I feel your pain Mark. I have spent so much time and money on getting a pinball back to how it should look and play knowing that I will never get back what I have put into it. Then like a lemon sell it and as soon as its gone regret sets in.
Why do we do it? Why? Because we love these machines and the feeling that you get once a machine has reached the standards that you wanted to achieve at the end, its all worth it.
Even when you make a loss you know that this machine that you have spent so much time and money on will be around giving pleasure for a hell of a lot longer than it would have been.
At the moment I am on with my second TOTAN, My first I sold and probably came out even on. This one I am already -$400 on and still a way to go but only in man hours.Its looking so good that I keep saying that it will be a keeper but deep down when space gets a little tight I will probably end up selling it. Another regret in the making.
Darren.

even though this is a FULL TIME  business for me  I am still a collector and still enjoy what i do , yes at time I havent  and I am sure there will be more . But deep down I want to keep them all... dont tell my wife
I really enjoy that smile on teh kids face , whether its a 40 year old or 4 year old .  there are plently of pins  I can go on about and the yes we do spend too much on some. but I look at it as a stepping stone . most will come back and buy again ,
not todays sale  bit tomorrows .  with every top end  top reco , there is a story  ,  my CC was the worst we had  but its now the best and yes I spent WAY to much , MY SC the same  , MY AFM   now thats my baby and even been offered 10k for I wouldnt sell it ....  had everything new even the playfield and NOS decals  the good ones.


mark

ps post some pictures of teh TOTANs  , we decaled one a while ago for a member here