Fathom: Deep Dive Restoration

I don’t make it to pinside often anymore but I figured I’d make a restoration thread (though not as comprehensive as my other resto threads) of my current project. I update my Facebook page with more frequently with current photos and videos. My page is starpinballrestorations. At any rate, I’ll post a few progress pictures and try to break them up by posts instead of one run on post. Here is how the game started. Fairly decent and structurally sound.

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Game stripped and the cabinet repairs commenced. As with most 80’s Bally’s, the back pressed board panel was in bad shape and the plywood veneer sides were planking. The back panel was rebuilt with epoxy resin and the planking was stabilized with resin as well. Everything was then filled and sanded silky smooth.
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More cabinet prep, filling and then finally glazing (red filler) to fill and remaining open grain.

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Bottom panel sanded, sealed and masked off both sides) ready to paint.

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I thought I had pictures of the primer step but I can’t find them on my phone. These photos are of the base coat. 90% of a good paint job is prep. Look at how silky smooth the finish is. Everything is done in automotive paints.

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Stencils going on. Next post is the cabinet shot with clear.

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Last post for tonight. Clear laid down on the cabinet. Looks like glass. Very pretty. Looks even better in person.

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Coin door work. Full disclosure, the octopus with the trident was an image I found on google and modified to fit my needs. The 555 lamp holders will be changed out to 44’s.
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Masking from the bottom removed from both sides. Cabinet interior coming along.

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Playfield cleared, cut and polished. It will set a month or so to see if t needs another round of clear or not. As it stands now, it looks like a keeper.

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Wood Playfield rail painted and cleared as well as legs, cabinet side rails and miscellaneous cabinet hardware.

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speaker and transformer getting some attention.

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Adding a little flair to the light panel. Due to the lightbulb pattern, I had to size it smaller than I wanted and a tad lower to I had hoped for but cool none the less. Last picture is without clear coat.

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Shooter rod accent.

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Lock bar receiver installed along with a progress picture of the cabinet interior. Things are just loosely set in place for the time being. Slowly coming together.

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Mock-up of the rails, legs and lock bar loosely set in place to get a feel for the finished package.

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Automotive paints. It’s definitely not as durable as powder coating but you can’t get matches to colors as easily in powder. If I had my druthers it would be in powder. There has to be care when handling certain pieces but it’s no different than a car. Paint doesn’t just fall off a car. This is no different. In areas where it’s feasible (Can’t be seen) where there’s metal on metal friction, I leave those areas bare. In areas like the coin door/trim interface, I try to keep the coating as light as possible while still looking good. Even then care needs to be taken to close the door softly and deliberately. This is definitely not a finish you want on a game in the wild. It’s a trade off between durability and aesthetics.

Fabricated and upgraded the ground panel with real metal in lieu of the crappy foil faced cardboard one that came from the factory. Panel is just loosely tacked in place for now.

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So I don’t update on pinside much anymore but figured I would post some completed photos to wrap this up. For those on Facebook, I have many more on my Facebook page @starpinballrestorations and will eventually be uploaded to my webpage.
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