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Messages - guruguys

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Galaxian Theater / Re: STARBLADE from Namco !!! Road Trip inside...
« on: September 25, 2014, 09:22:19 AM »
Thanks for the cheers! ;)

The arcade is moving to a larger location in a few weeks, once it is at the new location I will be sure to get a few pics of it in action and post it here. Retro arcades seem to be a really good draw locally, there is a game place near downtown Houston that opens twice a month on Friday nights and is always jam packed, and there is the Houston Arcade Preserve which seems to be doing well. I imagine we will see more 'retro' arcade places open up in the coming years. The Arcade mine is in is located in Huntsville Texas about an hour North of Houston. He is opening on the weekends and it has been busy enough for them to get a location twice the size and get more games. Fun times!


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Galaxian Theater / Re: STARBLADE from Namco !!! Road Trip inside...
« on: August 25, 2014, 12:52:26 PM »
This is very unfortunate, #422 R.I.P.

Still, I find it strange that the mirror would pop out, like you say it did. You see, the mirror is secured by several of retaining brackets, besides that it is made of flexible material, plastic. So it should withstand any bumps in the road and impacts from sides while in transit, even on its back with mirror weight 'backwards' (cabinet orientationwise). Provided that it was properly secured and mounted from start. Also, I would imagine that if, I say *if* there was a crack already in the plexi it could have been displaced slightly, and thus crumbled during impact.


It was the fact they had it facing the wind... The sheer amount of force from the wind blowing into it on the open pickup track shattered the dome... They were idiots and not thinking or listening to what I told them to do.

I still have lots of spare parts, mine is currently running in a small arcade in Huntsville Texas, we have the extra parts in storage if anyone needs something let me know.

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Did you ever get the lights on top to flash with the siren? I found an easy fix for it on my APB on this thread at KLOV: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=139881



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Technical Area / Re: Sega Power Drift Pcb Audio and Video Problems...
« on: August 07, 2014, 05:46:33 AM »
Power Drift is a great underestimate game.
wish you get yours up and running.

btw do you have a scan of the sides ? :-)


Yes.
I don't want to be blasphemous but i think that it's more fun than mine outrun deluxe....(apart from the moving machine of course)....
I spent alot of time restoring it and alot of money buying parts for it (a new monitor, new control panel, new sidearts ecc....).....
I only have the arts i applyed....
I don't know how to get some scan of them....
Some high res pictures of them could help?

for scanning, you'd need a special flat bed scanner, but already an hi res scan would be enought thanks !
you got your parts from ebay ?
I'll see what i can do...
I got all from Stephen at arcadefixit.
Only him can help in find those rarity....


Sorry to bring up a dead thread, but did anyone ever scan the side art or find reproduction art for Power Drift? I just bought a machine in great shape aside from some flaws in the side art.

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Arcade Lifestyle / Re: New arcade game : Namco's Mach Storm
« on: November 27, 2013, 03:43:30 AM »
I played this several times at IAAPA and man it is a blast. The huge screen really reminded me of a modern version of my StarBlade arcade, except that the computer corrects the graphics for the curved screen so there is no 'fisheye' type view. While the seat didn't rumble and there are no other effects, the screen and seating position keeps you so immersed in the action that some people had to quit playing early due to motion sickness (it almost got to me as well).

The game seemed fun for beginners but you could tell that there would be enough gameplay to keep those who want to become experts happy. Namco wouldn't comment on pricing when asked, but were happy to note the patents they have on the projection system and software.


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Galaxian Theater / Re: Another new Starblade owner
« on: June 29, 2013, 09:31:48 AM »
Wow, no-one in the US interested either ? Maybe some guys on the KLOV forum ?

Tried there too, they said 'Hey, have you tried dragonslairfans?' 

No worries though, at least I was able to track down a place that can make more anytime somebody needs one.

-Hans

I picked up a second StarBlade, however those who shipped it didn't remove the reflector dome and it blew out...

Did anyone actually find a company to make new ones, and how much was it if so?


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Galaxian Theater / Re: STARBLADE from Namco !!! Road Trip inside...
« on: August 22, 2012, 08:05:30 AM »
^^^^

The good news is I bought it. The bad new is the person that I had pick it up for me didn't follow my instructions to REMOVE THE REFLECTOR MIRROR!! The entire thing blew out when he got on the freeway of course. It was then left outside in the ran, so all the particle board  warped. I managed to salvage all the parts today so I have some extra boards, seat, motor, monitor, strobes, control, etc etc. Still it is one less StarBlade that couldn't be saved. Serial number #422.


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I'm thinking about getting another Starblade that is for sale near me to use for spare parts. I might try swapping the audio board if I do this. I've tried just about everything else.

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Galaxian Theater / Re: STARBLADE from Namco !!! Road Trip inside...
« on: July 31, 2012, 09:45:04 AM »
Glad you repaired your Starblade. Its too hot here in the summer to work on mine (its in the garage), but I am thinking about buying another for spare parts:

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/vgm/3162196209.html


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I've had the Starblade a couple of months now after asking you guys if it was a wise decision to buy and deciding on the purchase. Upon getting it I realized that only one of the trigger switches worked and it felt so loose it was almost falling out. I am hoping to find a replacement conrtol at some point, but that didn't stop me from trying to fix the switches in the meantime.

Someone had already taken the switches out and one of them was modified for an aftermarket switch of a slightly different shape so the trigger harness had to be modified. This is unfortunate because I was given all the original microswitches and found that you can open them up, clean them real good and bend the contacts just a bit so they get better contract and they are now working good as new! I did this to three of the switches and reinstalled but unfortunately the modification of the control harness/grip, where the switches fit in, was messed up to the point I had to use the aftermarket switch. The aftermarket switch feels just a bit harder to press than the original switches, but it works and the original red button fits in it so they all match externally. All the switches feel a bit loose, but from what I recall this is pretty normal from a Starblade machine.

I tried to find replacement strobes, DarthNuno has some NOS but they are way too expensive for me at this point in time. Fortunately I found a thread on KLOV (see end of post) which explained how to rebuild the Starblade strobes. I ordered the replacement Xenon bulbs and when they came in it took no more than 15 minutes each to dremel open the strobe dome, de-sauder the old lights and sauder the new ones in. After putting the strobes back in the game they still didn't work but I found a fuse that was disconnected and after reconnecting it they both work great!

The reflection dome was cracked on the bottom right of my unit but fortunately it is an area that the monitor doesn't reflect (otherwise I would have never bought the game.) I got lucky and a few weeks after I bought it the person I bought it from found the part that had cracked off (all in one piece). I was able to have a guy that works with plexi 'weld' it back on from the back side and unless you know where to look at you would never notice it was cracked and repaired! I'm so happy about this as the reflector mirror replacement seems impossible to find!

I am having an issue with the sound, for some reason the sound is biased on the right side. When I go into the sound test menu it says 'Right' and the sound comes out of the right (front and rear), then it says 'Left' and the sound STILL come out of the right. During gameplay, sound comes out of all four speakers but the right speakers are very dominant (especially the right rear). I have checked the wiring harness near the monitor and it all matches up, I will get behind the game and check the wires from that point on. Is there anything else I should look for that would cause this problem?

I need to do some cleaning up of the machine and tightening of bolts here and there. I also need to find a replacement for the red plexi that goes over the light on the gun as this part has been cracked on mine and since it is front and center it looks really bad! If anyone has this part or an entire control panel that is in good shape PLEASE let me know.

Here is the link on how to repair the Flashboy Strobes at KLOV:
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showpost.php?s=c318e999bb2601e7dfe88975d7e36f20&p=1394576&postcount=10

I used white electrical tape to seal up / reattach the dome once done. Attached is a pic of my Flashboy after I cut it open with a dremel tool.

Once I get the machine looking better I will take more pictures of it all.

Thanks for the help those of you have giving me here (public and privately). At least one more StarBlade has been saved for now!

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Galaxian Theater / Re: U.S. Starblade, should I buy?
« on: September 07, 2011, 04:09:22 AM »
Well, I bought it. Unfortunately it will likely have to stay in the Garage for now as I doubt I will be able to get the main chasis through a 32" wide door.

Thanks for the help, I have had a response back from Alpha1 about spare parts. Hopefully I can get some from him if they don't cost too much, and too much to ship from U.K. to U.S.


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Galaxian Theater / Re: U.S. Starblade, should I buy?
« on: September 05, 2011, 11:08:14 AM »
He is asking $300 USD, pretty reasonable I think. The main problem (of course) is the size. While I expect to move in the next 6 months, it will be stuck in my living room until then with my Space Ace (Dragon's Lair Conversion Cab)!!!

I've attached the only very small pic I have on it, but I'll probably go by and take a few pics myself. I noticed that the roof (above the monitor) had a piece of partcle board (not original) as a replacement, you obviously don't even see this piece (unless you are very tall!). Otherwise it all looked very nice. The monitor is nice and bright with no burn in.


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Galaxian Theater / U.S. Starblade, should I buy?
« on: September 05, 2011, 10:33:01 AM »
I am contemplating buying a working Starblade here in the U.S. It has a cracked dome, but the screen reflects in the part of the dome that isnt cracked. The seat doesn't seem to vibrate, and it is missing three of the fire buttons. I am assuming parts for this are basically impossible to find (especially the reflection dome). Any advice on other things I should look at on the machine before I decide to buy?


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