Looks awesome! Did you replace all of your targets, too? So shiny!
(Topic ID: 237757)
Linked Games
F-14 Tomcat
Williams, 1987
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Quoted from cletus:Looks awesome! Did you replace all of your targets, too? So shiny!
Actually I did not. I was going to do orange for the 1 2 3 4 5 6 Targets but decided against it. I buffed them with novus 2 and a magic eraser. They were still in good shape.
I may change out a few of the orange rubbers with some blue. Some just seem out of place the more I look at it.
Today was a both barrels kind of day. Painting done last night. Clear coat this morning. Then I got started on the cabinet reassembly. So I just got some test games done as well. The last items are painting the head and solving the lower gi being out.
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Decatur, IL
Quoted from Waderade812:Painting done last night. Clear coat this morning.
I wasn't sure at first sight, but on second look its starting to grow on me.
Thank You fellas, I really appreciate the praise. But there is more to do. I am quite happy with the project so far. I have some lighted flipper buttons to install. The GI on the white/yellow strand being out is making me a little crazy. I have checked all the way back to the power supply and at the fuse block it reads 5.6 volts ac on the supply side and on the other side of the fuse it reads 0.5 volts ac.
So needless to say I need to start with the fuse and work my way into the strand. 
I got the GI fixed. Can you believe it was one of the two sockets I did not replace? My brother-in-law came over yesterday and we played about 20 games. We had to adjust quite a few switches and the pop bumper spoon. We kept blowing the playfield fuse. Because of the bumper staying locked on.
I am planing on getting the head removed so I can get the last bit of painting done.
I also went to office depot and had them print me some instruction cards on photo paper. I found them on a pretty sweet site.
http://www.pinballcards.com/Search?submit_form=0&search=f14
I had them do two sets of each design and it was under 5 bucks. Not a bad deal for some super slick instruction cards.
Amazing job! I just got my F14 and it needs a lot of work. I’m inspired!
Quoted from Wraith5473:Amazing job! I just got my F14 and it needs a lot of work. I’m inspired!
Do it!! All the cool guys are restoring them these days. 
Quoted from Waderade812:Do it!! All the cool guys are restoring them these days.
True story.
"Adapted from a promotion warrant"
To all who shall see these presents, greetings:
Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelity and abilities
of GRUMPY , I do appoint this Pinsider a
Squadron Commander
in the fleet of F-14 TOMCAT to rank as such the Tenth day of April, Two Thousand and Nineteen
(resized).jpgThe head has also been removed for the last of the repainting. But I am going to postpone progress, this weekend, for a road trip to grab a new pin.
Well I just got off the phone with Jeff. New stencils ordered again.
He is telling me that guys who are doing these need to stay away from anything that is not standard basic spray paint. Products that dry in 10 min, 2x coverage, and paint +primer cause nothing but problems.
It does make sense. Now that I hear it myself. 
Quoted from Waderade812:Well I just got off the phone with Jeff. New stencils ordered again.
He is telling me that guys who are doing these need to stay away from anything that is not standard basic spray paint. Products that dry in 10 min, 2x coverage, and paint +primer cause nothing but problems.
It does make sense. Now that I hear it myself.
That is terrible. I didn’t really have too many problem with the 2X stuff. The stencil pulled up paint, but that was only once and I was careful to let things dry after that. My biggest issue was the edges of the mask leaving behind sticky residue on the cabinet surface.
Are the white and black paint the same brand? It looks like a chemical reaction or like the surface is drying and shrinking faster than the paint under it.
I always have to force myself to do two or three thin coats versus one quick and thick coat. I only bought the 2X stuff because that is what my local Home Depot carries in the colors and quantities that I wanted.
When I become one of the cool guys I won't make any errors because you two and heni have already made them for me. I hope to only buy one set of stencils. Thanks for saving me a big headache.
Quoted from cletus:Are the white and black paint the same brand? It looks like a chemical reaction or like the surface is drying and shrinking faster than the paint under it.
I always have to force myself to do two or three thin coats versus one quick and thick coat. I only bought the 2X stuff because that is what my local Home Depot carries in the colors and quantities that I wanted.
Every thing I used was krylon color Maxx. It is like the solvents that keep the paint suspended in the can softened and shrunk the white color. I wonder if kylon uses a different chemical in the white than in the other colors. Because the other colors do fine. Just the white wrinkles.
I didn't want to use the same product, but I felt if I changed products I would get a different shade.
Quoted from GRUMPY:When I become one of the cool guys I won't make any errors because you two and heni have already made them for me. I hope to only buy one set of stencils. Thanks for saving me a big headache.
We do it for you 
I'm picking up an F-14 next week that has peeling paint on one side. I was looking into stencils to restore it but seeing all your problems with paint, makes me a bit apprehensive now... Nice job on the top side though. Any reason you decided not to PC the wire ramps?
Quoted from heni1977:Grumpy you can't have it!!!
I never said have! I used words like buy, trade or confiscate. You always come back with my wife will beat to death.
Quoted from Geteos:I'm picking up an F-14 next week that has peeling paint on one side. I was looking into stencils to restore it but seeing all your problems with paint, makes me a bit apprehensive now... Nice job on the top side though. Any reason you decided not to PC the wire ramps?
It's just an experience. A hobby for enjoyment. I'm under no time crunch so the set backs just adds to my adventure. You should do your stencils like a actual jet paint job. Primer grey and flat black, with serial numbers. That would be awesome.
The wire forms would have taken away from all the touch up work if they were powder coated.
Sorry to see your going thru all this grief. It's looking amazing though! Im working on my T2, now, but when I did all the powdercoat work on my F14, I bought additional ramps, side rails, lock bar, and legs, so I could get all the powdercoat work done, and I could still have the originals, just in case I ever wanted to go back to the way it was. Well, Im never going back, so in case anyone is looking for wireform ramps, or any of the above parts, I have spares!
Quoted from Waderade812:It's just an experience. A hobby for enjoyment. I'm under no time crunch so the set backs just adds to my adventure. You should do your stencils like a actual jet paint job. Primer grey and flat black, with serial numbers. That would be awesome.
The wire forms would have taken away from all the touch up work if they were powder coated.
That’s a pretty cool idea. Yea I guess the plus side with stencils is that you can do some cool stuff with colours and still retain the factory style. I’ve only been in the hobby a few months but I’m finding half the fun is working on the pins.
I saw you put down new decals. Can you put those down without clear coating the playfield?
Quoted from Geteos:That’s a pretty cool idea. Yea I guess the plus side with stencils is that you can do some cool stuff with colours and still retain the factory style. I’ve only been in the hobby a few months but I’m finding half the fun is working on the pins.
I saw you put down new decals. Can you put those down without clear coating the playfield?
I guess you could if they are laminated over the ink. But I could see the edges of the decal lifting over time. The reason I clear coated first was to fix the artwork on a fresh flat surface. Then "trap" my progress as I went along with more and more layers. I ended up with 7-8 coats at the end. which was roughly 2 full quarts of 2 part auto clear.
Quoted from Waderade812:So I don't see the end grain of the play wood.
I would like to see this, sounds very interesting.
Drum roll please. I feel comfortable saying that this project is on the books. Thank You to all my fellow pinsiders who helped me through this undertaking. Cletus ,Grumpy, heni1977, and of course vid for all your guides. With out further a due, my F14
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Outstanding! Love that you also painted the inside of the cab. It seems often overlooked, but looks really nice when it's finished too.
4 months later
Quoted from Waderade812:Sitting down to get snubber boards reinstalled. But mainly refresh myself with the wiring harnesses.
[quoted image]
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