The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => Restorations => Topic started by: illawarra_steelers on March 28, 2009, 08:37:22 PM
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Well it had been about 6 months since my last 'pinball hit' and after buying 12 pins last year was really hanging for a fix.
So while speaking with my good mate Michael Shalhoub last week was asking about the new games he will have for sale soon and he mentioned he still had the Gottlieb Thoro-Bred from 1965 for sale. I had seen this game around 12 months ago and it really grabbed my attention. The game needs a heap of work as can be seen in the attachments.
Not sure what it was about this game that screamed at me to save it.
This will be a 12 month project and this is where we sit today. Picked up the pin this morning and have set it up in my gamesroom next to Happy Clown (man, what a name for a pinball :lol).
The cabinet has been painted - not in the usual white house paint but has some cool original horse art on it. The original design will be pretty easy to reproduce and I will start stripping the cab tomorrow afternoon. The respray of the cab will be first job. After the success of the Apollo respray I'm pumped for this.
The backglass was better that I had originally thought. The reds and browns have issues and have taken better pix and will post early next week. The right lower corner has some issues...but I need to think this backglass is 43 years old. She will come up OK and is the least of my problems right now.
The playfield came already stripped of nearly all parts. All parts supplied in a box except for the flipper shafts - no issue and easily replaced. All playfield plastics in excellent condition. The pop bumper caps have seen better days but they would of been replaced anyway. The playfield will be shipped to Gav after Expo and he will be able to work his magic here. Mechanically the game inside is perfect, even both bell assemblies are present. There is one burnt flipper coil but the entire flipper units will be pulled out and replaced with rebuild kits. There is one score reel missing but that can also be replaced.
So I'm not kidding myself - this is a major piece of work but will be worth it in the end. This game also rates a 8.0 on the IPDB which really surprised me.
I'm heading out now to start on her *%*
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Really nice pin, Tony.
Playfield looks to be in very good condition for its age. Are you going to clearcoat ?
Keep the updates coming mate!
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Thats cool tony look forward to your updates. Let me know if you need any parts and ill have a look for ya.
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Really nice pin, Tony.
Playfield looks to be in very good condition for its age. Are you going to clearcoat ?
Keep the updates coming mate!
That is upto Mr Retropin :lol Will leave this one in his hands *%*
Sad between/around the bumpers and has seen better days around the flippers !!!
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Thats cool tony look forward to your updates. Let me know if you need any parts and ill have a look for ya.
Thanks Daniel - she looks complete - except for a few coils - thanks for the offer.
Also a MEGA THANX for the AWESOME parts picked up yesterday! Sooooo much appreciated! ^^^
Cheers!
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Any time mate whats mine is yours. (PARTS ONLY LOL)
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Great looking pin Tony..
Couple of questions, whats the go with the middle bumper? It looks like it has a different base to the others...
And I cannot believe the size of those side outlanes....Man... they are huge!
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Thanks Marty,
Just in from stripping the rest of the playfield ^^^
The centre bumper - it has wire contacts that light the bumpers to advance the targets on the playfield. Have contacted Donal Murphy who does the repro bumper caps for PBR to make sure he can do the centre cap with the horses head - that will be done in a few weeks #*#
Pulled the rest of the playfield down tonight - really pumped about this.
Even though the IPDB rates this game at 8.0 I'm so pumped about restoring this girl all other projects are on hold. This included a rebuild of Flying Chariots from 63 and Bowling Queen from 64
Both on hold while I work on this game *%*
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Great project Tony,
Looks like it would have some serious pop bumper time with that arrangement in a circle. Maybe the fast action is why it rates so high?
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Centre bumper is a passive mushroom bumper - there are wire contacts protruding though the plastic base that the ball rolls over - i have wondered myself just how crazy this game would be if the centre was not passive. I reckon Tony would be looking at a lot more wear between them!
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Hmmm, looks like that jockey needs a shave - either that or some pretty aggressive acne happening there! %.%
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Yeah the poor girl - a common problem with glasses from this era. Still she is one beautiful Roy Parker babe *%*
Finished stripping the cabinet and the playfield is totally stripped and ready to be sent to Gav (after Expo mate, don't stress :lol)
Will post pix in the next day or 2 - can't remember the last time I was so pumped restoring a pin !@#
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Centre bumper is a passive mushroom bumper - there are wire contacts protruding though the plastic base that the ball rolls over - i have wondered myself just how crazy this game would be if the centre was not passive. I reckon Tony would be looking at a lot more wear between them!
Ahhh ok then @.@
It would have given some frenzied action if not
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Its great to hear tony someone who has restored as many classic \ antique pinballs as you can still get excited by them. Your an inspiration to nutjobs like me ^^^
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Got home early today and dragged the stripped game outside. Got the belt sander out and because the paint is a plastic base the sander doesn't work that well. So looks like the old paint stripper on Saturday !!!
Hate this method as the fumes suck and it takes longer!
Anyways will prep the cab Sunday ready for the primer and basecoat white the following weekend.
Have been taking pix as I go so will post over the weekend when I have some more time.
Going out now to rebuild some score reel assemblies *%*
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Got home early today and dragged the stripped game outside. Got the belt sander out and because the paint is a plastic base the sander doesn't work that well. So looks like the old paint stripper on Saturday !!!
Hate this method as the fumes suck and it takes longer!
Anyways will prep the cab Sunday ready for the primer and basecoat white the following weekend.
Have been taking pix as I go so will post over the weekend when I have some more time.
Going out now to rebuild some score reel assemblies *%*
Tony - Go to Bunnings and buy CITRUS STRIP. Fumes are not an issue. I'm an athsmatic, so going near harsh chemicals (acetate - even metho) is a huge problem for me. I've used it for several paint "strips", and it is the best. Cleanup is with water !
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Thanks for that Nino, will take your advice and get cracking tomorrow after work.
Actually sent off for the first of lots of new PBR parts today. ^^^
Also have located a real nice playfield in the US, so things are happening. Have set a goal of 6 - 8 months (which in real time means 12 - 18 months :lol) for full restoration. This will be the first time I have ever done touchup of a backglass. &&
Oh soooo many projects and more coming soon.
Time to head back out there, get the music pumping and get dirty!
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Nino you really are the king giving tips to tony hope youve marked that down
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Nino you really are the king giving tips to tony hope youve marked that down
Daniel - Put it down to experience - LOTS of "trial and error". There's always different ways to solve problems. It's free advise - and I've learnt HEAPS from others in return. That's what its all about for me. Tony will return the favor when I start pestering him (and Gav) for advise on which woodrail I should add to my collection !
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Ive got a 1951 WMS HARVEY for sale!
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Ive got a 1951 WMS HARVEY for sale!
%.%
Yea - but it is not a "project" anymore since you restored it ! What's the fun in that ??
%.%
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Ive got a 1951 WMS HARVEY for sale!
%.%
Yea - but it is not a "project" anymore since you restored it ! What's the fun in that ??
%.%
Plenty,
Cause once you get one you will want more *%*
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Ive got a 1951 WMS HARVEY for sale!
%.%
Yea - but it is not a "project" anymore since you restored it ! What's the fun in that ??
%.%
Plenty,
Cause once you get one you will want more *%*
I already want "more" - Even though I don't "officially" own one YET.
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Yes woodrails are very addictive just the quality of the machines are fantastic compared to anything built today.
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What are the odds of finding a nice/clean replacement playfield for a game made 43 years ago?
Well thanks to the marvel of the internet I have ^^^
Check it out!
Suppose it makes the job of swapping over the playfield a bigger job in the end but no complaints *.*
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That is nice Tony Internet has sure made the world a small place.
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That is nice Tony Internet has sure made the world a small place.
Especially when I found this at work and did all the emails from there :lol
So I get payed for finding rare parts for my games.... *%*
Even better as I'm calling the guy from work on Monday just to have a chat. Not sure on the costs of Australia to US calls these days - but work can pick that tab up thanks #@#
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Update - entire cabinet stripped of all paint and sanded ready for undercoat. All small nicks etc were filled and sanded back.
Bottom panel and head all rebuilt.
Just about to head out there and get my head around the pending playfield swap and to make a list of all parts needed from PBR. Will be going all out and buying EVERYTHING new over a few months for this old girl including new front door, coin entrance plate, legs, everything for the playfield - the works *%*
What recession Mr Rudd? *.*
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Great machine and glad that it is in your hands. How does it smell? There is nothing like the smell inside an EM cabinet.
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That is nice Tony Internet has sure made the world a small place.
Especially when I found this at work and did all the emails from there :lol
So I get payed for finding rare parts for my games.... *%*
Even better as I'm calling the guy from work on Monday just to have a chat. Not sure on the costs of Australia to US calls these days - but work can pick that tab up thanks #@#
Great find.
If work is using VoIP for overseas calls it will cost next to nothing.
And we won't tell your boss just yet.
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Great machine and glad that it is in your hands. How does it smell? There is nothing like the smell inside an EM cabinet.
This one didn't have the same strong 'old EM' smell that the others from the same vintage had.
You know it wasn't until you mentioned my gamesroom had that smell that I noticed the next time I walked in - even after all those years!
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On second thoughts might be a bit careful about this :lol
Will use Skype - I have to call OS a fair bit with work. Suppose this conversation will be a little different to all the others
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I get the feeling buying parts form america wont be helping our economy tony lol. But stuff our economy i want to see this baby finished
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I get the feeling buying parts form america wont be helping our economy tony lol. But stuff our economy i want to see this baby finished
Thats exactly what I;ll be doing with the next "stimulus" payout - I need a Haunted House plastic set !
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Another great use of the Stimulus package Nino
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Another great use of the Stimulus package Nino
I'll be VERY "stimulated" once my HH is done !
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I seen the look on your face when you pulled one from the container and it wasnt even going. Have you seen that film clip for Jizz in my pants? you looked something like that?
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Back on the topic :lol
Here are some photos from the weekend. The first is the cab before being stripped, the second after being stripped and the guts being operated on
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Hey Tony, did you end up using the citrus strip? Was it a good product ?
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Photos of some of the damage from the front of the backglass *%*
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Damage from the rear
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Cab looks in great shape for its age...
What are you planning to do with the backglass? Airbrush repair or perhaps a computer decal print?
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Hey Tony, did you end up using the citrus strip? Was it a good product ?
No, I used something that was half price. Took the cab outside so there was no issue with the fumes.
This stuff ate the paint off - seriously it was like water after sitting on the cabinet for 10 minutes.
Have planned Easter to respray. Will post pix as I go *%*
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Cab looks in great shape for its age...
What are you planning to do with the backglass? Airbrush repair or perhaps a computer decal print?
Going to leave this till last - this is the part that has me worried. So no plan at present and I'm all ears
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Hi Tony,
What do you use to paint the cab - Compressor/Spray gun or Pressure packs ?
Kev
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Hi Tony,
What do you use to paint the cab - Compressor/Spray gun or Pressure packs ?
Kev
Well I have only done before and was real happy with results.
Will keep it a secret until I post the finish results cause you will get a laugh from it
Also as a side note - I purposely left the majority of the original artwork that sits under the rails. Why? The original design was gone, it had been sanded off previously before the custom job. So having that small part of original art I can gauge how far apart the blue lines run and how wide they are.
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This is the cab design that I'm aiming for ^^^
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Terrific update, Tony - I love the "organized chaos" on the billiard table !
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For the first time today actually cleaned and polished/buffed the side rails on a game - wow - what a huge difference that makes!
Respray over the Easter long weekend! #*#
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For the first time today actually cleaned and polished/buffed the side rails on a game - wow - what a huge difference that makes!
I am amazed to hear that Tony .. but as you've found its definitely worth doing.
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Great machine and glad that it is in your hands. How does it smell? There is nothing like the smell inside an EM cabinet.
This one didn't have the same strong 'old EM' smell that the others from the same vintage had.
You know it wasn't until you mentioned my gamesroom had that smell that I noticed the next time I walked in - even after all those years!
Yeh .. my Lady Luck doesn't have that EM smell either .. both your's and mine came from the same source, as you know
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For the first time today actually cleaned and polished/buffed the side rails on a game - wow - what a huge difference that makes!
Respray over the Easter long weekend! #*#
You mean you buffed instead of re grained ? so do they have a high shine ?
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Looking forward to the pics Tony. And im curious like nino about the side rails
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For the first time today actually cleaned and polished/buffed the side rails on a game - wow - what a huge difference that makes!
Respray over the Easter long weekend! #*#
You mean you buffed instead of re grained ? so do they have a high shine ?
I applied that stuff in the green bottle with the crock on the outside (name slipped my mind) and then scrubbed with a toothbrush. After leaving it there for 10 minutes then scrubbed down the 'grain' with an old scotch cleaner thingy. After that used an old shirt to take off the excess then buffed and it looks awesome. Will take pix after the spray job is complete on Monday/Tuesday ^^^
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Hi Tony,
Noticed you have a Sweethearts added to your collection - My all time favorite - Whats the condition like -Look forward to some pics when you start that restore.
Kev $#$
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Lets say she is (another) project. Will need lots of work but couldn't pass her up
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For the first time today actually cleaned and polished/buffed the side rails on a game - wow - what a huge difference that makes!
Respray over the Easter long weekend! #*#
You mean you buffed instead of re grained ? so do they have a high shine ?
I applied that stuff in the green bottle with the crock on the outside (name slipped my mind) and then scrubbed with a toothbrush. After leaving it there for 10 minutes then scrubbed down the 'grain' with an old scotch cleaner thingy. After that used an old shirt to take off the excess then buffed and it looks awesome. Will take pix after the spray job is complete on Monday/Tuesday ^^^
So you have regrained it. The "green bottle" is Isocol *%*
Next time - Try this - 320 Grit Wet/Dry and Windex. Use a soft block and with straight lines. It will look exactly as it did the day it rolled off the assembly line. I usually take the side rails off and use a "straight edge", so that the "grain" is dead straight. I then use new nails. Takes time, but the results are always rewarding
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Dear Diary :lol
What a day! Between going out with my beautiful wife and taking my teenage daughter shopping (oh the pain) got the 'white' base coat on and applied the black webbing. Thanks Mitch for the 'toothbrush' method which I used. Looking at it I feel the webbing is a little too much but hey - it's my game I can do what I want #@#
Very very happy with the results so far - reds go on tomorrow and blues Monday.
Have been taking pix througout the process and will post Wednesday night when complete.
Oh - and have payed for the playfield and shipping for the real nice playfiled coming in from PA, USA.....so that will be next.
Lots of new parts ordered from PBR...
........and what's that I hear? A reproduction backglass? :D
Oh yeah nearly forgot - have 2 more early 1960s games on the way - one Sweethearts and another wedgehead from 1961 - so lots more restoration in the queue #*#
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Hey Tony.. glad you decided to try my suggestion re the toothbrush method of doing the webbing ^^^ hope it worked out well for you.. cant wait to see the end results!!
I remember seeing webbing paint in spraycans years ago.. i bought a can to see how it would look, tried it on cardboard and it was WAAY to heavy and thick for use on a pinball cab!!
i was going to use it on MIBS when i was restoring it.. but ended using the toothbrush trick
Cheers... Mitch
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Well I think it will look like the cab I did today :lol it is 'too much' black webbing but I don't give a rats arse cause it looks cool. Also because there is no other colour on the cab maybe it makes it look too full on.
Change of direction tonight - actually started on the blues and I'm thinking this won't be complete before the long weekend is out - just don't want to rush it.
Got all the stencils on for the horizontal blues tonight on one side and got 2 light layers of the colour on
Have taken pix of each stage and still very happy with the results.
The cab from start to finish would of cost around $80 to do and 3 part time weekdends.
Money and time very well spent
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Cab looks in great shape for its age...
What are you planning to do with the backglass? Airbrush repair or perhaps a computer decal print?
Going to leave this till last - this is the part that has me worried. So no plan at present and I'm all ears
Well Tony, at least your backglass hasnt been spraypainted EVERYWHERE by a chimp with a can of red spray paint.. unlike my Dracula glass.. :lol so you're off to a good start already with restoring as far as im concerned!!! ..The red paint is everywhere on my glass.. and i mean EVERYWHERE.. they sprayed over BLUE for christs sake!! and its making the job more difficult that it should've been ^.^
I've been trying some new techniques on my Dracula glass, if you havent done so already check my latest posts i put up today. Im not going to say its the best or only way to do this kind of work, nor do i consider myself an expert at this by any means, but so far its all coming together for me.
Might give you a few ideas if nothing else..
Anyhow hoping to see your BG in a resto thread in the not too distant future!!
Cheers..Mitch
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You have to love Dipshits with spray cans my gorgar copped Black it makes you wonder what people are thinking ^&^ &^&
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Really looking forward to the pics of the cab tony fingers crossed ill be doing Marathon before you know it
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Really looking forward to the pics of the cab tony fingers crossed ill be doing Marathon before you know it
Same here!! looking forward to seein BOTH if these.
I really enjoy seeing everyone elses projects coming together.
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Really looking forward to the pics of the cab tony fingers crossed ill be doing Marathon before you know it
Same here!! looking forward to seein BOTH if these.
I really enjoy seeing everyone elses projects coming together.
You know Mitch,
I would never attempted this level of restoration 12 months ago - seeing the game needs the cab fully resprayed, the playfield is rooted and the backglasses has seen much better days.
Watching guys like you and the results you have achieved has spurred me to do this - your restorations push people on the forum to attempt things they usually woudn't of previously and didn't think they were able to do.
Just back inside - have all the blue horizontal paint on and I'm just stoked the way it has turned out (so far)
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I agree Tony mitch's restores really inspire me to get to work.
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Well 3 weekends later and almost 200 metres of masking tape and the final touches to the body were applied tonight. Just need to finish the respray the red triangles on the side of the head over the next 2 days and she will done.
Ended up being a much larger project than first thought.
Will post pix Monday night.
Well have to say - I'm over the moon with the results *%*
Next will be Gottlieb Gaucho from 1963 - all the mechanics and playfield have been done.
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$#$BRING ON MONDAY $#$
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Very inspiring stuff, looking forward to the rest of this thread!
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Well the cab is complete.
These 2 photos show the blue being done
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Closeup of the 'webbing'
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getting the stencils ready for the red
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Red going on
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The end results. This was a much larger job than I first thought.
One error that can be seen on the side of the cab under the rail is the red pulled up short @.@
I had left part of the original design there as a guide....oh well all fixed now
Last photo is next to Happy Clown which uses a similiar design.
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Bloody Awesome, Tony.
No wonder you went through so much masking tape %.%
Webbing looks great too mate.
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Excellent Tony ^^^. ^^^
Been looking forward to seeing the end result
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Super kool to see classic's getting the attention they deserve - Tony cant wait to see the finished product. Way to go Maaaaaaaaaaaate.
Well it had been about 6 months since my last 'pinball hit' and after buying 12 pins last year was really hanging for a fix.
So while speaking with my good mate Michael Shalhoub last week was asking about the new games he will have for sale soon and he mentioned he still had the Gottlieb Thoro-Bred from 1965 for sale. I had seen this game around 12 months ago and it really grabbed my attention. The game needs a heap of work as can be seen in the attachments.
Not sure what it was about this game that screamed at me to save it.
This will be a 12 month project and this is where we sit today. Picked up the pin this morning and have set it up in my gamesroom next to Happy Clown (man, what a name for a pinball :lol).
The cabinet has been painted - not in the usual white house paint but has some cool original horse art on it. The original design will be pretty easy to reproduce and I will start stripping the cab tomorrow afternoon. The respray of the cab will be first job. After the success of the Apollo respray I'm pumped for this.
The backglass was better that I had originally thought. The reds and browns have issues and have taken better pix and will post early next week. The right lower corner has some issues...but I need to think this backglass is 43 years old. She will come up OK and is the least of my problems right now.
The playfield came already stripped of nearly all parts. All parts supplied in a box except for the flipper shafts - no issue and easily replaced. All playfield plastics in excellent condition. The pop bumper caps have seen better days but they would of been replaced anyway. The playfield will be shipped to Gav after Expo and he will be able to work his magic here. Mechanically the game inside is perfect, even both bell assemblies are present. There is one burnt flipper coil but the entire flipper units will be pulled out and replaced with rebuild kits. There is one score reel missing but that can also be replaced.
So I'm not kidding myself - this is a major piece of work but will be worth it in the end. This game also rates a 8.0 on the IPDB which really surprised me.
I'm heading out now to start on her *%*
$#$
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$#$
Great to see these babies getting rescued to there full potential, they deserve a revamp after nearly 50 years, cant wait to see the finished product - should be koooool maaaaate.
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Fantastic Tony
Has come up really well as for your tiny error that only very minor see if you can pic my error on my charlies angels coffee table lol funny part is i made the same error on both sides lol
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Looks great Tony ^^^
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Worth the effort - this is a very nice result.
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Well the playfield has arrived in Australia and the swap begun last night. First photo show the old playfield (with all parts under) and the second is the 'new' playfield shipped in from the US
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This shows the condition of the new playfield.....first shot is the original and the second the recently imported
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That 'new' playfield is real nice... awesome, even.
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That 'new' playfield is real nice... awesome, even.
Yeah...US$75 well spent ^^^
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$$( $$( $$( $$( $$(
AWESOME - This machine is going to look simply stunning after you have weaved your magic.
^^^
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What was wrong with the original %.% %.% %.%
Damn thats a big improvement
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NICE *%*
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AWESOME - This machine is going to look simply stunning after you have weaved your magic.
^^^
She will get the full treatment - all new parts have been ordered from PBR.
Backglass is the only concern !@#
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Looking at some of these, I'm amazed that I've seen so few of the classics. Looks like it's going to turn out gorgeous.
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Your cab repaint looks GREAT Tony ^^^ ^^^
Well done. Lookn forward to seeing the game finished!!
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Thanks Mitch,
I'm really happy with the outside but will redo the insides adjoining the playfield....this weekend!
Time to head out and keep pushing forward on the playfield swap *%*
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Update: underneath playfield totally swapped over and completed tonight...come on PBR for parts ordered for the top of the PF
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Update: underneath playfield totally swapped over and completed tonight...come on PBR for parts ordered for the top of the PF
Pix !@#
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Update: underneath playfield totally swapped over and completed tonight...come on PBR for parts ordered for the top of the PF
Pix !@#
Boring....will post pix once the top of the playfield is complete....one small problem is the centre 'passive' bumper cap not being ready from PBR.
Have had emails from Donal Murphy who makes the caps for PBR saying he is having trouble with the hot stamps for these caps.... !!!
I need one for Thoro Bred and FIVE for Foto Finish *%*