beerorkid
New member
I saw this Star Explorer pin on CL last night after work and ran out to pick it up for $50. This was the first pinball machine I ever played because it was in my basement growing up. My dad bought it from Sears or Wards way back in the day. I bet I have played over it 1000 times. The foil plating on the side rail was peeling on the one my parents had. My brother had some friends over because we were going to see a star wars movie that night. To show off how cool I was to his friends I tried to rip the foil off and ended up getting my first stitches from the cut. I rocked to Guns and Roses, Justice for all, and Pantera on my walkman playing this thing growing up.
We had a full size air hockey table, darts, and ping pong table in the basement growing up. My dad bought all the gaming systems and would tape a $20 to our TV when we got a new game so me and my brother would have to battle to be the first to beat a game to win the money. he also worked at the place that printed Nintendo Power so we got the mags before they shipped out. He thinks I am crazy for having games in my basement, but he does know he is the reason I am so obsessed.
It is about 1/2 the size of a real pin. It has some Bally parts in it, but uses electrical contact between metal contacts that are glued to the playfield instead of switches for the pop bumpers and slingshots. Both flippers are controlled by one solenoid, so they both flip when either button is pressed. The flippers are full size, but set back so they act like smaller flippers. I disabled the tilt. It plays a lot like an older pin and is actually kind of fun. I am going to clean it up a bit and put new rubbers on it last night. They ball that came with it was very magnetized, so I swapped it out. It was the first time the wife helped me get a pin into the basement.
It is in pretty good condition. They guy selling it to me was a hoot. I mentioned multiple times that I have games and work on pins all the time. He did not pick up on that well and kept talking up the game as being insanely awesome. He even had called Steve Young to get replacement parts for it and thought Steve was a huge dick for telling him how it really is. Could you imagine calling Steve Young for parts for one of these? lol
Maybe a full tear down, clean, and clear coat?
Last edited:
