The Aussie Pinball Arcade

Aussie Pinball Forums => General Discussion => Your Collection => Topic started by: felixthadog on March 15, 2009, 01:01:21 AM

Title: Twilight Zone
Post by: felixthadog on March 15, 2009, 01:01:21 AM
Late last year I contacted Dave (silverball) about viewing the ST:TNG machine he was selling on eBay. I went down to the factory and looked over the machine and was all set to buy it when I noticed a Twilight Zone amongst some of the machines being worked on. If you didn't know, Twilight Zone is my "holy grail" pin but all the machines I had seen were always out of my price range. I didn't think I had a chance with this one, but I enquired about it anyway, thinking it would have already been sold. Dave told me it was still available and proceeded to show me the machine, what had been done to it, what needed to be done to it etc. I didn't need to be persuaded, I finally had the chance to buy a Twilight Zone that I could afford. And I did  && The machine was delivered this morning, and now sits proudly next to my Judge Dredd  @@*

Thanks very much to Dave and Zivko for all the work they did on the machine, for putting up with my constant questions, and for delivering and setting up the machine  ^^^

Here are some pics of the machine, the old smoked ramp has been replaced with a new clear one and most of the pics were taken prior to the clock being re-installed. And yes, it needs some new plastics!

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t223/felixthadog/Twilight%20Zone/Twilight_Zone_008.jpg)

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t223/felixthadog/Twilight%20Zone/Twilight_Zone_022.jpg)

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t223/felixthadog/Twilight%20Zone/Twilight_Zone_003.jpg)

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t223/felixthadog/Twilight%20Zone/Twilight_Zone_009.jpg)

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t223/felixthadog/Twilight%20Zone/Twilight_Zone_024.jpg)

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t223/felixthadog/Twilight%20Zone/Twilight_Zone_025.jpg)

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t223/felixthadog/Twilight%20Zone/Twilight_Zone_026.jpg)

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t223/felixthadog/Twilight%20Zone/Twilight_Zone_027.jpg)

Matthew
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: Pinfan on March 15, 2009, 01:15:08 AM
NICE ! and its about time...   $#$

Congrats mate... now you can enjoy. #*#
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: tonyt on March 15, 2009, 06:48:45 AM
Congrats Matthew, looks really nice. Nothing better than owning your holy grail (but I am sure this will not be your last pinball!)

I have only heard really good things about Dave and Zivko. People like them are a credit to the industry.
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: ajlaird on March 15, 2009, 08:56:32 AM
Zivko tends to look for machines with a low-wear playfield, and unfaded cabinet art.

The advantage is that you may not need to do anything to the playfield, and plastics can usually be found to replace any that need it.
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: pinnies4me on March 15, 2009, 09:35:04 AM
Congrats Matthew must be a great feeling! I've had a couple of "holy grails" over the years, and that moment of receiving them and the first game is always a buzz. Enjoy!
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: MartyJ on March 15, 2009, 09:40:08 AM
Very good looking machine!

I'm trying to work out what my next must have pinball is!
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: ddstoys on March 15, 2009, 10:11:04 AM
Nice work looks in good condition aswell. Must be stoked getting a Grail machine i get excited enough when i pick up a random piece of crap machine let alone a Grail one
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: Strangeways on March 15, 2009, 04:03:02 PM

Nice machine Matt - Congrats.

I've seen Dave and Zifco's machines and they were all in excellent condition. A credit to the hard work and time invested in selecting great machines.

Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: piesrule on March 15, 2009, 08:00:48 PM
Well done, do Dave & Zivko have a shop / outlet or phone number?
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: ajlaird on March 15, 2009, 08:08:26 PM
They borrow a warehouse, and they store them in there a container of pins at a time. Once they have cleared one container they get the next one shipped over. Or something like that.

Dave is on this site fairly regularly, I'll let him give you his number. If he's not around over the next few days just PM me, I am sure I can find it.
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: piesrule on March 15, 2009, 08:25:06 PM
Thanks, where in Melbourne are they based?
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: ajlaird on March 15, 2009, 08:51:11 PM
Sunshine is where the warehouse is situated.
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: ktm450 on March 16, 2009, 10:55:58 AM
Congrats! How did you go finding the clock motor board you were after?
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: felixthadog on March 16, 2009, 03:39:37 PM
Congrats! How did you go finding the clock motor board you were after?

Too easy, I found one on eBay (US). The postage cost more than the board, but it was still reasonably cheap, and now I have a working clock  @@* The game wouldn't be the same without it, IMO.

Matthew
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: ktm450 on March 16, 2009, 04:09:53 PM
Too easy, I found one on eBay (US). The postage cost more than the board, but it was still reasonably cheap, and now I have a working clock  @@* The game wouldn't be the same without it, IMO.

Matthew

Lucky i think that would be a rare find 15 years after the game was released.
Have you tried looking for replacements for the broken plastics yet? BAA has slingshot plastics if you need them, all the others are almost impossible to find.  I did manage to find a Alan Meyer reproduction of the magna flip sign a few years back just incase I ever need one.
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: felixthadog on March 16, 2009, 10:36:20 PM
Too easy, I found one on eBay (US). The postage cost more than the board, but it was still reasonably cheap, and now I have a working clock  @@* The game wouldn't be the same without it, IMO.

Matthew

Lucky i think that would be a rare find 15 years after the game was released.
Have you tried looking for replacements for the broken plastics yet? BAA has slingshot plastics if you need them, all the others are almost impossible to find.  I did manage to find a Alan Meyer reproduction of the magna flip sign a few years back just incase I ever need one.

Yep, I have jumped in on a group order with Mad Amusements, they sell the 3 plastics I need - Slot Machine, Rocket and Magna-Flip. I'm not sure what the quality will be like, but anything is better than nothing.

Matthew
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: ktm450 on March 17, 2009, 02:49:30 PM
Thats good mate, I haven't seen anyone doing repros for TZs for a long time
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: felixthadog on March 18, 2009, 09:41:04 AM
Thats good mate, I haven't seen anyone doing repros for TZs for a long time

I'll let you know what I think of the repro plastics when they arrive, if you are interested.

Matthew
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: ktm450 on March 18, 2009, 03:14:26 PM
Thanks Matt, I dont need any but its always good to have a spare set
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: felixthadog on April 09, 2009, 09:57:22 AM
Here is an updated photo of the playfield:

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t223/felixthadog/Twilight%20Zone/Twilight_Zone_031.jpg)

Things done since I bought the machine:

- Gumballs added to Gumball machine
- New Powerball installed
- New Slot Machine plastic installed
- New Magna-Flip plastic installed
- New Rocket plastic installed
- Piano accessory installed
- Protector plastics installed under Slingshot, Rocket, Slot Machine and Clock plastics
- Protector plastics installed over ramps
- Colour-changing LED installed in '?" insert
- Home ROM 9.4H installed

Still have some Cliffy protectors to install, and I will add some more mods in the future.

Matthew
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: indazone gav on April 09, 2009, 10:08:33 AM
Looking good mate. You'll need some nice custom scorecards ^^^ Also the top right flipper needs to be adjusted. Keep it up. Will be a beauty when you're done.
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: felixthadog on April 09, 2009, 10:14:28 AM
Looking good mate. You'll need some nice custom scorecards ^^^ Also the top right flipper needs to be adjusted. Keep it up. Will be a beauty when you're done.

I have asked Wotto if he can make up some Instruction Cards for me. As for the top RHS flipper, I know it needs adjusting but I have no idea how to do that. I have also noticed that the ball hits the flipper when it is kicked out by the Rocket Kicker, I am hoping if I can adjust the flipper that this problem will disappear.

Matthew
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: vinito on April 09, 2009, 12:22:43 PM
You kids don't pay attention anymore.?!
Here is a link to an album containing the perfect, best TZ instruction cards you'll ever find. I know there will never be none better because I made them myself. &&

Just joshing, but feel free to use them if you like 'em.
Photobucket album (http://s240.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/rgpimage/TZ/)

A glimpse:
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: ajlaird on April 09, 2009, 06:26:50 PM
Looking good mate. You'll need some nice custom scorecards ^^^ Also the top right flipper needs to be adjusted. Keep it up. Will be a beauty when you're done.

I have asked Wotto if he can make up some Instruction Cards for me. As for the top RHS flipper, I know it needs adjusting but I have no idea how to do that. I have also noticed that the ball hits the flipper when it is kicked out by the Rocket Kicker, I am hoping if I can adjust the flipper that this problem will disappear.

Matthew

Underneath the playfield there is a screw that tightens the collar that grips the flipper shaft. You need to loosen that off, get the flipper in place, and then tighten up the screw again.
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: ktm450 on April 09, 2009, 08:31:33 PM
Underneath the playfield there is a screw that tightens the collar that grips the flipper shaft. You need to loosen that off, get the flipper in place, and then tighten up the screw again.

REAL tight!
Title: Re: Twilight Zone
Post by: jpd on April 17, 2009, 11:27:36 PM
Underneath the playfield there is a screw that tightens the collar that grips the flipper shaft. You need to loosen that off, get the flipper in place, and then tighten up the screw again.

REAL tight!
So bloody tight it bends the screw and you think it's going to snap or some personal damge might follow along with a few expletives. %$%