(Topic ID: 36470)
Linked Games
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Bally, 1992
Topic Gallery
Harrison, TN
I got it all figured it out on my own, but in case anyone else needs help with this mod in the future, here's what I did:
The original backboard is glued and stapled at the top, and I was able to remove it (without damaging it) by simply holding the board at the bottom on both sides and carefully wiggling it back forth. Once the original board was out, I removed the staples that were left hanging down so they wouldn't be in the way of the all-plexi replacement.
To mount the new backboard inside the cabinet, I'm currently using cardboard shims on the sides to hold it in place, but will replace those with velcro strips when I pick some up.
To power the 12v LED strip, I soldered wires to the coin door board in section J4 (pin 1 for ground, pin 4 for 12v as is printed on the board).
The LED strip that came with the mod proved to be too bright and long, so I replaced it with a smaller strip of 6 LEDs that I centered around the sun in the backboard's image. The brightness level is just right, and it with the strip mounted near the top of the backbox, it does a good job at giving the effect of a sunset.
These pictures don't quite do it justice, as with the flash off (pic #1), it looks like the LEDs are washing out the image. In-person, it looks far better, with nothing being washed out or even spotty-looking. (Using the LED strip holder that came with the mod, my smaller LED strip sits off the backbox enough that the LEDs don't create any visual hotspot effects.)
Redisham
Looks sweet dude. Where did you get the mod?
I've just finished a full rebuild on a Creature and like the look of that.
I also want the tail light mod for the upper board at some point, but there doesn't seem to be anyone left selling them.
Cheers.
Quoted from Muppet_Man:Looks sweet dude. Where did you get the mod?
I've just finished a full rebuild on a Creature and like the look of that.
I also want the tail light mod for the upper board at some point, but there doesn't seem to be anyone left selling them.
Cheers.
There is
But you will need to find the thread as he may have a few spare from his latest run. They are great as I got one from him.
Quoted from Muppet_Man:Looks sweet dude. Where did you get the mod?I've just finished a full rebuild on a Creature and like the look of that.I also want the tail light mod for the upper board at some point, but there doesn't seem to be anyone left selling them.Cheers.
I have never seen one of these in person, so I'm not sure how it compares, but I put a cold cathode UV light above the panel which lights it up very nicely due to the fluorescent paint.
There's an Australian site that sells them, but I sure as hell can't remember which site that is.
If I recall correctly, the mod costs $200+. I bought mine from a friend who had picked it up for $50 as part of a package deal he recently made. He sold it to me for what he had paid. I really lucked out!
Quoted from Muppet_Man:Hi Alveolus. Do you have a photo? It's sounds interesting.
Cheers for the headsup on the other mod Shapeshifter. I found the post and have joined the queue.
I can try to take a picture of it tonight. Could save you $190 if yOU like it.
Quoted from Fatsquatch:There's an Australian site that sells them, but I sure as hell can't remember which site that is.
If I recall correctly, the mod costs $200+. I bought mine from a friend who had picked it up for $50 as part of a package deal he recently made. He sold it to me for what he had paid. I really lucked out!
You must be friends with Scott 
Steve
Quoted from Fatsquatch:There's an Australian site that sells them, but I sure as hell can't remember which site that is.
If I recall correctly, the mod costs $200+. I bought mine from a friend who had picked it up for $50 as part of a package deal he recently made. He sold it to me for what he had paid. I really lucked out!
here's a link to this mod on the site, and yes, it's $200
http://mrpinballa2.cart.net.au/details/2901603.html
I used a 12" cold cathode UV light. But that was before the proliferation of LED lighting options. Probably an LED strip light would work as well and be an easier install. I just ran wires into the backbox and took 12v from the driver board.
good luck,
Shawn
hey there Alveolus would you mind posting more pictures of the light tube, how you connected it and close ups of the board connection. I just got a creech and look forward to modding it. I know little about the circuit boards though. thanks in advance 
hey there Alveolus would you mind posting more pictures of the light tube, how you connected it and close ups of the board connection. I just got a creech and look forward to modding it. I know little about the circuit boards though. thanks in advance
OK. But I'm not proud of this amateurish work. It was something I did when I was just getting started. It worked fine so I never bothered to redo it with a more elegant approach.
Here are the CC lights: http://www.xoxide.com/cathode.html
Here is a shot from underneath.
Yes, 12v. But IIRC, the 18v test point was actually only about 14-16v. I have been running it for a couple years with no problems. Again, I would look at LED strip options before going with the cold cathode bulbs if I were doing it again.
something like this? http://www.amazon.com/Purple-LEDs-Light-LED-Inches/dp/B003VVTG9Q/ref=sr_1_cc_3
It's worth trying. I would make sure you try an UV strip. The decal colors are UV reactive which makes them really pop with the uv light. For that matter, you could probably place 2 different strips above the decal. Sounds like a fun experiment.
Good luck!
2 weeks later
Here are pictures of the 9 LED strip that I crudely installed in my CFTBL. I think it looks pretty good and adds a lot of light to the dark back of the playfield.
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