The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => Restorations => Topic started by: Strangeways on June 27, 2009, 11:19:36 PM
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Bally Skateball Restore
Don't see many of these Ballys in Australia, and don't let the theme distract from the fact that this is a great fun game to play. A mixture of WMS Flash and Bally Fathom, with plenty of drop targets and an almost "hidden" mini flipper ! I was commissioned to restore this machine three years ago, and to the best of my knowledge, it is still going strong.
Objective
A full restoration except the cabinet. It did have some damage on the side of the cabinet, which is normal for machines of this vintage. The electronics will be repaired and upgraded, and the playfield will have a full stripdown and rebuild.
Condition
Playfield - 8/10. Day 1 Mylar (factory) - Very nice. A couple of wear spots up near the top LHS that will need attention, apart from that - it looks great.
Cabinet - 7/10. Some scratch marks on the RHS of the cabinet, but structurally sound. A repaint was considered, and may be done sometime in the future.
Electronics - 6/10 - Boards were faulty -as can be expected. Solenoid Driver had a bit of a meltdown (which is covered later). MPU is rough.
Backglass - 9/10 - WOW.. Very nice backglass - should really be a 10/10.
Before Pictures
Backglass is not on the machine as I prefer not to have them at my place until the game is ready. Just eliminates the risks involved in storing a backglass during a restore.
This machine is typical of a game that has been sitting in storage for many years. Just needs some time and committment. There's something about these later Bally SS machines that always interests me. Keep in mind this machine is completed, and I didn't document it to the level that I usually do, but the usual time and effort was placed on this machine !
Little bit out of focus.. No - I didn't use Mark's camera !
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Skateball%202%20000.jpg)
Damn - No MPU. Looks like the Solenoid Driver had a issue at some stage (solved later on)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Skateball%202%20002.JPG)
Theres the left hand side of the cabinet that has sustained some paint damage. Notice Ace Frehley peering over the artwork %.%
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Skateball%202%20008.JPG)
This is one NICE playfield - and it gets better. The mylar is factory, and has protected the playfield art. The game was popular, as unprotected playfield areas were worn to wood.
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Skateball%202%20009.JPG)
Playfield is removed and some photos are taken as a reference for the re assembly. This game has been in storage for quite some time !
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010054.jpg)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010055.JPG)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010056.JPG)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010057.JPG)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010058.JPG)
Plenty of cleaning ahead for this game !
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Never seen one of these before - there are so many titles to discover!
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Photos for reference !@# how do you explain the left over if you have photos? And as if you couldnt build it with your eyes closed Nino
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Go a mate whos got a skateball, but coudln't ever really see the playfield because it was all piled up with crap, but looking at this one it actually does look like a real fun game to play especially with all those drop targets.
From memory the backglass wasn't all that exciting.
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can see how its like Flash, looks like a fun machine
Looking fwd to seeing Nino "serve" up another resto, this one should be a "smash hit" %$%
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What a cool looking game - looks like it would be fantastic to play. Could Bally have got any more onto that playfield *.*
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Great looking game, love the artwork!
IT looks as if it will clean up like new! Always nice to have such a solid playfield to start with!
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Time to strip the playfield and see what we are working with. Thankfully, factory mylar has protected this machine since "Day 1". Areas not covered by mylar are worn and there are some wear spots down to wood. Regardless, the playfield is excellent, and will look great.
Here are some pictures of the playfield after being stripped ;
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010081.JPG)
An area unprotected by Mylar. Must have been a popular game in it's heyday !
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010085.JPG)
Here's a picture of the stripped playfield - and the main touch up in the top left hand corner of the playfield - More on that later !
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010026.JPG)
The playfield mylar was in very good condition. The flash on the camera highlighted some of the areas under the mylar - near the inserts - that does not look right. It is just the angle of the camera ;
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010012.JPG)
Drop Targets
Plenty of drop targets on this game - which is the games feature in my opinion. It was decided that we needed to replace the targets, as they were in various shades of white and well worn.
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010061_2.JPG)
In pieces !
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010067_2.JPG)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010068_2.JPG)
Here's the "after" picture.
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/P1010082_2.JPG)
Just in case you are wondering - EVERY machine I restore has the target bank(s) cleaned at this level. Yes - it is time consuming - but drop targets and meant to be fast and snappy - and look good !
:D :D
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Looks great mate ^^^ - what are your plans for the drop target faces? Are decals available?
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Looks great mate ^^^ - what are your plans for the drop target faces? Are decals available?
Not at that time - No one had them. There's a story about them, but that does not need to be aired here !!@
You will just have to wait and see, Tony #@#
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I'm thrilled to see that the wife lets you put all that stuff in the kitchen sink. @@*
Those target banks look good enough to eat off.
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I'm thrilled to see that the wife lets you put all that stuff in the kitchen sink. @@*
Those target banks look good enough to eat off.
The first and last time I ever used the sink !!
I did wash the crap off outside and soaked the cleaned parts in the sink..
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I'm thrilled to see that the wife lets you put all that stuff in the kitchen sink. @@*
Those target banks look good enough to eat off.
The first and last time I ever used the sink !!
I did wash the crap off outside and soaked the cleaned parts in the sink..
Hehe, glad to see I'm not the only one. In the middle of a rebuild, I've taken over the kitchen table - for soldering PCB's, gamesroom has playfield stands, loungeroom holds backglasses and playfield glass - and plastics and sink for drying stuff I've washed....Oh and laundry for serious nifty soakings.
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Those Drops look great Nino what did you use to get them looking so good?
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I reckon he bought new ones.
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I reckon he bought new ones.
That is correct - They are new targets.
Stay tuned !
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There were no hot stamped targets available for this game at the time I was working on it. So they had to be created. This was simply a matter of scanning a "good" target and then printing the image out on adhesive paper. The "decals" were placed on the blank targets and then a small piece of mylar was placed over the decal. It was a simple process, and the results were good ;
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Picture%20024.jpg)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Picture%20020.jpg)
I've cheated in this picture - But here are the finished target banks as they are seen on the playfield.
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Picture%20207.jpg)
<.>
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The door was in very good condition and did not need too much work done to it. It was stripped and cleaned. Re asembled and re installed back into the machine. It is always a lot easier when they are in good condition to start with ;
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/skate%204.jpg)
Lock down bar assembly is stripped, cleaned and re assembled. The earth wires are also cleaned, and their yellow sheaths.
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/skate%202.jpg)
The playfield is mostly re assembled and is looking VERY nice. The mylar has done its job. The hours put into the game show with everything looking clean. I've touched up the purple section (top LHS) and a couple of other areas. Mylar is applied to protect the touch ups.
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Picture%20210.jpg)
More pics of the completed playfield ;
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Picture%20407.jpg)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Picture%20408.jpg)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Picture%20410.jpg)
Not long to go now !
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That playfield looks stunning Nino ^^^
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Thats a great looking machine so much to aim for and great Art another one well done Nino ^^^
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Just to finish off the pictures - I found some more including the Backglass. The game is a very interesting machine - one of the faster SS machines - A cross between Fathom and Flash, but with very bright artwork.
(http://aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Picture%20409.jpg)
The backglass was an east 10/10 !
(http://aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Picture%20421.jpg)
(http://aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/skateball/Picture%20426.jpg)
There you have it ! A very interesting machine that I hope is still played often !
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I just got one word Nino .. WOW ^^^ ^^^
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Now that is what a pinball machine is supposed to look like - lots of bright colours! *%*
Looks excellent mate and you did a top shelf job on the targets ^^^
Game looks like alot of fun to play also - alot going on there, especially for a Bally of that era
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Top result!
Is it just me, or does this machine seriously look like it was going to be a surfie based machine, changed to skateboarding at the last minute?
Both on the backglass with the van and surfboard, and the skaters "surfing a tube wave" above the slings on the playfield....
Cheers
Jacob
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Top result!
Is it just me, or does this machine seriously look like it was going to be a surfie based machine, changed to skateboarding at the last minute?
Both on the backglass with the van and surfboard, and the skaters "surfing a tube wave" above the slings on the playfield....
Cheers
Jacob
It does seem to be suffering somewhat of an identity crisis! It would be interesting to know more about the background of this machine's development - Steve Ritchie regards it as a copy of Flash.
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Nice work Nino. The purple looks good. Another pin bought back to life ^^^
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Top result!
Is it just me, or does this machine seriously look like it was going to be a surfie based machine, changed to skateboarding at the last minute?
Both on the backglass with the van and surfboard, and the skaters "surfing a tube wave" above the slings on the playfield....
Cheers
Jacob
It does seem to be suffering somewhat of an identity crisis! It would be interesting to know more about the background of this machine's development - Steve Ritchie regards it as a copy of Flash.
.. and it plays like a Flash as well. Just more drop targets and an extra Flipper.
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This game is now for sale.
http://aussiepinball.com/index.php?topic=4194.new#new