Completed on 05/09/2020

Restoration Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PKPTgfgCzVQE7CAc8
Reference Pictures Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YqD2j2eZacimqy3g9

Special thanks to the following folks... even if I didn't work with you directly, you have been a vital part of this effort either as reference or inspiration.
CaptainNeo
Robertstone0407
Davi
baloo70
KornFreak28
AaronZOOM
sc93cobra
flashinstinct
CPR
merfeldma
kruzman
Bryan_Kelly
High_End_Pins
cosmokramer
eyeamred2u

... and thanks all of the on-line vendors out there that keep stock or custom make parts for these old toys!

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09/15/2019 - Day 1

In the thick of it now! Still finishing up my RFM resto... I’ve got good momentum so I want to get this cabinet done! I recently got my playfield back from CaptainNeo and it’s going to have plenty of time to harden. Robertstone0407 has done all of the powder coating for this machine, the coin door is done so that is the preview of the finish. My plan is to get this out of the garage in 3 weeks and setup the inside shop for all of the other rework. I don’t think I’ll get to stuffing the top of playfield until December. This is my favorite game ... it will be with me until I’m pushing up daisies...for this reason, this will be a 100% no stone unturned restoration... so there is plenty to do until I start putting screws to the top of the playfield.

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Some quick before shots of the faded rubble

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Cooked off well over an hour tearing down the head ... Wow I am humbled by the amount of hardware in this machine .... thinking of all the people who’s job it was to put this monster together ... all of the different stations along the way. What a machine! I tore down the playfield last October ... I kind of expected that to be a lot of work... and it was but it’s a playfield so yeah right it was. There is something about the cabinet though ... all the anchors, strapping, mounting plates, reinforcements and hinges. It’s awesome!

Everything is accounted for, bagged and sorted... but I’m thinking I’m going to have one last “shit from the bottom of the cabinet” bag tho
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Started diggin’ in. I pulled the speaker plate and power box plate off. I’m going to remove the transformer shelf too. I want to get the base really clean.

Been thinking about the speaker...
I’ve a pinball Pro... I’m thinking of making the speaker plate non standard ... to fit an 8” woofer. I mean does anyone use the stock speaker ?

The little voice in my head said keep it stock dummy!

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220 grit ain’t cuttin’ it! Gruuuuubbby

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120 making a dent. I seriously considered cutting an entirely new cab... (or getting one from one of the folks around that make them). Maybe would have been worth it ... this is one filthy critter. I thought my RFM was dirty ... but considering this is 27 years old and has been who knows where I guess it’s not so bad.

In the end ... having it restored and original “mostly” will be great.
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Oh and I feckin’ HATED tearing that transformer shelf out! But ... it had to be done! No way to get this 100% clean otherwise.

Woodworking tonight !

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While that nice new transformer shelf looks great... its NOT! Dumb a$$ here cut it in reverse... the side not showing is the top surface and if you flip it over... its got a big ol' knot on it and a nasty scuff mark! So I guess I'll be cutting another! Measure twice... cut once, repeat! I think it is important to document your mistakes along with the "pretty" things.

Much better !!! Dry fit perfectly!!!

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Another pass of the innards... there are a couple of solder flux spots on the floor panel from a previous owner/service ... ... may not come all the way out.

Got the side art scraped off... melting side art ... hmmm I’m reminded of melted faces ...

I’ll get behind the legs when I put it up on its side to strip the adhesive.

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Thanks ... In fact I do!!!! LOL!!! I do wear respirator (most of the time) ... but yeah stanky!!!

Years ago when I used to restore vids... I used to be a huge patron of Bob Roberts... it was awesome ... and this security bit set remains a very important part of my set of useful things.

Used it for security but to remove the translite lock.

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Thank you! I’ve such a long way to go ... but if I can get back into the house ... before it gets cold ... I’m good to go! Hopefully get through stripping this weekend.

I’ve still got RFM lingering so I’m doing two at once.

Got the method down pat with the heat gun and knife ... simply chase the gun with the knife in a nice controlled manner ... comes off like butta’. If it weren’t for the smell I could do this all day!

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Didn’t realize I was wearing my Indy shirt! Nice try Lao Che !!!!

First pass sanding done !!! Still some adhesive residue left... I’ll get that with the the 120 then finish up with the 220.

Super pleased at the overall condition of this cabinet. Very little bondo and gluing needed !!! The bottom was a bit wonky... almost like it had been exposed to moisture... the surface was raised and flaky. It’s polished nicely now (sorta) !
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I did a similar method on my RFM... I didn’t go to 800 tho. It came out like a Steinway piano

Yup I do! You know they changed the friggin label on it and it’s not easy to tell the difference between it and the latex version.

I had one guy that passed me by say... "Too much to drink Doctor Jones?" , I cracked up! Love it.

Things you do when you are up at 5:30 in the morning...

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PinSound Shaker on its way !!!

Perfect timing as I can get it properly fitted prior to finishing the cabinet!

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More filth and fixes today.

The cash box divider is that laminated cabinet material they use for screening directly onto the cabinet. Welp it doesn’t hold glue very well. The blocking wasn’t holding it and it was flopping in place. I popped the blocking, took the heat gun and sander to the divider and cleaned it to bare wood. I’ll put new blocking in before I paint.

I also made a total rookie move on something ... I was in a hurry and created some extra work for myself. I’ll post pics when I’ve repaired it and I’m done kicking myself in the a$$. ... actually you can see a bit of it in one of the pics of this post

Also can I say my favorite tools is my gyroscopic electric screwdriver!!! It’s the shit for this kind of work.
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Taking some good advice...

I am amazed at the how well the overall build of the machine is ... the corners are razor sharp! I’m dealing with shrinkage here.

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You push the button and turn it clockwise or counter-clockwise and it kicks in the drive. Works at any angle. It can be setup for “gun” or straight mode with a twist of the body.

Inside ... Done.
Underside ... Done.

Next is to finish the exterior and bottom edge.

I’ll be glad to get out of this “investment” phase.
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Using the contrast of the sunlight is a great way to see if you’ve gotten all the goo up ... and if you have any imperfections to deal with.

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Here is my royal F*** UP!

I “thought” I broke all the glue away ...
instead of just trying to give the cleat some encouragement ... I whacked it with the hammer...

Welp that delaminated it just slightly

This was a dumb assed amateur move ...
It’s fixed but what a shame.

FWIW...this back panel is a bit “voidy” anyway...which contributed to the level of failure.

Still... dumb
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Gonna have to rethink my next step.

The base of this cabinet has bugged me from day one. It had that raised fluffy/crusty feel to it. I thought I could sand it down... but the structure of it is weakened ... there was humidity / moisture here at one point. The rest of the cab is fine. I can sand this till I’m blue (brown) in the face and it just keeps crumbling.

So I don’t know.. I’m contemplating surgical replacement. Not sure what choice I have... all this work... I’m not just going to live with it.

Done for the day... gonna sleep on it tonight. I think I already know what I’m gonna do... I’m just not crazy about it.
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Ok so it’s been eating me up ... decided to give it a go... I’m feeling better about it.

It’s gonna work out just fine. I’ll make a new bottom using the old one as a template. I’ll reinstall it... glue and clamp with epoxy. I’m going to dye the epoxy a slight tan color (probably ... yeah... likely unnecessary) so it will blend nicely once it’s sanded.

Annoying bump in the road... I was so excited because the cabinet itself wasn’t banged up at all. Not what I wanted to have to do ... but its the right thing to do.
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Cabinet base removal a success. I don’t like looking at it...but it’s going to be just fine when it is repaired.

Since the bottom is out, I can replace the coin box divider and the transformer shelf with proper rabetted panels. All of it will be new on the inside bottom, shelf, blocking, divider and base... done. A while ago I drew up some plans as I was going to re-cut a new cabinet (probably shoulda done that now)... but whatever. I checked what I had drafted for the base of the cabinet against the real thing... they are 100% accurate.

Next steps...

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I like this idea... I'm thinking about keeping it natural... I like the factory look. Not masking stuff has its appeal!

Got the MDF today... 13 sheets into the stack to find one that wasn’t all f***ed up!!!! Typical Home Cheap-o

Had it ripped at the store ... guy pulled it through the saw all bent and crooked !!! Good thing it’s 49” wide.
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New base ... DONE!

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