I bought my first pin 6 months ago and my 2nd one (Mousin Around) a couple months ago. I placed an ad in craigslist in "wanted" for purchase of non-working pinball machines, a lady called and said she had a MA sitting outside under a tarp and would like to see me come get it before it got ruined. I was able to get it for $100.00, Her husband got it out of a home he was hired to clean out for a reality company and they had no room in their house for it. It was missing the playfield lockdown bar and the back box glass, the bottom of cab had gotten wet too. Other than that, the machine is in really good shape considering where I rescued it from. I disassembled it to replace the cab bottom with new plywood, bought lockdown bar, backbox glass, new translite, flippers, complete rubber kit, balls, relocated battery holder and a few other little things I've lost track of, I cleaned it up and put everything back together to try out my new machine.
I was really surprised with how well it played and how much fun of a machine it was. I done a 90% LED upgrade sense then (kinda too bright I think) but looks really cool! ....I have now disassembled again to put new cab decals on it I was able to find. I have been told my new decals are crap but they weren't cheap so I am gonna go ahead and put then on anyway. Any tips would be appreciated as this is my first pin restoration.

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Opps! Every since I downgraded to Windows 10, I seem to keep having problems with uploading pics. I'll try to re-upload again.

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From an Ebayer in Hungary

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I typed "mousin around pinball" in the search bar on ebay. that's how I got them. The ebayer doesn't have any listed right now but I do know from reviewing his ebay feedback score that he has sold different game decal sets before.

I'm not really getting into any big hurry on this but am making progress. right now I am gluing the veneer on the side cab that had started slightly lifting and doing some patch work on the front of the cab.

Does anyone know if reproduction manufacture labels are available? I blew the corner off the inside label with my air compressor (opps) and would like to replace the one on back of cabinet.

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Instead of using just filler to fill the holes in the front, I drove wood dowel pins in first. it had two different size holes.

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It looks like something was mounted here at one time, is there something missing? As far as I know everything seemed to work just fine on it, other than the flippers all of a sudden being very weak the last time I played it (that's when I decided it was a good time to start the restore)

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Thanks for checking, no telling what is was

I want to completely restore the back of cabinet too but don't see how without damaging the manufacture label/sticker. Is there somebody who reproduces these? ......I started checking out you guys pin collections. Awesome! is all I got to say about that!

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I don't know why I didn't think of that, but I did just try doing that and it didn't want to cooperate with me. I can tell I will damage it if I do that. Thanks for the reply. Someone pm'd me about someone who might be able to hook me up. Thanks Freddy

FYI guys, I sent the ebayer I purchased the decals from a pm about the availability of his decals. he sent me a message back with a list of several different pin decals he claims to have, and said he relisted on Ebay....However, it's not the same user name and has zero transactions on Ebay. Please do not hold me responsible for any purchases you make with these new listed MA decals. I don't know why he would list them as a new Ebayer unless he contacted his "hook-up" and told him someone was asking about them. Just seems strange to me, just sayin. .......and from somewhere other than Hungary.....

I hear ya, Something just seems fishing about it......All I know is I paid for them and got them three weeks later as described. I don't like the fact that it's the same guy I got them from and him using a different ebay account. Don't understand why someone with 100% positive feedback would relist an item someone was asking about under another name? .....by the way woody, if it's any of my business, have you received the decals yet?

Progress today

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Got um, Thanks to a couple other Pinsiders,
Get them here: www.inkochnito.nl

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Coming right along with no major goofs so far......

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Thanks pinhead

They were plenty long enough.
I watched a video on youtube (more than once) of a guy doing a decal/cab restro on a Indiana Jones and I done it like he did, or I wouldn't have known to paint the edges and cut them short.

Here is something I took upon myself to try.....I left the front decal long at the top front of cab and folded it over and taped it down so it would stay while I bolted the lockbar latch back on to securely hold the decal in place. I figured I don't have to worry about it peeling off from there taking off and on the lock down bar? .......it is saying, Pinside is very busy right now and it "failed to upload file". I will try later

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Thanks Blackbeard. turned out better than I thought it would. I wasn't planning on replacing the side rails but have changed my mind. Problem is, I can't find 51-1/2" side rails, I can find 47" rails. the top of these rails measures 47" but the side measures 51-1/2........the 47" rails describes them as being measured end to end. I almost ordered the 47" but think I might be ordering the wrong rails. I would appreciate if anyone can help. ...I don't see a part or part number in the MA manual.

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My bad, .....I see now that Pinballife has them......I swear, I looked earlier and couldn't find them....

Thanks Nate, But that's a little over my head there lol, ....I have seen a couple of cool Taxi restorations somewhere on the web. just wondering if it may of been one of yours?

Thanks evandickson

PM Peter, He is a Pinsider on here, His Pinside user name is: inkochnito, He can hook you up and all he ask for is a donation to help keep his website up and running. ....I just sent him a pic of my old labels and he sent them to me just like you see them. I was glad to send him a donation, wish there were more people like him around.

Thank you, Yes, those are the ones I will be using.

Isn't this supposed to be fun? Not sure what I got myself into here......Now time to start the back box.

Thanks dmacy and nate, It's nice having a place to come and having folks willing to help out with answers and advice. It's amazing some of these guys restorations they do. it's really not fair for me to call what I'm doing a restoration....it's more like lipstick and rouge......

Can anyone tell me what label/sticker was on the top right hand side of the back box? it's 2"x4" but I can't make out what it was or the decal # on it

Sorry, I should have made myself more clear. I found a pic of another members pin he recently purchased (brraaapperdoodle). I was referring to the outside top right. I can expand the photo but all I can make out is the word "CAUTION", That about all I could make out on the label on mine too.

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Whoa! I don't know how I missed this 4 day old message....must not have been going to page two? Pm sent, and thank you Bryan_Kelly!

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Yes, orbital. $27.00 from Harbor Freight

Coming along fairly well. Almost ready for the backbox decals. I have officially ACCEPTED my work, lol, I used a paint brush to paint the inside of the box. turned out better than I thought it would.....I still need to find a Warning decal for the back of box, I guess it will stay plain black until I do.

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Not sure what screen print is but I will look into that, thanks blackbeard. After spraying the edges I am not liking what I am seeing. I will be taking it back down to the wood and hitting it with some filler. .....This is a learning experience for me

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I'm definitely open for suggestions!

I feel kinda silly now after doing a YouTube search on pinball screen printing. I wasn't kidding when I said I was an amateur at this.
I am assuming that is the same Bryan Kelly doing the video on the warning screen print on the back of that blue head? I now have some contact info I found at the end of the video. You guys are great! Thanks, Jon

I got a little carried away with cutting back the decal, I wanted to make sure I cut plenty but didn't mean to that much.

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I won't make that mistake on the other side

The t-molding was off. I just put it on hoping it would help the appearance of me cutting too much off. I need to back off on it, I tend to catch myself getting in a rush after I have been working on it for long periods

I also got my new side rails and Stern cab protectors on. I added orange flipper buttons and believe I will go ahead and put the black plastic cab protectors on too (since they don't touch the cab) and get me some orange powder coated legs. The decals have enough orange on them that I don't think it will look to bad at all, plus I am trying to go with another look not like others I have seen.
.....orange T-molding might not look to bad either

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I know! It may be something I regret after I see what it looks like. I had a hard time trying to decide between black legs with orange protectors or orange legs with black protectors.....Again, the plastic protectors do not touch the cab with the metal Stern protectors on now, so I'm not worried about that and I kinda like the looks of the larger plastic protectors under the legs. I thought about red or blue, but, the colors of both look way off from the colors of red and blue on the decals....so does the orange actually, but like I said, I'm going for something different. I have a new set of the cheap Pinballife chrome legs, but can't bring myself to use them on my first pinball restoration.

When I first got the MA, the first thing I done was replace the plywood in the bottom of the cabinet. I removed the playfield to do this. When I went to put the playfield back in the cab it didn't want to cooperate very well for some reason and I could tell I was starting to loose my grip so I pulled it back out to regroup. when I did, I bumped one of the blue plastic mouse traps against the cab and slightly cracked it. I glued it back together and got the playfield back in with no issues with the trap, it worked just fine. I have since pulled the playfield back out obviously and have been trying to find a new trap, but no luck. I contacted PBR awhile back about one but they didn't have it. He told me he might have one for a Data East Secret Service, that they were the same accept they were black instead of blue. He checked and didn't have it either. Anyway, I found a Data East "ball eater" on ebay last night and went ahead and purchased it being at such a reasonable price. It looks slightly different but may still work. has anyone ever heard of someone using this in a MA?

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I'll let you know when I get it.

After looking over the blue trap real close, I think if I put all the hardware, coils, switches etc. from the blue trap on the black one it will work. I'm pretty sure Steve Young at PBR knows what he is talking about. we'll see
......you can see where I Gorilla glued it. It's actually really solid

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If it is as easy as bryan_kelly makes it look in the YouTube video he and merfeldma made on silk screening the backbox, then I'm not so much worried about the work involved. it's more about the amount of money I just spent for the screen and squeegee to get it done (not including the ink I will have to buy unless merfeldma got my pm asking him to send just enough to do one print if he had it to spare) I was finally able to get with merfeldma today and purchase one of his system 11 screens. now other things to piddle with until it arrives.

Not a bad idea.... if it doesn't get bumped or hit again it may not ever break. just curious as to how all these others that's needing brackets got broke or cracked?

I received it today, Thank you very much Bryan! A saw your Indiana Jones Restoration thread a couple days ago and have done a 180 on the way I've been going about it on mine since seeing it. I just THOUGHT I was doing a cab restoration. I've started taking my time and not get in so much of a rush. I just hope printing the warning label on back is as easy as you make it look. Because I haven't received the screen yet, I don't have an excuse not to make sure I have it prepped to the best of my ability. Thanks Again, Jon

..............I'll be sure and take it in out of the rain before I paint it! lol

Yes, it will work.....Both made by same manufacture and have same part number

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Orange legs? .....Yes or no?

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I bought new red T-molding for the head several weeks ago, but, I'm thinking orange molding will go good with the legs?

I was worried about how much difference in the color of red on the legs would be compared to the color of red on the decals.....remember, my red is washed out.
I would like to see yours if you don't mind sharing.
to be honest, I'm not real wild about how the orange legs look on it

Sorry indypinhead, I remember you posted a pic of yours on mousin around club thread. yes, that's a nice ma

I was going for a different look other than the ones I have seen too. If I was going with yellow, I might as well go back with the original chrome. I kinda wish I went with the orange protectors with black legs now. But, one thing for curtain, I haven't seen another MA with orange legs.....not sayin that's there's not

OK! After about 14 Bud Lights and a can of Rust-Oleum gloss black on a couple leg bolts, I'm starting to like what I'm seeing.....Is it just me, or does the black bolts look better?

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I saw your led leg mod thread with the clear protectors awhile back and thought that was pretty cool. I was just looking for that thread but can't find it.

Today is another day and I am not happy with how the orange legs look! ......I gotta try the black now.....spray paint one of the originals and go from there.......???

I'm thinking orange cab protectors, black legs, orange bolts?

I got my warning label silk screen in today, all I need now is some yellow ink. Heres a before and I'll do an after when I find out where to get some ink....hopefully here locally somewhere.

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What do you mean?

A perfect example of one of those videos can be seen here along with where and who to get the screen and squeegee from.

Pinside thread: FS: Williams System 11 backbox Warning silk screen

Found it, that's neat! Be cool to find some transparent color protectors.

Haven't got the ink yet.

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So is your thread on the hunt for a MA. I've been following it too. I just don't think there are that many left out there and the ones that are (nice ones that is) people would rather just hang on to it rather than give it away.....from what I can tell, it is a very underrated machine.
I can see why too. There just wasn't that many made and probably not that many left around. you can't rate something you have never seen or played. I might be talking out of a hole in the side of my neck, but I see a nice MA as a collectors machine. .....But what do I know? I'm new to the pinball world.

After watching the process video on doing this, YOU CAN'T GO WRONG! A total of 17 minutes from the time I unpackaged the ink, mixed it, applied it and cleaned the screen up. Done deal.

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Not a pf restore but a half-ass shop job. all the ramps and stuff removed and cleaned, all new leds except for the #89 flasher bulbs, several misc. pf parts replaced. I have had pretty much all the nuts, bolts, screws off at one point and didn't have any problems with any of them. From what I can tell, none of them ever had any lock-tite used on them like indypinhead was saying some did.

Woody76, did you ever get your decal set in?

Mine cleaned up so well you can't even tell it's ever been used, no sign of yellow ink on it anywhere. I took your advise and cleaned it up immediately after using it.

LOL

I purchased a new ma pf protector from Marco a couple months ago myself but haven't put it on yet. I am not happy enough with the pf to put it on yet. wonder if it's the one you designed?

Be nice if I could find just a coin door decal. hint-hint, ......I got in too big of rush on prepping my cab and missed a spot that shows through on the decal. it's hidden under the lockdown bar but still bugs me knowing it's there.

Is a pf protector and a pf mylar the same thing?

Ok thanks, I've been calling the mylar I purchased a protector.

This may be old news to some but I just ran across a fairly resent thread on KLOV of someone who's making MA cab decals. appears he's from Crystal Lake, Illinois. To me they look like copies of the ones I got.....I say that because of the yellow star layout over the start button on front decal.

Can you make me this? .....8" height by whatever width looks uniform with height. I want to put it on the void spot on backbox above the warning label

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PM sent

Yes there is, but I feel kinda foolish now after seeing some of these other "real" restorations here on pinside. I have learned so much here in the last month or so......I've down shifted a couple gears and going about it a lil different. I will be posting updates, but got some hiccups I'm not happy with and redoing. won't be factory original, but will be original

Edit: "Original" may not be the word I'm looking for....someone help me out here

After about three months I finally took the MA off the back burner and had some stuff powder coated.
I could really use some coin door parts that accidently got ruined by the powder coating guy....Can someone help me out with finding these parts? I am having trouble finding them (except the flap). Thanks, Jon

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I decided to go with this decal instead.....By the way, Pinsider "jbyum" made both decals. Thanks jbyrum, I think the size is much better than the larger one I just thought I wanted.

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Well, I'm back at it again.
I got really frustrated a few months back when I took several cabinet parts to have powder coated and a couple parts got ruined in the oven in the process.
I gave up on finding a replacement coin door bezel that got ruined and ended up buying a after market coin door, only to find out it had plastic coin bezels after getting it. I had my mind set on coating the bezels orange and the door black but that wasn't going to happen with powder coating plastic, so I just gathered everything up and stuck it all in a corner were it has sat for the last 5 months or so.
last weekend I pulled it out and took the coin door that I bought apart and sent it off to get coated opposite of what my plans were......This is what I ended up with.
The project go's on

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