Description: TopGun, Midway, 1976. Last EM gun game made by Midway, and probably the last EM gun game by any of the game makers. Unlimited shots, it's a timed game, usually set to 60 seconds (though it is adustable to 80.) Western themed shoot-out game with six surprise pop up or light up targets. One target pops out of doorway on the right, another pops out out of doorway on the left, another is backlit from behind the water trough, another is backlit and shows up in the right window and another in the left window. But the main feature of the game is the center hologram target that appears when the center saloon doors open. The hologram appears quickly and disappears quickly, you must shoot him before he shoots you. A light above the hologram indicates if the game shoots the player first. It's a very cool feature. Unfortunately with time, the hologram drum fades and/or the membrane distorts, making this target less visible. The hologram is a circular flexible membrane drum that surrounds a motorized turntable and light bulb. A 100 watt light bulb turns on, and the motorized turntable rotates. To the player it looks like the gun fighter draws his gun and fires. A small 12v bulb lights behind the hologram to indicate the game's hologram gun fighter shot his gun. The hologram membrane itself is actually three seperate panels (draw, victory, and death scenes.) The draw hologram scene takes the most abuse, since it is "on top" when the game is not played. Meaning someone that cleans the mirror can accidentally drip Windex onto the hologram, and the draw scene is the area of the hologram that takes this hit. Also just general dirt falls on the top of the hologram drum, hitting the "draw" scene. Therefore it's the draw scene that's always in the worst condition of the three hologram scenes. As for operation, the hologram is tied to a motorized stepper unit, so the game knows where these three panels (draw, victory, death) start and stop. And the motor board controls the direction and speed of the hologram motor drum.

In regards to the hologram, I have seen people replace a damaged hologram drum with stationary targets. The hologram drum is mounted on the motorized turntable. If the hologram is missing or damaged, replacing the hologram with a stationary target does work... kind of. It's obviously not the same effect, but better than having nothing!

interestingly, this game uses standard EM type score reels. The motorized Midway score reel system is *not* used in this game! Perhaps because Bally bought Midway in 1969. The game uses Bally score reels and Bally relays. But oddly, the game uses 12volt bulbs (not the usual 6.3v) for all the general illumination behind the backglass.

No background sound, but has electronic sound. Makes a "whirl" sound when you hit a target, and a gun shot sound when the trigger is pulled. There is recoil on the gun using a large solenoid. There are three electronic boards in the game: sound/amplifier, program timer, motor speed board. The motor speed board is used to control the hologram motor.

Please contact me if you have this game for sale at cfh@provide.net