So, I wanted a COVID-19 project and was looking for either a Flash Gordon or an Eight Ball Deluxe and got Flash Gordon (first...now have EBD LE To restore too) For a good price but it was basically parted out for the most part.

The cabinet was primed, new grounding wire installed, primed for paint. But, all the parts from the disassembled parts were in boxes...sorry forgot to take pictures. Notable parts were missing like most of the boards, coin door, back glass etc. The playfield is blown out...I will take pictures as I start that part.

But for now here is the cabinet pictures. This will take time to complete all the parts so I will try to update when I can.

This FG has laser cut side rails, powder coated legs, coin door, and other parts. The alternate Flash Gordon Pinball Pimp stencils...

As usual the restore is going to be bigger and more expensive then I planned but it is doing what I wanted....keeping me busy and distracted beyond just work and COVID stuff all the time.

62526D38-693E-4BC4-B720-0A04499FE7AA (resized).jpeg0D5BAA62-B3E1-415F-9F00-E6C7D0C331E5 (resized).jpeg6073F25A-483F-4405-B08F-6A4E6BAF105E (resized).jpeg

More pictures

BA853346-4FF6-4939-A1D1-E7F5065C8160 (resized).jpeg

739FB5DE-AE11-4B9E-A021-2CA0DE939D72 (resized).jpeg

9889885F-12AE-48F6-BC90-CC86EE9EAA12 (resized).jpeg

1149EA96-83F9-46D4-9635-86D69F84AB3E (resized).jpeg

CDB15E09-2185-422F-8CF6-904544394164 (resized).jpeg

84839806-7205-4BDF-87FA-60E8F922AAE9 (resized).jpeg

9077AD74-D14E-4316-91BD-5F9EFFB7CD72 (resized).jpeg

006CFA05-256F-42FA-ACDF-5FB83083CB4D (resized).jpeg

Started going through the parts, laser cut the side rails, got the powder coating done

4CE8C084-571D-4BD6-B073-56B9929782BB (resized).jpeg

4F221932-3507-49CA-8667-BAB8B766B289 (resized).jpeg

9C516F92-6876-448B-9A0E-68B964A31172 (resized).jpeg

944F8DAF-0E44-451A-97B5-8FCD9B66E9FD (resized).jpeg

BC7E64F4-9233-4837-98CF-7C176AEAA4F4 (resized).jpeg

0FAD7B16-3E3A-460D-9B60-CD40E774E064 (resized).jpeg

FB0A0262-6533-496C-8095-AA58DF91D68B (resized).jpeg

F48E3288-D2D0-493B-8135-878F1EFDB779 (resized).jpeg

86189D2A-AA69-4397-88A3-2F933601EF70 (resized).jpeg

066BAFC3-5BEE-4EF1-852A-AB1AA2D667AD (resized).jpeg

1B7C1025-EF64-4534-B3ED-BB3F93EA07D0 (resized).jpeg

Working on the coin door, moved it inside, got legs on it....so much more to do.

7D61AFCC-A587-4CE6-9FEE-D289F07B5390 (resized).jpeg

3B9CE103-DFAE-47A7-8333-16159E85A9A3 (resized).jpeg

18B5129C-B84F-4121-A5B9-0D996AF29096 (resized).jpeg

B6201088-D6E9-41CB-9710-B99A1B5B38EC (resized).jpeg

More pics

3DF00B6C-61CA-4841-83F1-B6C37959B4C7 (resized).jpeg

9D1A2CBA-ED95-4D62-A4C9-C5CE668ADD93 (resized).jpeg

DB44F0D6-BD78-44D5-A19E-10B011A4F1B4 (resized).jpeg

I used the Rustoleum - Gloss 2X - Apple Red (Pinball Pimp recommends the gloss for his stencils).

But, damn red is so hard to paint, it gets everywhere and you can see every flaw. Prep is key - spend time doing it.

I notice you got all white starbusrt inserts too - nice touch. I am replacing mine with the hardtop and starburst colored inserts. Nice interior cab, since mine as a project came all prepped to paint I left the interior the black the other guy painted it.

I would have loved to do a flake in the powder coat but decided the laser cut rails would add more punch and make it unique.

I overspent of course....

Forgot to post the back box board that I sanded and painted....

0DFD58DC-F6EE-4BF4-B365-E62570EC28DC (resized).jpeg

Getting ready to assemble the new displays....

Probably start that tomorrow...

image (resized).jpg

Today finished the coin door assembly and installed the shooter rod, flipper switches, new line filter and power cord...some misc. pieces...

pictures....below

5017E002-241C-41A2-AD70-CC8756B23385 (resized).jpeg

5FAE7EAE-99E9-4711-9B75-01039318BE8E (resized).jpeg

97917D3C-71AC-4FAB-A5A7-2BF2749589C0 (resized).jpeg

E0EFE1E8-232C-4C4C-9C94-DF2461BE4654 (resized).jpeg

F0A0C46C-2DCE-4F4F-8944-D62C3534B876 (resized).jpeg

F38D8734-16CF-482C-8D0B-8588B7D0A3F1 (resized).jpeg

Supposed to rain starting Wednesday (today is Monday) I figured I would get the playfield ready for the hardtop, so I have a before and after sanding pictures.

The inserts were removed by the previous owner, this game was already disassembled when I got it so I just have to start where he left off. It was in pieces and boxes...

My plan is to replace all the inserts with new starburst inserts. First sand, then install the inserts next...

The little things in the insert holes are sponge pieces I don’t know why he did that but I left them in when I sanded...made clean up easy...

So many things left to do....

558503D3-CC0D-482D-9365-EBDE69D628C1 (resized).jpeg

B67082C3-A539-4F5D-94DD-A694BFF9CA38 (resized).jpeg

55EAA1BC-C574-4F37-8B18-0F1CDBB27F7E (resized).jpeg

D28F238C-4A41-402F-95DF-CC07776C03F1 (resized).jpeg

I have starburst ones I bought from pinball life and marco - they have red and green ones no white or clear ones. I have seen other people put the red starburt arrow on the game.

Ok - I have installed a hardtop before learned a lesson or two in the process and not that it is necessary but I outlined the Playfield inserts in black paint just in case.

I also remove all art and clear the whole Playfield so the hardtop will adhere the best it can. Thankfully the hardtop does not require a cleared Playfield like a final product but I always try to get the shooter lane cleaned up as much as I can.

Pictures of course...for some reason out of order.

01C85418-E86D-447B-AAA5-4242FEA0540A (resized).jpegCD767683-87E2-4D84-8ECA-99F242508381 (resized).jpegFDA903DA-A437-4F13-B011-BAC60638FAC4 (resized).jpeg

I used 2PAC in a can - it only needs to off gas about 72 hours and I am basically there already (no odor).

2PAC dries fast it’s not the normal rattle can stuff it’s basically automotive clear with the activator in the can.

Hardtop installed, side rails (previously painted nice gloss black) installed, roll overs installed, now more reassembly....I am sure I will find a part or two later I will have to replace.

For now more pictures...

06A2663E-7304-499A-B315-16DEAD6ADFD6 (resized).jpeg

0A3B2E72-D1B5-4DD8-9CA1-44C7B24BDC09 (resized).jpeg

It takes patience - but that is the whole purpose is to have fun restoring it. I get better after each one I do...

I have an Eight Ball Deluxe LE on deck next ....I am planning on alternate art on that cabinet too. It will be something most people never see. I plan to do a forum post on it all.

This is just COVID project and stuff I strangely do for fun....

Head on cabinet, new boards installed, and all new drop targets installed. Of course, I need one part that will delay things but that is expected.

I replaced the coil wrappers on all the drop target assemblies and did a general clean up.

More pictures...

D4EB7F3D-894A-4BF8-895C-C17E8EC8495F (resized).jpeg

E33DC36C-B5C7-4458-B69D-09459C030974 (resized).jpeg

0224164C-1701-4E1F-8E88-8B72FC3FD771 (resized).jpeg

8CF550BB-741E-48E0-89BB-B2BC82F219D1 (resized).jpeg

90316F70-26B6-49AB-AB07-2BFFE3D7610E (resized).jpeg

C1ECC49F-339D-4C31-B0D2-ABAADBE6EBF8 (resized).jpeg

14B9C952-B9CB-449D-B17F-208C8B8ACD19 (resized).jpeg

Most of the mechs installed, new downgraded flipper mechs (mine were completely cut out and I don’t like linear flippers). LEDs installed and some general clean up like new coil labels and some general wire repair...

The one mech is not installed because I am waiting for parts...of course....they are not available anywhere except Shapeways but at least they have been made.

Tomorrow top side installation, I hope I wired everything right so many things were removed or cut (not by me) I stared at other pictures on line for hours to ensure I did things correctly.

Not interesting pictures but I took them anyway...Looks clean and put together. The new coil wrappers make it look way better in my opinion.

BC75035B-79D9-4CAC-9F2C-B5F95BEC7A60 (resized).jpeg

F35AF3DE-DF1B-4575-AAAA-BE4DAA660F25 (resized).jpeg

Ok - may regret this but here is the before...they are already touched up and NOT perfect but I will be re-working these they are kind of ugly....

Fingers crossed - more to come

E1822822-63C0-4707-AB8D-9D12471A2EA8 (resized).jpeg

FB148679-C593-41E7-8277-785A8F32FAF8 (resized).jpeg

Will do, good suggestion - I have to re-do the playfield tilt mech, it is now just temp placed as a light bulb.

No going back now ... just primer so far

060D90EE-C91F-42E0-A387-1E5DD64429DE (resized).jpeg

Assembled the top side, just have pop bumpers to finish. Still waiting on some parts for a set of drop targets, so that will have to wait.

Rubbers installed (Titan).

I don’t know if I will like my spinners but we will see...more work on that still.

More pictures.

1040812F-12D2-4E06-95DF-A49DEEB31186 (resized).jpeg

1C59F324-046A-4637-AD41-F1D167651E3A (resized).jpeg

46868864-9FFB-4A6A-AB90-41012F326D0D (resized).jpeg

4D880C7D-2C72-4219-AF99-2DB501BA7B1D (resized).jpeg

5146131D-DBB0-4786-8A19-16E9CE6E8EA7 (resized).jpeg

90D0CFCD-4E52-43FE-A493-DFC974463B23 (resized).jpeg

943EE43B-A4B6-4861-BCF0-CBBD3D3106B0 (resized).jpeg

984F4D1A-5FA4-4A6D-A46F-3D65D6B18D19 (resized).jpeg

Ramps buffed and rubbers installed....

image (resized).jpg

Here is what I have tried to do...

image (resized).jpg

Back side...

image (resized).jpg

BTW - the spinners I wanted to do black but the images did not stand out over the black. I tried red also too dark....

I thought I could maybe airbrush it around the outside of the images red cleaving it like a fade to yellow in the center....but that should have been done before. It is kind of an homage to the album now.

album cover (resized).jpg

My unobtainium parts arrived early from Shapeways...

image (resized).jpg

About $70 shipped - sucks to pay that much but these are supported and should never break. But seriously $70 for one bend and one cut with a few holes...

Oh trust me - no complaints about Shapeways or your time for making them....super grateful just what they are to what they cost is high....

When you think they were made on demand for me I understand. I wish they would have threaded the screw holes though, that was not easy and I had to buy the right size tap bit to do it. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do by hand but I got it done.

I love your parts and Shapeways....it shipped ahead of the promised time and workS well. Thanks for making them....

Got the plastics installed - all top side done. I had to wait for some parts so here was some delay. The new spinners are finished and installed. The last pictures are it installed in the cabinet.

I have to do the displays still - I have to assemble those. I have red Wolfpack displays....

1F94A385-459B-4AE1-B94D-570FF45DE1C5 (resized).jpeg

274614C6-7AED-4FC6-BE60-1FF4CFE120F7 (resized).jpeg

B78BB836-3687-4F5C-B4D0-1C03018D2425 (resized).jpeg

CC7672AE-CDAB-4C27-A6CC-4D45C7013F99 (resized).jpeg

More pictures

0E9B5AF1-87C8-4031-BF47-D2B92EDAE271 (resized).jpeg

1DF12522-9383-464C-9C58-DCE67D1007F2 (resized).jpeg

F1822865-98B6-4D7F-A150-8A0ACD4E37BC (resized).jpeg

With the black - that is why I did the laser cut "Emperor Ming Awaits" on the side rails to make it stand out more.

I started using black powder coat on a few restores I did and I liked it. My Fish Tales has it and I did it on a High Speed (now sold) and it looked cool. I think sometimes too much contrast is just too much.

I figure more people would hate on me for the use of WMS flipper bats in a Bally but honestly I prefer those (its just me and its an easy swap if someone does not like it).

I hope to get the displays done soon....that is all that I am waiting on. I should have bought pre-made ones knowing it would be the last thing I would do. But, ready to assemble kits in red are substantially cheaper then ready made....since this machine is already pretty expensive in all the parts I have into it.

Some updates...

Backbox board harness hooked up and organized. Re-pinned solenoid driver board plugs (that takes a lot of time). Installed backbox board, flasher assy, LED’s, etc. I have a magnetic apron decal I added.

Backglass installed (it’s new) so trim installed too.

Just dreading the assembly of the displays so that is what is left.

1320717A-105E-4A26-BA27-8A2AEE8AE97E (resized).jpeg

15D1A745-8B1B-43FE-A077-75B390A1C310 (resized).jpeg

418C52E5-F60B-4E4C-B8FC-0A0F42D38F14 (resized).jpeg

9F408228-4180-4C0B-8DB0-88A0BF814275 (resized).jpeg

D565087A-420C-4958-87C7-B451E59E5207 (resized).jpeg

D8D8F0B3-79B2-4E7E-A83D-ED1517AEB5E9 (resized).jpeg

Thanks - I knew I had to revisit those...

All fixed - soldered it in place.

You are da man!

Just cleaning stuff up...I am waiting on the displays now. Should be able to power up tomorrow and tune it up.

image (resized).jpg

image (resized).jpg

Yeah - I think I can but what I am going to do is order new spinners and then just replace the old ones because I hate to ruin the work I have done on yellow. I did some tests on my spinner decals on black and it just didn't pop like yours, anything is better than the original I guess. But, black with the text is the way to go.

I had to copy your machine - it is the best and mine is close but I am rank amateur compared to your restore. I spent more money on the laser cut side rails and powder coating then I did on the original game. But, I am happy with it, you know how it goes you see little things that would have made it one little bit better. I looked for a font that kind of matched the Flash Gordon font for the laser cut rails, I thought that turned out pretty well.

I hope you see it as the ultimate compliment that I copied your restore.

I will PM you -

So just tweaking things - clearly have a switch error a few targets are funky. I hate using the switch matrix to find things it’s not like a DMD game where you can say test this switch etc.

I have re-pinned most of the MPU connectors which took forever but always good to do. Missing one connector or the whole board would be done but I have one on order.

I gave up and ordered new built red XPIN displays - looked orange in the picture but they are red.

Getting there - want it to be perfect.

712EB295-4917-47E4-887E-DBA276505F12 (resized).jpeg

8DC78D0D-BB7D-4B07-8693-B472E7AF9BFE (resized).jpeg

AC69036B-F87B-4D72-A477-44CE3A99941A (resized).jpeg

Fixed my switch issues - she is alive and playing.

I think I want to replace all my star rollover switches just to make it all new. Anyone have an idea on the part number for the switch under the star rollovers?

Appreciate if anyone can help me out on this fix. I know new switches would just be nice and clean - more responsive.

OK - did some more tweaks on the machine, it is playing fine but I want a few things to be more responsive. I got most of the star rollovers to work and I am working on some switch gaps.

It is playing better. I have a couple lights out and I know what the issue is....I have to repin the light board plugs and I am kind of dreading it since there are so many wires on each plug but I will do it slow and steady.

nope - they are not - no one make a perfect arrow that fits these solid state machines.

Trust me I looked....

You could make them bigger and the hard top would cover it for sure. Seems like relatively little benefit for a lot of work in my opinion. But, I love the starburst patterns. I can give you the arrows I bought if you want to be so daring....I won't use them. Give me a couple bucks to mail them and they are yours. I can give you all the spare inserts I have too - not old ones new ones I bought extra just in case.

I do -

Out of space

Sold fast - I guess I may of under-priced it but it was a fun restore!

Thanks - I could have probably got more interest was super high but I ran out of space and we all have people to answer to (wife) and she was losing a parking space in the garage if I could not get rid of something. Flash Gordon is a beautiful pin but it is a tough game with short ball times.