Lunar Lander, Paddle Battle, and a plan?

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

As everyone may know, I have had in my posession since 1984, a Lunar Lander cabinet, and a Paddle Battle cabinet. Both are older than the hills, and I recently bought a repair/replacement kit for the throttle assembly for Lunar Lander. Just so you know, the POT included, does NOT perfectly match the original. The other stuff included, works beautifully. The POT differs in that the part that goes into the outter throttle doesn't match the *proprietary* Atari POT. Thanks to a post I recently saw, referring to Paddle Controllers for the 2600, I grew a pair and decided to finally work on this beast. I found, much to my dismay, that there is some water damage to the back of the cabinet itself. It doesn't affect it's functionality, as the machine still works. But that POT..... is another matter. I bought some electronics cleaner, and had at the POT.

 

I'm still waiting for it to dry, before testing it again. Either the POT is in wrong, or it was still wet when I tested it just 15 minutes ago.

 

Working on it, I'll let you know what happens.

 

Anyhow, my grandmother brought up the point, "Why not sell it. You need money, and that's worth something." For one, I've had the thing for damned near 30 years. I'm not interested in selling it, except to maybe a collector that will take better care of it than I have. So she asked about "the other one".....

 

Hence this post.

 

I'm thinking about dropping one of our spare computers into it, and turning it into a MAME machine. The easy concept is to just put my Atari 7800 in it, behind the coinbox door(like I did before), and mounting a small flatscreen tv in it. My most likely solution, is the MAME idea. I can buy the control panel that's out there and mount it to the machine, without modifying it in any way(the cabinet, that is)...

 

I'm on the fence, though... the suggestion didn't go over very well with the wife.... but I think a MAME cab will make a great conversation piece, if done right. Since BOTH cabinets have to "do something" in order to survive "the move". We're not moving just yet.... so I have time to settle this. But for the future. Long story there... but basically, if it's not working, it's getting sold/thrown away. Keeping something for 30 years, you get rather attached to it. I'm not looking to dump it off, especially since the MB of the Paddle Battle still functions(to my knowledge), but there's no way to work out how to hook it to a more modern TV... else I would do that. Until that info comes to light(and I've seached the dark corners of the net, believe me) I'd rather keep the thing. I really don't want to start the "sentimental value" arguement... as she just threw out a bunch of stuff she could have claimed that way.

 

So, I'm looking for the opinions of fellow collectors. Should I just go the easy route, and put an Atari in it, or modify a MAME set up with it, or just let go.

Thanks guys!

[Dr. Morbis]

Just to be clear, are you thinking of MAME-ing the LL or the Paddle Battle? I personally think it would be a tragedy to MAME either one, but they're your machines to do whatever you want with. LL's are highly sought after, so I think you should sell that before thinking about changing it, and as for the Paddle Battle, i there's only one complete machine owned in the klov database; do you really want to MAME one of the last remaining PB's that's somehow survived since 1973?

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

To be clear, I'm repairing the LL machine, and have no intention of selling it(at least, not in the near future). Paddle Battle, on the other hand, needs a TV in it to make it functional. I have no way of knowing how to hook one in. As for "MAMEing" it, I wouldn't modify the cabinet, but create a mounting shelf for the MAME controllers to be on that would be held onto the original controller deck, without altering that. The cabinet itself would remain intact, since there's nothing wrong with it(except needing an old TV hardwired into it). I wouldn't remove the motherboard, or anything else. I've tried contacting klov about contacting the other owner of PB, to ask them to take pictures of where/how the TV is wired in, but no replies were ever forthcoming. I would love to do a full restore on the thing, especially given it's age.

 

Every time I think about that day I pulled that TV out of it.... I kick myself for having done it. I should have tested it out myself, rather than listened to the guy that gave it to me. But, I was 17, and didn't know what life was about back then.

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

For an update: Lunar Lander is repaired, and nicely functional. Turns out the rubber bumpers for the Throttle control at a bit thick, but I can finish fixing that with a dremel. Otherwise, she's working great! I've attempted to glue the coin door back on, but time will tell on that. May have to use some solder to hold it on. That'll be a trick getting done, if it comes to that. Right now, Gorilla glue and duct tape are holding it in place.

 

I found a "wiring guide" for Paddle Battle... which I am going to see if I can decipher and hope it will tell me how to hook a TV into it. There is currently a TV residing within it, that I had an Atari console hooked up to. If I can get it working, that'll end up in the other corner of the living room.