(Topic ID: 231017)

Finding my Place in the Frontier Food Chain -- Bally Style

By TractorDoc

5 years ago


Topic Heartbeat

Topic Stats

  • 1,263 posts
  • 130 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 1 year ago by TractorDoc
  • Topic is favorited by 111 Pinsiders

You

Linked Games

Topic Gallery

View topic image gallery

GP__0416 (resized).JPG
IMG_9404 (resized).JPG
KIMG1509 (resized).JPG
KIMG1507 (resized).JPG
5J5A9945 (resized).JPG
5J5A9946 (resized).JPG
5J5A9943 (resized).JPG
5J5A9941 (resized).JPG
5J5A9938 (resized).JPG
5J5A9939 (resized).JPG
5J5A9940 (resized).JPG
5J5A9487 (resized).JPG
5J5A9483 (resized).JPG
5J5A9482 (resized).JPG
5J5A9484 (resized).JPG
5J5A2956 (resized).JPG

Topic index (key posts)

12 key posts have been marked in this topic, showing the first 10 items.

Display key post list sorted by: Post date | Keypost summary | User name

Post #13 Removing wire guides and pins Posted by TractorDoc (5 years ago)

Post #20 Refurbishing a coin door Posted by TractorDoc (5 years ago)

Post #53 Removing side rails Posted by TractorDoc (5 years ago)

Post #73 Wood rail removal Posted by TractorDoc (5 years ago)

Post #78 Mylar removal techniques Posted by TractorDoc (5 years ago)

Post #267 Start of Fathom Restoration Posted by TractorDoc (4 years ago)

Post #619 Start of Judge Dredd "Refurbishing" Posted by TractorDoc (4 years ago)

Post #714 Start of Taxi Mechanical Repairs Posted by TractorDoc (4 years ago)

Post #751 Start of Earthshaker Repair and Playfield Swap. Posted by TractorDoc (3 years ago)

Post #851 Start of Stargate Shop Job. Posted by TractorDoc (3 years ago)


Topic indices are generated from key posts and maintained by Pinside Editors. For more information, or to become an editor yourself read this post!

You're currently viewing posts by Pinsider FatPanda.
Click here to go back to viewing the entire thread.

#7 5 years ago

The game looks to be in fantastic condition overall. The PF will likely have cupped inserts, but doesn't look like there is much wear at all! Do the little bit of touch-up on it and have that thing cleared! Looking forward to seeing the progress on this.

1 week later
#27 5 years ago
Quoted from TractorDoc:

Thanks! I do appreciate the feedback.
Blasted/painted up a few more parts over lunch today. Even with all my "before" pictures I'm having a difficult time remembering where the wire on the left goes (pointed out by the screwdriver). It was in the pile of coin door parts. . . but I cannot even find it on another completely assembled coin door on another machine.
[quoted image]
To see how things are going to look I test fit some pieces together -- while it is not conventional I am not unhappy with the result.
[quoted image]
I will try to sneak the door wiring harness in the dishwasher this weekend, I should be able to reassemble everything else on the backside thereafter.

It might be the wire gate coming out of the beast lair (lower left side), where they put the rubber in the close it off.

#28 5 years ago

I can't find a good picture of it online, but I'll post one up for you when I get home.

#30 5 years ago

Here's the wire gate on my Beast's lair

20181214_161252 (resized).jpg20181214_161252 (resized).jpg
#36 5 years ago
Quoted from RoyGBev:

What is the purpose of that horizontal wire gate installed over the left drain? I've owned three Paragons and I've never seen one like that. It appears to let the ball drain down but not bounce off the apron and back up into play. Does that ever actually happen?

I guess it's always possible. I wouldnt know because of the gate

Kinda interesting. Maybe I have a modded Paragon?

#41 5 years ago

Well, I guess I have an extra gate installed on mine. Funny thing is, is that if I were to take it off, it would seem wrong to me lol. It's not affecting gameplay negatively, so I'll just leave it on, not like putting a rubber to close it off. I've seen posts put in too, to make the opening smaller.

3 weeks later
#80 5 years ago
Quoted from Daditude:

I would recommend clear coating. It will add a lot of life to it.

It's pretty much at that stage. Do a little touch up, clear coat it, and let it cure. @tractordoc, you are literally 90% of the way to a clear coat ready pf!

2 weeks later
#87 5 years ago

Looks really great Doc! I'd be hard pressed to point out the touch up areas if you hadn't said anything. Even after you pointing it out, I still had a hard time seeing what was touched up. Nice work! Glad you're going with the clear coat route! I think you'll be infinitely happier.

1 month later
#142 5 years ago

I may be wrong but I thought those plastics were originally clear? Would be worth replacing while you're doing this.
ebay.com link: Clear Plastic Set for Bally Paragon Pinball Machine

#143 5 years ago

Or you can do the hydrogen peroxide/sun mix

#155 5 years ago
Quoted from TractorDoc:

Took some time to work with the main apron today. Decided to give making one myself a try.
Here is the starting point. The original and a piece of sheet metal.
[quoted image]
Measured and traced out the pattern.
[quoted image]
Cut out the pattern.
[quoted image]
The tricky part -- creating the slots and recessed areas for the instruction cards. I drilled several holes then filed the rectangular openings for the card corners. To create the recess I used a wood chisel to make a pattern in some scrap wood. Using another block of wood I hammered the card area into the wood form to create the recess.
[quoted image]
View of the underside.
[quoted image]
And the topside. It is far from perfect or a factory original, but I am happy with it considering the tools I had to work with.
[quoted image]
Before shutting down for the night a coat of primer was applied and the instruction cards were test fitted.
[quoted image]
Looking forward to what it will look like once painted.
[quoted image]

I need one for a Flash Gordon while you're at it

#158 5 years ago

I had Comet 2SMD warm whites in my Paragon and really loved how they looked. There isn't a ton of GI in that game (compared to how huge the PF is) and it really does help light it up. I'll see if I can dig up a picture of it.

Edit: Found one. I miss having them all lined up

42607340_10108599890946487_1100435771594113024_o (resized).jpg42607340_10108599890946487_1100435771594113024_o (resized).jpg
#159 5 years ago

Also, it is a cell phone pic, but the artwork isn't washed out like how some pictures can show.

1 week later
#189 5 years ago
Quoted from cletus:

I love this red Kmiec post history. There is so much cool pinball trivia to learn!
I haven’t gotten a chance to tear into my playfield yet from the Paragon I picked up a few weeks ago, but I have the red post under the left spinner support bracket.

I looked at some pics from when I had my Paragon and found it there as well. Doc, you gotta put it back!

20190209_075756 (resized).jpg20190209_075756 (resized).jpg
1 week later
#198 5 years ago
Quoted from TractorDoc:

We talked about cleaning out the yellow from the clear plastics some posts back. My experience did not go as planned. . . the fault was all my own.
Did anyone else watch Home Improvement on TV years ago? Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor hosted Tool Time, a program dedicated to home improvement and the tools used in the process. Tim was known for always wanting to add more power to a project that may not have needed it -- the equivalent of cutting a toothpick in half with a circular saw as an example.
Where am I going with this? Well, I may have been guilty of the more power approach on my plastics. One of the side endeavours here on the farm is running a greenhouse. Said greenhouse has a 30 gallon drum of 35% Hydrogen Peroxide (its added to the water to minimize pathogens). . . the perfect source for my de-yellowing procedure. Who needs that 3% stuff you get at the store. . . 35% will clear those plastics up in no time! More Power!
[quoted image]
I also acquired some OxyClean (basically hydrogen peroxide in powder form). This may be where I strayed from procedure. Vid says to use 1/4 teaspoon mixed in the peroxide. Not having a measuring scoop handy, it is safe to say I likely added a bit more than that to the mix. I left the plastics, peroxide, and oxyclean in a large plastic bag sitting out in the sun while I returned to the shop to work on other things. Imagine my surprise later when I poked my head out the door to see the bag puffed up like a balloon and smoke steaming out of it. Its been awhile since Organic Chemistry was fresh in my mind but its safe to say an exothermic chemical reaction was taking place. No I did not stop to take a picture. I quickly threw on some gloves and fished the plastics out/dunked them into a bucket of clean water. I was too late -- the plastics had heated up enough to actually have bubbles (or powdered oxyclean) melted into them.
[quoted image]
Lesson learned, I ordered a new set of plastics from CPR. I was a bit unsure of the correct method to transfer the metal supports from the old plastics to new. In the end I simply held the soldering iron in the top of the support until it heated up enough that I was able to pop it from the plastic using a rag wrapped around it. The keen observer will note the iron is off and the picture is just demonstrating the technique.
[quoted image]
To install the supports in the new plastics I slid the each one over the iron (after buffing on the compound wheel) and then pushed it up into the plastic. Make sure to install them on the correct side!
[quoted image]
I was a bit sad to see the new plastics are thinner than the originals. . . but I was happy to see how clear they were and that they lacked the chips acquired from years of hard service.
[quoted image]
A quick sampling of what several look like installed.
[quoted image]
The spacers between the plastic and stud posts were originally a boring gray color. I spruced them up a bit with some metallic paint for a bit more pizazz.

A blessing in disguise as they say. I don't think the cleaning of yellow plastics would ever get to the level of the clearness a new plastic would get. plus, the new plastics are made of PETG (at least they should be), so breaking them won't happen as it would with an older plastic either. It should be good for a long long time.

#199 5 years ago

I also see you got some sense knocked back into you and added the Kmiec post

#204 5 years ago
Quoted from TractorDoc:

Stripped the upper cabinet and gave it the best cleaning I could today. I am always amazed at the areas I find drips/where liquids have been spilled. Pretty sure there was dried blood in a couple spots. It has a few more scuffs than the lower cabinet but the colors are still bright and should give off a nice vintage vibe.
[quoted image]
Found a good use for all those burned up bulbs (before tossing them ) and gave the display board a new bright coat of white.
[quoted image]
Tempted to join the cabinets once again. . . but need to re-pin those connectors first.

I've definitely bled on a few of the games that I've owned. Thos drop target assemblies have sharp edges!

#212 5 years ago

Looks fantastic Doc!

1 month later
#323 4 years ago

This will be a gorgeous machine when you're all done with it. Looking good so far!

Promoted items from Pinside Marketplace and Pinside Shops!
3,100 (Firm)
Machine - For Sale
West Chester, PA
Trade
Machine - For Trade
Munster, IN
From: £ 135.00
Electronics
Retro Electro Designs
 
$ 15.00
Playfield - Decals
Metal-Mods
 
$ 12.00
Playfield - Other
System-J
 
£ 195.00
3,000
Machine - For Sale
Fort Wayne, IN
$ 22.95
Eproms
Pinballrom
 
$ 50.00
Playfield - Toys/Add-ons
RRB Crafts
 
$ 39.99
Eproms
Matt's Basement Arcade
 
$ 1.00
Pinball Machine
Pinball Alley
 
From: $ 99.99
Cabinet - Other
Lighted Pinball Mods
 
$ 179.00
Cabinet - Other
Pinball Pimp
 
$ 36.95
Eproms
Pinballrom
 
$ 69.99
Playfield - Toys/Add-ons
Lighted Pinball Mods
 
$ 72.95
Eproms
Pinballrom
 
$ 109.00
$ 10.00
Playfield - Protection
UpKick Pinball
 
$ 30.00
Playfield - Other
YouBentMyWookie
 
5,990
Machine - For Sale
Zemst
$ 36.95
Eproms
Pinballrom
 
From: £ 135.00
Electronics
Retro Electro Designs
 
$ 300.00
Cabinet Parts
Fantastic Pinball Inc.
 
$ 65.00
Cabinet - (Alt) Translites
Pinball Haus
 
$ 14.00
Cabinet - Toppers
Twisted Tokens
 
$ 99.99
Playfield - Toys/Add-ons
Lighted Pinball Mods
 
Hey modders!
Your shop name here

You're currently viewing posts by Pinsider FatPanda.
Click here to go back to viewing the entire thread.

Reply

Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.

Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!

Donate to Pinside

Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!


This page was printed from https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/project-paragon-breathing-life-back-into-the-beast?tu=FatPanda and we tried optimising it for printing. Some page elements may have been deliberately hidden.

Scan the QR code on the left to jump to the URL this document was printed from.