Now that I got your attention with that subject, I figured I would share my progress on my Baywatch restoration I am hoping to make it as "immaculate" as possible when I'm done. I use that word lightly of course, I am not a professional, just a hobbyist having some fun so be nice

The short version....I bought this Baywatch at auction (with no pics of the boards or under pf) for $2,000. I took a risk, but it paid off. The boards and playfield are in great shape. No battery acid or playfield defects, so I'm happy. The machine was sitting in the previous owner's garage for 10+ years so it had a fair amount of oxidation on it, but all in all was in good shape....except for the cabinet, there were several blemishes, gashes, etc.

I picked up the machine a few days after I got home from the hospital after my first baby was born in May and decided to drop it off at Pintech (@eddie) to go over the boards and clean up the inside a bit since I knew months of sleepless nights were ahead. After Eddie worked his magic, it was time for me to start the cabinet restoration. I "restored" the cabinet on my TSPP so figured I would give this a go, even though it would require more work than the TSPP did.

Here are a few shots of what it looked like when I picked it up.

eyJidWNrZXQiOiJid3BhcGVyY2xpcC1wcm9kdWN0aW9uIiwia2V5IjoiaXRlbV9pbWFnZXMvYXNzZXRzLzAzNC84MzIvMDc4L29yaWdpbm...1MDQ1NTYsImVkaXRzIjeyJidWNrZXQiOiJid3BhcGVyY2xpcC1wcm9kdWN0aW9uIiwia2V5IjoiaXRlbV9pbWFnZXMvYXNzZXRzLzAzNC84MzIvMDc3L29yaWdpbm...1MDQ1NTUsImVkaXRzIjeyJidWNrZXQiOiJid3BhcGVyY2xpcC1wcm9kdWN0aW9uIiwia2V5IjoiaXRlbV9pbWFnZXMvYXNzZXRzLzAzNC84MzIvMDcwL29yaWdpbm...xNTA0NTUxLCJlZGl0cyeyJidWNrZXQiOiJid3BhcGVyY2xpcC1wcm9kdWN0aW9uIiwia2V5IjoiaXRlbV9pbWFnZXMvYXNzZXRzLzAzNC84MzIvMDcxL29yaWdpbm...xNTA0NTUyLCJlZGl0cyeyJidWNrZXQiOiJid3BhcGVyY2xpcC1wcm9kdWN0aW9uIiwia2V5IjoiaXRlbV9pbWFnZXMvYXNzZXRzLzAzNC84MzIvMDcyL29yaWdpbm...1MDQ1NTMsImVkaXRzIjeyJidWNrZXQiOiJid3BhcGVyY2xpcC1wcm9kdWN0aW9uIiwia2V5IjoiaXRlbV9pbWFnZXMvYXNzZXRzLzAzNC84MzIvMDgwL29yaWdpbm...1MDQ1NTksImVkaXRzIj
eyJidWNrZXQiOiJid3BhcGVyY2xpcC1wcm9kdWN0aW9uIiwia2V5IjoiaXRlbV9pbWFnZXMvYXNzZXRzLzAzNC84MzIvMDY5L29yaWdpbm...xNTA0NTUxLCJlZGl0cyeyJidWNrZXQiOiJid3BhcGVyY2xpcC1wcm9kdWN0aW9uIiwia2V5IjoiaXRlbV9pbWFnZXMvYXNzZXRzLzAzNC84MzIvMDY3L29yaWdpbm...1MDQ1NTAsImVkaXRzIj
20220523_132525.jpg20220523_143323.jpgeyJidWNrZXQiOiJid3BhcGVyY2xpcC1wcm9kdWN0aW9uIiwia2V5IjoiaXRlbV9pbWFnZXMvYXNzZXRzLzAzNC84MzIvMDc0L29yaWdpbm...1MDQ1NTMsImVkaXRzIj

First things first, time to disassemble and start sanding! My buddies ByrneS and mbt came to give me a hand getting the playfield out and sanding. In fact, ByrneS helped me sand until 2am, so thanks again! Data East low key banger club!

I powder coated the legs, rails, wire ramps, hinges, etc., they did not come like this.

20220723_192158.jpg20220723_211956.jpg20220724_011256.jpg

There is a significant chunk missing from the back of the pin, probably too much for wood filler.
damage (resized).jpg20220723_230818.jpg

Afyer ByrneS and I finished sanding it was time to start gluing any loose wood. The damage in the back needed to be glued and clamped as well.

20220725_213203.jpg
After all that dried I started filling any noticeable imperfections with wood filler.

This damage will require fiberglass repair which is why I put the screws there.
20220726_100439.jpg20220726_103033.jpg

After letting the wood filler dry I sanded it down.
20220726_182701.jpg20220726_182713.jpg20220726_182633.jpg

Time to address the major damage on the back. I used Vid's fiberglass thread for guidance and am happy with the result.
20220726_193618.jpg20220726_193615.jpg20220726_201135.jpg20220727_090327.jpg

Here is after sanding the fiberglass down.
20220727_130200.jpg

Now time to prime!
20220727_131914.jpg20220727_135701.jpg20220727_162256.jpg20220727_164108.jpg

In between coats of primer / sanding I decided to take the new cabinet decals (from Retro Refurb) to get some color-matched paint. I first tried Benjamin Moore but they were unable to scan it so I went to Home Depot who had no issues at all. Here is the color code for this particular paint. I don't plan on painting everywhere, just the visible parts and around the trim of the machine.
20220727_180527.jpg

Now that the primer is dry I'm going to hit the cabinet with some sandpaper one more time, then start painting!

That's all I have for today, I will post more pictures as progress continues. I know this doesn't hold a candle to what a lot of people here could do, but I am happy with the progress so far!

20220726_122131.jpg

20220727_133635.jpg

20220727_173218.jpg

20220727_175341.jpg

20220727_214036.jpg

20220726_103131.jpg

20220726_103144.jpg

LOL

By the way, I know this is not immaculate, this thread is a play on words to the famous immaculate baywatch thread here on Pinside

For sure!

Painted it all
20220728_154819.jpgUntitled-1 (resized).jpg

I used spray for the primer but because I had about 10 cans of it in my garage from other projects. It worked great, I sanded between coats and after the final coat to get it nice and smooth. Once this blue paint dries I will probably sand it once more to smooth it out then start applying the decals.

I used a roller to apply the (light) coat of blue.

Sanding, priming and painting all cabinet bolts.
20220729_135744.jpg20220729_151330.jpg20220729_151434.jpg20220729_160222.jpg
Didn't take a pic of the final painted bolts.

Final sanding on cabinet and applying decals tonight!
20220730_102859.jpg20220730_104201.jpg

Decals applied! Getting everything else ready to complete. Waiting on fresh blades to come today to cut out remaining front buttons

20220731_144736.jpg20220731_134654.jpg20220731_134602.jpg
20220731_134642.jpg20220731_113203.jpg

Done!

20220801_223427.jpg

20220801_223437.jpg

20220801_223553.jpg

20220801_223605.jpg

20220801_223618.jpg

20220801_223657.jpg

20220801_223707.jpg

20220801_223909.jpg

20220801_223934.jpg

Thank you!

Lmaooo. Well done who's ocd is worse at this point, mine or yours? (rhetorical)

I've been asked by a couple people what the name of the powder coating color is, it's Prismatic Bullseye Red.