Not my first rodeo, but my first pinball restoration

Here's where i've found CENTAUR parts available:

http://www.twistedpins.com/products/stencil_kits/?ProductID=54

http://www.bestofpinball.de/catalog/index.php/cPath/135_213_318

http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/10

http://www.pinballdecals.com/PartsByGamePages/Centaur_Page.html

http://www.pinballpal.com/products/stencil/#125-0115

http://bayareaamusements.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=GS-476

http://mad-amusements.com/category.php?id_category=141

http://www.lakesidepinballparts.com/playfield.html

http://www.pbresource.com/posts.html
http://www.pbresource.com/rollover.htm
http://www.pbresource.com/pfbumper.htm
http://www.pbresource.com/pfbumpb.htm
http://www.pbresource.com/rollobut.htm
http://www.pbresource.com/pfswitch.htm

What i'm working with

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The plan:

1. restore original cabinet, re-stencil
2. keep original back glass
3. powder coat legs, misc parts
4. polish or re-plate metal parts
5. playfield swap with new CPR playfield
6. clean the crap out of everything
7. install new rings, pop bumpers parts, targets, flipper buttons, posts, plastic set, new displays

Some "before" pix

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Cabinet stripped.

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Sanding, bondo, sanding, bondo…………..
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Gotta fix this sucker.

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Cutting the bad piece off - will replace with a new piece.
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Display board/door sanded and painted. Bracket polished.

New displays on the way.

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Apron/skirt polished and waxed.

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Coin door cleaned and polished.

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So many parts!!

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Yeah, it was a tough call. I wanted to keep the cabinet as is but there were dings and deep grooves all over the place. Which would have been fine if it just in the black area but it was through the art. I don't quite have the skills to replicate a partial/masked off stencil area that would have the same overspray look. And its tough to preserve the wood grain after bondo/sanding a section smooth. Plus i'd have to perfectly match the original paint which is another challenge because of age, sun fade, tint, etc. The new stencil paint job will be completely consistent throughout.

It is very nice compared to a lot of originals yes, but the whites are cigarette smoky yellow instead of pure white like the CPR playfields. Of course if anyone wants the old playfield they are welcome to buy it. Thanks for the heads up on the aluminum sheet, i'll look into it.

Putting the playfield back together.

Starting with this beautiful thing. (Pix off web)

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Harness cleaned, parts cleaned. Still have some last minute parts coming in like coil wrappers, flipper bats, targets, etc.

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Under side of playfield is a little further along.

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Top end parts are polished and ready to go.

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Cabinet is primed and has the first color down.

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Wood grain looking good.

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A little further along.

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Thanks Aurich, yeah the original playfield is in decent shape but it pales in comparison to the new ones. The mylar preserved most of the inserts which is a plus. Its interesting how under a lot of the red plastic posts it turned the playfield pink.

I got the stencils in today so next week the cabinet is going to look sweet

The old PF, (ignore the painters tape, was using them to keep notes)

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Need one of these - this baby snapped.

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Back to the cabinet…

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Yep, that was a major factor in deciding to go this route. Now the shiny new playfield will have a shiny new cabinet to match. At least i hope so

they all have their unique challenges - that's for sure.

Thanks Mike!

Main cabinet stencils applied, ready for silver. These stencils came from Twisted Pins and so far they have been great to work with.

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A couple close-ups of the playfield swap in progress.

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Soooooo, i order 40 1-1/8" concentric fin RED posts from Marco Specialties.

Only the "RED" is bright candy apple red and not the dark blood red like whats on the game now.

Guess i'm sticking with the original posts. Oh and 2 of mine are ORANGE for some reason, anybody got a couple dark red ones i can buy?

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Back to the cabinet.

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Got them! Thanks!!! And also for the free cards.

A little further along. Getting all the ground braid in and testing the lights as we go.

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Finally got this stupid thing working. Last step is to print up new coil wrappers, then stick PF back in.

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Printed, left to dry for a week. Ready to cut and apply.

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Yeah, it's no picnic Spirit and Star Gazer up next.

Thanks!

thanks, me too

Finally got this thing working after 3 years, what a pain in the arse.

Thanks! Hey I lived in New Brunswick for a couple months.

I was into pins back then too. It was 1990.