was cleaner and accessible with the dip switches?

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

i have not verified this but i thought the test pattern was cleaner and accessible with the dip switches?

Could you take a moment to verify it, and maybe post a photo?

I'm following what I found in the manual. If there is a better way, I'm game, but this worked.

 

[Mathman]

Could you take a moment to verify it, and maybe post a photo?

I'm following what I found in the manual. If there is a better way, I'm game, but this worked.

The vector pattern test mode works as you described on my TG2:

=>> Hold the Start pushbutton while powering on the game.

I've known the vector convergence has been off on my game, but didn't know about this test screen!

Below are "before" and "after" images after my son watched the screen while I adjusted the blue screen adjustment variable resistors on the monitor chassis main board.

I found the following adjustments:

• R60 - Horizontal size
• R54 - Vertical size
• R58 - Vector convergence, seemed to affect the lower-left and upper-right corners of the square
• R61 - Vector convergence, seemed to affect the upper-left and lower-right corners of the square

Before adjustment (though the photo was taken with a skewed perspective):
The corners of the square are not converging well.



After adjustment:
Edges of the square converge at all 4 corners.



Looks a lot better.
Game display looks better too. The double-rectangle surrounding the words TAIL GUNNER on the attract screen now have fully connected corners.
Thanks for posting this question.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

The vector pattern test mode works as you described on my TG2:

=>> Hold the Start pushbutton while powering on the game.

I've known the vector convergence has been off on my game, but didn't know about this test screen!

Below are "before" and "after" images after my son watched the screen while I adjusted the blue screen adjustment variable resistors on the monitor chassis main board.

I found the following adjustments:

• R60 - Horizontal size
• R54 - Vertical size
• R58 - Vector convergence, seemed to affect the lower-left and upper-right corners of the square
• R61 - Vector convergence, seemed to affect the upper-left and lower-right corners of the square

Before adjustment (though the photo was taken with a skewed perspective):
The corners of the square are not converging well.

View attachment 685336

After adjustment:
Edges of the square converge at all 4 corners.

View attachment 685332

Looks a lot better.
Game display looks better too. The double-rectangle surrounding the words TAIL GUNNER on the attract screen now have fully connected corners.
Thanks for posting this question.

Thanks for posting such a detailed answer. I have some convergence issues - I'll have to try your approach!

 

[crazygamer]

I know,,, a little late to the party..

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

I know,,, a little late to the party..

You may be late, but it's vital information. The gimbal arms I made won't work with the original Tail Gunner joystick. Darn!

Then again, looking at the pictures, it looks like a plastic nub is on the end of the joystick, so maybe with the shorter throw, those gimbal arms will never need to be replaced due to metal on metal damage?

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Prologue:

I just played Tail Gunner 2 again. I really enjoy playing that game, but it wrings me out.

However, I have a bit of good news. Another part of the original equipment was saved from the scrapyard.

The Key Shop Online (a division of The Arcade Boneyard) was able to re-key my original Tail Gunner 2 tubular lock. I reinstalled it today in place of the one I had put in since I didn't have keys to the original lock, and BAM - good as new!

I know, I need to get some rivets to fill the holes, and then strip and hammer black paint the door, but this looks so much better being back to original!




www.thekeyshoponline.com / [email protected]