(Topic ID: 218168)

Official "HARDTOPS" thread

By Skypilot

5 years ago


Topic Heartbeat

Topic Stats

You

Linked Games

Topic poll

“If we produce a Hardtop for this game would yo purchase it?”

  • High Speed 174 votes
    13%
  • Firepower 128 votes
    10%
  • Silverball Mania 62 votes
    5%
  • Time Warp 30 votes
    2%
  • Mata Hari 55 votes
    4%
  • Blackout 94 votes
    7%
  • Tri-Zone 26 votes
    2%
  • Swords of Fury 74 votes
    6%
  • Space Station 79 votes
    6%
  • Fathom 70 votes
    5%
  • Pinbot 134 votes
    10%
  • Eight Ball Deluxe 124 votes
    9%
  • Strikes and Spares 56 votes
    4%
  • Kiss (Bally) 71 votes
    5%
  • Supersonic 51 votes
    4%
  • Grand Lizard 80 votes
    6%

(Multiple choice - 1308 votes by 788 Pinsiders)

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Topic index (key posts)

5 key posts have been marked in this topic (Show topic index)

There are 3,334 posts in this topic. You are on page 12 of 67.
#551 5 years ago

Wow is she hot. Lol

#552 5 years ago
Quoted from Deez:

I just received my Mata Hari. I'm not sure if this art is correct? My field is worn but it looks different.
[quoted image]

That's hilarious. Thanx for the chuckle.

#553 5 years ago
Quoted from Deez:

I just received my Mata Hari. I'm not sure if this art is correct? My field is worn but it looks different.
[quoted image]

Is that Whistler's Mother?
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#554 5 years ago

For those that followed my BK install with whole "need extra hole" issue. Come to find out for this machine we didnt need extra holes, we were dealing with a mod that the previous owners did at some point in time. Today the owner was rummaging through his coin box for the game and found the missing part that was replaced with the plastic. He is going to polish and remove the mod. lol.

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#555 5 years ago

I'm in the process of Hardtopping my Flash Gordon. I have sanded the playfield with and orbital sander with 220 down to bare wood and flat inserts. I have vacuumed the playfield and wiped it several times with Naptha and Prep Sem Solve. I have spayed the inserts with Rustoleum clear but I am still getting kind of a fish eye effect. Once dry I blocked sanded with 220 and repeated the process with the same results. Do the inserts need to be sanded with a rougher grit to stick evenly?

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#556 5 years ago

I recommend you switch to spraying with 2PAC, but I know that not everyone has the equipment to do that. I would first start by increasing your grit for your inserts. 500 to start, but raise it up to 1K at least for a smoother surface for the clear to attach and level smoother.

#557 5 years ago
Quoted from TheCapn:

I recommend you switch to spraying with 2PAC, but I know that not everyone has the equipment to do that. I would first start by increasing your grit for your inserts. 500 to start, but raise it up to 1K at least for a smoother surface for the clear to attach lay flatter.

There shouldn’t be any problems spraying 2PAC on top of Rustoleum clear right? Or should he stick it out with the 2X and still keep upping the grit?

#558 5 years ago

Results will be better with 2PAC, but the 2X will work for the end goal. Just up that grit to 500+. Weather is factor here too - if you are spraying and its cold in your garage - that clear isn't going to level and cure as its intended to do.

#559 5 years ago

Looks to me like wax/ oil /grease.
Should prep surface with a pre-kleno to remove grease/ wax / finger oil.
After sanding prekleno will etch surface clean and prep for paint.

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#560 5 years ago
Quoted from freddy:

Looks to me like wax/ oil /grease.
Should prep surface with a pre-kleno to remove grease/ wax / finger oil.
After sanding prekleno will etch surface clean and prep for paint.
[quoted image]

I agree it looks like some sort of oil, but I have prepped. The Prep SEM SOLVE is the same thing. Designed to remove silicones, wax, grease, oils. I have Naptha'd, SEM SOLVED, etc. And I gave special attention to the insert specific areas. I clear coated my Black Knight several months back, and sanded, used Naptha, SEM SOLVE, etc. and never had an issue.

#561 5 years ago

Are you giving the clear enough time to absolutely dry? I've had similiar issues when I'm trying to hurry up. 'Cause I want to see my hardtop!!!! I agree with scaling up the sanding grit. I go up to 1500. Doesn't take much.

#562 5 years ago

I spray the clear on and watch it start to "fish eye". Completely dry, it looks like the picture of the green insert below (this was sanded prior with 400 since it is the finest I currently have in house). I just never had this issue while using the Spraymax 2K when doing my BK. I think I'm going to pick up some 2pac tomorrow and a Harbor Fright gravity gun and give it a go. Either that or order another can of Spraymax 2K.

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#563 5 years ago

epeabs, Would you consider just polishing out the insert with a really fine grit paper and some buffing compound? You might get it looking pretty good w/o having to trouble yourself with 2PAC.

#564 5 years ago

I have to say I was looking for the easy way out by clearing. Because if I polish one I'm going to polish them all.

#565 5 years ago

You can save a little money by getting the cheap harbor freight air brush kit and using that to spray your 2PAC. I have the video starting where we did this and how we did it too.

#566 5 years ago
Quoted from epeabs:

I spray the clear on and watch it start to "fish eye". Completely dry, it looks like the picture of the green insert below (this was sanded prior with 400 since it is the finest I currently have in house). I just never had this issue while using the Spraymax 2K when doing my BK. I think I'm going to pick up some 2pac tomorrow and a Harbor Fright gravity gun and give it a go. Either that or order another can of Spraymax 2K.
[quoted image]

400 grit is very coarse
You should start with 1,000 - 1500- 2000 then polish compound then pre kleen then clear

It’s fish eyed because something is contaminating the insert ,wax , dirt , grease
Cut into it further

#567 5 years ago

@Skypilot
Possible to make a WH20 or MB hardtop?

#568 5 years ago
Quoted from epeabs:

I spray the clear on and watch it start to "fish eye". Completely dry, it looks like the picture of the green insert below (this was sanded prior with 400 since it is the finest I currently have in house). I just never had this issue while using the Spraymax 2K when doing my BK. I think I'm going to pick up some 2pac tomorrow and a Harbor Fright gravity gun and give it a go. Either that or order another can of Spraymax 2K.
[quoted image]

That picture clears things up: the cracks in the insert are what is holding whatever wax/chemical that is causing the fisheye. 2PAC will have the same issue. Since you are putting on a hardtop You need to either:

1) replace that insert and others like it
2) sand the insert until the fisheyed clearcoat is removed, then tape off the insert when you clear the rest of the playfield.

The big thing is you want the insert to look good thru the hardtop, as there is no glue for anything to adhere to on the hardtop. If you were repainting the full playfield without a hardtop then other methods would apply

#569 5 years ago

I wish I had replaced the inserts, but I have already epoxied all of them in place so they won't move. I will have to sand each one individually that has an issue and see what I end up with. I did just pick up some 2pac from a friend of mine who runs an auto body shop, but as said, if there is a contaminate, it won't matter what it is sprayed with.

#570 5 years ago

Production updates anyone?

#571 5 years ago

Received my Flash Gordon hardtop this afternoon. Was shipped promptly and properly packaged. It may be quite awhile until I put it on my playfield but it's nice to have in reserve!

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#572 5 years ago
Quoted from freddy:

400 grit is very coarse
You should start with 1,000 - 1500- 2000 then polish compound then pre kleen then clear
It’s fish eyed because something is contaminating the insert ,wax , dirt , grease
Cut into it further

I thought vids guide said not to do this so the clear has something to bite onto? Still hoping for High Speed soon

#573 5 years ago
Quoted from darcangeloel:

I thought vids guide said not to do this so the clear has something to bite onto? Still hoping for High Speed soon

All depends on what your trying to achieve
But 400 grit is very coarse

#574 5 years ago

I have sanded all the inserts out up to 2000 and buffed out with a Dremel and compound. I'm still not pleased with them. So I've just ordered inserts from pinball life. To do the ones that are clear which are the ones that are the issue.

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#575 5 years ago
Quoted from epeabs:

I have sanded all the inserts out up to 2000 and buffed out with a Dremel and compound. I'm still not pleased with them.

That looks like the normal Crazing that you always see.

You'll probably see the same thing in some of the replacement inserts too.

It does not show up until you put the clearcoat on them.

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#576 5 years ago
Quoted from TheCapn:

I just don't know why you would go through the effort of painting the ENTIRE pf black. Different? Yes. Effective? Yes. But at what cost? Extra time and effort into something that will NEVER be seen again after the install is done. I do the parameter of the inserts black for the possibility of an offset. If you do the entire pf for an offset - then you have little faith in your placement of the HT. lol. I'm curious to see how the inlanes and outlanes look with black instead of the original maple showing - be sure to show the after photos!

We decided it take about as much time to outline every insert in black as it would to mask the inserts and paint the whole thing black.

#577 5 years ago

Space Invaders anytime soon?

#578 5 years ago

Funhouse

#579 5 years ago

Man I wish I had a High Speed Hard Top Everything is ready to go at this point... except no hard top. My fault for jumping the gun I guess. Any idea how far off these might be Skypilot

#580 5 years ago

First hardtop install done. Great product, would definitely do another one!

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#581 5 years ago

EBD

#582 5 years ago

Stupid newb question, what does EBD mean?

Thanks

#583 5 years ago
Quoted from ChrisPINk25:

Stupid newb question, what does EBD mean?
Thanks

Eight Ball Deluxe!

#584 5 years ago

I think eight ball deluxe will be there best seller by far. Can't wait

#585 5 years ago

Was High Speed too fast?

#586 5 years ago

I just took the plunge and ordered one for my project Mata Hari. How long does it usually take Outside Edge to ship? Not that I'm in too much of a hurry...I still need to tear down the playfield topside and there are only so many project hours available on the weekends.

#587 5 years ago

Mine was shipped a couple days after I ordered it. Took about a week to get here. Good packaging.

#588 5 years ago

Shipping with these guys is a few days normally. High speed is apparently a bit longer.

12
#589 5 years ago

FG hard top restore complete. Looks amazing! Now to fix a bunch of board related issues...

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#590 5 years ago
Quoted from Spraynard:

FG hard top restore complete. Looks amazing! Now to fix a bunch of board related issues...
[quoted image]

Looks great. My FG is not far behind you. Have to install some new clear inserts, and then it should be time. Hoping by next weekend. All my flippers, slingshots and drop targets have been rebuilt and are waiting for installation after the hardtop.

#591 5 years ago
Quoted from Spraynard:

FG hard top restore complete. Looks amazing! Now to fix a bunch of board related issues...
[quoted image]

Quoted from epeabs:

Looks great. My FG is not far behind you. Have to install some new clear inserts, and then it should be time. Hoping by next weekend. All my flippers, slingshots and drop targets have been rebuilt and are waiting for installation after the hardtop.

Fantastic!!! Need to get of off my duff and work on my FG.....too many other distractions!

#592 5 years ago
Quoted from Spraynard:

FG hard top restore complete. Looks amazing! Now to fix a bunch of board related issues...
[quoted image]

If you need a CPU, I would highly recommend nvram.weebly's board (Andrew). Works great and is reasonably priced and shipped quick.

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#593 5 years ago

Funhouse

#594 5 years ago
Quoted from epeabs:

If you need a CPU, I would highly recommend nvram.weebly's board (Andrew). Works great and is reasonably priced and shipped quick.
[quoted image]

I second this...great product and nice price.

#595 5 years ago

Are you limited to Bally / Williams, or are classic Sterns possible? Nine-Ball ? Please!

#596 5 years ago

New version of the song "Pieces" by Saliva I call it "Let me get a high speed hardtop "

Look at me, my pinball perception must be off again
Cause this sanded playfield looks worse than I thought it did
It has not healed with time
It just shot down my spine You look so beautiful tonight
Remind me how you said the hardtop should be out before christmas
And gently smiled before I destroyed my playfield
Would you find it in your heart
To make this go away
And let me get a high speed hardtop
Would you find it in your heart?
To make this go away
And let me get a high speed hardtop
Would you find it in your heart?
To make this go away
And let me get a high speed hardtop
Look at me, my pinball perception must be off again
You got much closer than I thought you did
The hard top is in my reach
You've held it in your hands
But could you find it in your heart?
To make this go away
And let me get a high speed hardtop
Would you find it in your heart?
To make it go away
And let me get a high speed hardtop

#597 5 years ago
Quoted from Sheprd:

Are you limited to Bally / Williams, or are classic Sterns possible? Nine-Ball ? Please!

I second that request!

#598 5 years ago

As long as we're talking classic Sterns....my vote is for Flight 2000. Every one I've seen over the last several several years hasn't had anything close to a decent looking playfield. When I'm done with my Mata Hari, my next project will be a F2K if I can find one locally. And I'll bet the playfield will be trashed.

12
#599 5 years ago

Did the install tonight on the FG. No issues and came out great. Couple initial pictures.

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2 weeks later
#600 5 years ago

I just pulled the trigger on a BK Hardtop last night. I have 2 BK's one has mylar and is dull, other is badly planked. Plan to do the planked one. Big thanks to Cary Hardy for working through a BK great info!

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