(Topic ID: 255737)

what e.m. are you working on right now?

By illawarra92

4 years ago


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#36 4 years ago

A Jungle Princess for a friend and a Big Indian for myself. Jungle Princess coming along ok. BI is kicking my ass. See the other thread on this forum.

2 months later
#346 4 years ago
Quoted from BeachPickle:

Currently digging into this bally surfers + AAB kit. Just fixed all the scoring/ switch issues, the only remaining tech issue is a malfunctioning game over sequence, and then stripping it down for playfield touchup, light socket replacements and cabinet repair and re-paint.
Having a riot, but I have some choice words for whoever made the call to use flathead screws in these things..
[quoted image][quoted image]

My first game. Bought it in 1971 when I was 13 years old. Still have it. The cabinet paint is getting really flaky so I'm contemplating a repaint. Playfield is still really really good and the backglass has been replaced.

Where did you come up with the AAB kit?

1 week later
#396 4 years ago

On the playfield for my Big Indian. Finished the top side and now going to the underside. thumbnail (resized).jpgthumbnail (resized).jpg thumbnail2 (resized).jpgthumbnail2 (resized).jpgthumbnail3 (resized).jpgthumbnail3 (resized).jpg

1 week later
#417 4 years ago

Started the repaint of Atlantis.

This is the head and cab of a game Mike O bought that had possibly the worse nicotine stains on it I've ever seen. But the head and the cabinet are the best I've ever repainted. I hardly had to fill at all, and didn't really even have to reglue anything.

Mike and I switched cabs. We emptied the games and he took my original cab from my game and I took this on to repaint. Head front (resized).jpgHead front (resized).jpgHead right (resized).jpgHead right (resized).jpg Pedestal (resized).jpgPedestal (resized).jpg

#419 4 years ago
Quoted from dasvis:

Looking good.
I hate painting cabinets. My Royal Guard project has been stalled for the last couple of years while I get up enough gumption to finish it.

The circles can be difficult on RG

#441 4 years ago
Quoted from Dorkboy:

I just started on my very first em, Grand Prix. Currently starts but there seem to be a few issues. I’m planning on going through and cleaning and adjusting all the switches and score wheels before I get into the troubleshooting hopefully a good game to teach myself on.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Well, it will be an adventure if nothing else. You couldn't have picked a more complex EM to learn on. In addition to two separate bonus steppers, that game is so loaded with relays, steppers etc that when I've moved mine and we had to carry it, we had to remove the playfield to get up and down stairs, it's so heavy.

I've been working on these games for a long time and it's the only EM that just flat intimidates me. And it has 20 score reels on it so if you're going to clean all those you'll be there awhile.

Good luck!

#442 4 years ago
Quoted from Silverstreak02:

I finished my Jacks Open restoration and fixed all the issues.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Nice paint job. Did you just decide to skip the webbing?

#445 4 years ago
Quoted from dasvis:

Well, yeah, he could of picked a more complex EM --he could have gotten a bingo...…...

I've never worked on one but yeah, I hear they're really complicated, and really heavy too.

Quoted from Silverstreak02:

I did light splatter. I think it’s called that. Just a bunch of small paint dots everywhere.[quoted image]

Duh. Having owned one you'd think I'd remember if it had webbing or spatter. Nice job.

1 week later
21
#500 4 years ago

Finished with Atlantis 20200323_212343 (resized).jpg20200323_212343 (resized).jpg20200323_212356 (resized).jpg20200323_212356 (resized).jpg

#504 4 years ago
Quoted from goldenboy232:

Really pretty. Is that a Wade PF or just a really nice original? Or did you do touchups? Looks fantastic.

That's a Wade playfield. It's been in the game awhile.

Mike O and I swapped cabinets. He took my original cab and I took one he had bought that was horribly nicotine stained. Unbelievably, it was maybe the most solid cabinet I've ever worked on. Very little filling and no gluing needed at all. And the inside was just pristine.

Mike may have pictures of it. I didn't take any before I got started on it. It was almost orange, it was so bad. Never seen anything quite like it.

#536 4 years ago

Starting in on a Gottlieb Gigi. I'll try to post some pictures later on. Cabinet is a mess, playfield is not too bad. Non working right now, I'll hopefully get that going first then start in on all the cosmetic stuff.

#547 4 years ago
Quoted from Mopar:

I was already aware of it not having a backglass, but years back when this showed up on a trade in,
I knew I didn't get the best of the deal with it having no back door, and the coin door lock was jig-sawed
out. But bit the bullet. Turned out to be a harder bite after opening it up earlier this month.
Already seeing the surprises on the outside, I should have expected.
Fortunately I had another machine I wasn't so sure what I was going to do with, but for sure it's a parts machine
now.. It plays fine, just need to do a little more cosmetic work..
[quoted image]
[quoted image][quoted image]

Holy Shit!!!

#578 4 years ago
Quoted from MikeO:

What were they thinking?????

Mike, I think the answer is, they weren't.

This is guy who cuts all the wires on Jones plugs on complete steroids.

#579 4 years ago
Quoted from Ballypin:

My latest addition from late February is a 1968 Bally Rockmakers. I always start with cabinet work and this one is now 99% complete. At first glance, the cabinet appeared to be in very good original condition. Knowing this is nearly impossible on Bally's from '66 through '68, closer inspection revealed that the cabinet was actually repainted. A good cleaning with Krud Kutter and minor touch-ups with matching paints was quick work. Next came removal of all metal hardware for cleaning and polishing. Coin door was torn down, repainted and metal parts polished. Top glass frame was taken apart, cleaned (these things are always a gross mess), polished and new glass installed. New chrome legs and coin lock from PBR and flipper buttons from Marco finished the exterior.
Here is the before coin door picture
[quoted image]
Here are the after pictures
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
My refinishing process for the top frame side rails and lockdown bar starts with a palm sander and 150 to 220 grit paper to remove scratches. Then step through 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 3000 grits. A quick cleanup and then to the buffing wheel with green compound. The final step is to hand buffing with 0000 steel wool with Mothers Mag polish. This last step is very messy so wear gloves. The result is a near mirror finish.
[quoted image]
I plan to order a new backglass from BGResto and add pincab protectors once I decide on color. The Nickel and Quarter coin plates are missing their entry chutes so I will eventually replace them once I source donor parts.

That looks fabulous. Great job polishing it up. I have a 1968 Bally Surfers with all three chutes on the door. This is motivating me to do this also. The game could use a repaint and when I get to that I'll see what I can do about shining up the door parts like this.

Ballys of that era had nice gray legs. You could really make it stand out with those legs on it. Steve Young could use the business I'm sure...

Quoted from Skidave:

Ballypin - looks great.
I recently replaced the playfield glass on my Fireball EM and that canopy was gross. Lots of used paper matchsticks fell out too.

I took one apart one time and I found the wrapper to a Hershey bar stuffed up inside there. Based on the price on the wrapper and some internet digging the wrapper was from around 1973

#612 4 years ago
Quoted from Playdium:

I prefer the BBG. (Buxom Beauties of Gottlieb)

They got nothing on mid 70s Ballys. See Night Rider, Old Chicago etc...

I've started on the motor board of my Gigi I'm restoring. Cleaned up the extremely grimy score motor. I love the brass plating. So classy looking.

Gigi motor (resized).jpgGigi motor (resized).jpg

1 week later
#690 4 years ago

Started in on my Gigi. Right now just assessing everything. I did get the artwork traced for stencils.

This one might have set a record for the number of names carved on one side of the cabinet. I think there's five different names on there.

These are all before except I have cleaned up the motor a bit and the ball lift mechanism. One thing for sure, the plywood used in the early 60s was superior to what was used later on.

Does anyone know when Gottlieb quit painting over the striker plate for the front door? I had a Bank A Ball and that was painted also. Saved me ordering a new one from PBR, I'll just clean it up and reinstall and paint with the cab. Pedestal was coming apart, I've reglued that and it's now solid. The backglass was bad, bgresto to the rescue. I haven't received it yet but Steve sent me the finished artwork, going to be beautiful

Fortunately the bumper caps are in good shape. I'll just have to touch up the numbers a bit. You'd go broke with 14 caps on this game. The bumper bodies are all trash but fortunately those a relatively cheap.

I love these old brass plated metal games. They shine up so nicely. You end up with a beautiful interior that unfortunately is rarely seen. 20200403_205445 (resized).jpg20200403_205445 (resized).jpg20200409_195500 (resized).jpg20200409_195500 (resized).jpgGigi motor (resized).jpgGigi motor (resized).jpgGtb-Gigi- (resized).jpgGtb-Gigi- (resized).jpgResized_20190727_102858 (resized).jpegResized_20190727_102858 (resized).jpegResized_20190727_102917 (resized).jpegResized_20190727_102917 (resized).jpegResized_20190727_102932 (resized).jpegResized_20190727_102932 (resized).jpegResized_20200409_211332 (resized).jpegResized_20200409_211332 (resized).jpeg

#712 4 years ago

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Quoted from mark532011:

I think I may be in too deep on my Miss-O....[quoted image][quoted image]

LOL, I'd say so.

I'm often accused of being overly anal in taking games apart to clean them up and make them look nice and shiny but even I've never gone that far with a game.

You can make them really nice without going that far. Here's an example from a Big Indian I just finished up recently.

First game I ever did that with was a Drop A Card. Took everything off the motor board, took the motor apart, shined everything, new labels, the works. It's a ton of work. I wish you luck getting that back together and functioning.

Here's the before and after of that motor.

DAC motor before (resized).jpgDAC motor before (resized).jpg

DAC motor after (resized).jpgDAC motor after (resized).jpg

#715 4 years ago
Quoted from mark532011:

Wow, that is some shiny....I bet it works perfectly now!

Well, I certainly hope it still is, I sold the game awhile back.

I've got a picture somewhere of the motor board back in the game. I'll try and find it.

It's a ton of work, and you do risk messing stuff up. So far, only one game I've done I couldn't get going after a restoration like this. Fortunately a great tech got me the last few percentages back to full operation. I was close but not quite there.

1 month later
#895 3 years ago

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Continuing the Gigi restoration. While the playfield is off for touchups and clear I'm cleaning and replacing all the mechs underneath. Today got the ball trough done. It's usually full of crud and this one is no exception. Got the rollover wires tumbling to shine them ipi.

Head and cab sanded down. Head is filled and finish sanded and primed and painted and webbed and today first stencil work done. Cab is filled and awaiting finish sanding

#899 3 years ago
Quoted from wolverinetuner:

That Bob on the cabinet sure seems to get around. I think he also etched the cab on a Flying Chariots I worked on last year!

The game came from Iowa so who knows?

Here's the coin door from it completed. This is the original door replated by Chris Royalty at Hot Rod Arcade...20200526_195831 (resized).jpg20200526_195831 (resized).jpg
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#900 3 years ago
Quoted from EEE:

We’re still working on the exterior of the centigrade 37. Does anyone here have a suggestion on how to straighten the edge of the coin door?
Also, any specific material or procedure for getting rid of the fine scratches?
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

If you have some kind of anvil you can tap that down with a hammer to straighten it. Take your time and go easy.

Fine scratches use 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Keep going up to maybe 3000 grit. Takes some work.

#903 3 years ago
Quoted from pinhead52:

Of course if you know the right people then you can get it shined up really good
[quoted image]

How did you accomplish that? Very impressive job.

#915 3 years ago
Quoted from dgAmpGuy:

I use a couple of C-clamps and a flat piece of angled steel to flatten out bends where the door was pried open.

Good idea.

1 week later
#924 3 years ago

One side of the Gigi head done...20200603_155002 (resized).jpg20200603_155002 (resized).jpg

#931 3 years ago
Quoted from Dono:

That's a beautiful job .. nice work on webbing and spray... I also like that the circles are uniform, looks great.

Thanks Don. It's amazing what you can do with Pinball Pimp stencils...

This is a simple pattern but circles are not fun. He had not done Gigi before so i traced the design on clear film and sent them to him and he made them. Same thing we did with Time Zone which is a bit tougher pattern with a really big circle. Came out beautiful. I think it's my best restore to date.

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#934 3 years ago

Finished this Gigi head. First time I've used one of these front design stencils. Have to go slow and carefully getting it all lined up. I sure would not want to try this with a home brew stencil 20200608_135948 (resized).jpg20200608_135948 (resized).jpg

1 week later
#941 3 years ago
Quoted from Peruman:

This one was sitting in a boarded-up bus station. I'm going to try my hand at repainting and stenciling after I get it running and fix the cracked head and cabinet.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Was that paint or what? Playfield looks pretty good. If Pinball Pimp has the stencils I highly recommend them.

Gigi work continues. This is the first Gigi glass done by bgresto. Plain beautiful. 20200615_161850 (resized).jpg20200615_161850 (resized).jpg
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#943 3 years ago
Quoted from Peruman:

How did you do the webbing on your Gigi? I think Domino also had webbing. What you see on the Domino cabinet is paneling wall paper. Should be fun to remove.
Alberto

Good Lord. Why do people do this to games?

That is done with a Weiler brush and flat black Americana paint. I bend several of the bristles out and dip them in the paint. Then you bend the bristles back and let them go. In order to get webbing you have to be very close to the cabinet. Like an inch away. If you're further back you get spatter. The more paint on the bristles the heavier and darker the webbing is. If you look at original webbing you'll find that at times. It takes a bit of practice to refine it.

#945 3 years ago

More Gigi progress. I need to shine the lockdown bar receiver a bit more and the coin chutes so the receiver is just sitting in place. Once the receiver is done I'll get the shooter in place too

Also got the 0-9 disc back in place. MikeO did some nice soldering work on some worn rivets. 26 wires to desolder. Fun!

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#947 3 years ago
Quoted from MikeO:

The soldering should be routine now with your new Hakko station.
You should be able to run a start test once you put the relay boards in the body and head.

I did plug it in and hit the hold relay and the motor ran fine. Obviously without the head on yet it didn't stop but I expected that. Should get the head back together this week.

Someone had wired a switch into it and I had to remove that and wire it back to original. It worked ok but I wanted to put it back the way it originally was. I need to cover the hole they drilled in the cab.

#956 3 years ago
Quoted from Dono:

Correct, it's beyond rare to get a great match right out of the bottle. I restored an EM version of this title and had to match every PF color... age, fading, nicotine, and even ball swirls can change a color to some degree. I got the primary color Createx set, and went to town
... from what I remember, that yellow, at least to me was very difficult to match.

The yellows are tough plus yellow pigments just don't cover worth a damn. Another tough one is Gottieb's myriad shades of aquamarine. Nearly impossible to find a direct match. There are some. Reds are easier but in the main it's not common to get a match out of the bottle.

Quoted from dasvis:

damn - that coin door just looks too good

Hot Rod Arcade work. I know the original door was not like that but I like the look. It's actual bright nickel not chrome. The only downside is if the door has even a small ring in it you will see it under certain lighting and angles. I only do it with a very straight door.

I got the receiver done and the coin chutes back in and the shooter in place. It's total silliness to do all this on parts nobody sees but with that brass plating I just can't help myself...

20200622_170259 (resized).jpg20200622_170259 (resized).jpg

#960 3 years ago
Quoted from stashyboy:

Aquamarine indeed! Finish populating my latest restoration, also waiting for a nickel-plated lockbar receiver from Hot Rod arcade myself!
[quoted image]

LOL if you're getting a plated receiver from them you're sicker than I am. Makes me feel less obsessed. Thanks.

Great job on that restoration too.

#965 3 years ago
Quoted from Dono:

1947 pre-flipper United Mexico... the game might be a snoozer, but it's a beauty. Too bad United opted out of producing pins after just a handful of flipper games. Would have been interesting to see what they could have done to compete with the big 3. Build quality is outstanding on these machines for the most part. I've enjoyed restoring it, and it's almost ready for me to play the first game since being put to pasture in the late 60s/early 70s.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

I've never played a flipper less game. Can't imagine what that is like.

It is beautiful though.

#1001 3 years ago

Gigi lightboard repainted and bulbs back in. Ready to go back in the head.20200702_101658 (resized).jpg20200702_101658 (resized).jpg

11
#1003 3 years ago

20200702_201446 (resized).jpg20200702_201446 (resized).jpgGigi is done as far as I can go until the playfield is ready. So far everything seems to be working as it should...20200702_201953 (resized).jpg20200702_201953 (resized).jpg20200704_140211 (resized).jpg20200704_140211 (resized).jpg20200702_202208 (resized).jpg20200702_202208 (resized).jpg

1 week later
#1017 3 years ago
Quoted from Dono:

Just shopped this for some folks in Middleburg VA today (this is a pre-shop photo, I hate black rubbers)!... 24 score reels and a boatload of steppers and relays, what a great game! Bought by the wife's father when she was a teenager, it's been with them for the last 30+ years.
Going back in a week or so to meet the dad, he's travelling from Ohio and wants to talk "shop" and drink some IPAs!
[quoted image]

It really has 24 reels? The ones aren't dummies?

I've never seen the EM version. Very rare

#1024 3 years ago
Quoted from Vintage-Pinball:

Nice! It's been restored or just not suffered the typical kick out ball damage?

That's been restored to a point or it's a very low play playfield. There's quite a few hints there. The kickhole holes have little to no damage. The white areas until the slings are still very white, those tend to yellow badly. There's no ball track in the upper arch. No damage under the bumpers that can be seen and no wear near the kickout holes. There is the usual fading under the flippers and there is a definite change in the upper arch in the natural areas. Appears to be the usual small divot that appears under the rebound rubber. There is the typical damage under the posts from the post screws.

My vote is this is a very low play playfield or it was meticulously maintained. That is extremely nice assuming it's an original playfield.

#1034 3 years ago
Quoted from Flip-it-good:

A 1968 Gottlieb Funland. Trying to figure out how to set replay levels using the male Jones connectors in the backbox. Some leads have 2 connectors some have only one. Very cryptic on how to use the legend which is stapled inside the back box to set the scoring levels. See pictures attached... Thank you in advance!!!!
[quoted image][quoted image]

The male plugs have labels on them. For example if you want replay levels at 6500 and 7600 you put the plug with the 6 in the 500 hole and the plug with the 7 in the 600 hole. Two plugs on one wire allows two replay levels in the same thousands such as 7200 and 7900.

#1035 3 years ago
Quoted from boilerman:

other than NOS pf, that is by far the blondest pf i have seen. wasn't nos it does have some tanning

I had a Jack Open that was basically HUO most of its life. It was very blonde. Basically no fade under the flippers. Easily the best one I've ever had.

1 week later
#1056 3 years ago

I did a bit of cleanup and repainting on my Grand Prix. I'm getting ready to do a repaint on the cab but I wanted to do a bit of work on the playfield first. The upper arch was all scarred up and the lower apron wasn't in good shape. The middle arch was dull as were the bars up there.

I had a decal I got from Pinball Rescue back before PPS shut them off on Williams stuff but it didn't match the original on this game. The upper arch was always the deep blue but the lower was white. I thought why not paint them the same and use the decal I had which was all white and red? So I gave it a shot.

There's still some fogging from the adhesive but it is clearing out well. I think it came out pretty good and adds some color to the game. This playfield is really nice. I redid all the keylines on the inserts while I was at it. Polished all the metal parts and it's back together and playing well. I re-rubbered it while I was at it.

GP1 (resized).jpgGP1 (resized).jpgGP2 (resized).jpgGP2 (resized).jpg

2 weeks later
#1112 3 years ago
Quoted from Hyperball91:

You get what you pay for, lol. Estimates are way off nowadays with Covid. People are getting tons of stuff posted so the postage system is swamped. At least over here it is.

Pinball Rescue site says Australia Post is still suspended Economy Air. A bunch of us here were able to get some parts from them by going together and having Lee and Gordon ship the stuff FedEx and then Pinhead52 reshipped to all of us. Probably a bit higher total shipping than normal but when you need stuff you need stuff.

The said they're looking into alternatives. Sure hope so.

1 week later
#1146 3 years ago

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Started on Wizard. Back and bottom boards need replaced as does the mounting plate for the pedestal. Fractured in two places.

Whoever decided to use particle board for the back panel should have a special place reserved in hell. That part of the cab takes the most abuse and they use junk that disintegrates once a piece gets knocked off.

10
#1159 3 years ago

20200824_150956 (resized).jpg20200824_150956 (resized).jpg20200824_151003 (resized).jpg20200824_151003 (resized).jpgWizard back panel, bottom board and pedestal plate replaced

#1165 3 years ago
Quoted from EJS:

This little stinker (mildew mostly) is ready for a waxing! davidlee has been helping me with fitting some Backglass artwork which is coming along nicely!
[quoted image]

Did you put up the wrong picture?

3 weeks later
#1232 3 years ago

Replaced all the bumpers on my recently acquired Old Chicago. Skirts were chipping off and caps were faded. Complete replacements all around.

Got that done but the first bumper being done must have had the skirt tip hit the spoon switch and kaboom it fractured. The other four don't look real good so I'm going to replace them all and that will be that, but had to order them in. First EM I've ever had with those plastic spoons.

Not an EM but redid all the drop target springs and installed an all in one Pascal Janin board in my Joker Poker. He does such great work and really makes those System 1 games step up in class.

3 weeks later
#1284 3 years ago

Continue to work on my Wizard. I have finished all the work on the lightboard which included disassembly of all the reels and relays and steppers and cleaning and adjusting

Today started on the lightboard. First job is cleaning and adjusting the motor switches. Not a bad job on a Bally motor. Remove them all then start at one end. You can turn the discs by hand and easily check all the switches.

Cab is painted and stenciling will start soon.

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1 week later
#1313 3 years ago

You can generally get the screws out of the bumper body with the lamp socket in place. Turn the playfield over and remove the nuts from the rod and ring and the bracket and remove the bracket assembly , desolder the leads and pull the whole bumper assembly out.

#1329 3 years ago
Quoted from pinzrfun:

lol...i'm with you, it takes me forever too. I usually just want to relax and watch tv after work, so my pin projecting time is the weekend, and if we have other plans, it waits til the next week...rinse and repeat. I have to tell you though, the 2Pac spray clear is great, there are a couple threads on it. I've done 2 now, my first was Alladins Castle. By far the most time consuming thing on mine was leveling the inserts (the whole reason I did it, because they were starting to get beat up). I have one of those plastic playfield protectors on my Old Chicago and didn't want to do that again. Long story short, it's almost impossible to not have a great looking end product. Plays fast too!
My 2nd one was Strikes and Spares which turned out even better -
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Did you have any issues with the clear getting in the grooves of the star rollovers?

1 week later
#1354 3 years ago

Down to just one side on the cab of my Wizard. Such cool artwork on this one

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#1356 3 years ago
Quoted from Playdium:

How did the Montana paint react to the Pimp stencil?

Not at all. I've never had a reaction to the Montana paints at all. The yellow and red are Montana and the blue is Molotow. I really like the Molotow paint.

I did have an issue with the stencil on the left side. The red stencil just flat wouldn't stick to the cab. The right side was fine. And the front was fine. I burnished it all down and when I went to peel up the top the stencil just kept coming with it. I go slow and carefully it just wasn't happening. The stencil was getting buggered up and finally I just got frustrated with it and tore it all off. I called Jeff and he's cutting me a new piece. That stencil is intricate enough with small pieces and I'd rather pay for a new piece that screw it up trying to get it to work.

Either the stencil sticky was weak or the cover was sticking really strongly to the stencil but it was a mess.

#1358 3 years ago

Looks great.

I've never had any issues with the stencil peeling off to cab after painting. Just a couple of issues with the stencil itself.

I used a gloss white once, on a Stargazer. Like this game lots of small pieces but even more so. Think it was Krylon. Anyway it stuck to the stencil and caused stringing of the paint on the edges and other issues. I try not to use too much gloss since then. I clear the cab with semi gloss anyway so the sheen doesn't really make much difference.

2 weeks later
12
#1380 3 years ago

The Wizard is now just down to the playfield work. Motor board back in the cab, other cab internals back in, and head installed. Everything that can be tested without the playfield is working perfectly.

On the Bally sockets, it must just be my luck, but I have restored several Bally games. I think I have had to replace one socket on all of them. My Surfers was stored for 20 years and when I got it going again every single bulb worked.

Wizard has a ton of bulbs in the lightboard for GI. This game wasn't overly dirty but the bulbs had the normal dirt coating all over them. I removed all the bulbs and replaced them. I did no cleaning or any other kind of work on the sockets. When I turned it on today for the first time every single bulb worked. No flickering or dimming or anything. My experience has been that Gottlieb sockets are way flakier and troublesome than Wiliams or Bally.

Anyway some more pictures

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2 weeks later
#1434 3 years ago

Finally finished going through every relay and stepper on my Wizard.

I decided to give a hardtop a try on this game as the playfield was pretty planked. So today I started the prep for that installation. I wanted to get rid of the ball track up top, and get the playfield as flat as possible. Some if the inserts are dead level now. Others are slightly cupped still but with the hardtop doesn't matter. Still some more work to do but getting there.

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#1439 3 years ago
Quoted from wolverinetuner:

Thanks. I use brush-on polycrylic with a foam brush. This stuff is great for covering over cupped and sunken inserts.[quoted image]

I have had an issue using polycrylic brushed on over acrylic touchups. It causes the touchups to run. Have you had this issue? I now spray only if I clear a playfield. I don't have the facilities to do auto clear so this is the best I can do.

1 month later
#1497 3 years ago

Finally got the hardtop installed on my Wizard and started repopulating the playfield. These hardtops are beautiful and a great solution for a playfield that has major issues. Not a real tough install. All in the prep.

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#1498 3 years ago
Quoted from Dono:

Looking at your photo... just a note to all EM junkies out there contemplating an Old Chicago repro playfield... CPR's latest run is now available, and let me tell ya, they're absolutely stunning. Once this run sells out, me thinks that there won't be another one.

I got it but haven't seen it yet. It went straight to Ron Kruzman for clearing.

Once I finish Wizard I'll start on the cab repaint for Old Chicago. I'll do the playfield swap whenever Ron gets it done

#1511 3 years ago

Wizard playfield all repopulated. This hardtop is so nice. Hope it holds up.20210117_135758 (resized).jpg20210117_135758 (resized).jpg

#1520 3 years ago

Wizard completed and working 100%. Into the lineup it goes.

The hardtop plays like a normal playfield to me. Perfectly flat so no sunken insert issues.

Very preliminary start on a 1960 Gottlieb Merry Go Round. Playfield is rough. A bit of cleaning and assessing where I'm going with this one today.20210120_185423 (resized).jpg20210120_185423 (resized).jpg20210121_125253 (resized).jpg20210121_125253 (resized).jpg20210121_131729 (resized).jpg20210121_131729 (resized).jpg

#1527 3 years ago
Quoted from seeburg220:

Curious - does he strip off CPR's clearcoat, or does he spray on top of it? Since the cc from CPR isn't fully cured when shipped, I was wondering how that was handled.

He lets it cure then sands it off. His process takes 3-4 months.

#1530 3 years ago
Quoted from tcape61:

I'm doing a Bally Gold Rush right now, mostly done with a Zip A Doo.... 60's and early 70s Ballys are starting to grown on me.
"Sanitizing" the cabinet on the Gold Rush, sometimes the insides are pretty yucky. Pics of Gold Rush are after a few vacuums and paint brush dusting and light washing.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Ballys can be hit or miss. Some really fun games in there and some turds. I've always liked them but I'm kind of in the same boat now. Growing on me. I've got four now and while they're all good players, especially Old Chicago which I just love, the games with Dave Christensen's art are just fun to look at, especially the back glasses. Really nice looking playfield on that one

Quoted from stashyboy:

Maybe it's all that Herb Silvers style blinged out chromed metal work!

I can't quite tell if that's actually a Herb job or just highly polished. I've actually kind of moved away from all that bright chrome a bit. It is pretty but when the upper arch gets chromed I think that's a bit too far.

#1539 3 years ago

Merry Go Round playfield cleaned up and getting ready for touchups. Disassembled the head today to start on the lightboard. Maybe the most cooked backglass I've had so far.

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11
#1563 3 years ago

Finished up the light board on the Merry Go Round. The reels all cleaned up nicely. One had some damage due to the lamps rubbing but touched up well. All relays and steppers de-gunked and cleaned and adjusted.

The quality of materials in those older games was much superior to what came later. This board and the head itself have much better wood.20210204_152550 (resized).jpg20210204_152550 (resized).jpg20210204_153019 (resized).jpg20210204_153019 (resized).jpg20210204_163552 (resized).jpg20210204_163552 (resized).jpg20210204_164059 (resized).jpg20210204_164059 (resized).jpg20210204_164015 (resized).jpg20210204_164015 (resized).jpg

1 week later
#1616 3 years ago

Finished what would be called the motor board for Merry Go Round if the motor wasn't on the playfield itself. The coil for the 30v hold relay is toast but ither than that I cleaned and adjusted the relays and all the switches in the trip bank.

20210217_163032 (resized).jpg20210217_163032 (resized).jpg

#1621 3 years ago
Quoted from TimMe:

Nice to see a full mech rebuild on these, it really makes the game operate more smoothly. For what it's worth, I never heard anyone in the industry call these motor boards back in the day. We always called them bottom boards, which would still apply to the Merry Go Round.
- TimMe

LOL. Just like the lightboard in the head is sometimes called an insert.

It's the first game I ever have had with the motor on the playfield. So now I'll follow you and call it the bottom board. I sometimes go back and forth calling it the bottom or motor board.

I do this on just about all my games. The only one I haven't done this with is Grand Prix. It works great and that damned game just intimidates me.

#1628 3 years ago
Quoted from MikeO:

I've always used main relay board vs. head relay board to distinguish them. An old timer that I know calls the relay board in the body the "floorboard" and is quite adamant about that name.

Yeah, that makes sense too.

Sometimes we call it the backbox, sometimes the head. I think I use them all interchangeably.

Calling it a relay board would be especially apt on a Bally because Bally games tend to have 524 relays down there. They really loaded them on there. Even my single player Bally has a ton of relays on that board.

This game is very minimal on relays on that board. Took me next to no time to clean those up. Those mag relays are so easy to disassemble compared to AG relays, especially the AG relays that have two stacks with a jumper between the stacks. Those can be a PITA. Nothing quite like an Ax but not a lot of fun.

2 weeks later
#1705 3 years ago

Head of the Merry Go Round I'm restoring has the base coat and silver spatter on. Waiting on some paint to arrive to start the design.

Also final clear on my Gigi playfield. Touchups were done and then clear. Not done by me, a local guy who does fantastic work. Playfields aren't my strength so I go where the talent is.

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#1707 3 years ago
Quoted from MikeO:

It’s going to be amazing. The 4 Square pf next to yours is mine. I’m looking forward to it.

He has the MGR playfield right now, Mike. It was really checked up, I cleaned it up as well as I could. We decided to do some work like keylines etc and then clear it, sort of a player's game with the patina left to a point, and cleared to keep it from getting any worse. A complete redo would have been just way too much. It certainly won't look like Gigi but I'm thinking it's going to be kind of cool in its own right.

#1710 3 years ago
Quoted from jibmums:

Another question for you Gottlieb EM guys: what is this mech that's hanging under my playfield? Right now, the bottom half with the switches and coils is hanging on pivots from the top half. I see that there are wingnuts (circled in red) on a threaded shaft, that looks like they're supposed to clamp onto the brackets (circled in green). Then there's also a little adjustable arm (circled in yellow) that I can't figure out what its purpose is. The mech was swinging freely when I brought the game home, yet it played fine when tested at the previous owners. Is this in its correct position, or should it be clamped into those brackets with the wingnuts? What's the purpose of that arm? What's the purpose of having it hang like this?
I'm finding all this pre-solid state stuff fascinating, but much in the same way as a tourist in a foreign country who doesn't speak the language.
[quoted image]

As noted above that is a trip bank and needs to be secured with the wing nuts. If the game has been operating with that hanging like that it's a miracle

#1716 3 years ago
Quoted from Phillips88:

Finished this Fast Draw over the weekend. I can’t stop looking at it, let alone playing it!
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Beautiful game, but you must be really skinny to be able to the play the others games there...

#1721 3 years ago
Quoted from Phillips88:

Thanks! Just have it in the aisle for now. Have some decisions to make. I’m at full capacity and have 10 fully working machines broken down and 3 in the queue.
I’ve been picking up some old neon signs lately. With all the neons on, I can only have on about 20 of the 27 machines currently set up. Either I need to rewire the electrical to support the power (not happening) or just knock down a few machines for now. *if I want all the neons on while all the machines are on. Man, those old transformers pull a lot of power!

The story of a pinball collector. There are only a few who can have as many as they want. The rest of us have to hide them somewhere else or break them down and store them.

#1726 3 years ago
Quoted from koji:

Yes, they should stick. The last thing you want is any dirt under there.. it chews up the PF like sand paper.
I think you can replace it with a mylar ring cut to size, or some of the parts vendors sell pre-cut sizes... some would argue if you need them in home use.. I like to have them.

Those were factory. They don't chew up anything as long as you clean your playfield once in awhile.

Games on location that were not maintained had damage. Games on location without them would have had equal or more damage.

#1735 3 years ago
Quoted from gdonovan:

Bally ball count and player units will get downright angry if you use any lubrication on the plastic parts.
Ask me how I know!

How do you know?

#1738 3 years ago
Quoted from stashyboy:

Back on the topic, I'm working on this from the very early Bally arcade days, 1960 Bazooka Gun. Never seen one before, same one shown on Clay's Pinrepair site. A few more days to assemble and dial in.
[quoted image][quoted image]

Cool. Never worked on a gun game. Sure played a bunch of them though.

2 weeks later
11
#1766 3 years ago

Playfield work continues on Gigi restoration...

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2 weeks later
10
#1777 3 years ago

Finished Gigi. Now working on Gottlieb Merry Go Round from 1960. I'm in an old school run right now. Got the head done, moving to the cab now. 20210413_164325 (resized).jpg20210413_164325 (resized).jpg20210415_111728 (resized).jpg20210415_111728 (resized).jpg

1 week later
#1787 2 years ago
Quoted from mrm_4:

Working on cleaning up a Strato-flight. Can anyone confirm if these nuts are original?
I’d like to tumble them but it’s a nightmare trying to get the media out of these things when they’re done.
[quoted image]

Pretty sure those are original.

Instead of tumbling them, do this. Screw them onto a playfield post. Chuck the post into your drill. Dip the nut in chrome or metal cleaner. Hold a rag against the nut and hit the drill. On the first pass you'll come out with a whole lot of black on the rag. Move the nut a couple times to different areas on the rag. It will shine right up and way quicker than tumbling.

If you have a lot of rust drop them in Evaporust first.

#1795 2 years ago
Quoted from mrm_4:

Working on cleaning up a Strato-flight. Can anyone confirm if these nuts are original?
I’d like to tumble them but it’s a nightmare trying to get the media out of these things when they’re done.
[quoted image]

20210502_125740 (resized).jpg20210502_125740 (resized).jpg20210502_130126 (resized).jpg20210502_130126 (resized).jpgThis wasn't real bad but it's the way to go

1 week later
#1834 2 years ago

Continuing the repaint of the Gottlieb Merry Go Round Cab. Getting close, just the green stripe left to paint and clearing to be done and then I can start work on reassembling the cab components. Head is done. One shot of the before cab.

MGR cab before (resized).jpgMGR cab before (resized).jpgMGR cab 1 (resized).jpgMGR cab 1 (resized).jpgMGR cab 2 (resized).jpgMGR cab 2 (resized).jpg

13
#1838 2 years ago

Finished up the cab design on Merry Go Round. I just set a side rail and the lockdown bar in place. That lockdown bar is just massive.

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1 week later
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#1862 2 years ago

Getting closer on the head I'm doing for a guy who is turning a Meteor cab into a Stargazer.

I got this Williams Zig Zag a couple of weeks ago. If not for the kickout hole wear I wouldn't touch this playfield. Doesn't even have a ball track up top. I'll restore the cab down the line. For now just playing and enjoying

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1 week later
#1878 2 years ago

Merry Go Round awaits a PBR order and the return of the playfield 20210604_153618 (resized).jpg20210604_153618 (resized).jpg

#1882 2 years ago
Quoted from Silverstreak02:

Wow that cabinet looks brand new. That old Chicago also looks great. Show us the rest of your games.

Thank you. When you start with good bones it works so much better. The quality of wood in that game is superior. It's 61 years old but solid as a rock. Minimal filling/gluing.

The OC is not as good as it appears in the picture. It's been hand painted. The glass however is pristine. I just got a CPR repro playfield for it clearcoated by Ron Kruzman. This thing will be sweet when done.

Here's a couple other restored games.20210120_185809 (resized).jpg20210120_185809 (resized).jpg20210412_181332 (resized).jpg20210412_181332 (resized).jpg

#1885 2 years ago
Quoted from TwinDavid:

GIGI is gorgeous...and its a fun game!

It's a totally different kind of game than any other I own. Can be frustrating as hell, then you hit a good one where you actually manage to get the special and get enough advances to win some games. Best I've done on it so far is about 1800, and getting to the third replay level which I have at 1500 is not easy, at all.

#1886 2 years ago
Quoted from QuietEarp:

I just brought home a Gigi! I will be working on that to get it playing 100% and it will probably not be restored as nice as that one for a while! That is the EM I am working on now! I am looking forward to playing that sweet game!

Good luck on it. To quote Mike O, the logic on this one is pretty tricky. Took a lot of fiddling on it to get it playing 100 percent.

1 month later
#1944 2 years ago

Finished up a repaint of a Stargazer for another pin guy. This was originally a Galaxy cab that he had. Lots of delamination on the front. The quality of wood sure dropped from the 60s to the 80s but this came out good. The red is a custom touch he wanted and i like it.

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#1952 2 years ago

Those light bars are a pox on pinball. The reason behind them is understandable but almost without exception there will be flaky sockets on them requiring repair.

Just have to remember they didn't expect us to be working on them 50 years later.

1 week later
#1968 2 years ago

I started the playfield swap and cabinet sand down of my Old Chicago. This is a CPR playfield clear coated by Ron Kruzman. I've moved over all the tee nuts on the back side.

I'll get some pictures. It's a beautiful playfield and Ron's work on it is superb.

#1970 2 years ago
Quoted from Dono:

I suggest browsing through this OC swap thread... it will save you some time on your swap... most everything lines up BUT NOT EVERYTHING.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/cpr-old-chicago-playfield-swap-any-gotchas

Thanks Don. I will do that. As of right now it's minimal, all I've done is install the bumpers and gotten those fin shank nail screws in. And got all the underside holes drilled out and the tee nuts in place. Sanded the head and cab, sanded and painted the rails, and today I got the head primed.

13
#1971 2 years ago

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3 weeks later
13
#2008 2 years ago

Except for the ball return stuff and the apron playfield swap of Old Chicago is done. Head all stenciled. I'll get started on the cab tomorrow 20210807_112835 (resized).jpg20210807_112835 (resized).jpg20210809_115841 (resized).jpg20210809_115841 (resized).jpg20210817_160555 (resized).jpg20210817_160555 (resized).jpg

1 month later
10
#2043 2 years ago
Quoted from Dono:

Looks super! Did you end up putting a lamp underneath the star rollover up top?

Yes. I already had one on the old playfield so just swapped it over.

The game is done, but I have some issues to sort out. 20210914_121511 (resized).jpg20210914_121511 (resized).jpg20210914_121606 (resized).jpg20210914_121606 (resized).jpg20210914_195026 (resized).jpg20210914_195026 (resized).jpg20210915_122608 (resized).jpg20210915_122608 (resized).jpg20210915_131731 (resized).jpg20210915_131731 (resized).jpg20210915_161033 (resized).jpg20210915_161033 (resized).jpg20210915_170647 (resized).jpg20210915_170647 (resized).jpg

2 weeks later
#2071 2 years ago

Doing a Williams Flash cab repaint. Per usual, the wood used at this time is just lousy quality compared to 60s games. Lots of fill work but coming along...20211014_151606 (resized).jpg20211014_151606 (resized).jpg20211014_151620 (resized).jpg20211014_151620 (resized).jpg20211013_170137 (resized).jpg20211013_170137 (resized).jpg20211017_135553 (resized).jpg20211017_135553 (resized).jpg820211017_185626 (resized).jpg20211017_185626 (resized).jpg20211020_110915 (resized).jpg20211020_110915 (resized).jpg20211020_110923 (resized).jpg20211020_110923 (resized).jpg

#2072 2 years ago
Quoted from Sea_Wolf:

Finally brought this guy home today after a 4 hour round trip.
Really dirty cabinet and playfield and has the usual issues of one that’s been stored in barn-like atmosphere for years but I think it will clean up pretty good and it’s surprising clean inside.
The playfield planking isn’t as bad as my Flip a Card when I got it but I’ve got some work to do. [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

I had one awhile back. Complete restoration including the playfield done by HSA. It was a beauty and played great.

I put the posts on conservative on it, and man, it got harder quickly.

Enjoy it. Fun game.

3 months later
13
#2379 2 years ago

Williams Skill Pool. Getting closer. Playfield, lightboard, motorboats all done. Cab repainted, just a bit more to do then reassembly 20211227_192319 (resized).jpg20211227_192319 (resized).jpg20220102_165151 (resized).jpg20220102_165151 (resized).jpg20220103_102547 (resized).jpg20220103_102547 (resized).jpg20220118_112233 (resized).jpg20220118_112233 (resized).jpg20220122_151424 (resized).jpg20220122_151424 (resized).jpg20220122_151803 (resized).jpg20220122_151803 (resized).jpg820220126_113901 (resized).jpg20220126_113901 (resized).jpg20220126_170739 (resized).jpg20220126_170739 (resized).jpg20220126_171603 (resized).jpg20220126_171603 (resized).jpg

#2402 2 years ago
Quoted from stashyboy:

Looking great Tim! What did you use to protect the playfield and how are your lockbar end caps? Assume the glass is from Shay?

Tim? Me no Tim . But I appreciate the kind words.

Playfield was a quick auto clear. Didn't try to touch up that one area because the apron covers it.

Lockdown bar caps are per usual for these games. Rough. Being replated.

It's now 100 percent up and running outside of the lockdown bar being fixed.

20220202_194401 (resized).jpg20220202_194401 (resized).jpg20220202_194356 (resized).jpg20220202_194356 (resized).jpg

1 month later
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#2466 2 years ago

20210517_142209 (resized).jpg20210517_142209 (resized).jpg1960 Gottlieb Merry Go Round. Mostly back together, getting plastics done on it. It has multiple issues right now but getting closer. Was a total basket case when I got it.

Playfield has weird cracking that I've seen on othe MGR playfields. We decided to do some repainting but mostly left it as kind of a sort of restored/patina hybrid. Playfield has been cleared to keep it as is. Cab was repainted, bgresto backglass.

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#2472 2 years ago
Quoted from John_in_NC:

Diving into a Cross Town restore
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
[quoted image]

Right there with you brother...

Touchups basically done, will clear this week.

My Merry Go Round is pretty nice. Wish I knew what caused the playfield to have the cracking. Never seen it like this on any other game.

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#2483 2 years ago
Quoted from MikeO:

Yeah, this one is decent shape to start with. The play meter says around 25,000 plays which isn’t much. Most of the game shows this. Even the legs look brand new with no corrosion or rust whatsoever. And it plays through a single player game. I haven’t tested it for a multiplayer game. I normally go through every single mech and switch on a game. I may be selective/strategic with this one if it continues to play OK.

If you were a beginner I'd say what the hell are you thinking. That's as bad as Grand Prix. I want to restore mine and I normally do what you do but GP just intimates me. So many places to go in the ditch. It's working fine so I leave it alone.

#2502 2 years ago
Quoted from paulace:

Everyone has their own favorite, but I think Old Chicago may be my pick for most beautiful playfield...not too busy, love that art deco style, vibrant colors.

The whole game is just gorgeous. I'm biased since it's one of my favorites and pastels don't bother me but the artwork on the backglass and playfield is maybe Christiansen's finest work.

When I restored mine I bought a CPR playfield and had it cleared by Ron Kruzman. It is just flat stunning. I completely repainted the cab, new front door, new side rails, new plastics, but the backglass is original and basically perfect. Bally glasses of this vintage just seem to survive well. My Wizard and Odds and Evens was the same, as was Nip It. Only Time Zone had a bad glass in it.

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#2504 2 years ago
Quoted from paulace:

Nice cab on yours! Just a gorgeous game! I have a friend who has a CPR playfield that he's going to swap into his old machine. Every time I look at that pristine pf (and Kruzman has't even had at it yet), I just want to touch it....is that weird?

Nah.

Those cabs tended to fade badly, pinks and yellows do that. After the repaint mine sits basically in the dark when not being played. It will easily outlast me.

#2517 2 years ago
Quoted from jrpinball:

Overall, I think it's the best pinball backglass ever.

I would concur. Dave Christensen was a great pinball artist, maybe the best, and that's a high bar.

The 70s Bally "boob" backglasses are legendary. OC, Wizard, Twin Win, Night Rider etc

And don't forget Christensen's one off "Big Dick"

1 week later
#2548 2 years ago
Quoted from BleacherBum:

Yes I clear coated the playfield myself. I couldn’t find anyone within 50 miles willing to do it. I used 2 part auto clear (2PAC). Was my first experience using 2PAC. I did a few test run/practicing before I cleared the playfield. I happy with the outcome.

Thank you for your comment. That is an interesting idea I had not thought of. I will have to look into that.

I retire a couple of years ago and working on pins fills up my abundant free time. I also got to learn new skills which, I enjoyed. I am one of those that gets as much pleasure from working on them as playing.

Thank you very much.

How did you reproduce the labels? Really, really nice work.

I had a real nice one that I restored, but I didn't go as far as you did with painting the lightboard and motor board. That's a ton of work. I restored the cab and the playfield.

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#2551 2 years ago
Quoted from BleacherBum:

Thank you for your comments. I got my impression from other Pinsiders posts and restorations. I got a little carried away and ended taking everything completely apart. Might skip that next time.
Instruction labels were largely reproduced from file available on Inkochnito’s Pinball Cards web page http://www.pinballrebel.com/pinball/cards/ His page is hosted by Pinball Rebel. He doesn’t charge for using the files but, does ask for a donation if you like his work. I did send him some money. A couple I had to reproduce on my own. I did this in Word.
For the coil labels, I used a green craft paper that sort makes the originals. The original were very dirty so matching 100% was not in my wheel house. The originals appeared to have a shine to them so, I cover the craft paper with clear packing tapes and then trimmed to size.
For also other labels, I purchased some card stock that was off white.

So all the relay labels, the long strips that tell you what the relay is, are original? Peter doesn't have those on his website that I know of.

I don't know that you went too far. I've been known to take score motors apart to polish them. I don't do it every time but once in awhile you get a wild hair...

#2553 2 years ago
Quoted from BleacherBum:

Those I had to remake. I do not have to capability of print long strips so, I had to staple shorter strips together. I am sure I have those files somewhere if you need a copy.
I pretty much had to disassemble everything as very little worked. It was kind of a mess.

Well, I sold my TZ so I don't need them now. But what font you used would be extremely useful

3 weeks later
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#2596 2 years ago

Shopping out a Hot Tip, restoring my Cross Town, and repainting an Eight Ball Deluxe. Not an EM, still a great game though.

Cross Town playfield cleared.

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#2598 2 years ago
Quoted from Silverstreak02:

That playfield looks great. It’s also a fun game.

The touchups are mine. The clear was done by a more talented friend.

2 weeks later
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#2638 1 year ago

Shopping out a Hot Tip EM for my friend and partner in crime. Extremely nice original game, just needed some playfield cleaning and touchups. Almost done.20220421_101554 (resized).jpg20220421_101554 (resized).jpg20220422_155016 (resized).jpg20220422_155016 (resized).jpg 20220426_192704 (resized).jpg20220426_192704 (resized).jpg20220424_113924 (resized).jpg20220424_113924 (resized).jpg20220424_162546 (resized).jpg20220424_162546 (resized).jpg20220424_184401 (resized).jpg20220424_184401 (resized).jpg20220426_192704 (resized).jpg20220426_192704 (resized).jpg20220502_120238 (resized).jpg20220502_120238 (resized).jpg20220504_195326 (resized).jpg20220504_195326 (resized).jpg20220505_152629 (resized).jpg20220505_152629 (resized).jpg20220509_121604 (resized).jpg20220509_121604 (resized).jpg

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#2668 1 year ago
Quoted from John_in_NC:

I get it. I have completely restored basically worthless games, Spin Wheel (two of them) Merry-Go-Round, Mayfair, Ship-Mates. None are particularly collectible but I liked the art or gameplay or something about them to justify putting much more time effort and money into them than I could possibly ever hope to recoup when I sell.

That's why it's a hobby, not a business. As a member of the "I restored a worthless Merry Go Round" club, to me, regardless of collectability, they will never make these again and we should save as many of them as we can. I didn't get into this to make money. I do it because I love pinball and pinball history and that's what they are...a piece of history

#2670 1 year ago
Quoted from Colsond3:

Here’s my Bally Safari I’m working on. Some people might like my restoration choices, others may not.
Before
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
After
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
[quoted image]

Well, it's not what I would have done but you saved the game and you like it so good on you.

The best touch is the orange dollies

#2673 1 year ago
Quoted from John_in_NC:

Worthless was harsh, perhaps a better choice of words would have been underappreciated?

LOL, sure. It's not the greatest game ever but it's different, I like different. I never had a game before with no outlanes, of course, those three gobble holes are sometimes worse than outlanes. Some of the things on it, like the rotating disc, the different side rails, and that completely monstrous lockdown bar setup, were attractive to me. I wish it had a special on the playfield but other than that, it's fine. I would believe that it's one of those that Wayne Neyens, in his interview with Pinball Magazine, would call "just a game." They had to have something to put out and that was the result. Not every game can be a masterpiece. Doesn't make them any less a part of the history of pinball, or not having some value. When you get it for free and the main investment was a new backglass, at some point it might make a nice cheap game for someone looking to add a pinball machine to their game room.

18
#2675 1 year ago

Just for the record here's my Merry Go Round. Getting new plastics made which will really improve it even more.

Not a great player but different and decent fun to play. The playfield is pretty nice to look at.

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3 weeks later
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#2710 1 year ago

Not an EM but repainting an Eight Ball Deluxe. This is one tricky stencil20220609_163133 (resized).jpg20220609_163133 (resized).jpg

#2722 1 year ago
Quoted from Playdium:

Would hate having to peel that stencil off. Too many small areas.

I thought that too until I did the first cab stencil today. Simple enough, then disaster.

I've noted in the past sometimes the stencils will stick down too hard and leave a residue when you go to peel them off. What happened today was that on steroids. I literally could not peel it off. It was like it was glued on. Small pieces would break off. Eventually it was ruined so time to start over.

I talked to Jeff and he's mystified by this and thinks it's a reaction to the paint. The problem is it happened on the head, but only on one side. Same paint, same stencil, different result. I think it has to do with temp and humidity change when I take it outside to paint. Don't know for sure. With the head done I can't change paint so that's all I can do is try and keep the temp and humidity constant.

Jeff is great to work with and he cut me a replacement. I'll have to re-do the whole side but that's life. You can see it the pictures one area left just small streaks and the other is just massive. I ended up having to razor blade it all off. Nothing else would work.

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#2724 1 year ago
Quoted from Playdium:

Exact same thing happened to me awhile ago. I turned out to be the paint used. Montana spray paint did not react well with the glue on the stencil due to it being a lacquer based paint. I ended up stripping the entire cabinet and changing to a Rust-O-Leum paint. Strange this only occurred on one side for you.

I've used Montana on almost all my restores but have never had this bad an issue. Hell I used Montana White on my Wizard, no issues.

#2732 1 year ago
Quoted from Dono:

Montana cans, like Molotow are acrylic-based and should have no reaction with these stencils. Have used both with Pimp stencils with no issues. Odd problem for sure.

Well, I've sanded back down, re-primed and base coat on. I just find it hard to believe it's the paint because it's hit and miss. I've used the same paint repeatedly and never had this happen.

I'm going to move the cab and stencils to a different location where I can also paint. That way I'll at least eliminate change in heat and humidity as the issue. If I have to change paint that will suck because the head is done and matching will be about impossible.

#2733 1 year ago

Well, I dug into the paint a bit more. Montana Gold is indeed acrylic. But the Montana Black is a nitro cellulose combo that appears to have an lacquer base.

I used a Montana Black paint as the head base coat so no stencil involvement. Then I used a Montana Gold color for the first stencil. No issue. It was the second stencil, a non Gold paint, that caused issues.

On the cab the base was the Gold. First stencil was the head base color, a Black, and that's where the issue got really bad.

Montana Black is nitro cellose with a lacquer base so it may well be the paint.

#2737 1 year ago

Working on the mech panel for my Cross Town. I can't help it, games with the brass plating get polished up...

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#2744 1 year ago
Quoted from Playdium:

Don't use steel wool next time. Just a micro fiber cloth with polish with clean it up.

I didn't use steel wool. I did exactly what you posted.

#2748 1 year ago
Quoted from Playdium:

Wow, I would have thought the scratches were from rubbing with wool.

No. I've been doing this awhile. I know better than to use abrasives on those brass plated pieces.

Those scratches were there under the grime. Some things just can't be avoided unfortunately.

#2761 1 year ago

Cross Town pop bumper brackets after their turn in the tumbler...20220705_123526 (resized).jpg20220705_123526 (resized).jpg

1 week later
#2767 1 year ago

Finally finished off the Eight Ball Deluxe I repainted for my friend. Not an EM game but still a great looking game.

After this one I will testify to the Pimp's warning to not use lacquer paints. The first cabinet stencil basically melted to the cab. Adhesive residue everywhere and the stencil came off it little bitty pieces. Eventually the only way out was to razor blade scrape it off and start over. Switched to an automotive acrylic enamel, no further issues.

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#2769 1 year ago
Quoted from Playdium:

I've been trying to make that point here as well. I'll never use lacquer again because of that.

I got away with it somehow in the past. It finally caught up with me. It was a real mess.

#2771 1 year ago
Quoted from craif:

need to do a few touchups but pretty happy with my first time stenciling on this old chicago
[quoted image][quoted image]

Looks good. I love mine, waited a long time to get it and did a complete restore including a Kruzman cleared CPR playfield.

LOL at all the stencil pieces lying on the ground. Been there...

15
#2789 1 year ago

Started repopulating the playfield for my Cross Town. Still a few things on the underside to do, mainly the ball trough, and I still have to get the cab restored. 20220721_163305 (resized).jpg20220721_163305 (resized).jpg20220721_163404 (resized).jpg20220721_163404 (resized).jpg

#2791 1 year ago
Quoted from rmillman:

EMsInKC
That looks amazing, nice job.

Can't beat those jeweled posts.

I did the touchups. My friend and ace clearcoater did his thing then.

The Eight Ball Deluxe I posted earlier is his, and we agreed he should auto clear it. There's a little detail work to do but with that black cabinet that thing is just beautiful. Obviously glossier than factory but at least on that particular game it really worksj

10
#2792 1 year ago

Getting there. PBR order came on so now I can go to the flippers and the upper arch and lower apron 20220724_204150 (resized).jpg20220724_204150 (resized).jpg

3 weeks later
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#2812 1 year ago

Finished the head repaint on Cross Town. On to the cab. 20220815_172500 (resized).jpg20220815_172500 (resized).jpg 20220816_111445 (resized).jpg20220816_111445 (resized).jpg20220816_131342 (resized).jpg20220816_131342 (resized).jpg

#2817 1 year ago
Quoted from John_in_NC:

Looking good!! I'm right behind you on mine. Is there a source for plastics? Mine are a bit yellowed and faded but intact.

I haven't found any but mine were pretty nice so I polished them up and reused.

Quoted from Playdium:

What webbing are you using?

Believe it or not that is Montana webbing in a can. The big thing is getting the right nozzle, and then the technique. Too far away and it comes out like cobwebs. Too close and it's too heavy. One spot on the left side got a touch heavy and the top did but that was a practice shot and it's never seen. Other than that it's pretty good. Quick burst and you have to really move your hand quickly.

I'm going to order another can and practice some more with it. If not I'll go back to my Weiler brush method.

#2828 1 year ago
Quoted from John_in_NC:

Try the marble effect vs the spider effect. It’s not as difficult to regulate.

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I've got both ordered. We'll see which is better.

Cab is done, awaits the order coming in.

3 weeks later
#2846 1 year ago

Nearly done with Cross Town. Fitted new doors today, work perfectly. Need to paint them then I'll install the light board. New coin door when it comes and I'll be ready to fire this one up.

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1 month later
#2986 1 year ago

1946 Marvel Opportunity.

This is going to be a major challenge. Rusty like it's been on a lake bottom.

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#2990 1 year ago
Quoted from atpcfiaim:

1976 Bally Old Chicago
Lower kick out bonus hole not working. No bonus and ball stuck in saucer. This had happened before and I remember the repair was on the lower relay board. I thought it had to be a normally closed switch and the schematic showed it on the 5000 relay. Cleaning the switch on the kick out itself did nothing. Cleaning the normally closed switch on the 5000 relay fixed the problem.
1971 Bally 4 Million B.C.
Droopy left flipper repaired by tightening the set screws. New problem with this game is the red, green, and blue skill shot to light the bumpers are not resetting between balls and at end of game. Sometimes 2 of the 3 will reset leaving 2 or 3 of the bumpers lit instead of extinguishing between balls. I’m not sure how to fix this one.
1977 Bally Black Jack
Top lanes illuminate bumpers. Very simple circuit and relays that would not stay fixed. Cleaned and adjusted contacts to repair the bumper light problem only to have it fail again the next day. And the next day, etcetera. I finally noticed some sort of greasy lube appeared to be sprayed over those 4 relays. Used a spray-on degreaser several times on the relays and contacts, cleaned and burnished the points. Repair has been bulletproof for a couple months.
[quoted image]

Great looking lineup there.

#2991 1 year ago
Quoted from stashyboy:

Nah, you just need some Marvel Mystery oil!

The real mystery here is if this thing will every fire up again.

No schematic, but the schematic is kinda sorta printed on the underside of the playfield and the back of the lightboard.

I've never worked on anything like this, it's like dropping me in a forest somewhere and telling me to find my way home without a map or compass.

#3000 1 year ago
Quoted from DanMarino:

Any zipper flipper experts out there? I wired up my Fireball zipper flippers and they flip, but do not zip closed or open. Any thoughts on what to look into? I checked the blue mushroom switch and it appears clean and to make contact when hit.
Thanks!

It's more likely your problem is with the coils or the switches on the actual mechanism itself, or on the relay for that particular mushroom bumper.

15
#3016 1 year ago

Finished Cross Town.

High Hand up next..

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4 weeks later
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#3069 1 year ago

Williams Travel Time

Cleaned up the playfield, some touchup work on the head. Quite a bit left to do. Gonna be nice.20221121_152526 (resized).jpg20221121_152526 (resized).jpg20221121_155929 (resized).jpg20221121_155929 (resized).jpg20221123_165909 (resized).jpg20221123_165909 (resized).jpg20221123_171528 (resized).jpg20221123_171528 (resized).jpg

#3071 1 year ago
Quoted from MikeO:

Home use only? Or just well cared for?

Home use for a long time, but not well cared for.

Some planking in the pink and yellow on the left. I've touched that up and Matt will do more plus spot clear.

I played it before bringing it home, thentime unit appeared to be working but so many bulbs were out, who knows?

Pretty dirty but complete. Kind of a novel game so we grabbed it.

#3087 1 year ago

Finished up the lightboard on Travel Time.

Working on this game reminds me how much I enjoy working on Williams games, especially the score reels. Just a better and simpler design all the way around. And the reels themselves can be cleaned in a manner that would leave Gottlieb reels bare of numbers.

A first for me on this one. Not one, but two broken off chime bars.

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3 weeks later
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#3131 1 year ago

Williams Travel Time bottom board cleaned up and re-labeled. Cabinet cleaned and touched up

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#3144 1 year ago
Quoted from stashyboy:

Early mini skeeball from 1930s. Game was a basket case. All new veneer, fabricated two back doors and trim, purchased and finished balls, back glass. Replaced playfield surface. Luckily, most of the relays/steppers were in decent shape and could be restored. It is about 6 feet long, same width as a pinball. Comes apart in 3 sections for transport. Added a 5 inch bell for double scoring. Coin slide is being replated. Fun and challenging game!
[quoted image][quoted image]

That is just way too cool...

1 month later
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#3211 1 year ago

Finishing Ice Revue playfield. My restoration partner cleaned and touched up the playfield and cleared it. I did all the metal polishing, and all the rebuilding of the top and bottom. Just the flippers left and the upper arch and apron to install.

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#3214 1 year ago
Quoted from DanMarino:

Those metal posts are cool when all shined up like that!

There is nothing prettier than the jeweled post and brass plated games.

Check out my partner's work on the kickout holes. Can't do any better

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#3216 1 year ago
Quoted from tscottn:

Decided to start restoring my Target Pool yesterday. Its been sitting in my garage waiting for over a year. Its been about 8 months since I got the Playfield back from being restored and cleared. I figured it was time. This will be a big job since I am going to try and do the stencils myself, as well as all new Pool Ball Stand Up targets need to be painted and installed as well as all the hex bullseye targets need to be replaced. Unfortunately PBR does not have the pool ball stand ups since his hotstamp guy passed, so I have to make them myself. Ugh. Also I'm going to try and make new plastics since the old ones are super yellowed.
I also picked up a repo back-glass from Ron Webb. here are some pics of the beginning.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Nice playfield, rough cab.

Gook luck with all that work.

Those stickers are history, I guess, but most of the time they got stuck on aprons and look like shit on there.

#3225 1 year ago
Quoted from Dono:

It does look great! What product did he use for the kickout putty material? How about the finish on the sanded surface, is that some kind of tinted poly?

I can't remember the filler name, I'll ask him. The finish is amber shellac. If you look at the shooter lane groove, he sanded all that and the ball track out and stained it with that and cleared. I did the wooden rails and cleared those. Perfect match.20230124_170352 (resized).jpg20230124_170352 (resized).jpg

#3226 1 year ago
Quoted from Dono:

It does look great! What product did he use for the kickout putty material? How about the finish on the sanded surface, is that some kind of tinted poly?

JB Weld Kwik Wood epoxy stick. On the amber shellac, covered with two coats of Varathane then urethane auto clear. The clear reacts to the shellac but not Varathane.

1 week later
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#3235 1 year ago

Coin door for Williams Travel Time. Dents removed and polished by my partner

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3 weeks later
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#3254 1 year ago

Gottlieb Ice Revue head and Stern Quicksilver head repaints20230225_165114 (resized).jpg20230225_165114 (resized).jpg20230301_125043 (resized).jpg20230301_125043 (resized).jpg

#3261 1 year ago
Quoted from Murphdom:

Nice job. Homemade or pimp stencils?

Pimp

I'm not near talented enough to do those, especially rhe Quick Silver.

17
#3269 1 year ago

Finished the head on Ice Revue...

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#3273 1 year ago

Stole that from some guy who pulled in off the highway...

#3275 1 year ago
Quoted from Peruman:

Just setup this Set Up. We love to ski, so this one is going to be a keeper. Will need to source a BG for it.
Alberto
[quoted image][quoted image]

The art is almost identical to Seven Up which bgresto has. I wonder if you could get Steve to cover the credit window and add a window for the dummy reel. Assuming the other reels are placed identical to Seven Up.

With on 225 made it's going to be tough. Good luck.

1 week later
#3314 1 year ago
Quoted from A_Bord:

Getting close to the finish line on a nearly planked-to-death Pit Stop. 95% repainted.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

That is outstanding work.

#3315 1 year ago
Quoted from cyberfez:

I am working on a Gottlieb Soccer. The cabinet I just stripped out as it is broken so fitting a new bottom and glueing it all back up. It was a literal barn find so this machine is filthy. Any tips on cleaning the lower panel while it is outside of cabinet? It is completely covered in dirt.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

LOL, wow, that's a dirty one. I've seen some bad ones but that might be the worst I've seen.

1 week later
#3359 1 year ago
Quoted from Bublehead:

There is a KOD remake 4 Player SS at PHOF for those wanting to play it. Compared to my original KOD, it played nearly the same, but the coils were a little bit more "poppy" so action was up.
I talked with Herb Silvers of Pinball Fantasy recently when buying a backglass repro for mine as an insurance policy, he is one of the people responsible for getting 55 of the remakes made. He thought there was a market but the investors kind of got there copies of KOD and got cold feet and left Herb sitting on a bunch of KOD parts. He is a little bitter over it, but he will ship you some extra plastics that replace the chromed playfield pieces, which was a cost savings move on the BOM, but now he has no use for them. He sells the other plastics as repros and spare parts depending if going in a SS or EM version.
As for other titles, I believe that ship has sadly already left the dock... finding the investors to pony up startup cash to produce a 60 year old EM pinball machine is LONG gone.
Peace, BH.

I have to disagree with the play on the SS KOD at PHOF. I played it a few years back and I found it to be kind of slow.

That game just couldn't decide if it wanted to be an EM or a SS. The idea was really good but at least in my opinion, he made two mistakes, one not a deal breaker but the other definitely was.

Putting an EM in a SS cab was a mistake. I understand why he did it but there had to be another way to accomplish that. That was an error, but the biggest mistake was the playfield. I mean, that vinyl overlay is just bad. It plays slowly and I don't think it's going to age well either. That was another cost savings deal but in the end, at least in my opinion, it was the death of that game. Making a real screened playfield would have made all the difference in the world in the play on that game. Hell, it was before they came out, but something like the current hardtops would have been vastly superior.

It's a stretch for those of us who grew up on EMs to accept that game. You go in thinking, and this is partially a bias, that it's an EM, but it just doesn't play like one. It looks mostly like one, but it just doesn't have the feel of one. It feels like the bastard child of an EM and a SS, only it doesn't have the snap of a SS or the aura of an EM. Where you're used to hearing relays and steppers etc, you just get silence. Playing that game was a huge disappointment to me. I was interested in it and Herb tried to get me to buy one, but I held off. That was the right decision because after I actually played it, I would have been selling that game as quickly as I could have.

He made a sample Bank A Ball as a woodrail, with a rotating target in place of the center target. With a real playfield I think that would have been a better game because I think BAB is overall a better game than KOD. KOD gets the love but really, that big carousel roto target takes up so much room and at least to me, it's just not a real good shooter's game.

#3362 1 year ago

I like the play of KoD ok, just like some of the others more. I had BAB and sold it but probably will get another some day. I love the nickel post games and have Cross Town and Buckaroo and my restore partner has World Fair. I really want a King & Queens but it hasn't happened yet. I'm really partial to 60s manual ball lift games in general.

1 week later
#3377 1 year ago
Quoted from dasvis:

My daughter got married & moved out... her old room is now my pinball lair.
Currently working on Old Chicago, High Hand, Amigo, Top card, Royal Guard, & a 1957 Bally bingo machine- Show Time.
OC & HH have minor issues from sitting, Amigo is 80% done, RG is mechanically finished but disassembled for painting, the bingo is a long term project- have 4 of 10 steppers rebuilt is all I have done, TC I have had in storage for over 10 years I think, just got the head & legs on for the first time! Looks like it will be an easy overhaul. Gotta love those Gottlieb wedgies.
The first EM that I ever rebuilt is the only one currently 100% operational... King Kool. Only thing I had to do to it is replace a few bulbs.
That thing is built like a brick shithouse - it never misses a beat. By 1972 Gottlieb had a lot of practice building these..

Yeah, I have a daughter moved out room too. It's being remodeled into...a bedroom.

Wives tend to do that.

14
#3384 1 year ago
Quoted from nomo:

Starting on this little gem! Interesting spin pulses on the main board.
[quoted image][quoted image]

Same spin unit as Flip A Card.

Finished up cab repaint on Ice Revue.

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2 weeks later
10
#3418 12 months ago

Continuing on Ice Revue. Getting closer. Finished up the coin door. Dropped the playfield in to see how many bad sockets I have. Not too many it appears.

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#3433 12 months ago

Nothing left to do but rails etc and replacing a bunch of those bulletproof Gottlieb sockets. Playing 100 percent

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2 weeks later
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#3465 11 months ago

Finished Ice Revue. On to High Hand. Also getting ready to do a KISS cab repaint.

Just finished repairs on the High Hand cab and head and getting started in primer

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#3482 11 months ago
Quoted from A_Bord:

DanMarino, not completely. It's a combo of Vid's guide, the Silhouette Cameo thread, advice from sethbenjamin and scottacus, and a lot of hard knocks. When I get closer to the finish line I'll do a restore thread and try to fill in some details. The more I do this the more I believe trying to recreate the screen printing process with stencils and airbrush is the best approach.

Well it's some nice work however you're doing it.

14
#3495 11 months ago

High Hand cab repaint

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#3503 10 months ago

Finished repaint of High Hand head and cab. Pedestal was a wreck so I made a new one.

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#3505 10 months ago

High Hand stripped down, ready for cleaning, touchups and clearing

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#3508 10 months ago
Quoted from MikeO:

That’s a clean High Hand playfield. Normally they show wear.

Very little wear. Kickout hole is really nice. Just a few minor touchups will be needed.

#3515 10 months ago
Quoted from A_Bord:

One of my favorite Gottliebs from this era. Great to see this one getting some love.

It's amazing. The cab and head were total junk and we had to buy replacements. The lightboard outline section is crumbling and I'm going to have to make a new one. The glass was shot. But the playfield was so nice it was worth the money. Even more amazing, it actually played, to a point. These things were rugged. You treat a SS like these were, it wouldn't even boot.

#3517 10 months ago
Quoted from pinwiztom:

Chances are that another 50 yrs from now,
most EMs will still be working (with a little tune up)
but most S/S Electronic games from 80s thru 2020s
will likely not be working (without a major overhaul).
If you put a properly shopped EM from 1973 and a NIB game from 2023
kept both in a controlled environment storage unit for 50 yrs,
which would you bet on, to fire up and play from the get go?

My Bally Surfers sat for 10 years in my basement without being played.

I plugged it in and started it up. Played like no time had passed.

#3531 10 months ago

Not an EM but starting a KISS repaint.

So many games have rounded off bottom edges and they look like crap. I've started using a router on the inside edge of the bottom of the cab sides and front and back to remove all the jagged plywood you always find there. Cut 1/4" fill pieces and glue in, then I cut skins to cover the bottom then glue and nail. Gives a solid edge and bottom to the cab and improves the finished look after filling and sanding back the outside edge

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#3532 10 months ago
Quoted from EMsInKC:

Not an EM but starting a KISS repaint.
So many games have rounded off bottom edges and they look like crap. I've started using a router on the inside edge of the bottom of the cab sides and front and back to remove all the jagged plywood you always find there. Cut 1/4" fill pieces and glue in, then I cut skins to cover the bottom then glue and nail. Gives a solid edge and bottom to the cab and improves the finished look after filling and sanding back the outside edge
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

1 week later
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#3545 10 months ago

Finished a mini restoration of Travel Time. Cab was just touched up. My partner touched up and cleared the playfield, and I did the rest of the polishing and mechanical stuff. A beautiful game, fun player. Definitely a different game.

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#3548 10 months ago
Quoted from Vic_Camp:

Love the theme, artwork and coloring on that game. So Attractive!

I've always felt Old Chicago was the best looking EM made. This one is right there with it.

Add in the unique game play with the clock and it's definitely a good one.

#3552 10 months ago
Quoted from Playdium:

Real pretty machine. Great color design. How does it play?

Really well. The DC bumpers are great.

I tried to use the original bumper springs and yokes again. Mistake. The springs were about half the size of new ones. The rings wobbled until I just rebuilt it all. I almost always rebuild bumpers but we weren't going to go as deep on this one. I'll never do that again.

I had one issue. The clock would add too many time units. Many times the stepper clock spring is wound too much or not enough. In the process of checking that I accidently touched the spring to the step up coil solder tab. The result was a groove burned into fingers and a blown 24v fuse. But I also discovered that the step up coil was missing the stop and the sleeve. Replacement stop, sleeve and clock spring solved the time add issue.

This thing is infinitely adjustable by how fast or slow you adjust the clock. I jacked the high scores up and made the clock a bit slower. If it gets too easy speed up the clock. Operators could have really made this game almost impossible with high replay scores and a fast clock.

1 week later
#3569 10 months ago
Quoted from bicyclenut:

Ive been in the hobby awhile and every time i pick up a parts machine, i end up restoring it and making a whole game again. its a sickness i think

I've got an Egg Head that fits this. Total parts machine until I got a NOS playfield for it. Now it will be restored.

1 week later
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#3593 9 months ago

Gottlieb High High. I've finished the cab repaint and the bottom board. My partner is working on thr playfield. But now the fun begins. I have to reproduce the outer part of of the lightboard because it is crumbling and disintegrating. Just a bit of woodworking. Working on cleaning up all the coin door mechs now.

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#3595 9 months ago
Quoted from MikeO:

Nice work. You really like this game to go to the length you have.
When did you get an Olympics?

A couple of weeks ago. Got it and Bowling Queen up near Chicago.

Check out how badly this glass faded...

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#3599 9 months ago
Quoted from Mopar:

Last year I traded an Olympics to someone near Chicago.
It came with a new backglass in the box. His name is Tony.
I have an original Square Head glass that has that one beat
as far as faded. It's literally black and white. I'll be going through
it eventually. I'll have to dig it out and take a pic..

Different game, he wasn't Tony and no new glass, I had to buy that one...

#3601 9 months ago
Quoted from beadwindow:

EMsInKC
what did you use for the splatter paint on the cab? looks like localized areas of webbing.

Montana marble effect. It's not the best solution out there for sure but in general it does ok. It's a balance between lots of coverage and too heavy a webbing. I'm still getting the process better.

#3603 9 months ago
Quoted from Mopar:

The Square Head was only a couple rows in with the head facing outward.
I had this machine quite a few years, but it must have been in the sun (or
something) much of its early life. This glass may have stayed pretty decent
if it hadn't been exposed to something that made such a change to the colors..
It's solid, but the cabinet's faded much also, but I do remember it having a
nice playfield, and I've had a new repro backglass waiting for it in the spare
bedroom..[quoted image][quoted image]

Don't let Ken Head see that Team One

By any chance was that game located on Mercury? That's some serious fading now...

12
#3606 9 months ago

Lightboard face was disintegrating. Cut out a new one, installed, test fit in game with an old glass to ensure fit. I'll remove and paint soon.

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#3609 9 months ago

Painted the lightboard, and installed and glass in. Head is finished.

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#3610 9 months ago
Quoted from A_Bord:

Damn! Great work on the lightboard. I've also had good luck with the Montana marble, at least for games where that type of webbing was used.
I finally got around to continuing my Moulin Rouge thread with my cabinet repaint photos.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/moulin-rouge-em-restore-a-remis-en-etat-un-flipper
[quoted image]

Thanks. I really appreciate it.

The problem with the marble is getting it on there without it looking like some kid took a Sharpie to it. Still trying to refine the technique.

Glad to see those old Williams games get saved. Good work.

#3614 9 months ago
Quoted from stashyboy:

I use the touch up gun technique. I only have a smallish compresser, but doesn't require tons of air. Low pressure (40-45 lbs). I spray a rattle can webbing into the gun cup, usually silver and black, maybe a few drops of black enamelfrom a brush can, add a bit of lacquer thinner, mix and shoot. A few ounces is enough to do a cabinet. Others have slightly different formulas, but works for me and gives more variety and finer lines.
[quoted image][quoted image]

How do you set the gun?

#3619 9 months ago
Quoted from stashyboy:

It's wide open (screw just catching the threads. It will spit some. Not an exact science, just trial and error. One additional step is seal later with clear, then lightly sand to knock down the high spots.

I'm going to clear after base now anyway. Stencils seem to be awfully sticky and have pulled paint and even wood.

Thanks for the tip. I'll try it on the next one.

#3630 9 months ago
Quoted from firefighter:

My dentist bought these 2 on a farm sale and brought them to me that were dead but got them up and running. Funny that both the 10 units were stuck that kept them from going.
I will rebuild the flippers , new lights and rubbers for now and if he likes them then I will restore the cabinets.
[quoted image]

Had both of those, still have River Boat. RB is a great player. TS is good, but RB is better.

#3645 9 months ago
Quoted from pevo:

1974 Williams Skylab here. Brought it home without Really looking it over(Seller said 2 others ppl wanted it if i didnt buy it). Back rear of cabinet falling apart(particle board) bottom literally falling out. Entire left side of motorboard looking like it was submerged in saltwater/battery acid or a couple years. Scoremoter was froze-up with rust. Needless to say only the lights would come on and thats all.
I soaked the motor and gearbox with liquid wrench for a day and to my amazement i got it unfroze and running. Reinstalled it and the game turned on...despite Every relay and cloth wrapped wire along the whole left side was krusted up in rust along with all the wiring looking corroded looking like car battery corrosion. Any movement of those wires and all the cloth insulation wood fluff off.
Despite all this the game actually more or less played. The outhole kicked constantly and it kept scoring 2 thousand points but it more or less functioned.
At that point instead of parting it or dumping it on someone else...i decided to refurb/store it. Its not going back to 100% original...but close. No im not removing every single wire/nut/bolt...and no im not ultla soinc cleaning and polishing every part to a chrome like finish. Mostly removing rust and cleaning up stuff.
Heres some progress pix. At this point the whole bottom has been done. Working on backbox now. Will endup on the playfield.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Dude, if you're going to repaint the inside of the cab like that, you definitely should ultrasonic and polish stuff. You're letting the rest of your excellent work down if you don't.

#3652 9 months ago
Quoted from gameroomfan:

Have numerous Gottlieb project machines I’m looking to move. Most are 60s titles, a couple 70s.
Titles include:
Cover Girl
Big Casino
Foto Finish
Sunset
Fashion Show
Bonanza
Happy Clown
Cleopatra (SS)
Bronco
Overall condition of machines vary. Some have redone cabs from previous owners. Others require complete rest/refurb.
PM me for photos and or questions. Machines located in Highlands Ranch CO. Will consider reasonable offers. [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Is that a Merry Go Round in the background?

#3655 9 months ago
Quoted from gameroomfan:

Not sure which photo you’re referring to. But, no don’t have a Merry go Round in the group.

First picture, yellow with a green stripe. Very similar to a Merry Go Round I restored. Sometimes they get repainted like that, it's a little easier than the original design which wasn't hard really

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#3661 9 months ago
Quoted from pevo:

Been keeping my eye out for a Jet spin, actually a buckaroo, cowpoke too. Basically a Gotti with a spinning target

You mean a roto target. A spinner is totally different

2 weeks later
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#3745 8 months ago

Starting the cab restore on my first game Bally Surfers, owned since 1971

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#3749 8 months ago
Quoted from Mopar:

Wow! Been in the hobby a while..

I was 13 when I got it. Only game I owned until 2010. After about 1985 it was kind of pushed into a corner and it mostly sat until then. Plugged it in and it fired up and played. That's when I started collecting and restoring, much to my wife's dismay.

#3753 8 months ago
Quoted from ourdave76:

EMsInKC Love that neon clock. Did you remove the original clock face and add the pinball face?

Nope. That's how I bought it.

Thing eats batteries though. Wish it was AC powered along with the neon

#3755 8 months ago
Quoted from ourdave76:

Where did you find it?

Just search neon pinball machine clocks and they show up.

#3764 8 months ago

Head of Surfers painted, spattered and glass frame and front painted. Now will clear before stenciling

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#3765 8 months ago

Also, Surfers cab first fill skim coat. The grain is impossible to sand smooth on this.

Will glass bead blast the cab interior tomorrow

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#3767 8 months ago
Quoted from A_Bord:

Looks great. Love your webbing.

Thank, technically on this one it's spatter. A little webbing still creeps in in places.

#3769 8 months ago
Quoted from bcarter1234:

Those came out well as expected of your work. You are going to be glad you have this one. It is good enough I won't feel so bad about taking Capersville down long enough to provide the love that old mica covered cabinet deserves.
I just have to spend more time playing Pit Stop against others to see what feels right for awarding extra balls. Today I had one ball that turned into five, so maybe a bit too lenient. Very fun for someone starting out though and it can lead to some spectacular come from behind victories. I only play this one for Lap count.
I do have a few general questions.
1) How common was it for 2" flipper machines to use two rubbers? I've currently got them on Capersville and it definitely changes the game play. I will test them on Pit Stop but I think it will significantly lower the flipper skill required.
2) What sizes would be used?
3) Is it crazy to clearcoat a playfield for playability while leaving the original paint as is? I kind of like the patina but would appreciate the smooth playing surface.
[quoted image]
Thanks for reading.
Brent

On a zipper flipper game I would use one. My Surfers had two but I took one off. I only use two as a bit of a cheat on really wide flipper gaps, amazing but it does help. People try and claim two was factory but I just don't buy that.

They are 1" rings.

On the clearing, your game, your call. What kind of clear? You're going to have to clean it thoroughly in any case. The shooter lane and upper arch are usually pretty dirty.

Great game. Wish I had one.

#3772 8 months ago
Quoted from A_Bord:

Not crazy at all. Added bonus is that you get flat inserts and no new wear. Just make sure you aren't sealing in any dirt that you could get rid of. You can play it to your heart's content and then if you ever want to touch up your paint the first step is done. Personally I would fix all the black keylining, especially circles around inserts, before clearing. If keylines are intact your brain perceives a lot less damage.

It is amazing how much just the keylines make the playfield look so much better.

It's a delicate balance on cleaning up a playfield. You really want the dirt.and ball swirls out but there's always a danger of damaging what's there. Go easy on the cleaning. One bad outcome is a lesson I unfortunately learned doing this.

#3776 8 months ago

Results of bead blasting the interior of the Surfers cab...20230818_155905 (resized).jpg20230818_155905 (resized).jpg

#3786 8 months ago
Quoted from ShopRat:

Going to be trying my hand at bringing back a rough 1959 Gottlieb lightning ball. It looks complete, but left wood side rail has damage and a few inches missing.
If anyone has a lead on a left rail or a parts cab, please pm me. I believe 1955-59 would work.
SR

That is a great game. PBR has the rails.

#3788 8 months ago
Quoted from ShopRat:

I called Steve Friday. He is out of stock. :-/

Keeping the website up to date...

Could you remove the other rail and find a cabinet shop that could do it?

2 weeks later
#3811 7 months ago
Quoted from stashyboy:

Unless someone has direct knowledge of the factory doings, we may never know for sure. Maybe they tried a different glue? I bet the inserts were fine the few years these games were on location, so who knows.....also as for quality of posts, my experience has been they may have over tightened them causing the splitting.....all speculation of course.......

As someone who has restored games from the 50s through the 80s, my experience has been quality of materials got slowly worse over time. Moreso in the wood quality but also in materials used throughout the games. They just got cheaper and cheaper in what they did. Restore a mid 60s game vs mid 70s and it's pretty obvious.

It would not surprise me that whatever caused these issues was the result of some attempt to squeeze more money by cheapening some part of the process.

3 weeks later
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#3843 6 months ago
Quoted from mbaumle:

I bought this Abra ca Dabra 3 years ago. It’s finally getting its time in the limelight. First order of business: get that damn metal plate unbolted from the bottom of the cabinet. [quoted image]

Well, that's timely!. This is a Wizard conversion game. I'm just doing the cab repairs and repaint for Mike O

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#3850 6 months ago
Quoted from MikeO:

The 2001 was rough to begin with and had been cannibalized long ago. I've had that cabinet sitting in my garage since 2009. It was purchased as a replacement cabinet for a 2001 I had at the time that had been painted over in oil based paint. I ended up finding a complete nice 2001 so this one continued as parts for other games. The playfield went to a good home where theirs was trashed and the head with guts went to a Dimension body that was missing the head. He will obviously have some rewiring to do.
I still have the motor relay board although it is missing some parts.
When Ken and I spawned the Wizard project this shallow body cabinet was immediately locked in as my donor cabinet. I'm lucky to have access to Scott. His work is great.

Mike is way too kind here.

#3863 6 months ago

Finished the head for the Wizard conversion game

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1 week later
11
#3889 6 months ago

Continuing my restore of my first game, Bally Surfers that I got in 1971.

Head is basically done, cab has base and spatter on. Moved to the bottom board. All mechs removed, cleaning all 21 relays down there and repainting the board

Motor is done.

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#3891 6 months ago
Quoted from RollingBallTom:

I am trying to figure out how to come up with a replacement for the pull coil on the zipper flippers on my Fireball. Got it all apart and seeing if I can get a drop target reset coil to work.

I may be wrong but I think Steve Young will rewind the original. Doesn't hurt to ask. Worst case he says no

#3900 6 months ago

Working on two games. Bally Surfers and Gottlieb High Hand.

Surfers head finished and cleared. Cab has first clear on it. Bottom boards sanded and painted, continuing to clean up all relays.

High Hand playfield has been cleaned, all wood areas sanded and stained, cleared, now for touchups

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1 week later
14
#3916 6 months ago

Bally Surfers cabinet repaint completes, still needs final clear.

Bottom board all cleaned up, all relays (all 21 of them) disassembled, cleaned and adjusted, boards sanded and repainted and everything back on with new labels and relay strips

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#3924 5 months ago
Quoted from dr_nybble:

I've got to the score reels in Egg Head. Some wires are routed through a metal hole so I'd have to desolder them to remove the wire harness from the frame. Worse, the main wire connection is riveted to the frame. I'll do the best I can to clean them up in situ. Thought about drilling out the rivets but don't think I'm willing to go that far.
[quoted image]

Spray the whole thing with Bleche White if you can get it up there.

Short any parts, let me know.

1 week later
#3948 5 months ago

Vic's wedgehead collection is top notch. SteamVette out here in the Midwest has a great one too.

Surfers back up on legs. Head all back together, new backglass installed. Get new plastics and I'll finish it up.

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#3951 5 months ago

Just have to get the plastics and finish the playfield

20231112_175101 (resized).jpg20231112_175101 (resized).jpg

#3978 5 months ago
Quoted from Skidave:

That cap is to suppress the coil back EMF and RF noise from switch contact arcing. Much like some flipper assemblies have a cap across the switch contacts. The capacitors Garrett mentioned are electrolytic caps used to filter AC ripple for DC power supplies. This is not an electrolytic. It is a polyester or polystyrene.

Isn't that the job of a diode?

#3980 5 months ago
Quoted from Skidave:

Diodes stop back EMF. Caps reduce high frequency noise along with it.

You said the cap is there to prevent back spike.

2 weeks later
11
#4003 4 months ago

Rails and lockdown bar for High Hand polished up

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2 months later
16
#4073 74 days ago

NOS TKO playfield touched up and clearcoated and new wood rails I made.

Getting ready for repopulating everything

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#4077 72 days ago

Playfield repopulation started. Old plastics, awaiting repros

20240212_155139 (resized).jpg20240212_155139 (resized).jpg20240212_154722 (resized).jpg20240212_154722 (resized).jpg

#4080 69 days ago

TKO playfield swap done and it's breathing. Got a few problems to sort out but not bad considering the initial condition

20240214_191230 (resized).jpg20240214_191230 (resized).jpg20240215_161144 (resized).jpg20240215_161144 (resized).jpg

1 month later
13
#4121 15 days ago

1958 Gottlieb Brite Star.

Dead for 40 years. Checked the fuses, replaced the power cord, hit the hold. It lights up.

Started it with the trip bank, resets and it actually scores and playfield works. Even the roto.

Someone painted the wood, and had bent stainless to make metal rails. Ugh. That's all gone. Will remove and refinish and repro the side rails. Going to do a good restore on this.

20240407_173336 (resized).jpg20240407_173336 (resized).jpg20240407_173810 (resized).jpg20240407_173810 (resized).jpg20240407_181006 (resized).jpg20240407_181006 (resized).jpg20240407_170818 (resized).jpg20240407_170818 (resized).jpg20240407_171629 (resized).jpg20240407_171629 (resized).jpg

#4123 13 days ago

O

Quoted from pinwiztom:

Should have left the cigarette burn marks and gouges on the lockdown bar.
At least you documented it, to preserve the history.

That would have required leaving the paint, and that wasn't happening.

I have no fondness for cigarette burns on games. Just like I have no fondness for rusty aprons caused by beer spills on the glass. I love restoring these pieces of history, but not all history needs preserved.

If I want to see a cigarette burn all I have to do is go look at my dresser from my childhood. There's one on there from my dad leaving a heater burning on it.

1 week later
#4130 4 days ago

Finished the lightboard on the 1958 Gottlieb Brite Star. All the relays, steppers and reels gone through and cleaned up and adjusted. Front of the lightboard repainted

This is the first game I've ever done that has the option of 10 replays for a double match so the credit unit has two step up coils. One steps the unit once, the other twice. I don't haventhe schematic yet but my assumption is the one coils goes through the cam on the motor with five lobes so it's pulsed 5 times to achieve the 10 replays.

I've only done two woodrails, first Gottlieb, and didn't know they painted the inside of the head and cab green.

I've emptied the cab and will be starting on the relay board next. Also getting stencils made.

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