STAR*TECH JOURNAL/JANUARY 1983
"Shoot Away'' by Namco
" Shoot A way" is a skeet-shooting game in which players shoot clay targets projected onto a large
illuminated screen, with a shotgun that emits a laser-type light beam when the trigger is pulled.
This game has been in the marketplace for about four years. It is a proven money-earner and
therefore gets constant play. The main area of maintenance for this game is the guns. First, the
xenon lamps inside the barrel of each gun must be replaced when they bum out.
Xenon Lamp Replacement Instructions
Remove power from game.
Remove barrel cover by loosening barrel cover screw and sliding cover up toward the muzzel.
The three wires from the trigger PCB should be removed; note which order they are in.
Release hook and push xenon lamp assembly out of the barrel using the xenon lamp push tool
provided with the game.
5. Install new xenon lamp into lens tube.
6. Replace xenon lamp assembly into the barrel using the hook tool and pulling carefully from
opposite the muzzle end of the barrel.
7. Replace the three wires onto the trigger PCB making sure they are in the proper location.
8. Replace barrel cover.
Secondly, the cable that attaches each gun to the game may have to be changed.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9
THE
BUG
STOPS
HERE
Gun Cable (Harness) Replacement Instructions
See Figure 1 on Page 8
Remove power from game.
Remove barrel cover.
Disconnect the six wires on trigger PCBs.
Loosen the four cap bolts (M3 X 10), in order to remove shoulder butt.
By loosening the two cap bolts (M3 X 12), the grip end should be removed to slacken the cord
in the gun stock.
Hex bolt (MS X 40) should be loosened to remove the gun stock.
The cord should be pulled carefully from the barrel until the trigger switch is seen, then remove
the solder and disconnect the wires on the trigger switch.
To reassemble gun with new harness, reverse above procedure.
NOTE: Earlier this year Namco had a batch of gun cables with defective wiring. This problem
was resolved; however, if you have a gun that does not emit light or make any sound when the
trigger is pulled, you may have a gun cable problem. If so, contact Namco-America's service
department via their toll-free number - 800-538-1610. In California - (408) 745-7600.
Advance replacements on harnesses are readily available for newly purchased games.
When I was the tech for a large electronic theater in Abilene, Texas, I was able to observe and
work with two "Shoot Away" units and, like most technicians, I tend to skim over instructions
quickly upon receiving a new game and so miss some details. My xenon bulb replacement time
decreased from 45 minutes to 10 minutes after I learned to use the "hook tool" correctly. At first I
mistook this tool for a spare ground wire! The games I observed received a lot of rough abuse, and
yet needed only the previously stated average maintenance for six months. One more thing you
may want to do is to reinforce the top holes of the projection screen with duck tape as some holes
may rip out if the screen is pushed on or fallen against by the little ones.
"Fanky Malloon Balloon Machine" Operation
Our next unit is the "Fanky Malloon Balloon Machine" and is the backbone of Vending
International Corporation's operation.
"Fanky" is a robot ... literally a robot. Now when people think of a robot, their minds fly to
"Lost in Space" or "Star Wars" where robots talk, sleep, and even have emotions. A robot is
simply a mechanism that is automated to such an extent that the only human labor involved with
the building or vending of an item is the filling of supplies and periodic maintenance required to
keep the mechanism in good condition, where once human " hands on" labor was involved.
" Fanky's" operation is as follows:
- " Fanky" accepts a combination of coins, or tokens, and proceeds to let you pick a balloon
color or logo from among four choices. Then " Fanky" takes the chosen balloon and injects a
mixture of air and helium ( operator adjustable) and breaks a valve in half that has a string attached
to both sections. VOILA! A helium balloon!
There is very little maintenance involved with this unit. The most frequent task is refilling the
balloon rack and helium tank. If a certain color balloon is out, or the helium pressure drops too low,
" Fanky" tells you, using neon lamps with the problem written on the colored cover.
The next most often done maintenance is the replacement of 16 torsion coil springs (which
hold the balloons in the rack) and the " O" ring that fits on the injection nozzle. Cleaning the
compressor air filter is also done at this time. This should be done at least once a year, and once
every six months in a high volume store. Once every three years you should grease the moving
parts. Simple, isn't it?
" Fanky" uses photo-optic switches for magazine or rack stop placement and for color
selection. These should be cleaned with a soft brush or compressed air. There are three micro
switches to wear, but these very rarely go bad. The unit is able to vend " free", but the manual rack
advance will not work if the game is on Free Vend, although this is not mentioned in the service
manual or literature. This is a trouble-free constant profit unit! Any questions you have will be
answered if you call Vending International Corp. at 714/ 661-6808. See you next month . . .
"Bear" .
************************************************************
In our December '82 issue (Vol. 4, No. 10) an incorrect phone number appears on
page 5 in our monthly feature, "The 'Bear' Facts". Vending International Corp.'s
phone number should read 714/661-6808.
************************************************************
LOGIC COMPARATOR $265
Performs in-circuit verification
of proper TTL IC operation
by comparison to a "known-
good '" IC .
SIGNATURE ANALYZER $395
Performs simple and
accurate in-circuit trouble-
shooting of RAMs, ROMs,
Microprocessors and other
complex ICs~
BUGTR4P™
INSTRUMENTATION
11 73 Tasman Drive
Sunnyvale , California 94086
(40BJ 734-111 B
• The Signature An a ly sis Technique is licensed from
Hewlett -Pac kard Co.