claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.034
Grazley Garage restoration progress: Combat done, Flash Gordon intake, Harlem issues revealed.
Flash Gordon (1980 Bally) was purchased with minimal information—just background visibility in an ad, no formal photos provided before purchase
high confidence · JC describes buying the machine blind after seeing it in the background of an ad; seller didn't send photos
Harlem Globetrotters 100th Anniversary Edition has wiring/solenoid issues preventing full functionality on first power-up; left slingshot doesn't fire but triggers left pop bumper instead
high confidence · Mike observes crossed solenoid wiring and blown playfield fuse; demonstrates solenoid locking on when switch closes
Combat's original Zachariah soundboard daughter card for drop target explosions is permanently non-functional and was replaced with custom MP3 module solution by Cory
high confidence · Cory demonstrates custom drop target sound solution using bridge rectifier, buck converter, and MP3 module with recorded explosion sound
Harlem Globetrotters machine originally intended to use seven-digit display upgrade ROMs but these prevent MPU boot; reverted to original six-digit ROMs requiring jump ring modifications to enable seven-digit functionality
high confidence · Mike explains ROM swap issue with 2732 vs 2716 chips and pin 7 wiring conflict that needs resolution before seven-digit display works
Flash Gordon playfield has wall-to-wall mylar in good condition despite being marketed as 'well used'
high confidence · Kevin observes mylar wrinkles indicating full coverage; described as good working palette for restoration
Harlem Globetrotters machine took Kevin over 100 hours from start to finish
medium confidence · Mike estimates 100+ hours of Kevin's work; specific hour count not independently verified
Indianapolis 500 machine was sold and being picked up during filming; Theater of Magic is replacing it at Grazley Garage
high confidence · Mike receives call about Indianapolis 500 new owner pickup and confirms Theater of Magic incoming
“I find a quarter in every machine. Thank you. Other people's machines count, too.”
Mike Dus @ ~0:25, ~23:45 — Running gag establishing Mike's habit of finding/keeping quarters in machines; shows casual, humorous tone
“This is Flash Gordon day one. You know, give it a couple months or however long it takes and then uh we'll see what it looks like then.”
Mike Dus @ ~2:50 — Sets expectation for major restoration timeline; Flash Gordon is full-treatment project
“Pinball without that is yeah. Just it just ain't quite the same, is it? It's lame.”
JC / Mike Dus @ ~15:30 — Emphasizes importance of sound/audio in pinball experience; motivation for pursuing soundboard fixes
“Oh my god, IT'S ON FIRE. ANY capacitors exploding like my T2?”
Kevin @ ~28:00 — Humorous callback to previous Terminator 2 project issues; attempted squawk-and-talk board integration failed
“We don't have solenoids.”
Mike Dus @ ~52:30 — Critical discovery on Harlem Globetrotters first power-up—ball not kicked to shooter lane indicating major wiring issues
“If I close this switch, this solenoid is going to lock on. Watch this. This is locking on. And now I must turn off the machine.”
Mike Dus @ ~58:00 — Demonstrates the specific wiring failure causing solenoid to lock and blow fuse; major blocker for functionality
“Kevin every once in a while can blow up a game. I think I was away like on vacation uh just recently and I was checking out like the Fork River tournament to see how many players they got and it was like 29 players and I'm like what the hell Kevin? You're like second place.”
Mike Dus @ ~34:00 — Shows Kevin's competitive pinball skill; reference to Fork River tournament with 29 players
“It's got the uh CPR bonus um plastic extension or whatever it's called... Got this on the shooter gauge, too.”
event_signal: Harlem Globetrotters game completion timing coincides with real Harlem Globetrotters appearance in Kitchener, Ontario; Rob planning to get back glass signed by team members
high · Kevin confirms Globetrotters playing in Kitchener tonight; Rob has front row seats and original back glass for signature collection
community_signal: Grazley Garage operates as community resource/hub for restoration, drawing multiple visitors (Mike, JC, Ben) and serving educational function through detailed documentation of repair processes
high · Multiple visits documented; educational value of showing ROM issues, solenoid problems, soundboard solutions; informal knowledge sharing between Kevin, Dutch, Cory, and visitors
design_philosophy: Flash Gordon playfield noted as having significant fade to pink (typical of machine age) requiring full cosmetic restoration including re-paint to original red/gold/black scheme
medium · Mike observes 'most Flash Gordens is uh pretty faded to pink' and Kevin planning to 'busting out gold paint again'; back glass restoration planned for red/gold/black theme throughout
design_philosophy: Custom restoration project incorporating multiple professional upgrade suppliers (CPR clear coats, PinScore displays, G-Tech soundboards) with obsessive attention to cosmetic details (custom blue leg bolts, spinners, decals, powder coating)
high · Rob's design approach emphasized precision stencil work and detail; Kevin completing 100+ hours of work; multiple upgrade suppliers visible in final assembly
market_signal: Machine acquisition patterns show both targeted purchases (JC buying Flash Gordon semi-blind) and collector trading (Indianapolis 500 being sold/replaced by Theater of Magic at Grazley Garage)
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Kevin / Mike Dus @ ~24:00 — References CPR (Custom Pinball Restoration) upgrade kits being used on Harlem; professional restoration supplier involvement
medium · JC bought Flash Gordon from limited info; Indianapolis 500 pickup call during filming indicates active secondary market movement
personnel_signal: Cory established as experienced soundboard technician who solves complex audio problems through custom electronics solutions (bridge rectifier, buck converter, MP3 module for Combat)
high · Demonstrates detailed technical knowledge of power conversion and custom sound implementation; Mike references 'Cory's on my speed dial' and 'Cory's been fighting with this'
product_concern: Harlem Globetrotters 100th Anniversary Edition wiring discovered to have crossed solenoid connections and critical fuse-blowing issue on first power-up; left slingshot triggers pop bumper instead of firing
high · Mike demonstrates solenoid locking on when switch closes, requiring machine shutdown; playfield fuse blown requiring replacement; calls these 'gremlins' that must be resolved before completion
product_strategy: Flash Gordon restoration will include G-Tech soundboard upgrade (movie sounds, callouts, effects) replacing non-functional squawk-and-talk board, plus PinScore LED display replacement
high · Discussion of G-Tech capabilities: 'music, callouts and sound effects from the movie and just way more elaborate than just a few bleeps and bloops'; PinScore displays mentioned as reliability upgrade
technology_signal: Harlem Globetrotters ROM upgrade strategy blocked by incompatible chip architecture (2732 vs 2716) and pin 7 wiring conflicts requiring jump ring modifications; original ROM revert necessary for initial boot
high · Mike explains technical barrier: 'These are um the 2732s and they're originally 2716s or something like that. So in order to get these ROMs to work, some jump ring needs to happen'; pin 7 already occupied by different component