So answered a FB Marketplace add for a $500 Rocket III. After some discussion, and telling him I wasn't interested, he asked if I would just take it. Almost said no, but thought just maybe it was a project worth trying, and at least parts might be helpful to someone. My restoration skills are fair to good on playfield touch up. Fair to poor with cabinet painting. And OK, with Pinside help at getting games to work properly. But really think this one is beyond my skill set.

The back glass looks mildly ok from the front, not so great from the back. The playfield looks basically toast. The cabinet, see for yourself the owner tried to repaint the left side and front. Did his best, but not a great job. The right side and back box are flaking paint like a bad case of dandruff. Three of the plastics are broken (the two missing are in a parts box he gave me). The coin door is fair to good, a scratched up and dented at the right coin return. And oh yea, it doesn't work electrically.

So looking for advice on whether to try saving it. And interest if anyone wants the parts. For example, looks like an unusual lockdown bar, that might have been worth something to someone, if not for the appx 1/4" hole some idiot drilled through it.

Thanks for any help.

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Thank you for all the input, and for the pm’s asking for parts if I do part it. I went to look at it as a possible flip game. It isn’t one I can keep in my limited 8 game max collection. The reason I asked is I thought it was somewhat rare. So is there anyone close enough to Sac, CA who would buy it for a nominal amount who would promise to restore or at least fix it and play it? Don’t want to let it go to someone who will part it, I can do that.

Wish this one had been that nice looking. Good find. Might have bumped something else from my collection.

Btw, while I flip games a bit to help pay for the hobby, as I couldn’t do it otherwise. But part of what makes it fun is when I can help save an old game. Saved a 1938 Chicago Coin Swing last year, and found a great home for it. Was a great feeling.

I’m trying through this thread. Want someone honest who will actually try to save it. The electrical in cab and back box actually looks ok. And seller said it was working at one point. It is just too big a project for me, especially since I have very limited space, and one project ahead of it.

One question, whether it gets saved or parted. Was going to Triple Thick the back glass tomorrow. Any objections / comments?

Not a bad idea. But already planning to take two or three working games. Plus someone there might just take it for parts, defeating the purpose. You coming part way this way before that? I get to the mid or South Bay regularly.

Unfortunately the bubbles areas have hardened, touched one lightly and it broke in three pieces. So planning to gently push the others flat, then spray to hold the pieces.

I get to So Cal few times a year. But not to Phx. There is a pin transporter who makes regular runs to So Cal, think he might also go through AZ once in a while. If interested I could check with him.

Been giving this some thought. From pm’s see I could make 2 to 3 hundred at least selling parts. So will offer this, will sell to any Pinsider who promises to either restore or just get it running as a players game, for $100 plus transport costs. And I will make another donation to Pinside. Please pm me if interested.

Just had a local offer from a pinsider.

I will pass this on the the Pinsider who is going to take and restore it. Thanks.

No called him from the sellers garage, but he said he had a nice one. It was Eric, from Lodi. Really happy he is going to fix it up. I already soaked the legs in Evaporust, they were horribly rusted. And the leg and back box bolts which were equally rusty.