The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => Restorations => Topic started by: Mr Pinbologist on May 18, 2016, 08:01:03 AM
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G'day all
Some pics of a Fish Tales i'll be doing for Ian (aka howzat) here on AP.
He scored this one, complete with its busted playfield glass from a local car dealer who had had a few pins over the years, this was the last one which he'd had in storage for a lot of years where something was dropped onto the PF glass @.@
Ian's a motor trimmer/upholsterer by trade, and he did a barter deal with the car yard owner who wanted some seats retrimmed in a Commodore from his personal car collection, and $500 cash for the pin. I think Ian did pretty good getting the pin for that deal, as i inspected the game for him, the only main issue with the pin i found (apart from the glass everywhere) was a dead sound board, and the topper was damaged, broken where it screws down.
The game booted up when we powered it up, DMD was good, no dots out etc and all of the boards looked good (except the sound board which had blown output chips). The MPU, the batteries were JUST starting to leak so no acid damage to the board which was my biggest concern, having sat for many years unused. Another nice surprise was i saw NONE of the usual power/driver board connector hacks!! So it shouldn't take much to get it all fully up and running #*#
The game has the usual fading of the cabinet, The hunt for parts has started.. i have new chrome legs and a new topper here already, and cab decals have been ordered.
Ian can chime in with some more info on the deal or anything i've forgotten about :D
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0001_zpsimilfeeq.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0002_zps32vipumq.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0003_zpsppx9rnui.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0004_zps40w5djop.jpg)
Ian removed a lot of the glass when he dropped the game off while he was here, revealing what will be a SWEET playfield, a few slightly raised inserts but NO WEAR that I can see!!
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0005_zpsjpnlryrx.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0006_zpsmnhirhrk.jpg)
Will add more at a later date as the project progresses, I still have a few other games ahead of this one but i'll do my best to squeeze this one in for Ian *%*
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Nice pickup :) I'm a fan of FT such a fun game. Will be watching this resto with great interest
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WOW free diamonds ^^^
such a fun beautiful game.
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Should clean up nicely. ^^^
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Very worthy of a resto. One of the best pinballs ever made.
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Very cool pickup and a nice story to go with it, can't beat that! Looking forward to seeing the resto.
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You will be finding glass for months lol. But well worth a resto
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Glad to see it is in good hands before going to it's new home.
Plastics Set is on it's way from the USA - so let me know if you need one !
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Be watching this with interest, got one to do myself ^^^
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really interested to see how you piece together all that glass and make it one piece again !@# Can't wait for the next instalment ^^^
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Glad to see it is in good hands before going to it's new home.
Plastics Set is on it's way from the USA - so let me know if you need one !
I'm not sure if Ian wants to replace the whole set, but it definitely could use some Sling plastics as they are a bit sorry looking *%*
Also the center plastic between the two ramp entries has a chip out of one edge, the others look ok.
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Totally up to you guys but I changed my pop bumper skirts and caps to blue and changed the lane guides to green . Looks heaps better than standard colours IMO .
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Mr maloo
I like the look of yours its very tempting
This game I spotted approx 2 yrs ago and its been like it since
The car yard owner needs the space as he has 15 unfinished car projects chevies sandman pannel vans brock c/dores just to name a few
I carnt understand how he could have so many projects as they are all worth so many $
It will be great to have a DMD game all mine are wide body SS which I luv from back in the old arcade days
Mitch has been collecting parts so we can start on the resto Im looking fwd to doing what I can to help him mainly cleaning and sanding :lol Ian
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Some goodies for Fish Tales have arrived..
Cab decals arrived today #*#
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0007_zpsyvzepmbq.jpg)
And topper and new chrome legs which arrived a couple of weeks ago
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0008_zps0axdcdyo.jpg)
It looks like i'll be starting on this game soon, I'm putting Ian to work on stripping the old decals off the cabinet so i can do the necessary repairs before the new decals go on.
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A bit more progress on Fish Tales has been made;
Have made a start on the cabinet, Ian and i stripped everything out of the cab and backbox a few weeks ago.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0009_zpstivnrulu.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0010_zpsfigdxq6z.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0011_zpskutqev5v.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0012_zps4hzximof.jpg)
Backbox stripped of all parts, ready for paint stripping and repairs.
Luckily not much repair was needed on the backbox and cabinet, both being pretty solid.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0013_zpsmuaawa7v.jpg)
I put Ian to work stripping the paint off the backbox and cabinet :D
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0014_zpsl3w8ubyv.jpg)
Something i do on any cab that is getting decals is to seal the bottom panel with a clear coat to protect the MDF from water damage. I'll be using the soapy water method to apply the decals (with Ian's help of course!!) *%*
He took it upon himself to snap a pic of me spraying the bottom panel!
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0016_zpsmxgxzkgy.jpg)
First coats of primer applied; Backbox..
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0018_zpsr6etvp4i.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0019_zpsuwh1p1wc.jpg)
And cabinet. I've added a black guide coat to aid in finding low spots that need further filling later on.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0021_zpsclwbnfhw.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0022_zpsintsczh2.jpg)
And i have to say, what a royal PAIN IN THE ARSE it is removing the bloody decal glue ^.^ I'd read about people using white spirits to remove it, and i'd even watched you tube videos of guys using it to remove the glue.
In the finish the quickest way i found was to use paint thinners and a razor blade to scrape it off.
I'm just glad that i dont have to work on too many decalled cabs!!
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G'day all, time for a bit of a progress update on Fish Tales;
I've been working on the cabinet, its coming along nicely, needing a lot less work than F-14 did!!
Cab edges painted black in preparation for decal application.
The back of the backbox was tidied up a bit, i didn't renew the warning text as is usually done as it wasn't too bad so i simply redid the black as needed, then shot a matt clear over the whole back of the backbox and cabinet back.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0023_zpsolq0r7k3.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0024_zpsnzbuhlr3.jpg)
Lockdown bar mech tidied up while waiting for the cab paint to cure.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0025_zpsnlxuwisz.jpg)
Cab decals DONE #*# with some help from Ian (howzat) we got them applied. The 'wet' method was used again same as F-14 *%*
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0026_zps3ut3ucz3.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0027_zpsh9njdf7h.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0028_zpstyzljsaq.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0029_zpsvw8tuj4n.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0030_zpsscbvurh3.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0031_zpsv7aeyhx2.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0037_zpsc2nradt9.jpg)
Coin door components and backbox hinges painted.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0032_zpsajh4n2nb.jpg)
After a little experimenting i managed to get a reasonably close match to the original finish on the coin door and coin entry plate.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0034_zpsbmkc4opz.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0035_zps1bycjgba.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0033_zps9q6ar6or.jpg)
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^^^ FT has one of the best cabinets out there. So colourful and funny. Great stuff.
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Awesome work on the cabinet. The colours really POP on this game with the new decals ^^^
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Great Job! Its good to see some restoration threads back. ^^^
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I had a fun Saturday morning helping Mitch put the decals on *%*
It looks great and when finished im sure it will be better than new howzat
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Just a small update for now;
Not a lot of progress to report at this stage but it's starting to happen a bit quicker now F-14 is nearing completion!
Shooter handle polished up on the buffing wheel and refitted. The button was frozen up so it had to be dismantled and cleaned.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0045_zpsbsdsdozp.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0046_zps5p7gzojz.jpg)
And some playfield work started. I had to construct another playfield rotisserie so i could start on this one :D
before disassembly..
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0038_zpsxwnyk08x.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0039_zpsv1h57eup.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0040_zpsrnjfhmwu.jpg)
Most of the parts removed,
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0041_zps86ch1k2v.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0042_zpsdiddbtjy.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0044_zpsihumhj5z.jpg)
Top section before cleaning..
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0048_zps5b9eomhc.jpg)
and after.. i removed the mylar from the bumper area as well, and replaced it with a fresh new piece.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0050_zpspexyajgy.jpg)
And some goodies arrived yesterday!!
New plastics from RTBB $#$
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0051_zpsndyk0a9z.jpg)
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Looking good. The cabinet looks great and the playfield is coming up a treat under all that grime.
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Looking Good.
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One of the better Fishtales playfields I've seen for a while.
Will be taking delivery of the FT Ramp before Christmas if you need one #@#
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Update time :D
Stainless guides regrained... BEFORE
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0057_zpsaaunnwqw.jpg)
And AFTER
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0058_zpsspinycbb.jpg)
Reassembly started, new yellow posts were purchased to replace the originals since they are cheap to replace :D
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0054_zps5axwcmza.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0055_zpsdt0jgtw3.jpg)
We changed the top lane guides to green and bumper caps and skirts to blue as suggested by MrMaloo in a previous post..
looks much better than the original red *%*
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0059_zpsx7ksb8kx.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0060_zpsdrauogcz.jpg)
One problem i discovered at the last minute before refitting the playfield into the cab, was a broken arm that knocks the drop target down.. with no time to find and order a replacement it was time to get creative *%* and this is what i came up with :D
i cut a piece of steel to suit and riveted it onto the original arm, not an ideal solution i know but it works a treat!
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0064_zpsw728291a.jpg)
With that problem sorted and everything working as it should the playfield was fitted back into the cabinet
LEDs were used for most of the G.I especially in hard to get at areas, like under plastics. I used them under the bumper caps too.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0063_zpsphjmuuiq.jpg)
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I fitted some protectors from Homepin to protect the new decals
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0065_zpszlbyq472.jpg)
And here is my fix for a pretty major problem i found with the playfield. The playfield was bowed BADLY in the center causing the ball to roll inwards so i fabricated this brace to straighten the p/f surface. It bolts through the playfield at the ends and has two adjustable bolts to push up from beneath and make the surface straight and level.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0067_zpsftn4l7sn.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0068_zpsgd6mgjlj.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0069_zpspn6es7ew.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0070_zps8w8jng4w.jpg)
The game played TERRIBLE without this mod.. was like playing Stern's Orbitor 1 %.% %.%
I must say i HATED having to do this kind of mod but it was no good how it was *.* *.*
It was also necessary to machine down two of the pins inside the cab that the playfield slides on to clear the brace.
Took me a couple of hours in all to make it all work!
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The game is now completed and was picked up yesterday
So here are the last lot of pictures!
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0072_zpsot4shiyf.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0071_zps2tfp3w5z.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0075_zpsygyumc2m.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0076_zpsdkqq51xv.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0077_zpsygk16tc0.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0078_zpslbtyzkm6.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0079_zpsf62hocjv.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0080_zps62bovynv.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0081_zpssclvucfk.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0083_zpsn2yuge7i.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0084_zpso97eyp5m.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/Fish%20Tales/0085_zpsl5t5bjxi.jpg)
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And here is my fix for a pretty major problem i found with the playfield. The playfield was bowed BADLY in the center causing the ball to roll inwards so i fabricated this brace to straighten the p/f surface. It bolts through the playfield at the ends and has two adjustable bolts to push up from beneath and make the surface straight and level.
Fairly common problem that with Fishtales and some other titles too I believe, seems to be a problem with the assembly of the side rails to the playfield.
The join of the side rails randomly ends up under the playfield pivot, causing it to bend.
Tim from HRP mentions it in his Safe Cracker resto
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And here is my fix for a pretty major problem i found with the playfield. The playfield was bowed BADLY in the center causing the ball to roll inwards so i fabricated this brace to straighten the p/f surface. It bolts through the playfield at the ends and has two adjustable bolts to push up from beneath and make the surface straight and level.
Fairly common problem that with Fishtales and some other titles too I believe, seems to be a problem with the assembly of the side rails to the playfield.
The join of the side rails randomly ends up under the playfield pivot, causing it to bend.
Tim from HRP mentions it in his Safe Cracker resto
Yeah i figured it might be a common problem with Fishtales. I was guessing it might be due partly to the large section cut out in the upper section for the boat !@# and the weight of the playfield and all of the fixtures.
Anyhow the game is now back home and set up in Ian's line up, i'll get some pics next time i'm there and add them to this thread *%* (and most likely getting a good workout as i type this!!) :D
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Yes im haveing fun on it :lol
The game turned out really nice a couple of lane guides and bumper caps where changed from original as Mitch mentioned but it suits it #*#
It gives my line up a diffrent look as its the only normal size game i have
The brace idea was very cleaver. Hopefully other guys can use the same setup to straighten p/f that bowe
Im having 2 diffrent xmas parties so we can give them all a good work out Howzat
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Wow! Great stuff, it's turned out beautifully.