This is the last of this short series of videos for the year. I hope to make some more next winter. year.
When I was younger, I struggled to make things properly, but never had problems coming up with ideas of what to make. But from the emails I get, I realise that many technically skilled people completely understand the components but don’t have ideas of what to make. So these videos are about my process of making specific arcade machines. I hope these videos encourage people to start making things even if they have no confidence in their initial ideas - certainly my ideas improve and change a lot while actually making anything. I also hope they help stop people getting discouraged if something doesn’t work. It happens to me all the time but I've gradually come to enjoy it as an interesting challenge and an inherent part of the process. I only learn something new when things don't work as I was expecting.
Alien Probe is currently at Novelty Automation in London. I'll update this description if it moves to The Under the Pier Show.
I see complaints about KZhead in videos and in comments, but I am hugely grateful to KZhead for suggesting an episode of Secret Life of Machines a few years ago. I'm in the USA, so I had never heard of Tim or his work. I binge watched every Secret Life video I could find. And now I watch each arcade machine video as soon as it appears. Thanks, Tim!
someone in a tech channel on discord told me about him a few years ago and has actually worked with/for him, i've been hooked ever since!!
I loved the phrase “ The Anal probe doesn’t have much power” Made my day. I love the engineering , comedy and the fun.. Fabulous
"Aliens don't have feelings. Probe at full power". That's fucking hilarious! 😂
Can't call it an "Alien Probe" unless something goes up the users rear. And Tim delivered!
I really wish Mr. Hunkin had a Patreon account. I would definitely contribute to it if for no reason other than to recognize the incredible contributions he has already made via The Secret Life of Machines, The Secret Life of Components, let alone the newest content in the form of The Secret Life of Arcade Machines.
He used to have a donation button on his website. But look to have gone now.
I discovered Secret Life of Machines in the 90’s. I learned a great deal and had some hearty laughs at the same time. Thank you for sharing your creative genius and wit, Mr. Hunkin.
Tim I restore old electro-mechanical and purely mechanical arcade machines of yesteryear and recently I've been buying up small cabinets that I can makeover to look like early machines but with a modern 'odd' twist. I do love your videos chap. You and Rex were so inspiring and I'm so grateful you've been making this videos since "The secret life of". Love your art style too.
Oh wow, another Tim Treat 😊
Easily the funniest arcade machine in existence, Mr Hunkin! Brilliant work.
Don't give me that "more UFOs in America" stuff! Who had Doctor Who, Quatermass, Avengers, Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Alien...? You guys rock in the world of sci-fi! Just because we don't put it in the fiction section, doesn't mean....😄❤ Thank you and best wishes from North Carolina, US (redneckshire).
I have this enduring memory of Tim 'scratching' with the old channel 4 ident by pulling and pushing a piece of video tape in a VCR. 😎👍
This is a recording made with sticky tape and rust.
Tried that machine, when I was in London, last time. However, I did not push the lever very far. It reminded me of the Milgram experiment.
The magnet in the tentacles made me think of Rex and his magnetic Polo mint from the original SLOM.
Thankyou Mr Hunkin, Tim, you taught me a lot of the 'little' I know about how stuff works. Your weekly columns(?) in the Observer have kept me smiling and learning for years. I passed on your big book to my little brother who is now a computer genius, in part due to the book, and the course it set him on. And then there have been the laughs. Thank you, for everything. And I hope there is a lot more to still to come.
Live forever, Tim, you are so awesome, and creative.
The half-horse at the end might be a training tool for farm vets -- that's how you do a preg check on many larger animals, for example. It looks terrible, though!
Always appreciate someone who pronounces UFO's as U-Fo's! I feel like its a reference to the TV show UFO by Gerry Anderson, but not sure.
that pier belongs on the bucket list
I've been inspired by Tim for years. So much so I would repurpose many a thing. I once took my mother's washing machine apart to construct a forced air induction on my Opel Manta when I was aged about 19 (1993/94). Killed me mams washer, but the car had improved acceleration at higher speeds and smelled nice and fresh with Daz soap powder tones 👌
Great little series. Was delighted to see you on the list of speakers at EMF camp in a few weeks.
Speaking as an alien in human disguise, i can confirm that we're all delighted with this first step in softening up the population of Terra. There is nothing to fear, the probe is for your own good, honest!
The first 5 mins of this video I wasn’t expecting any of that.
Thank you. I enjoyed the way you talk us through the concept and design. Used to love watching your videos with Rex
i remember.Rex.🙏 thank you for the lessens. 🙏. had you been my science teacher...
Side note: equating San Francisco with America is like equating Tower Hamlets with Britain. Technically they are part of the whole, but in reality not particularly representative. Better to just say “San Francisco”.
Got to love Tim Hunkins inventions
Cheers & Respect from North Carolina! You're a legend, Mr. Hunkin!
Thanks so much Tim, another great insight to your methods and thoughts on the process. Like so many others I really look forward to anything you choose to do and share with us ! Cheers! 👽
Clever as always Sir Hunkin. You TRULY are a boon to how stuff works. Keep rocking it!
Good old Tim - I love it!
i literally look forward to these videos
That feedback mechanism on the power control is brilliant, I'm filing that one away for later! Thanks Tim, I'm looking forward to the next series already! (and have finally planned a trip across the border to southwold with the kids!)
Took me a while to realize this is from 2h ago! Wow! Tim's still rocking with the videos!!
thanks for making this new series, can you show us the details of the guy who shoots smoke/steam out of his ears in the intro?? that is ALOT of vapor?? and i am curious how you obtain it regularly without a ton of maintainance
13:24 The joys of getting old.
Stopping by Variety Automation next week! Can't wait to see some of your work IRL
Thank you Tim. Great as ever and always enjoy learning something that may come in handy one day.
I was just viewing the Exploratorium periodic elements playlist item on Germanium where your transistor machine was shown. And now I pick your Alien probe item on my subscription feed, to be transported right back to San Francisco! Amazing, all this interconnectedness, and I've never been to SF or your pier. I ❤️ your practical applications of technical knowledge.
You're right Tim! We are disguised as human beings! Love your videos!
Hi Tim! Thanks for explaining in detail. :-)
cant wait for more of your video's. Love it. Its inspiring.
Aliens would surely very much like to probe Tim's fantastic vivid imagination!
Always a pleasure. How do you find the balance of all the nessesary elements of the design when you are creator and customer in one. As mentioned here, the story and the controls were a difficult weave. Life long fan.
Brilliant as usual, I'm really enjoying this series, finding out more about the different machines. I;d be interested to know how long you work on a machine, I get the feeling development is non-linear with perhaps long periods of thinking.
Thank you!
The voice actress is hysterical; she's English, impersonating the American and occasionally pops in to Australian
It sounds like the same voice actor from the series in the 90s, maybe a relative of Tim's?
It's the boss lady from Utopia Services 😊
I believe that the voice / actress might be Tim’s wife.
I wonder how many people have a second go on that machine......... :P
wow, this is brilliant
Brilliant, just brilliant!
Brilliant.
Sweet! Thank you!
good man Tim
Thanks Tim as always from old New Orleans 😎
A wireless lavalier microphone would greatly improve your production quality. Love your work
Brilliant as always, a true inspiration!
I guess the 'orse's ar...' is something like the Haptic Cow that we did some work on a while ago at work... a training device used for haptic feedback to train vets (as opposed to the tradition method involving a live horse or cow... kzhead.info/sun/fsaKoM-hnIZpoIE/bejne.html
Two words I never thought I'd ever hear you say 😂
Lol, Super Horse Exam II
PSVR2 is really missing this feature.
I’ve tried to acquire blank eyeglass blanks here in USA for a design project for years. All my attempts failed. Please help with sourcing.Thanks Mr. Hunkin
Dude!
Did you change the led in the projector, after all, you've kept it for over a decade! The haptic feedback with the lever could be solved with a potentiometer to control the speed of the vibrating motor perhaps? Interesting to problem solve
My imaginary uncle use to run a UFO valeting service, out 'Frisco way, he took to wearing iron pants to fraught the alien's constant attempts to probe his anus! Good times!
I am an alien, disguised as a regular human. No one knows.
👌🤣👍 ❗
Tim, I think your numerous mentions of the 'probings' throughout this video is humorous in a somewhat disturbing manner. Once again, thanks for the education, as well as the entertainment factor in all of your creations. ;)
Nightmare inducing.
LOL, that Brit actress struggling to talk American!
You could sell a lot of those
Did i hear Sam? Not Sam Battle from lmnc/ tmino 😄
I assumed, and made an ass out of me and me; but then I was right. I don’t know what is happening. I went to the dentist today for an extraction of an upper tooth; there was some kind of gray matter on it.
Looks like a Total waist of time and money, Love It. Watched the Secret Life Of machines in the early 90s. Always enjoyed. Home shop machinist myself. Take care from Texas,usa.
Waist?
I think it's a great touch to have his granddaughter operate the machine. Imagine having Tim as your eccentric British grandfather!
3:58 Turn off the video unless you want an FBI Party Van parked outside your home tomorrow.
Tim can you be my friend?
Its a cool arcade machine, but the probing at the end is a bit rude. I find it creepy to design that with children in mind.
trypophobia
Cdb
Rearing your grandchildren?
Rather like victorian animateonics, I find many of your contraptions somewhat creepy. This one is the worst !!! Hahaha
Brits faking American accents never gets old.