Maple Park, IL
I just started working on my Flash Gordon today. I picked up an extra trashed playfield in case it didn't turn out well so that I'd still have a complete game set up.
I've stripped all the parts off the extra playfield, removed all the pop bumper screws, and removed all the inserts. The wood was completely sanded down to bare wood, I've patched a few small nicks in the wood, and one place by a pop bumper screw where the top layer chipped off when I pulled out the screw. All of the original inserts were sanded down flat with 320 grit sand paper. There are 7 star rollovers in the top playfield where I clipped off the end of the star and pulled it out, so as not to break the insert, and will order new white stars to install later.
My plan is to reinstall all the inserts and level them like you did with the plastic primer and glue, and then clear coat the bare wood with the inserts installed, making any corrections to any small divots that may show up after a first coat.
I like your idea with the all new clear inserts, but I don't think I'm going to go that route myself. I haven't been much into LED's other than behind the back glass for heat issues.
When you installed your overlay, what's the best course of action in dealing with trimming out all of the little holes? Especially around the kicker. Or did you cut out the kicker hole first before installing the overlay?
Anything that needs to be mentioned before clear coating OVER the overlay to lock it in after all the holes have been carefully trimmed out with an exacto knife?
Looking to use an automotive clear coat over this this obviously.
I think I got my playfield overlay from classic arcades a few years ago, but I don't remember 100% on that.
