My summer break from teaching is here and so it felt like time to start another pinball project. With Getaway (https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/getaway-hsii-restoration-and-customization) having been completed, the wheels have been turning on what game to do next.

Bally Frontier has been on my wish list for many years. Finding a game let alone a decent or NOS playfield has not been easy. Collectors don't seem to want to let these go. One of my friends here locally has been collecting parts for a frontier project for quite some time. He ultimately decided he wasn't going to do it. So to my surprise, I got the email a few months ago offering the playfield and populated playfield for sale. A few years of hunting has come to an end and the project begins.

I purchased a Strikes and Spares as the donor game. Many things on it will need to be modified to accommodate a Frontier but what the heck modifying and customizing is half the fun!

So here is how the project begins.

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I knew the cabinet was rough but you never realize how bad something is until you get to know it more intimately. It is going to take a lot of work. IMG_0148.JPG
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Keep me up on your progress! Always fun to borrow ideas.

Stripping went as expected. Joints were glued and nailed. In addition, I glued wood dowels into the large holes and sanded flat. image_(resized).jpeg
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Each project gives me the opportunity to try new products and steps. I used evercoat instead of bondo. The gallon is quite a bit more expensive but what a difference. So much so I will never use bondo again. It sanded without clogging and feathers out beautifully.

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I also changed the primer this time from rattle can to 2-part polyester hi-fill primer.

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And of course, priming only means you get to start over and sand and fill. image_(resized).jpeg
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Here are some pics of final primer coat. Hit it after these pics with a quick 400. This primer is worth the money. What you spend in money you save in time. image_(resized).jpeg
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Now the painful part is over and the fun begins again. Spraying color finally feels like progress.
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4 coats later and the cabinet is blue.
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For me, Frontier's cabinet suffers badly in the art department. This pic is from IPDB.
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It is time to modify and get creative but try and keep with the original theme and feel of pinball. Kiwi Terry's assistance was called upon once again to work some magic.

So these next few pics will catch you up on where the cabinet artwork currently sits. Lots more progress expected this week.

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Thanks. I hope so too. With Kiwi Terry behind the gun, I know I am in good hands.

So while Terry works on the art I have turned to the playfield. The two main steps here are stripping the populated playfield and clear coating the new one.
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Started clear coating the playfield. Shot 2 coats.
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Since I started with a strikes and spares one of the modification was to make a light board. I took the pic off IPDB and enlarged it and used the backglass as a ref.
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The good news is the test fit with the backglass in went well. All should be good and now it is ready to be wired. Of course this will be a pain considering I will have to modify the harness as well.

I have a backglass. If anyone has plastics I could sure use some!!!

The black line between the yellow and blue in frontier was added and completes the script. The pics I took didn't turn out. I will take some more tomorrow.

Now that the script is finalized, the attention turns to the predators.
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Here is a small update.
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Fixed the inserts today with black paint. The next coat of clear will hide the difference in gloss. A little more to go. image_(resized).jpeg
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Thanks!

I think you know a little about the process.

Couldn't agree more and your game looks awesome!

Some very minor adjustments have been made to the playfield.

Before:

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After:

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It only seems reasonable to have eyes!

I wish I would have thought about this prior to clearing. It should be possible. Let me check into it.

There is a place in LA that will do a 300dpi scan for $127 plus tax or 600dpi for $223 plus tax.

Here is a before and after clear. Notice how my brush skills look no better than a third grader. However, after the clear they disappear.

Before:

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After:

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More progress on the mountain lion.
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Did all the touch ups on a light board. We are good.

Thanks to Jady and his design on Shapeways my shrouds arrived today and they look awesome.

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I agree it would be tough to make a database like that happen. The loophole although potentially controversial would be for the purpose of art.

Kiwi Terry will be at Coast Airbrush in Anaheim today-Sun doing a demonstration. I believe he will be airbrushing a manickin. It is definitely worth the visit if you live here locally. Unfortunately, it means frontier is on hold for this weekend.

My attention has been turned to cleaning everything and preparing for polishing and coating.

Parts have been ordered and should be getting them early next week.
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Here is the finished mountain lion unmasked.
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Another art update.
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Thanks. Kiwi Terry is so fun to watch work.

None of this project makes sense.
My first restore was Harlem. I didn't want anything to happen to it and use to cringe when I heard a slap save. The worry just caused me the kind of stress I don't need. I'm over it for the most part (still can't stand a drink on the glass). Now it's slap away.

You and Brent have trained me well!

Another step in the process. image_(resized).jpeg

I always like how airbrushing is about pushing and pulling colors to create detail. Here is an example around the mouth.
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Color sanded the playfield And buffed it today. First time through didn't get rid of all the fine line scratches and orange peel. I will do a little more sanding this weekend.

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We all know I lack eye, mind, hand coordination.

Looks like the fundraising didn't work. I have an hp scanner I can stitch together.

Here is the finished bear. Yikes

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I was thinking more of a portrait of Bob on the backglass.

Next predator is under way.
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Worked on the light board today. image_(resized).jpeg
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Kiwi Terry is working more today on the wolf.
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The next step will take a little more patience as I have to make sure the wiring from the harness is correct. image_(resized).jpeg

Pictures will cease from here on at your request.

MustangPaul where are you? This thread isn't legit without your participation. Are you lurking?

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I'm strangely attracted to Bob now.

Hilarious!

Small update. Filling in color and then back with the blacks for detail.
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All the credit goes to Kiwi Terry as he is the airbrush artist.

Here is another update. Almost finished.

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I was excited to spend my first official day off for summer break sanding and buffing. However, civic duty called and I will be serving jury duty today. Maybe terry will send me some pics of progress today to keep my spirits up.

Thanks!

I worked out most of the wiring of the backbox on Sunday. Didn't post any pics yet because I didn't solder it together. Hopefully I will get to it tonight or tomorrow.

I will also be meeting up with my buddy tomorrow to give him the parts to be chromed.

Playfield reassembly could start this weekend if everything goes well with buffing.

Thanks. Almost forgot. Lol.

I was talking to a friend over the weekend about the artwork. He was amazed to find out that each pixel is done one by one. He assumed that some fabric or stencil was used to create the fur pattern. After I explained further, he still couldn't imagine someone spending the time to do this tedious work. I shot this very short video to show him. His response, "Really, that's just nuts."

Your street fighter skils can only be truly appreciated in person. The written word cannot capture such beauty.

Final wolf pic.

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The next predator has begun. Kiwi Terry is hating me for picking something with scales as they are very difficult. My suggestion was to paint the color pattern and skip the scales. At which point he told me to leave, as he exclaimed that would be unacceptable. So I quietly left and said I would return tomorrow for a checkup.

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Harness attached to the light board. Need to get some matching wire to extend certain ones.
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She is coming alive.
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I also color sanded and buffed out the playfield. So, I will be scanning it before I begin reassembly. Parts were sent out for chrome. Should get them back next week. Continuing to polish parts in the tumbler.

It is a work in progress. Hopefully, the background will bring it all nicely together. Terry's work is undeniably awesome. The question is will it all come together to look like a pinball machine and not some decals of animals plastered asymmetrically on the side. We will see.

Kiwi Terry is a professional airbrush artist and this is his how he makes a living. So the answer is yes I pay him for the project. With Getaway and now Frontier, he consistently goes over the top. I tell him not to do photo realism but more of an animated style and as you can see he doesn't listen. He is not known in the industry for his speed but for his accuracy and detail work. Even though we agree up front on the price, he ends up spending way to much time on it and I end up paying him way more than I promised. I think we both lie to ourselves about the amount of time and money it will take to complete these projects. At least, I know I do!

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Indeed

PM sent with link to scans.

Began installing new sockets and wire. image_(resized).jpeg
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More progress today. Here is a before and after. Per Elwin's suggestion switched out the linear flipper mechs for non-linear. Nice improvement!

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Wire harness back in place and resoldering has begun.

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A little more progress. image_(resized).jpeg

The pop bumpers are installed. Finished making my coil wrappers. Only a few more things to button up on the bottom.

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Terry is starting on the background today for the cabinet. Here is a teaser sketch. Anybody recognize the geographical location of the sketch?

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Indeed. The sketch is of the lower falls of Yellowstone. The park is the only region in the country to contain all 5 of the predators found in the game.

Yellowstone is the furthest south the grizzly bear is found and just about the furthest north the rattlesnake goes. Wolves were reintroduced into the parks a few decades ago but were original inhabitants. Mountain Lions and Eagles have continued to persist (small population) in Yellowstone and are now protected.

So it begins.
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So Terry's answer to foreground/background order. "It is a fare question. When I first started, I painted the background first. The downside to that was you have a lot of colors coming through the foreground and then you have to chase them back [my words: background has orange and purple running under a foreground element like a face and then you have to even out the colors]. More so, by painting the foreground first you avoid accidents such as tree branch sticking out someone's ear. In addition, by painting the foreground first you can plan your background more harmoniously to the foreground. However, it doesn't matter which direction you go if you have 1 reference. But in this case, we are fusing numerous references. This a preference not a rule."

Terry worked on the trees today for a bit. He usually takes Sunday's off but they were bugging him so he wanted to figure them out.

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Seems positive.

Hmm. Feels a little less positive but thanks for being my dealer!

With a disco light hanging over it of course.

Thanks all for encouraging my insanity.

Finished the bottom of the playfield today. Time to flip it over.

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I have enjoyed watching others over the years so this one way to give back. As you know, it can be time consuming just writing these posts.

More progress on the trees. Flipping sides to catch the other side up and then the rock color tones come next.image_(resized).jpeg
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Worked on the transformer and power rectifier board today. The replacement board I chose was the pin-logic.com dual plug pcb with E-board. I hope to never work on it again but if I do it will be easy to uninstall.

Of course, I made a mistake and I am to lazy to fix it. I bought the dual board so I could use Molex connectors. Of course after I am done redoing the connectors I have the oh crap moment. I used the wrong connectors. Oh well. I can always change it later if needed.
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Old and new
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Terry has been working on the other side today. Here is an update on both sides.
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I got my comet order in today and installed them under the playfield. I followed NicoVolta stealth program. https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stealth-led-a-recommended-recipe-for-ems

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More trees.
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Added link above.

This machine and stealth don't exactly go together.

A little more progress today. Sanded and primed the wood rails and apron. Started assembly of top side. Can't do much as I am waiting for the star posts from pbresource.
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Whoops! They will be finned.