I am starting a post to document what I am doing with my Space Shuttle. Great game. Mine plays well, but has some issues that will need to addressed to make it last a little longer. This isn't a professional restoration. I'm just looking to make it better than it was.

First of all, paid way to much for this one, but wanted the game and had the money.

A couple of days before I go to pick up the game, the guy texts and says the GI in the backbox isn't working. When i get there, it isn't just the backbox GI, but all of the GI. I removed the board and reflowed some solder in that section. Turns out it is an issue with the relay. Seems like the plastic cover may have deformed and is hindering the movement of the relay. I may replace it, but for now, it is working.

Here are some before pictures. Not great because my flash wasn't working.

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Here are some better pictures as I start to tear it down.

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Pretty dirty with some damaged paint. Here is one big problem:

the mylar is in pretty rough shape around the inserts. You can read the decals when they are lit, but they look terrible otherwise. No choice but to remove the mylar.

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Here is the other big problem:

crazy damage around the pops. You can't see it when you are playing (or before you drive 100 miles to buy it), but I certainly can't live with this.

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I am still considering it, but I am taking the opportunity first to see if the original can be saved. It is great to know that if I hate how it turns out, I can always sand it down and get the hard top.

My son and I are working on the project together. I enjoy messing with this kind of stuff. If it becomes horrible, hard top will happen, because I love this game.

I've got the LEDs. I triple thicked the backglass, I ordered a new rubber kit and some parts. I'm going to try to fix it first. If I don't like how it comes out I'll do the hard top.

Here are some more pics of damage.

one of the hot dog inserts is cracked.

Some of the exposed paint is flaking.

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Every pro was once a beginner, Right Vid?

Here is the playfield without the mylar. Didn't lift very much paint

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Having trouble with the glue underneath using the flour and alcohol trick. I only had 70% in the house, so I'm going to get 90+% tomorrow and see if that helps. Glue is coming up, but my fingers are starting to blister. Could be a long time getting it up. It comes off of the inserts, just requires more pushing than i have seen in other videos.

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It all seems sticky. So far, all of it balls up, it just hurts my fingers.

Finally got all of the glue off. 91% alcohol worked a lot better. I looked back to Vid's tips and followed his strategy of pushing the flour into the glue (as much as I could). I then vacuumed the extra away, wet it with alcohol, let it dry almost completely, then sprinkled a little flour on top and rubbed. The glue was still too sticky if I didn't add a little more flour at the end. Could be i didn't push enough flour into the glue in the first place, but wasn't sure how to do it better.

I lost more paint in the glue removal process than I did in the mylar removal. Not sure it it was loose paint or touched up paint that rubbed away with the glue.

Cleaned up the other areas of the playfield. Now it is ready for some touch-painting.

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Yep. Lots of touch up indeed. Since I'm not shooting for a perfect machine, I didn't stress too much. Colors weren't always a perfect match. The biggest places I needed to touch up were the pop bumper area, the bare spot at the bottom of the ramp and some flaking paint on the right side by the lock. Did some work with insert boarders etc. Sealed it with Varathane and waxed it twice. Some of the dried wax is still sticking in some of the surface imperfections. I'll need to buff a bit more to get that cleaned up.

Also started the switch to LEDs

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Since the pop bumper area is mostly covered by the plastic, I wasn't as concerned about how it looks up close. From the playing position it looks much better than it did.

Yep. Way fancy neighborhood. I was able to talk him down quite a bit, but still paid much more than I think it was worth. Most times I am frugal, This time I just couldn't wait.

I still may eventually do a hard top, but I'll wear it out more first.