Star Tech Journal

STAR*TECH Journal
1he Player
By John 'Root' Pilarchik
Pennsauken, NJ
(A monthly analysis of pinball nachines,
currently on location, from a players
point-of-view.)
HIGH SPEED by Willians
Here's a nachine that when you first start
playing, it looks great; plenty of
flashing lights and good sound effects.
However, after three hours of non-stop
play, this player came up with a total of
two free games! One on score and one on a
rather hard-to-find special.
When you do get the special by dropping
the ball down the bottom right side,
though, you can really pick up on your
game and in addition, have your ball kick
back up into play. This is a definite
plus.
This game is fast, has plenty of lights
(play with shades on, if you have them),
and rrost of your ramp shots put the ball
back on your flippers in record time. The
key shot on this game is the center ramp
which you can only make with the top third
flipper.
This player was not inpressed with the
flippers. It seems as though the bottom
two flippers are set slightly wider apart
than nornal, because nany a ball is lost
by going down the middle with no chance to
save it. Even when the ball is up in the
top half of the nachine, you can spot a
gutter ball heading your way.
The playing field is set up with good
action whereby you can work your way up to
three balls on the field at the same time
plus your times values, free ball and
special.
HIGH SPEED is definately a rroney game and
I'm sure the operators will be pleased
with this one. This player suggests a post
put in between the two bottom flippers, to
help keep the m.urber of balls going down
the middle to a reasonable anount.
•
Play on ... Root.
****1~****
May 1986
(BJ
lofe/AMI Amplifiers Intermittent Audio
By Erwin H. Boot
Autonatic Music Company
Tasmania, Australia
During the past few rronths, we've suddenly
experienced call-outs for intermittent
audio cut-outs on Rowe/AMI amplifiers, in
particular those in the models R-82
(¾ODHUE, etc) and R-83 (CI.J\REM)Nl', DISCO,
etc).
In each case, the problem was a faulty
mute relay. By tapping around the amp, the
fault could be brought on, or fixed. In
the earlier models, the relay is a plug in
type, part #Fl2751 (#200-12751). This same
relay was used as mechanism control relay
on, for example, the R-80 (FLEE'IWX))), etc)
and previous, and also as a mute relay way
back to the CADETI'ES (01M-l, vintage about
1968!). The part# then was Fll574A
(201-11574 or 2-11574-01). This same relay
was also numbered Fl3261 at some point in
history.
There is nothing exotic about this plug-in
24VDC relay, and I would suggest that 1 or
2 in each service van or kit is rroney well
spent.
On the R-83 amp (and naybe later models, I
haven't checked) the relay is a solder-in
type, available as #301-07882 from
Rowe/AMI or off-the-shelf at good
electronics shops as National NF2 (with
suffixes if you like), 12V PCB solder-in
relay. Again a good idea to have in stock.
VOLUMES/ISSUES
Soma back issues and complete volumes
remain in our inventory. Complete Volumes:
$42 ($US]. Single Issues: $5 ($US].
••• Send self-addressed stamped ($0.39]
envelope (#10 or Larger] for complete
index of all articles covered since Mar79.
Availability: Complete Volumes (twelve
issues bound under one cover];
#1 (Mar79-Feb80),
#2 (Mar80-Feb81],
#3 (Mar81-Feb82],
#4 (Mar82-Feb83].
Single Issues:
May84, Jun84, Jul84, Aug84, Nov/Dec84,
Jun85, Jul85, Aug85, Sep85, 0ct85, Nov85,
Dec85, Jan86, Feb86, Mar86, AprBB.