I have thought about this for awhile, and about a week ago I bought a Bally Night Rider (SS). So now I am going to have to try my hand at a retheme of it.

I played it a few times in the late 70's in a bar in San Francisco. Never thought about it much after that until I ran across this one for sale near Hollister, so I drove about 2 hours and picked it up.

It took me a week to get it up and running, and remarkably just about everything on the playfield works. It's dirty and the playfield is worn, but it plays a lot like I remembered. Well after 40 years, who is to really challenge my memory.

Someone repainted the cabinet and structurally it seems to be sound. The work now is to clean it up and start the change over process.

It will be slow, so probably only a photo or 2 every couple weeks.

I've uploaded some pics of the game as I got it.

Robert

IMG_20171126_082205610 (resized).jpg
IMG_20171126_082215669 (resized).jpg
IMG_20171126_095640747 (resized).jpg
IMG_20171126_095735347 (resized).jpg
IMG_20171126_095742366 (resized).jpg
IMG_20171127_071608060 (resized).jpg
IMG_20171127_071559255 (resized).jpg
IMG_20171127_071616266 (resized).jpg
IMG_20171204_172818123 (resized).jpg

My first pic of a possible theme...

IMG_20171204_172830050 (resized).jpg

So, I have started to do the disassembly process and am working to get the side rails removed.

Of the 4 or so nails I have worked on, only 1 has actually come out. The rest of the nails have had the head come off leaving the shank still in the game...ugh!

IMG_20171211_100308226 (resized).jpgIMG_20171211_100721407 (resized).jpgIMG_20171211_101606802 (resized).jpg

IMG_20171211_100800512 (resized).jpg

Not sure what I'm going to do to the inside of the cabinet. I really don't like taking things apart when I don't have to, but it is a bit dirty and scuffed in there.

IMG_20171211_100320585 (resized).jpg

I envy people with either a lot of time, energy or patience to do these pinball refurbs, leaving no stone unturned. I'm pretty sure my patience isn't going to allow me to perform to that level.

I'll vacuum the cabinet out and then decide how much to disassemble/clean/paint before I call it good enough.

I have plenty of work ahead of me leveling inserts, generating graphics, sanding/prepping the playfield and cabinet...let alone cleaning and rebuilding the 40 year-old playfield mechs.

I should probably just think about it as 1 day at a time and not try to add all the days up ahead of time.

Robert

Haven't been working on the re-theme to much since Thanksgiving, but have leveled the inserts, re-sanded the playfield and taped the original plastics back down. I put the plastics down, so I can start the process of laying out the ball path and graphics. After I taped the plastics to the playfield I scanned and stitched the scans together so I can start my graphics design via the computer.

RobertIMG_20180117_094712899_BURST000_COVER (resized).jpg
IMG_20180117_094638874 (resized).jpg
IMG_20180117_094614182 (resized).jpg

In the process of vectoring the stitched scan, then it's off to the printer to see how close I got.

Then It's just a matter of moving stuff around until the base graphic fits the playfield, then I'll start to add new graphics/artwork.

Robert

Vectored the scan and then I sent it to be printed at Kinko's (~$5). This is the first try at seeing how close my printed scan is to the original playfield.

After printing the line layout at Kinko's, I punched out the insert locations in the paper and laid it over the playfield. Close, but still needs some tweaking.

But I'm encouraged because it's closer than I thought I'd be at this point.

Last night I cut out more of the paper to see how the plastics and some of the other features like rollover lanes match up. About half of the printed features needs to be moved about 1/32 to 1/8-inch. After marking the paper, it's off to the vectored file to make those changes. Hopefully later this week I'll be able to get the 2nd try printed and to continue the process.

Robert

IMG_20180122_150558445 (resized).jpgIMG_20180122_150552448 (resized).jpgIMG_20180122_150605247 (resized).jpg

Was on vacation for a month to New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, so I had about 2 months of no progress. Been home for about a week now, so It's probably time to start up again.

Here are a few pics of the cabinet refurbishment.

IMG_20180322_102417561 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180322_101128328 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180322_102257281 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180321_112359512 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180322_101113911 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180322_101119705 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180322_104628346 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180322_110835957 (resized).jpg

Here is the file I'm working on for the backglass/translite. It's just in the basic form for the general layout. When it gets to a point that I think it's good enough, I'll add graphics and then it print out as a translite.

Translite Overlay 7 (resized).jpg

Here is my playfield overlay. Same as the translite, just the basic positional layout of the playfield parts. Graphics will come later.

Robert

Whack-a-Mole v4 (resized).jpg

Haven't been doing a lot on this, but started again this weekend. Getting the playfield overlay adjusted so the inserts are centered, and almost complete with the Translite overlay design.

Have been doing some work on the artwork, but haven't ported it yet over to the overlays.

Robert

Recent overlay "paper doll":

IMG_20180430_103610 (resized).jpg

Cabinet painting and sealing:

IMG_20180430_103414 (resized).jpg

Started to prime and paint a few items:

IMG_20180430_103432 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180430_104030 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180430_103734 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180430_103406 (resized).jpg

Checking the alignment of overlay file to playfield inserts:

IMG_20180430_113822 (resized).jpg

Still a bit of work to do...damn.

It's been an adventure trying to get Kinko's to print out the overlay on paper in the correct size. I think I've got it worked out, but one never knows what the "next one" will look like.

Robert

This is what I used to level the dished inserts.

Robert

IMG_20171220_120349413 (resized).jpg

After all this work, I need to relax...

IMG_20171215_163030266 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180430_113710 (resized).jpg

New feet for the base end.

Working on the playfield overlay...

Playfield v6 Lettered (resized).jpg

Thinking about this as a topper...

whack-a-mole (resized).jpg

Prototype side art...

Robert

IMG_20180503_104459_resized_20180503_104542784 (resized).jpg

Rebuilt the chimes...

IMG_20180506_090709_resized_20180508_014447956 (resized).jpg

Not sure if anyone is actually looking at this thread, but incase someone is I'm doing some final adjustments on the insert locations in the overlay.

This is probably the most difficult part of the process and really annoying to have to repeat over and over again and is exacerbated by issues with Kinko's getting the paper printout the correct size. One never knows what will be the result, when I go to pick it up.

This is printout number 7. Getting closer every time.

Robert

IMG_20180508_113208_resized_20180508_013822425 (resized).jpg

Yes, the scan was a bit off and I've been trying to correct the differences for awhile now. When I finally got to the "right" people at the local Kinko's, the printouts are now pretty much right on. So, tweaking the inserts is getting some traction.

I understand about the issue with changing print sources and print media, I just hope it's not too much different. I may have to print the playfield overlay a couple of times in vinyl to get the alignment to match.

I have gotten a quote of over $300 for the cabinet sides and front, topper and 2 Backbox sides in adhesive vinyl. Seems high to me, but 2 places quoted similar numbers. Not sure what the translite and playfield overlay are going to be yet.

Robert

This is the Topper I'm probably going to use.

Robert

Topper Rev 2 (resized).jpg

Yes, I'll probably use them for vinyl...but I have been using kinko's for paper proto's...due to a suggestion.

The $300+ quote came from FastSigns...for cabinet, backbox sides & topper.

Robert

I don't know if this thread shows enough for you, but there are some posts on playfield overlay.

Robert

I have been using a graphics design program called "Affinity Designer". It cost $49 and as far as I can tell it's well worth the price.

I tried a few free designer programs, Inkscape was the best...but I found them difficult to use.

With Affinity you can export in several formats including pdf, *.pdf outputs seems to be the most widely used by both Kinko's and FastSigns.

Robert

Since you live in the northwest, I suggest you contact WrapJax. I've contacted Quinton at the Tacoma location about printing my stuff, and his price was a lot less than what FastSigns quoted.

http://wrapjax.com/contact/

I may still use FastSigns for the playfield overlay, due to perhaps any questions/answers needed real time. But the rest I'm going to have wrapjax do, and ship them to me.

Robert

For those interested in what others have done with a playfield overlay...this thread is pretty good:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/strikes-and-spares-restoration

I'm starting to work on my playfield plastics, got a few scanned as outlines and am starting to add graphics.

This link is another good thread on making playfield plastics.

Robert

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/how-i-recreate-plastics

With my retheme I'm continuing to fool with playfield graphics as well as still tweaking the insert locations.

Robert

Playfield v9 (resized).jpg

A couple of proto plastic designs...not sure how they will turn out when finished, but right now I think I want a simple contrasting design to the playfield.

Robert

Left Drop Targets 1 small (resized).jpg

Right Sling 1 small (resized).jpg

Latest Playfield Design...

Playfield v10 small (resized).jpg

I'm have a real issue with getting the overlay to be exactly in the correct place over the 25 inserts. It's been an actual headache.

So I've come up with a plan, idea really, to use stickers:

Large Insert Edge (resized).jpg Small Insert Edge (resized).jpg

I've ordered some of each size. My plan is to put the stickers over the insert and the overlay over the stickers. I can then make the overlay insert openings a bit larger, to take into account "registration" issues with their locations and the sticker should take care of size and location differences. At least that's the theory.

Working on the plastics today.

Robert

IMG_20180516_103348_resized_20180516_110954063 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180516_103143_resized_20180516_111009292 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180516_103132_resized_20180516_111021784 (resized).jpg

A couple of prototype plastics.

Robert

IMG_20180516_110854_resized_20180516_110939003 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180516_110854_resized_20180516_110939003 (resized).jpg

A couple of prototype plastics done. I see I need to make the overlay a bit bigger.

IMG_20180516_110854_resized_20180516_110939003 (resized).jpg

Another prototype plastic done. This one also needs to have the overlay be a bit bigger.

Because the plastic is curved like it is, doing a global resizing of the overlay doesn't work. I'll have to just add some width, using the paintbrush aspect of the vector program.

Robert

IMG_20180517_112857_resized_20180517_112923485 (resized).jpg

New drop targets.

IMG_20180521_093935_resized_20180521_094013554 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180521_093928_resized_20180521_094000250 (resized).jpg

I might have to burnish these a bit...

IMG_20180521_132820_resized_20180521_012907816 (resized).jpg

Working on the last few plastics...

IMG_20180525_112139 (resized).jpg

A little sanding required...

IMG_20180525_112051 (resized).jpg

Rebuilt drop target assembly, with new targets and the mole stickers attached!

IMG_20180525_112401 (resized).jpg

Having a little trouble getting the overlay to be exact over the inserts, so I had these stickers made to go over the inserts.

That makes the registration issues be a lot less critical.

Bare insert:

IMG_20180525_112459 (resized).jpg

Same insert with the sticker applied, note that the green outer circle has about 1/8-inch of registration allowance:

IMG_20180525_112655 (resized).jpg

Getting closer with the overlay.

PF Overlay crop 1 (resized).jpg

The overlays for the plastics are done!

IMG_20180601_094323 (resized).jpg

A few plastics completed...

Plastics (resized).jpg

Cabinet decals have arrived. Had them done at WrapJax in Tacoma, Wa. I sent them the files about a week ago and they arrived by mail yesterday in perfect condition. Some pics are a little washed out due to camera, they all look like the Topper.
Topper:

IMG_1578 (resized).JPG

Front Panel:

IMG_1579b (resized).JPG

Backbox side:

IMG_1580 (resized).JPG

Some parts cleaning in paint thinner.

Robert

image (resized).png

Yea, I might have to replace this one...and several more. Really not in that bad of condition for being 40 years old!

image (resized).png

The backglass to translite project is coming along.

Robert

Translite Overlay 8 Small Pic (resized).jpg

Backside text printing layer of translite.

Translite Overlay 8 backside printing small pic (resized).jpg

Side art graphic.

LHS Cabinet Rev 4 small pic (resized).jpg

Well, I got the cabinet decals installed. The LHS is a little funky, so I may replace that side later, but the rest turned out really good.

Kind of crappy pics, but it's 100F out so I needed to get the game in the house as soon as I could.

Robert

IMG_20180623_103405 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180623_103453 (resized).jpg

Working on the backbox now. Still lots to do, but progress is being made a little at a time.

Robert

IMG_20180624_084008 (resized).jpg

Thanks for the encouragement.

Robert

Prepping the playfield for a coat of paint:

IMG_20180625_112933 (resized).jpg

First coat of white paint on the playfield. The white will give the overlay better color:

IMG_20180625_114524 (resized).jpg

Robert

More progress, the coin door is on and so are the side rails.

Robert

IMG_20180701_095059 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180701_095114 (resized).jpg

Second coat of white paint on the playfield...

IMG_20180701_103345 (resized).jpg

Put one of the backbox decals on today.

Robert

IMG_20180708_152438 (resized).jpg

I made a Caddy Shack translite for my NGG...bad cell phone pic, sorry.

Robert

IMG_20180601_125204 (resized).jpg

Doing a little more work on the playfield, starting to add the insert decals.

Unfortunately, some of them were made incorrectly, so I'm on hole trying to get them made correctly. The first batch took about 1.5 months to get, hope the corrected ones are faster.

Robert

IMG_20180709_114011 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180709_114050 (resized).jpg

The backbox is now installed, decals on both sides of the head.

Now I work in earnest on the playfield switches, the Translite and the playfield overlay, while I wait for the insert decals to be correctly made.

Robert

IMG_20180709_124521 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180709_124456 (resized).jpg

Thanks for the encouragement!

Bob

Key Chain...

Key Fob Rev (resized).jpg

Working on the metal playfield arch artwork, my paper doll proto:

IMG_20180709_165231 (resized).jpg

Well, good question.

This is a part time project that I work on when I have some time too spend. Since this is the first time doing this, almost everything is taking more time than expected.

A couple of things are taking way more time: the playfield overlay, the playfield switch replacement and the graphics.

If I was going to do it again, I'd take the playfield to a local place and use their Cruse Table Scanner. It was going to be expensive, but it would have saved me a LOT of time and headaches getting the playfield overlay made.

Replacement playfield switches aren't available, so I have been rebuilding them from parts, one-by-one.

The graphics is going along pretty well now, I got a design program called "Affinity Designer" which I taught myself to use. Once I got up to speed with it, this part has been going pretty well.

My hope is to have the machine up and running well enough to take it to Pin-A-Go-Go in October. I estimate I have about 80 to 100 more hours to finish up with what I want to accomplish.

Robert

I'm sure they have plenty in Richmond...

Proto arch decal and they spelled the key tag incorrectly, replacement on the way...drugs apparently not working as well as planned.

Robert

I'm getting ready to start to work on adding sounds to the game, need to finish up a few things first.

The translite is being printed and (hopefully) the last parts ordered. The insert decals are being shipped.

The big remaining item ito order is the playfield overlay. This has been the most difficult piece to finish. I have paper printed many test pieces, a lot of them printed incorrectly by Kinko's... Printed not to scale. I guess I'll just have to print it on vinyl and see how it goes. It should be fine.

Robert

Have been on vacation and fixing a water leak in the kitchen, so this game has been on hold for awhile.

I did get stickers for the stand-up targets...pic of one installed.

Robert

target pic (resized).jpg

Mike,

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at what I've been doing...I need to get going on this. Vacation and stuff with the flooded kitchen and the remediation work going on has take all of my free time.

Will start on the Arduino work to try my hand at adding voices to the game this week.

Still need to get both the Translite and the Playfield Overlay printed. Most of the playfield switches have been rebuilt, so artwork and voices are my next effort.

Robert

Have been on hiatus for awhile, but just started to think about sound additions to the game...some possible game sounds, with a few pics of the progress so far.

Robert

Finally got the Translite printed and installed...crappy pic, but it does look better in person.

Robert

Translite 2 (resized).jpg

Translite with a bit better pic...

Translite 3 (resized).jpg

Today I ordered a playfield overlay today, hope it fits and looks good on the machine. It's been a long path but getting towards the end.

Wack_a_Mole_Night_Rider (resized).jpg

I've got the sparkfun wav trigger programmed with 14 sounds and just need to complete the associated activation wiring on the playfield. There are other ways to trigger sounds, like with an Arduino board...but I have had a bit of difficulty getting the Arduino programmed. So for now it's the wave trigger.

Anyway I'd like to thank those who have offered encouragement, especially @ThatOneDude, @MEuRaH, @transprtr4u, @Atari_Daze, @Cliffy, pinheadpierre and others.

Robert

Some of the sample sounds I have been thinking of using, for mole whacking...

Robert

Progress has been slow lately, but now I have the overlay printed. Hopefully getting it put on fairly soon, so I can start the reassembly process.

Robert

Overlay picture (resized).jpg

I now have a prototype setup for the sounds, music and voices.

I'm using a SparkFun: Wav Trigger, a WINGONEER XK-2412DC: power supply and a WINGONEER TPA3116D2: 2.1 channel amplifier.

I'm using micro-switches to apply ground to the Wav Trigger inputs to activate stereo sounds, music and voices.

I've added two speakers to the top of the backbox and a woofer in the cabinet bottom.

Still working on optimizing the Wav trigger programming, but progress is being made.

Robert

Cabinet Electrical (resized).jpg

Got my overlay trimmed, and waiting for some help in putting it down.

The color variation in the pic is due to lighting and how it's laying on the floor. It looks beautiful in person.

Robert

IMG_1640 (resized).JPG

In order to tap into the existing "high voltage" circuits to activate sounds, I have settled on using relays:

https://www.schneider-electric.us/en/product/RPM11E7/power-plug-in-relay---zelio-rpm---1-c-o---48-v-ac---15-a/

and the associated bases:

https://www.schneider-electric.us/en/product/RPZF1/socket-rpz---mixed-contact---16-a----250-v---screw-clamp/

These will attach to the Wav Trigger inputs.

These are not stocked and will take probably another 2 weeks to arrive, ordered in mid-December.

Progress being made!

Robert

While I wait for help getting the overlay installed, I have been working on getting the sounds activated during various parts of a game being played.

The main part of the background sounds come from the activation of the chime relays. I put a microswitch at each chime solenoid location, that goes back to the Wav Trigger.

The Wav Trigger board generates polyphonic sounds when a pin is grounded. So I use the microswitches to sink ground, thus activating a Wav Trigger output.

Switches at Chime Locations (resized).jpg

Robert

Various Back Box lights are going to be used to also activate sounds: Players 1 thru 4, tilt, game over & match...8 seperate inputs to the Wav Trigger.

Since the Wav Trigger only accepts ground as an input, I can't directly wire the lamps to it.

So I'm using relays to switch a ground path. I got these relays as an eight relay assembly.

Relay Block Assembly (resized).jpg

Robert

Back Box wiring and my wire harness to date.

B Box wiring (resized).jpg

B Box Harness in Progress (resized).jpg

Robert

Since there is voltage that can travel from a lit light in the backbox, through the relay assembly back into the harness, a diode is necessary to block reverse current flow.

Since I'm not using a circuit board, I needed to make diode packages to be installed in each wire in the BB harness to each relay input.

Diode Pack Close Up (resized).jpg

IMG_20190109_111514 (resized).jpg

Robert

I've finished wiring 8 inputs from the B Box and have everything where I think it will stay.

Overall cabinet view:

Cabinet Overall View (resized).jpg

Switches on the chime mechanism:

Chime Mechs (resized).jpg

Power Supply and grounding block:

Power Supply - Grounding Block (resized).jpg

Wav Trigger board and audio amplifier:

Wav Trigger - Amplifier (resized).jpg

Wired Relay Block assembly:

Wired Relay Block Assembly (resized).jpg

Robert

Finally got the overlay installed today. I used the wet install method, and with help it went on really easily. It's still drying, but should be ready to work with tomorrow or Monday.

Robert

Overlay Installed (resized).jpg

I haven't posted for about 4 months, in that time I have done a bit of work.

The game is not done, probably 90% complete, I still have some issues with the wiring and the relays and how they work with the wav trigger sound files.

Here is a short video to show where I am at the present.

Robert