HEP presents a Tale of Two Medieval Madnesses

Now is a good time to tune all the switches.
There is a right way and a wrong way to do it.
The wrong way to test is just pressing it with your finger. image (resized).jpg

The right way is with a ball when possible
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Straight down the center of the switch they are both essentially the same and will register a good switch easily.
The issue is that the ball doesn’t travel through the center of the switch during gameplay especially on loop shots so while it might test good with your finger or placing a ball dead center it could not be sensitive enough to register as the ball travels on the edges of the guides as pictured. image (resized).jpg

This is why now is the best time to tune all the hard to reach switches and what you are looking for when doing so.
Not just that they work but the are sensitive enough to register from all ball angles.

#399 5 years ago

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Castle and backboard are in place.
Probably another hour or two until finished.

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#401 5 years ago

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https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-evolution-of-hephigh-end-pins

Quoted from mbwalker:
HEP,
This thread has been very intriguing to see the progress and attention to the detail. Now a sidebar question...maybe a new thread or add at the end of this one when finished that gives us a quick history about how you got to this level of detail? Obviously, it had to start at one point of just fixing a broken pin. But did the level of detail ramp up quickly or did it simply progress gradually? Did you learn to solder, understand any electronics, methods of cleaning, painting, etc. and was it self taught? Did you have some to help guide you on the way? By no means want you to spend a night typing a long story, but something brief would be rather interesting.

This is probably the best I can offer for that.

#403 5 years ago

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MM 1 is done.

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#407 5 years ago

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Later today hopefully I can get MM 1 outside for final pictures. Until then I am going to start working on getting MM 2 caught up.
I don’t think it will be as wiring needy but having now finished MM 1 it makes MM 2 look nowhere near as nice as I thought it was at first
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I start spotting little things intertwined with the wiring of MM 2 like wire nuts.
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Coils turned the wrong way.
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Jet bumpers with the washers on the wrong side. image (resized).jpg

All easily taken care of but it just shows how what seemed like the standard to copy wasn’t as good as it seemed at a glance it just looked so much better than MM 1 the standard was lower.

#408 5 years ago

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Will start the catching up with the plastics set.
I already have the ramps done so that is good.

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#409 5 years ago

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MM 2 plastic set pulled
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I have a new set
image (resized).jpgbut will likely need to make up some more black stand offs as MM 1 hit the bin pretty hard.

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#410 5 years ago

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This is how many I need. image (resized).jpg

First soak them in bleche wite. image (resized).jpg
Rinse. image (resized).jpg
Now soak in alcohol.
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Pat dry.

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#411 5 years ago

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Now a holder is made by securing flipped over tape with normally placed tape F247472C-6CA3-4F5F-B114-BB8A6A96B886 (resized).jpeg

The standoff’s are placed on that to hold them. F9696CED-8A6B-40AE-992F-3CB12908E2FF (resized).jpeg

Plastic primer is needed for proper adhesion.
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Another holder is made and then they are flipped over for the same process other side.
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I watch What’s Happening while I wait for the primer to flash off.
Rerun can really dance for a big guy.

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#412 5 years ago

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Side one is based in black. image (resized).jpg

Then allowed to flash off before I flip them over and do side two

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#414 5 years ago

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Quoted from xsvtoys:
MM2 was feeling all cocky sitting next to MM1 when they first came in, being in so much better shape in comparison to the somewhat sad state of MM1. Now MM2 feels like a sad panda next to the new-found glory of MM1, and MM1 is feeling on top of the world. But, I have a feeling cool things are coming for MM2 that will vault it back to the top level, cannot wait!!

Yes. They are going to be on the same level quality wise but they will be a bit different for sure.

#415 5 years ago

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While I wait for the base to flash off on the final pass of the standoff’s I will make the “lost plastic” that goes on the blank ball guide. image (resized).jpg

I use the plastic pictured to do that.
Line up one hole and trace it out. image (resized).jpg
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Drill a hole and secure them together. image (resized).jpg

#416 5 years ago

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Using a grinder I rough it into shape. image (resized).jpg

And there it is I will wash it ,watersand the edges and flame torch it next

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#417 5 years ago

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MM 1 final pictures.
Cabinet.

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#418 5 years ago

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Cabinet details.

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#419 5 years ago

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MM 1 playfield.

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#420 5 years ago

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Back of the playfield.

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#421 5 years ago

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Inside.
Thank you J M Ratkos for the labels. Nice guy!
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#422 5 years ago

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Underside.

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#423 5 years ago

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Inside the head. No more masking tape

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#425 5 years ago

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Quoted from vid1900:
Believe it or not, you can dye the natural color nylon stand-offs with plain 'ol RIT dye and it never chips off.
Deep black color because it absorbs into the plastic itself.
Fast, no waiting for paint to cure.
Kids who build computer rigs or 3D printer geeks will dye nylon in Green,Violet, Red or whatever[quoted image]

Thanks I had no idea but I am am a painter by trade so I usually gravitate towards what I know.

When it comes to other methods the problem is always the same. By the time I figure it and out wait for it to show up I could have just walked in the paint shop done them the way I know and and kept moving forward

#431 5 years ago

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Quoted from CFoote:
Beautiful restoration! A quick question, just curious why you went with a more glossy black on the cabinet than the factory flat back finish, is that for protection, personal preference?
Chris

Thanks.
I see that asked occasionally depending on the build.
That is a base clear system I use and it can be tailored up or down in gloss level.
From full gloss to completely flat.
What is on that cabinet is an 80% gloss level and I would say the true factory level is about a 65%
I usually settle somewhere between 65-85% depending on how I feel that day or request.
What makes it look so refelective though are a few things.
First is that it is truly smooth and grain free.
The second is it is absolutely jet black.

The final thing is the depth of it being primed,based and cleared compared to just an enamel sprayed over bare wood.
The factory has little paint on it making it look even flatter than it really is.
Here is a close side by side to give a better feel since it can seem night and day at a glance.

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#432 5 years ago

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Playfield is pulled from MM 2s cabinet.

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#435 5 years ago

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MM 2 cabinet is gutted image (resized).jpg

Wiring was separated and cleaned. No power washer required.
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#436 5 years ago

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Cabinet is ready to strip. 6CA99A45-E2BB-4B49-B61D-D3851DB60F89 (resized).jpeg
Took about 3 minutes. EBB9D765-B400-45E7-99F2-4D2D2F0BC377 (resized).jpeg

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#437 5 years ago

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Side two almost 3.5 minutes but my phone locked out and I had to put in my code

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#438 5 years ago

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Lower is being repaired now. image (resized).jpg

Using a new head for MM 2 as well because it had broken joints Stripping and repairing this era head is rarely worth the trouble compared to new the lowers and other eras vary a little more.

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#441 5 years ago

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MM 2 playfield is stripped complete
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What looked like a nice playfield at the beginning actually proves to have several issues.
The ones we already knew about like chipping and bordering.

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#442 5 years ago

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The ones we didn’t know about until torndown. image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpg

The Fight insert pictured is a factory flaw. image (resized).jpg

Speaking of the inserts some are a bit worse than I thought after stripping and being able to examine from other angles.
The lock inserts in particular are raised.

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#443 5 years ago

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Packing MM 1 for delivery.
It will be handed off to the owner in person.

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#444 5 years ago

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MM 1 loaded up in the HEP shuttle.

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#447 5 years ago

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Leaving Charlotte.

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#451 5 years ago

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About 125 miles traveled so far.
Maverick is a good car dog.
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Marshall on the other hand requires about 5 different chargers and accessories to make it through a road trip.
He wears two pairs of headphones ,and listens to music while he plays video games while rocking and chanting all at the same time.
He is 18 and autistic. Makes the trips very interesting.

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#452 5 years ago

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210 Miles and we cross the state line.

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#453 5 years ago

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310 Miles and I am at the meeting spot. My parents house

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#454 5 years ago

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MM 1 Game is loaded to go home with the owner. Thanks Bill!

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#455 5 years ago

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Time for some moms homecooking and a beer.

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#459 5 years ago

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After mom’s deserts last night

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This morning required a thorough HIIT workout at the HEP mobile training studio
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Trip back home came in at exactly 320 mile 38FE733B-2103-42B9-89DD-81EB3AD9EC55 (resized).jpeg

Took a nap and got bored quickly with laying around so it is back to MM 2
Only clean easy work though.
I let the hardware tumble while I was away.
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Now ready to start working on building up the new playfield that has also already been t nutted and final sanded and polished.
Needed very little attention.

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#463 5 years ago

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Quoted from jj44114:
looked like some lemon meringue pie?

Yes. That and flourless chocolate torte with real homemade whipped cream.
Mom has always been a great cook and at 74 she is amazingly sharp and active.

#464 5 years ago

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MM 2 playfield is building it is going to be a bit more colorful than MM 1 in some ways but less in others.
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Switching from red to amber for all post and Lane guides.
It is a very subtle change but a better match to the playfield.
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Going to go with bright red post sleeves. image (resized).jpg

I am experimenting a bit with the jet bumper bodies and such.
I like this personally.
This area is pretty obscured once the game is built so not a huge gamble but I like the way it accents the art in the area.

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#466 5 years ago

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Quoted from pintechev:
Nice color choices!

Thanks I think the jet bumper area is going to come together well. The amber guides now in place start tie it all together.
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Good shot there of how subtle but at the same time drastically different the amber verses the red is.
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#467 5 years ago

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MM 2 cabinet is being sanded clean 7944CE0C-F146-4F0B-9C9C-ECA9E76A0918 (resized).jpeg

Final repairs being made. E60B3447-3559-4C13-AB2C-8330BE2B604C (resized).jpeg

Head prep done. CA828CC7-F876-470A-9AE9-2A8C7A31ED20 (resized).jpeg

Stripped backboard. 5D1989F6-AE4D-40EC-B44D-BE68B6335F74 (resized).jpeg

#468 5 years ago

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Floor is clean topside and bottom. 3CAE2250-DD36-4C94-8F9B-B868A4B0B954 (resized).jpeg

Floor masked repairs complete. image (resized).jpg

Ready to prime.

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#469 5 years ago

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MM 2 cabinet primed and guidecoated b

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#470 5 years ago

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MM 2 playfield is just about ready to flip and rewire. image (resized).jpg
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Mavericks nap under it will be ending.

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#471 5 years ago

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I will need to work through MM 2s coil assemblies.
Should be pretty easy compared to MM 1.
Still rewiring new sleeves labels etc but they are in generally good while condition. image (resized).jpg

After removal I did find that the drawbridge mech is not good in MM 2 though so it will have to have the housing replaced as well.

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#472 5 years ago

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Coil assemblies are broken down. These will be done in a single wave instead of one at a time.

Autofire has the wrong sleeve and was wobbling in the housing as a result. 2A17E810-F539-430A-B8B4-4FE7FE69D9A0 (resized).jpeg

The jet bumpers have some incorrect hardware. 4E9F83CE-E857-4238-9FA7-338E19D62513 (resized).jpeg

Starting to get a good bulk of them torndown.

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#474 5 years ago

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Quoted from Rob_G:
FL11629 blue coils... Aren't those going to be overkill on a freshly clearcoated playfield?
Rob

Not that I have seen.
The games settle in and gel after a couple weeks of play.
If you put the wrong coils on there then the owner is stuck with that long term and may not like having the wrong coils on there.

#475 5 years ago

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Ready to prep and paint MM 2s cabinet and accessories like bolts,backboard etc.

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#476 5 years ago

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Mm 2 cabinet ready to paint.

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#477 5 years ago

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MM 2 cabinet based and cleared.

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#478 5 years ago

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Working through MM 2 coils.
Most are done. Few more to go.
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Flippers done as well. image (resized).jpg

Both the original plates are cracked near the coil stop mount.
Hidden surprises continue on MM 2.

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#481 5 years ago

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Quoted from j_m_:
chris:
were the troll choices those of the owners? (color and/or the light up eyes) or based new stock of what you had on hand?

This particular MM is going to a person that already has a HEP MM from a few years back so my goal for it is to make it as different as I can from the one he already has.
That being the the case the choices made are my own with the owners consent.

#482 5 years ago

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Cabinet for MM 2 is dry and ready to screen/ decal.

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#483 5 years ago

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Head screened.

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#484 5 years ago

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MM 2 Cabinet is prepped and mapped for braid.

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#485 5 years ago

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MM 2 braided.

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#486 5 years ago

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MM 2 head is decaled.
Edges not yet finished.

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#487 5 years ago

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MM 2 lower decaled. Edges not finished.

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#488 5 years ago

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Ready to finish the edges.
I have never trimmed them.
I sand them but I caution anyone trying that to really perfect your technique before you try it.
One slip or false move and you will be redoing the cabinet.
Nice long block wrapped in coarse sandpaper.
This is the “cutter” image (resized).jpg

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#489 5 years ago

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Now cut. image (resized).jpg

Time for the finisher. Part 1
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Part 2image (resized).jpg
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#490 5 years ago

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Now I can blow the dust off. image (resized).jpg

Wipe it down. image (resized).jpg

Edges are now both sharp and seamless.
They won’t easily lift and peel like a cut edge would.

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#492 5 years ago

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Quoted from Jarbyjibbo:
Nerves of steel!
I see the finish is with 800 grit, what about the first two? Then you touch up paint the edges with?

The first two vary based on if the cabinet is original or new and also if the material is thinner or thicker.
Could be impacted by a combination of the two.
A new cabinet is going to have shaper solid wood corners so a finer grit will be better so like maybe 320 then 600 then the 800.

A used cabinet is going to have duller and /or repaired corners and might benefit more from a very slight VERY slight bevel so maybe 180 then 320 then right to 800 to knock the burrs off.

#493 5 years ago

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Edges are finished. image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpg

Of the course of the next couple hours I will work on perfecting the white accent wrap around on the front corners. The other colors tend to bleed through the white initially which is good for the overall effect but can take a couple of applications to get the best balance.

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#497 5 years ago

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Quoted from mcbPalisade:
Do you do the silk screening yourself?

Yes. I use a screen I got from Merf’s pins
Before that I had a few made locally.
Like the Merfs one best.

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#498 5 years ago

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I am ready to place the trim on MM 2
I bought some off the shelf gloss black powder coated trim but I am not too crazy about the quality of the finish.
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Dry sprayedE594A3F6-56D6-453B-B5D5-E050136EC6A0 (resized).jpeg
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Thick and puddled looking 9C3B9C9C-92B4-4911-9BC7-742231109AF1 (resized).jpeg

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#499 5 years ago

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The easiest solution it to sand and polish it.
The biggest concern is if there is enough material there to work with on the dry parts.
Also anchoring it all down. 881FE221-A992-468F-868F-DEC52C0744E6 (resized).jpeg5427A367-D85E-4654-9D8F-F69B5122F054 (resized).jpeg

It was an extra step that shouldn’t be needed but it is still faster than returning,complaining etc.

All is well after the polishing.

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#500 5 years ago

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Hinges are salvaged.

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#502 5 years ago

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Quoted from pinballinreno:
Much easier than repainting them.

Even if I painted and cleared them I would likely have to sand and polish unless I got extremely lucky. I was just glad there was enough material there to work with.
Surprised they were shipped out/sold looking like that though. Makes me wonder what “normal” people do.
Just put them on?
Send them back?
Eat it?

Lockbar is done.

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#503 5 years ago

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Rails are placed and the lower is up on four legs.
Will place the head and wire next.

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#508 5 years ago

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MM 2 Head is mounted on lower cabinet and it should be moving quickly to completion from here.

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#509 5 years ago

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Wiring MM 2 cabinet now.
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I will need to clean up the shaker wiring and install.

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#510 5 years ago

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Quoted from pinballinreno:
Send them back.
Warn other pinsiders not to buy from that source if they don't fix them.
I would be super pissed as you probably are.

Yeah that is what I should do but I just don’t have time to deal with it.
Outing someone publicly rarely goes well for anyone involved from what I have seen unless it is something really substantial.
I have had some serious shit happen to me over my 45 years so some lousy powder coating doesn’t even register on the anger meter

#512 5 years ago

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Quoted from jsa:
When you polish out the defects, what's your normal process? An orbital polisher with various polishing compounds? Or do you wet sand with high grits?

Sand mechanically with a DA
800,1200,then 1500
Buff with wool pad and appropriate compound then polish with a foam pad and appropriate polish.

Technology has outdated most wetsanding in the polishing phases so there are good sanding and polishing systems out there from 3M and Meguires that can be followed.

If I were doing curvy surfacesthen I would get more detailed and go over watersanding and such but for plain old flat Pinball parts it is a waste and a mess.

#513 5 years ago

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MM 2 Subwoofer is given an extended pig tail to clear the shaker motor. D82DB7B2-0C4A-4C12-9874-E4B234E69F1E (resized).jpeg

Shaker motor wiring is fully integrated with the cabinet harness. image (resized).jpg

I will make a new mating harness for the playfield portion that will give plenty of wire to easily hide it within there and allow for trouble free folding of the head,raising of the playfield.

#514 5 years ago

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MM 2 Cabinet wiring and build is complete less the labels and cabinet sheet.

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#516 5 years ago

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Going to rebuild the MM 2 dmd panel.
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To remove the push clips I simply squeeze them

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#517 5 years ago

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Window and speaker mount are removed.

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#521 5 years ago

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Quoted from Mitch:
What do you do with all the old playfeilds you don't restore?

Send them back with the game,toss them or save them for a rainy day.

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#523 5 years ago

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Panel was washed and dried.
New window installed along with larger speaker housing. image (resized).jpg

Foam is used to fill in the large gap from this style ColorDMD.

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#524 5 years ago

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Speaker panel is built for MM 2

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#527 5 years ago

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Quoted from hawknole:
I see foam on speaker panel on sides and top and a piece of foam on the ColorDMD screen. Is that foam on the ColorDMD on the bottom? If so, any reason you put that piece on the ColorDMD versus the speaker panel? And is that a custom lip you put on the front of the speaker panel around the DMD opening & speaker openings?

The foam placement on three sides of the panel and one on the color dmd itself is just done because The bottom is what can easily be spotted by the player and needs to be perfectly straight.
There is a little more leeway on the rest.
By placing on the dmd itself it is a flat surface.

#531 5 years ago

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Working on the final stages of wiring MM 2s playfield.
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The GI rewire is complete and all switches are new.

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#532 5 years ago

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Making a color correct and extended harness for the playfield portion of the shaker motor wiring.

It will replace the section pictured in the floor

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#533 5 years ago

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Underside wiring of MM 2 complete.

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Time to brand it.
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Branding image (resized).jpg

After branding. image (resized).jpg

Branding cleaned up the clarity of the brand can be real hard to predict because it has a lot to do with how The smoke gathers around it ,the wood,the heat humidity etc
This extra step cleans it up a bit though.

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#534 5 years ago

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Playfield is in MM2s cabinet.

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#536 5 years ago

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Quoted from Jenk540i:
I would like to create on of these. Can you explain what you mean by "flame torching" it? Thanks.

It means taking a butane torch
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Then lightly and quickly running it around a plastic surface you would like to remove scratches and rough edges from.

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#537 5 years ago

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MM 2 Powered up for testing
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Going to go with amber caps to tie the jet area all together.

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#539 5 years ago

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Quoted from Pintopia:
Chris as part of the harness prep do you do anything to clean the internals' of the light sockets? If so can you share that process.
Thanks

I typically replace them.
This came out of MM 2s harness.
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In the event I do reuse them I use lacquer thinner and these brushes to clean them up

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#540 5 years ago

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Speaking of lamps
This morning I had the pleasure of changing out the third brake light in my wife’s car.
It is a 2010 Toyota Avalon and the dealer noticed it during the annual inspection and wanted $537 to replace it.

It runs an LED strip that isn’t serviceable.

Needless to say I just ordered the OEM light on line for $120 and set out to install it myself.

Sounds simple enough but they actually built the entire rear interior around that light.
Started out here. D00A8C2F-BF19-4F53-A99A-F0D89FBF5297 (resized).jpeg

Remove bottom seat easy.Car looked clean but it is amazing what kids lose in a back seat over the years. 9582EB18-50C5-4828-BE6F-66A6BB6D286A (resized).jpegRemove upper seat. More complicated.

Those recliner arms are locked inAA75B815-9C5E-4CA9-A816-2E3E74C3AC37 (resized).jpeg

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Now the rear shelf has to come out. Removing the C pillar covers is a true pain. It is the clips used to make sure they interact properly with the side air bags. 0918A781-0FE2-47BC-8AE6-F95615DF3125 (resized).jpeg
I have filled the back of my truck up with interior parts from the car
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Shelf out. You can see the light now and how it is fully encased within the shelf panel.
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New light installed but I found the old one actually works when you wiggle the connector. I could have probably just soldered it but after this much trouble I am taking no chances. 529448D8-D502-4455-ADA7-F5775B2A6780 (resized).jpeg

Back together. That was the easy part except those recliner arms. 5895585E-D969-498F-AA42-2D3B643A47D6 (resized).jpegE84376B4-3302-4470-884F-B24E7A97B3D1 (resized).jpeg

Light works back to Pinball
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#543 5 years ago

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Ready to swap out the drawbridge housing for MM 2
I will use one of Kerry’s upgraded versions with the thicker gate and riveted look. image (resized).jpg

The original assembly is missing clips and washers. image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpg

I will redo the wiring also.

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#545 5 years ago

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Drawbridge mech is built up for MM 2
All new wiring with protections etc

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#546 5 years ago

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Quoted from chad:
I know each game is different, but what is an estimate of hours per game you put in?

Just in general I shoot for around 100 per game.
That is for just a general WPC game with cabinet art available.
When it starts getting into early Bally solid states with painted cabinets and extreme rewiring that can almost double but you can’t charge double so there is a balance there.
I am about to do 3 System 80s back to back and an EM and those are even more time consuming.

#548 5 years ago

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Drawbridge installed and tested in MM 2 all good.
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Really happy with the jet bumpers they are putting out a lot of light in what is usually a bit darker area. image (resized).jpg

The cleared apron is also placed.

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#550 5 years ago

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I used these.

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#551 5 years ago

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MM 2 backboard is decaled and rebuilt now ready to install along with the final remaining parts. A5A7926B-3D63-4855-B514-A765028B1A5D (resized).jpeg
When attaching the parts I am going to use black hardware where I can
I bought these they had some potential but I needed them to look more like black nickel568EA57A-4ED2-4F80-962F-B43A42631E54 (resized).jpeg

That was easily done by tumbling them with some metal polish added to the media.
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Better side by sides

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#552 5 years ago

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Backboard and peasant ramp are in place.
About another hour or two until complete.

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#554 5 years ago

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Quoted from mcbPalisade:
I know you are rebuilding these for their owners. I'm curious to see your estimate of what price they might command on the national market.
I know you can buy an MMr for ~$8,400 or so. Thanks

I really don’t know anymore.
I just do the work and charge for that.
There have been times where I have done $8000 restorations to $500 games so it is just not something I try to keep up with.

#558 5 years ago

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MM 2 playfield Build is complete.

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#562 5 years ago

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MM 2 done

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#563 5 years ago

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More MM 2

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#564 5 years ago

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Playfield. MM 2

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#565 5 years ago

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Rear playfield MM 2 apron etc

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#566 5 years ago

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Inside MM 2

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#568 5 years ago

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Quoted from noitbe1:
Black fits great. The side also. Almost art here ...

Thanks.I forgot to detail that wireforms are actually black nickel.
So a little nicer look there than straight black.

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#570 5 years ago

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Quoted from noitbe1:
Black nickel, first time i see that in a pin. The fit and finish looks better than new from factory and remake (in my opinion)

Thanks.
I got the black nickel wireforms from Chris at Hot Rod Arcade.

#572 5 years ago

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Quoted from hawknole:
A fun journey, followed it all the way through. Thanks.

Thank you. I enjoyed it as well. 2 MMs in less than 30 days wasn’t an easy task but a fun one.

#576 5 years ago

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Going to circle back around and finish up the Pinball Magic thread.
Then what’s next
Radical or Dr Who?

#580 5 years ago

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Quoted from BorgDog:
ummm.. what are these system 80s you were talking about? would love to see some older stuff (oh yeah the em too)

Spirits but I am doing three back to back so that might be a while Have new cabs built

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#581 5 years ago

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Quoted from pintechev:
I’m thinking TOTAN.

The owner of that game doesn't want to see pictures He wants to be surprised so it would be tough to document that one here

#599 5 years ago

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Quoted from kapper:
I'd suggest doing a Whirlwind for everyone to see

I actually have an idea brewing for a Whirlwind thread since I have two here to do.
Both are DP one is supposed to be Whirlwind #1 so once I get the pieces in place for them I will likely do that.

#600 5 years ago

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