attakid101 | 267 Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 TL;DR — I picked up a TG16 collection but the Express doesn’t work so I can’t test any of it. Any advice? Over the weekend I went to a local toy convention with my daughter. It was pretty cool but we’re not super big on toys so really we were just browsing. I came upon a table with a Turbo Express on it. I’d never seen one in person before! The guy had a $750 price tag on it which I thought was insane. I had no intention of picking it up but it was still cool to see. I looked at it for a minute and put it down. I left the booth and after about an hour we were ready to leave when the guy with the Turbo stopped me and asked if I was interested in it. I told him I couldn’t afford it and besides, I don’t own any TG16 games. That’s when he pointed to a ziplock bag on another table that was filled with Hu Cards and manuals. The bag wasn’t even on the same table as the Turbo Express so I didn’t notice it before. I’m not a TG16 collector. But after looking through the games I saw a few that I recognized. I decided to make an offer and ended up picking up the whole lot for $500. Here’s the problem. I bought the lot as is. The guy who sold it was just a middleman. He works for a company who buys up estates and resells. He never tested the unit and didn’t have any batteries. But he gave me his business card and said I could return everything within 30 days if it didn’t work. Well guess what. The Express powers on and the screen lights up but no picture. So now I have all these games but no way to test them. Is there a way to repair it? Any recommendations on who I should reach out to? How much should the repair cost? Thanks everyone! 2 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWunderful | 2,927 Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 Nice lot, let me know if you are looking to sell any. I am after a few of those. 100% the express needs a recap, all original NEC stuff does from low quality capacitors. Your other options are buying a re-capped PCengine for cheaper than a turbo duo, or buying the analogue pocket and turbografx adapter but it wont be until next year. I got my turbo express recapped about 10 years ago and it cost me 300$. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkchylde28 | 1,546 Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 25 minutes ago, MrWunderful said: I got my turbo express recapped about 10 years ago and it cost me 300$. WOW. No offense intended to whoever did that work for you, but damn, did they ever bend you over on that one. The last Turbo Express I recapped for somebody, it took me maybe an hour, and while those caps are annoying, they're not particularly hard to deal with. I'd say a fair price should realistically be about 1/3 of what you paid a decade ago or less, including the cap kit (which is still available for under $10). Now, if you had other work done too, that might drive up what a solder tech would/ought to be billing, but just for replacing the relatively small number of caps inside that thing? No way. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWunderful | 2,927 Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 (edited) 26 minutes ago, darkchylde28 said: WOW. No offense intended to whoever did that work for you, but damn, did they ever bend you over on that one. The last Turbo Express I recapped for somebody, it took me maybe an hour, and while those caps are annoying, they're not particularly hard to deal with. I'd say a fair price should realistically be about 1/3 of what you paid a decade ago or less, including the cap kit (which is still available for under $10). Now, if you had other work done too, that might drive up what a solder tech would/ought to be billing, but just for replacing the relatively small number of caps inside that thing? No way. Yeah I got a few other minor things done and it included shipping both ways. But it was worth every penny. You get what you pay for. Highly reputable guy, has done all my system mods for years, flawless clean work. I know what im getting, and happy to pay a premium. Keep offering the lower pricepoint though, so everyone can get some work done. Edited October 24, 2022 by MrWunderful 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki | 4,933 Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 @attakid101 If you want(and I know you do) that TE repaired I have one epic referral I could give you. Expert quality work, tools, workstation. Keeps a heap of parts on hand just for many occasions. Very friendly, typically very fast, and has an odd habit of doing added mod work free just well...because (maybe you'll get a region switch on that for PCE too if lucky.) Same person I got hooked up with due a friend I've had online a dozen years who has treated him like gold over the years going above and beyond. He did the same for me with my Sega Nomad that had a poor quality mod done on it to my surprised when I got it in trade. Put a solid repair/cleanup of the mess inside to it, a new composite LCD, then added FM/CD audio capabilities along with Master System too (via mega everdrive) and a JP/US region switch, none of those additions were requested, just came along for the ride. Something like that i know he works on, because he buys a good bit of bulk junk lots from Japan somewhat regularly, and earlier this year he fixed some of those and a couple of those damned expensive LTs too so it's well into the wheelhouse. Just PM me to remind me and I'll pop the contact info up for you as I have contact info for facebook messenger. From personal experience I could even probably do the work if it hasn't gone too far. You have the classic TE/GT nightmare of GameGear fishy proportions most likely going on there, blown and oozing caps (hopefully not the ooze, eats traces and pads.) Depending how deep you want to go, and I'd do it personally, if you get the repair from my contact done I'd ask him about a real LCD upgrade and a glass lens to protect it. The TE screen while not gamegear bad, it's off resolution a bit so some details (smallest) get lost, which sucks, but it's not game breaking. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Morbis | 2,088 Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Wow, that's like a third of the US library right there! What a steal 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elprincipe | 142 Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Amazing deal, congrats! Hopefully the TE just needs a recap, which seems likely as was already mentioned. Even if it ends up not working you got a steal, lots of very valuable and hard-to-find games there - and many of them are a blast to play as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avgn Gamer | 669 Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 (edited) 17 hours ago, attakid101 said: TL;DR — I picked up a TG16 collection but the Express doesn’t work so I can’t test any of it. Any advice? Over the weekend I went to a local toy convention with my daughter. It was pretty cool but we’re not super big on toys so really we were just browsing. I came upon a table with a Turbo Express on it. I’d never seen one in person before! The guy had a $750 price tag on it which I thought was insane. I had no intention of picking it up but it was still cool to see. I looked at it for a minute and put it down. I left the booth and after about an hour we were ready to leave when the guy with the Turbo stopped me and asked if I was interested in it. I told him I couldn’t afford it and besides, I don’t own any TG16 games. That’s when he pointed to a ziplock bag on another table that was filled with Hu Cards and manuals. The bag wasn’t even on the same table as the Turbo Express so I didn’t notice it before. I’m not a TG16 collector. But after looking through the games I saw a few that I recognized. I decided to make an offer and ended up picking up the whole lot for $500. Here’s the problem. I bought the lot as is. The guy who sold it was just a middleman. He works for a company who buys up estates and resells. He never tested the unit and didn’t have any batteries. But he gave me his business card and said I could return everything within 30 days if it didn’t work. Well guess what. The Express powers on and the screen lights up but no picture. So now I have all these games but no way to test them. Is there a way to repair it? Any recommendations on who I should reach out to? How much should the repair cost? Thanks everyone! You've got Bonk 3, Air Zonk and Soldier Blade. Some of the best games on the system, you're gonna have a fuck load of fun my good man. Edited October 25, 2022 by Avgn Gamer 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phart010 | 1,707 Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Recap it and 90% chance it will work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fcgamer | 4,723 Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Probably don't need to test it anyways, cards that are actually bad are few and far between 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a3quit4s | 4,097 Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 @attakid101 if you feel like getting the turboexpress repaired isn’t worth it PM me we can work out a price since I can repair it myself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LutherDestroysTheGond | 690 Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Wow. I wouldn't return that, $500 is a steal. If you want to get rid of these, there are a few I'm missing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phart010 | 1,707 Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 On 10/24/2022 at 9:04 AM, attakid101 said: He never tested the unit and didn’t have any batteries. But he gave me his business card and said I could return everything within 30 days if it didn’t work. This should go without saying, but just to be safe, please do not return it.. there are plenty of people here that would buy this stuff from you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki | 4,933 Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 He's getting it fixed, the person I mentioned he reached out to and is getting a solid job setup to be done, potentially going as far as extra upgrades like a better screen. Whatever he chooses that's up to him, but given the price he paid, that system and a number of games were free which is insane. It's a win all around. If this is normal and not a doofus buyer on ebay, the last US HuCard of Bonk 3 ALONE sold for $475 and looking at other asks that buyer may have even saved a little. https://www.ebay.com/itm/255662043702 I doubt anyone else this year has done this good on a single pickup. 32 games and a system, and all you do is pay for the most expensive game on the table and the rest is a gimme. That's insane. Topic is best score in awhile, I'd argue...of the decade, ever? 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWunderful | 2,927 Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Best score of the decade best score of all time I mean, yeah its an amazing score but no need to jock ride. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazball | 168 Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Damn I just love Turbo stuff. So pretty. Shame that some of them are missing the cases (though some like Bonk 3 never had them) but still an amazing find. Congrats!! You will indeed have a ton of fun with that lot of games. Like others said, just get your TurboExpress serviced but I would also recommend just getting a TurboGrafx console so you don't have to play them on that tiny screen all the time! Enjoy! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbowl | 150 Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Are replacement cases available or is the only option to cannibalize a complete Hucard from japan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki | 4,933 Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 1 hour ago, dogbowl said: Are replacement cases available or is the only option to cannibalize a complete Hucard from japan? The only I know of is what you said, being a cannibal for original, or you can go 3D printed route. There are plans online if you have a basic printer to create a game holder mount like the TG one within a standard CD jewel case, and I think there's another that's the entire back piece so you just need the clear plastic cover for the front/manual. People sell the things on etsy but it's ripoff rate at $20-25 a pop which isn't cool. When you're taking 30+ games that's more than he paid on the lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gex | 120 Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Bonk 3 + manual is worth $500 alone lol. You did very well. Quite uncommon for TurboGrafx 16 games not to work, from the aprox 500+ games I've owned over the years i think I've had two hucards not work. One was chewed up by a dog, and the other was water damaged I think. Like other members have mentioned it's the caps that need fixing on your express. Side note, there's a lot of tray games in this lot. Games that never came with a jewel case. That's great because tray games are the rarest games in the TG-16 library. Stuff like Soldier Blade, Bonks 3, Magical Chase, Tonma ect.. However, you have stuff like Raiden and Sidearms which did come with jewel cases. Kind of sucks they're all missing, however it's better than having them loose. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Morbis | 2,088 Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 On 10/26/2022 at 12:24 PM, dogbowl said: Are replacement cases available or is the only option to cannibalize a complete Hucard from japan? Japanese cases are distinctly different than US ones, notwithstanding the Kieth Courage case... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenpp72 | 1,234 Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 Pay someone to fix it, if you feel frisky you can even get the screen replaced which looks awesome. Nice haul btw. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirVillain | 488 Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 DAAAAAYYYYYYYUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!!!! Fucking awesome. I hope you can get some help with the TurboExpress as discussed, but holy hell... just the games alone you are LAUGHIN' for the $500. Glad to see it. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
attakid101 | 267 Posted November 15, 2022 Author Share Posted November 15, 2022 Update: I got the Turbo Express recapped and it works fine! Picture is bright and clean and sound is loud and clear! I tested all the games and they all work perfectly! And I must say the Turbo Express is in excellent shape considering its age! I’m very happy with the results but I’m not sure I can keep it in the long run. I just think I’m more of a console gamer so I’ll probably sell the Express and pick up a Duo down the road. 5 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki | 4,933 Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 Well now that turned out excellent, so glad to see that worked out in the end as that's just sharp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkTone | 984 Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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