Awesome work as always Chris!
Observation for you as I’m sure you’ve tested it: looks like a slow roller in the inlane could get trapped by the gates at the bottom....
(Topic ID: 225528)
Linked Games
Addams Family, The
Bally, 1992-
Airborne
Capcom, 1996
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Alien (Heighway Pinball)
Heighway Pinball, 2017
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Black Knight
Williams, 1980
-
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Williams, 1993
-
Centaur
Bally, 1981
-
Centigrade 37
Gottlieb, 1977
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Champion Pub
Bally, 1998
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Fort Worth, TX
Couple of things I'm curious about:
- About how many games do you restore in a month? Your talent and productivity is unparalleled, and I'm always amazed at how quickly you seem to achieve such excellent results.
- Is this your day job or do you have another career in addition to pinball restoration? I've read where you mentioned this is not the most profitable endeavor, so just curious what other skills and talents you might be utilizing outside of pinball restoration.
Quoted from AUKraut:Awesome work as always Chris!
Observation for you as I’m sure you’ve tested it: looks like a slow roller in the inlane could get trapped by the gates at the bottom....
Thanks.
I always take the pictures first then do the test play and dialing in of ball travel from there so the games look their best without ball trails or dimples at that time.
A couple of the roll over actuators will definitely need some adjustments.
Quoted from Mr_Tantrum:Couple of things I'm curious about:
- About how many games do you restore in a month? Your talent and productivity is unparalleled, and I'm always amazed at how quickly you seem to achieve such excellent results.
- Is this your day job or do you have another career in addition to pinball restoration? I've read where you mentioned this is not the most profitable endeavor, so just curious what other skills and talents you might be utilizing outside of pinball restoration.
Usually two games a month. Three would be better but I have really been bogged down with some tougher projects lately.
This is what I do and have done all day every day for over 16 years now and it doesn’t leave any time to do anything else professionally.
I am a high end auto painter by trade but have experience in auto body as well,restoring motorcycles,corvettes,carpentry,and glass work.
I am always more impressed with how you bring back the older games vs newer ones (all the IJs, MMs, MBs, etc). Especially like seeing how you have to come up with ways to "skin the cat" and problem solve difficult situations. Clearly your eye for detail is uncanny. I am guessing you are a little OCD as well based on your meticulous work and how organized and clean your shop seems to be.
Well done!
Quoted from High_End_Pins:Usually two games a month. Three would be better but I have really been bogged down with some tougher projects lately.
This is what I do and have done all day every day for over 16 years now and it doesn’t leave any time to do anything else professionally.
I am a high end auto painter by trade but have experience in auto body as well,restoring motorcycles,corvettes,carpentry,and glass work.
Thanks for sharing. You restoration and painting skills are top shelf, so I'm sure your experience in your past life helps a ton. I also appreciate your attention to detail.
Quoted from yancy:How many points if you shoot one in a beer glass?
-100 since I believe those cornhole bags are also silica gel desiccants 
Amazing. How many test games do you play on these before you ship them back? I'd be wanting to play each one of them for at least an hour.
Quoted from radial_head:Amazing. How many test games do you play on these before you ship them back? I'd be wanting to play each one of them for at least an hour.
I play as many games and make as many adjustments as it takes to get a few flawless error free plays and proper ball travel for each and every shot/kickout.
It can take a couple hours or a couple days but most of the time the extra effort and knowledge I put in upfront during the build saves a lot of time and unnecessary playing/tweaking on the back end.
The goal is to have the game not only leave but also arrive needing no adjustments at all.
The reality is sometimes they will need some adjustments upon being set back up and they will be simple enough as long as I have paid close attention to everything from start to finish.
I try to think of everything and put all protections in place though to avoid it because it is much easier to deal with it here in house before it leaves than on site not knowing the end users pinball knowledge.
Quoted from High_End_Pins:I play as many games and make as many adjustments as it takes to get a few flawless error free plays and proper ball travel for each and every shot/kickout.
I'm reading this as "if it's a game that I really, really like, it can take me weeks or even months to make the necessary adjustments"
just kidding chris
I’ve owned a lot of HEP games, and I can’t recall any game needing any adjustment out of the box from Chris. I had one that had a rollover switch go bad within a few months of getting it from Chris and that’s all I can remember of having to pull the glass from any HEP pin for a LONG time.
I’ve had a LOT more trouble out of NIB games right out of the box than games from Chris. That said, I’m fortunate to be somewhat local to him and can pick all mine up. I’m sure there are people who have more trouble than this, and I’m sure it’s all because of shipping. I’ll bet it’s still a lot less trouble than NIB factory built games, though I admit that much of THEIR trouble is probably shipping (since I am obviously not local to Stern, for example).
—Donnie
Fathom SS (DK) is now the finish game of focus.
F5FD0413-561C-4113-9B22-9B12FED87270 (resized).jpegJust got rid of one of these and a week later another arrives.
6E65DBDA-9B57-4BEE-B53D-D92D01AD8D1B (resized).jpeg
Champion Pub and its new cabinet are pulled from the warehouse.
Has a slightly different cut out in the top plate of the lower.
ED536778-18A4-4851-8BFB-409BA6AF2336 (resized).jpeg84F334BC-D56E-4595-B2F5-108119C481A8 (resized).jpeg30A1FC75-F6C8-4AEE-B12A-3EE3D4EA89C0 (resized).jpeg395DE2B6-DC9A-4C9A-BBFC-8B3A0972E3A5 (resized).jpegCP is being set up for teardown.
9DDB6854-D4D7-4824-8AE3-8E2098C6740F (resized).jpeg
Shows some slight moisture issues from the outside.
Things I am looking for from the outside looking in.
Fuzziness on the MDF
5F58FE54-ABC8-46EE-8D79-F089B751296F (resized).jpeg
Cabinet bolts are another good indicator
Usually if rusty there is a good chance the game will have more rust and corrosion than average but none of that is a real concern just something I look for and think about as I evaluate.
image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgCP is set up. 5380A8BF-E6AB-49A7-B1B9-60315A193C4F (resized).jpeg
I was already made aware the backglass was missing.
Playfield looks decent for one of these8D6B7258-7337-459B-ABA5-D2C0AF017F3D (resized).jpeg
Has the typical and honestly almost expect ghosting on some inserts.
CP is almost as famous for that as CV. 0D0804D9-54D5-4C02-88DD-0A81169EA6E8 (resized).jpeg39218E43-EA6F-4247-A466-E1B8FA3837DD (resized).jpeg
Eggshell got the backglass is present so that is good.
image (resized).jpg
Opening it up
image (resized).jpg
Inside isn’t as bad as I would expect based on the bolts outside. image (resized).jpg
Some white chalked corrosion but not rust.
image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgWith CP using metal rails on the playfield not wood there will need to be a bit of extra plating done but overall it is a good solid platform.
image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgQuoted from High_End_Pins:Has the typical and honestly almost expect ghosting on some inserts.
CP is almost as famous for that as CV.
It's so true! C.P ruined my theory that you don't get ghosting on smaller and round inserts. I still wonder why certain games like C.V and C.P are almost guaranteed to have ghosting. I've always been curious to see how you fix ghosted inserts when you don't have a new playfield, although I assume you have a new one for C.P
Quoted from High_End_Pins:Pulled the back plate of the BK when unloading.came off in my hand
Quality construction
You need to stop lifting weights!
Quoted from meSz:You need to stop lifting weights!
Heaviest thing I will lift tonight.
729561E4-0286-47B3-BD0F-7E6A4D2D6C19 (resized).jpegQuoted from High_End_Pins:Heaviest thing I will lift tonight.[quoted image]
I really like the Brewmaster!
Quoted from High_End_Pins:New projects.
[quoted image]
Pulled the back plate of the BK when unloading.came off in my hand
Quality construction
[quoted image][quoted image]
I have the feeling that chris was listening to this while unloading the games
Quoted from j_m_:I have the feeling that chris was listening to this while unloading the games
No. Definitely not. Would rather drink a bud lite eat a meatball sub from a gas station or hear a baby cry at 3am.
Time to finish up the Fathom SS.
Playfield is ready to build.
image (resized).jpg
Mechs are all done. That’s a job!
image (resized).jpg
All the switches are on plugs. image (resized).jpg
The harness is free clean and on plugs. image (resized).jpg
The metal to reuse is ready to come out of the tumbler.
image (resized).jpgBaby gifts. BF06DE37-6259-436E-AB47-7733C42FF965 (resized).jpeg
Started tearing down the wood rail. DA84831A-4D3B-4A92-A1A4-487073F46F75 (resized).jpeg
Fresh fish shipment means fire up the grill
2419883E-7B30-42DC-BBFB-18C516380397 (resized).jpeg
Veggies first. 2EF4B879-26D4-4F08-925A-ACE7B89A7876 (resized).jpeg
Then tuna steaks
F64D4F6C-99CF-45EE-B071-121E477522D5 (resized).jpeg
Plus grilling beer.
4C62AC59-885B-4927-9586-6E9F56B9F8A3 (resized).jpegGot a whole 18 pound king in.
Since I had the tuna and the grill already going I just threw the smaller pieces from the filleting on the grille since they really aren’t worth vacuuming and freezing.
0CAA4F97-6C90-494A-BC61-3448BD07F829 (resized).jpeg
They are a little more delicate on the grill so OI just canopy them with a pan
BD6EC760-C0E6-4CF0-A7AD-788B20FEFCA1 (resized).jpeg
The tuna was seared medium ,vegetables got tender with a little char here and there so they have the grilled flavor.
Everything turned out great for a nice late lunch or early dinner.
2C8C9C49-60AF-4399-9594-508D7E7DFAF3 (resized).jpegAAE7DA2D-E510-40A2-A942-ECF7A6670BE4 (resized).jpeg1F014D49-EA07-454B-9EEA-0E1C02C311E7 (resized).jpegQuoted from High_End_Pins:No. Definitely not. Would rather hear a baby cry at 3am.
Your son just had a baby. Wouldn’t hold your breath on that one hahah
Quoted from Langless28:Your son just had a baby. Wouldn’t hold your breath on that one hahah
That happened last night it was the only thing on that list I have no control over 
Making good progress on finishing up the Fathom SS
It came in missing the proper one way gate what was there was really incorrect I think it was off a Gottlieb8BDAF535-D2F5-4115-B6DD-2858462D911E (resized).jpeg
I looked through my parts and found a good replacement.
It is has a tensioner and fits the footprint well. Little things like this can seem easy enough and sometimes they are other times you just have to have the exact part.
5AA78B61-83C5-4AE4-83D2-DE2B7DEBE762 (resized).jpeg6F79B1D0-102F-4665-A659-4A10D4F3A9D5 (resized).jpegWith the topside pretty much done I go ahead and just test fit and make adjustments to the plastics. I will remove them but on this era game it is really important to make sure none of the plastics overhang the sides or back. If so much easier to adjust now than in the cabinet.
CBE861D5-749F-487B-AC81-DA29E0DB839A (resized).jpeg64899F23-75D8-40AF-A8C7-44D34632C79D (resized).jpegA010C362-0E69-4699-98C3-85F37364FA72 (resized).jpeg74A5A2E3-085C-4812-8770-0186B8BB932E (resized).jpegAC8BE87B-5CD7-4D49-88D4-E39CA9573021 (resized).jpeg
Quoted from Elicash:do you just belt sand the plastics if they overhang?
I see if I can make adjustments first. That could be drilling a new hole in the rails they attach to or slotting a hole in the plastic.
If none of those will do it then I will shave it down if needed.
Ready to start the underside. D156D2D4-90A4-4663-A344-F4729303E0C8 (resized).jpeg
7AC0B8B4-F588-47BC-BD53-69300F76FC4A (resized).jpeg
On Fathom specifically the lamp sockets that run under or right next to the flippers need to remain the same style for the best fit.
There are three locations for those.
Here is an example of the right fit from the original. 79524DFC-FEDF-41DA-93BA-802AA80B04DB (resized).jpeg
79ABB43C-AA2A-4004-BFFB-4D22A9BEE6AF (resized).jpeg
Those three are placed. Everything else will be new 44 sockets. Hate to mix and match but it is necessary. 02255941-24D4-4CE1-99E2-95AE14C81854 (resized).jpeg2D2C402F-7BCD-4C74-8E75-CE5C4813B271 (resized).jpeg
The reason it requires the original style socket in those locations instead of a staple down 44 is because a staple down 44 will let the bulb stick up through the playfield too high and hit the plastic in lanes on the lowers. Could be used on the upper flipper location though.
In addition to completing the Fathom this week coming up I also need to start staging up the next projects and make some room in the prep area for the wood rail.
That means getting these cabinets prepped primed and painted.
B0345D38-2221-42AA-94A4-766B3030BD8D (resized).jpeg
The first one will be Harlem Globetrotters. This is the last HG I have here for now.
When I have these built I request the playfield runners Be left off because I like to place them myself.
39E9E1C6-A4C6-44F3-BF40-5493CE421D19 (resized).jpeg
Using a spare HG cabinet as a guide 96A77A9E-A11D-40D5-AF81-122305173F28 (resized).jpeg
209041AE-64D1-472C-B30F-596785168CEF (resized).jpeg
I like to set these 1/8 to 3/16 lower than the factory for a couple reasons.
First the priming and painting can add a 1/16
Second the replacement playfields And plastics can be a little thicker
That adjustment makes these potentials no concern.
Located and placed. Now masking
917B0FA6-CC6E-48BF-BF8C-D3868C96DAEB (resized).jpeg
EFBCEE2F-4A26-4020-BCA3-A4BC5716EB79 (resized).jpeg
Quoted from High_End_Pins:I like to set these 1/8 to 3/16 lower than the factory for a couple reasons.
First the priming and painting can add a 1/16
Second the replacement playfields And plastics can be a little thicker
Just one more reason why you're the G.O.A.T.
Quoted from High_End_Pins:The idea of being able to get beer out of a baby bottle is intriguing
You could try the method my little guy used at two weeks old. It says milk right on the bottle!
IMG_0922 (resized).JPG
Quoted from yancy:You could try the method my little guy used at two weeks old. It says milk right on the bottle!
[quoted image]
Man, those FINGERS! That's a predestined pianist.
Quoted from yancy:You could try the method my little guy used at two weeks old. It says milk right on the bottle!
[quoted image]
The reserve no less!
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