New addition Lord of the Rings

Deadly

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Saturday I picked up an unshopped routed LOTR. The machine appeared to be 100% functional other than the display was wonky, a few bulbs out and it had a flaky switch in the lower left VUK. The OP gave me a brand new display at no extra charge. The cabinet art condition I would rate it at an (anal) 5. No chunks out of the cabinet just a few minor artwork blemishes and there's slight fading involved. I'm critical though ;)

Here's what I've had to do so far:
1.) Novus #2 got her shined up which surprisingly enough there's was next to nill for debris on the PF. The normal wear spots aren't chipped up or worn at all so going to add Cliffys. The PF is in beautiful shape.
2.) 4 bulbs needed replaced. All 4 replaced. Luckily this is the first gen of LOTR's. Balrog has the light in him but the bulb was dead. Replaced and after 4 games the damn bulb went out. Google shows it's a common issue and by adding a grommet to the mount it stops the vibration that causes premature failure.
3.) The flaky lower left VUK switch was indeed the switch and not the wire form needing adjusted. Replaced the switch and works normally.
4.) Leveled the table. (Surprisingly it was WAY off) and I know the place it came out of.

Left to do:
Re-rubber
Tonight I'll be upgrading the CPU and Display drivers.
Fix an issue where the ball gets stuck on the Path of the Dead. It gets kicked out and deflected back and positions itself against the tower and the post right next to the tower. I think the plastic PF has warped over time.
The red light behind Ringwraith doesn't work. I have a bad feeling the transistor that drives this is dead as swapping the bulb had no effect. I hate board work. :mad:

Just ordered the ramp post upgrade, hooded ball lock cover and a set of plastic protectors.

Since it's a "pics or didn't happen" site here's a pic. Sorry it's crappy, I grabbed it with my phone this morning.
Purchase price and parts added brings grand total to $2657.00
 

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Awesome!

Lord of the Rings was my first Stern machine, and it's still fighting for my all time Stern favorite (it's a close fight with TSPP). The game is really satisfying to play and the modes just keep coming. Have fun.
 
Thanks guys. winter time is extremely boring for me. I chose LOTR for one primary reason - deep rule set. I can play any of my other 3 pins and beat/complete them almost every time. I wanted a game that will keep me coming back because I can't beat/complete it. This seemed like a great option and the wife loves LOTR too. So it was a win for price, win for me and a win for my wife.

Jar sending you a PM
 
Be sure to get 10.0 ROMS...if yours is a first run and original roms, your game has lots of bugs and missing features!
 
Nice game, a keeper for sure in my book. Regarding the PotD, that is a common problem and it likely isn't warped. I put a second, larger ring around the post next to the tower. I also looped a large ring around the posts at the left of the PotD so the ball bounces off better and doesn't hit the wooden sidewall.

I also put an Army of the Dead figure on the lower part of the PotD (with putty) to deflect the ball onto the left wire ramp from the PotD exit, to prevent those ugly bounces (and broken plastics, playfield dings, etc.).
 
Nice game, a keeper for sure in my book. Regarding the PotD, that is a common problem and it likely isn't warped. I put a second, larger ring around the post next to the tower. I also looped a large ring around the posts at the left of the PotD so the ball bounces off better and doesn't hit the wooden sidewall.

I also put an Army of the Dead figure on the lower part of the PotD (with putty) to deflect the ball onto the left wire ramp from the PotD exit, to prevent those ugly bounces (and broken plastics, playfield dings, etc.).

Thanks I was seriously about ready to order a new POTD plastic. Great advice I'll be adding a larger ring after I get done typing this up. My game needs to be updated to Ver10. However my concern with eliminating the left VUK is what does a person miss out on? I am working with Cliffy right now to get a POTD ramp made to help eliminate that PF damage and to save any Arwen plastics that aren;t thrashed by now.

Yo Bricktop thanks man. It truly is a fun game. Challenging and almost every shot is rewarding. This is by far my favorite pin. Next up is an Addams Family. Hopefully in December or January ;)
 
LoTR is a great game, a keeper for me. I'd recommend a couple of things for it that I put on:
1) Plastics protectors from pinbits - This has 2 protectors for the Arwen plastic, but you only need to use 1. Put the 1 on top, it will protect the plastic from the ball drops off the potd. Save the second one in case your 1st one cracks or gets scratched.

2) Hobbiton protector, again from pinbits - that area gets beaten up quite a lot.

Between those 2 the goofy ball drop from the potd gets protected and keeps the original game play.

3) Colorchanging LED behind the plantir globe - looks great

4) I used a red flasher led behind the eye in the back right corner, the red really makes the eye look great.

Jerry
 
However my concern with eliminating the left VUK is what does a person miss out on?

Well, you're only eliminating it from POTD drops...and all it does is kick it back up to the ramp....so - you're missing nothing. The VUK will still pop the ball back up from playfield shots to the Shire/Sam area.
 
Gotcha thanks for the clarification and it absolutey makes sense. As an fyi I was told from a veeeeerrry reliable source that the potd ramp is being made as we speak. I'm hopeful to see it in the next 3 months. I welcome this as it allows the game to be played the way it was designed!
 
There is 1 thing missing if you divert the ball from dropping into hobbiton. You get extra souls sometimes when the ball drops from the potd into hobbiton, you don't get those if the ball always goes to the ramp. Not a big deal but different.

Jerry
 
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