The Aussie Pinball Arcade

Aussie Pinball Forums => Restorations => Topic started by: Strangeways on November 10, 2020, 04:48:38 PM

Title: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Strangeways on November 10, 2020, 04:48:38 PM: This title was started last year with the intent of chipping away at it during weekends. This is a machine out of my Inventory, that I wanted to place in the showroom for sale. When Covid hit, I could not source parts for current Gottlieb projects, and due to many games become unfinancial and parked at the end of the queue, I found myself working on this game as I had all the parts I required at hand. The games moved up into the queue were waiting for parts that did not start arriving until last month, so I thought I'd start to document this restoration.

Condition Report

Playfield - Exceptionally good. The only wear is in front of the magnet. Broken plastics here and there, but it looks really nice as a base 8/10
Cabinet - Good - A few dint's in the headbox but the base cabinet is very good - 8/10
Boards / Electronics - Boards are intact, but I'm not happy with the CPU board - 7/10

Scope Of Works

A High End Elvis Restored machine with new plastic set, new mini playfield, Flipper Fidelity speaker set and ColorDMD (LED).

Before Pictures

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20001_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20002_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20003_resize.jpg)

I'm going to replace the standard siderails with the later lollipop siderails.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20004_resize.jpg)

Playfield is just REALLY filthy...

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20007_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20008_resize.jpg)

The wear around the magnet.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20009_resize.jpg)

Heartbreak Hotel and the worn mini playfield.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20011_resize.jpg)

Filthy Targets...

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20016_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20018_resize.jpg)

Under the playfield is really good - just filthy.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20019_resize.jpg)

<.> <.>
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Strangeways on November 10, 2020, 05:10:02 PM: Now I start the tear down. Elvis has now left the building....

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20025_resize.jpg)

Filthy. Filth everywhere !

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20031_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20046_resize.jpg)

Flipper Mechs are worn and tired !

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20173_resize.jpg)

Rebuild with new flipper kit and coils..

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20182_resize.jpg)

The usual - Cleaned in the ultrasonic then tumbled. Hardly any effort at all..

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20176_resize.jpg)

The original Backboard. Nothing really wrong with it, but the new plastic set contains the backboard plastic. Time to change it !

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20183_resize.jpg)

BIG improvement !

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20184_resize.jpg)

Heartbreak Hotel entrance also has a new plastic to install after I rebuild and clean ...

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20188_resize.jpg)

The Camera has changed the color somewhat- it is almost the same to the naked eye..

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20188_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20190_resize.jpg)

&& &&
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: pinnies4me on November 10, 2020, 07:42:20 PM: Love my Elvis, watching with interest!
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Pop Bumper Pete on November 10, 2020, 07:47:52 PM: When you sell it, you will be able to say 'Elvis has left the building!'
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: ddstoys on November 14, 2020, 05:29:16 AM: Nice to see you getting a chance to do one of your own

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Strangeways on November 24, 2020, 03:42:29 PM: Time to go to town documenting and stripping the playfield. This is where I take photos of everything and upload to my cloudspace.

There are a lot of Hex Posts on this machine, and they would be easy to mix up.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20077_resize.jpg)

So each post is labelled and then I take the photo of that area. I polish the Hex Spacers individually, as they are aluminum, and not very shiny at all.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20100_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20101_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20104_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20105_resize.jpg)

After removing the posts and other hardware, the playfield is bare.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20139_resize.jpg)

Time to mask up the siderails and start the cleaning and polishing stage to brighten up the playfield.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20143_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20142_resize.jpg)

Very pleased with the result.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20144_resize.jpg)

:D
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Strangeways on November 24, 2020, 03:51:26 PM: The Metal guides and other hardware are given a good clean in the ultrasonic, regrained and installed. Posts and similar are tumbled. Re assembly started ..

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20177_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20178_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20180_resize.jpg)

Coming together nicely. Lots of color...

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20205_resize.jpg)

No stone unturned.. or left unclean !

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20208_resize.jpg)

() ()
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: pinnies4me on November 24, 2020, 09:05:42 PM: Nice! Great artwork (for Elvis fans) on this game.
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Strangeways on July 27, 2021, 05:36:40 PM: Having been severely impacted by Lockdowns, I managed to make progress in between. It seems RTBB Parts sales go through the roof during the lockdowns and then when we can finally do restoration work, I TRY to get as much done, as quickly as possible. So this resto was VERY "stop and start" and then bolts to the finish line.

Drop Targets rebuilt with new targets and decals.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20216_resize.jpg)

On just about every Elvis that is reconditioned or restored, I NEVER seen the mini playfield replaced ? They are cheap and easy to replace..

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20227_resize.jpg)

MASSIVE Difference !

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20231_resize.jpg)

The headbox had a few issues, and I thought it would be an easy fix, but it was not. I ended up repainting a large section on each side. I'm not a huge fan of doingg this kind of work. I wish the decals were available. If I had more time, I'd get then scanned properly..

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20233_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20236_resize.jpg)

Now all I have to do is clear and sand the touch ups.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20238_resize.jpg)

Apologies - Not much time was spent documenting the re assembly, as I had no idea how much time I could spend on the game, so I just kept working on it. Most of the playfield is done at this stage - the new plastic set, rubbers and my favorite LEDS - Ablaze Premium Ghostbusters.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20247_resize.jpg)

Incandescent Flashers are installed just for testing. This playfield POPS with LEDS and WHITE rubbers !

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20248_resize.jpg)

I've installed the Tilt Graphics Gameblades - and they look AMAZING. VERY durable. Quality is EASILY best I've seen.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20254_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20255_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20267_resize.jpg)

Really pleased with the added features on this game... But there's more !
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: ddstoys on July 27, 2021, 08:57:47 PM: Looks great . These lockdowns sure add challenges

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Strangeways on July 27, 2021, 09:16:17 PM: Quote from: ddstoys on July 27, 2021, 08:57:47 PM
Looks great . These lockdowns sure add challenges

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wish I was still working from my garage. Could have worked more on pins..
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: ddstoys on July 28, 2021, 10:12:00 PM: I spent the whole time working on the latest major project I’ll start a thread

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Strangeways on August 28, 2021, 03:19:55 PM: I really like the addition of the CPR Speaker Panel. Really adds more to the blank factory version. colorDMD is stunning.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20275_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20337_resize.jpg)

The game is completed, and I'm pleased with the finished product. I was lucky with having a very good playfield and cabinet, but the "additions" are not "over the top" and keep the game presented well, without adding too much.

I ended up installing a new CPU board as the connector on the old CPU board was broken and I think at some stage, the +12V line ended up on the +5V line. I updated the ROMs - CPU Sound and Display to the latest and added an NVRAM.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20303_resize.jpg)

Flipper Fidelity Speaker system added - which makes a MASSIVE difference to the sound. The Bass is astounding...

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20305_resize.jpg)

Tiltgraphics Gameblades also make a massive difference. All games I've seen with these re-positional gameblades look awesome.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20310_resize.jpg)

Under the playfield is basically completely rebuilt - flipper kits, pop mbers et etc... Everything will work like new.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20307_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20314_resize.jpg)
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Strangeways on August 28, 2021, 03:25:44 PM: Super happy with the playfield. New plastic set and mini playfield make such a massive difference.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20281_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20292_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20296_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20324_resize.jpg)

New "clear" mini playfield .

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20331_resize.jpg)
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Strangeways on August 28, 2021, 03:34:10 PM: Completed "Bling" photos of the cabinet. Painted legs, door, new trim on the headbox, original Stern "lollipop" siderails, new glass..

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20301_resize.jpg)

Repaired, touched up and cleared headbox art done. It would have been better if decals were available - even for the headbox only. Very hard to have the "finish" the same as the cabinet.

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20285_resize.jpg)

Love the siderails. Along with a new "standard" lockdown bar (not the version with the comp button)..

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20284_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20282_resize.jpg)

.. and it is finally finished..

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20278_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20280_resize.jpg)

(http://australianpinballrestorations.com.au/pictures/Restorations/Elvis%20APR/Elvis%20APR%20279_resize.jpg)

It will be sad to see it go, but it will be put up for sale next week after I've gone through how much it owes me !!

BTW - This is a CRACKER of a game when restored like this.
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Mr Pinbologist on August 29, 2021, 09:18:38 AM: Cant see any pics on your last few posts !@# !@#
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Strangeways on August 29, 2021, 03:03:16 PM: Quote from: Mr Pinbologist on August 29, 2021, 09:18:38 AM
Cant see any pics on your last few posts !@# !@#

Ok for me ? Maybe my hosting site (external to AP) was down at the time you viewed the thread ?
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Mr Pinbologist on August 29, 2021, 10:20:47 PM: No still can't see pics from your last posts.. tried on my smart phone as well, same deal.
Same when i just viewed you Indiana Jones resto thread, can see the first page of pics but not the second.. weird!
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: 48 on August 29, 2021, 11:14:57 PM: Same problem here Nino. Maybe your pictures don't like us mid north coast nsw pinballers?
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: punkin on August 30, 2021, 05:14:00 AM: None of your pics in any of your threads are showing. Just spaces.
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: punkin on August 30, 2021, 05:14:54 AM: Quote from: 48 on August 29, 2021, 11:14:57 PM
Same problem here Nino. Maybe your pictures don't like us mid north coast nsw pinballers?

Where are you at? Mitch is Wah ooh chopie i'm woopi.
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: 48 on August 30, 2021, 07:36:25 AM: Just a little south at Port mate.
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Strangeways on August 30, 2021, 02:58:32 PM: Sorry about that - The Server links were set to "secure", and the browser I submitted the links was "secure" to the server - everyone else was not - so it is all good now...
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: 48 on August 30, 2021, 05:39:15 PM: seeing them now, thanks Nino. Wow spectacular job mate,
Title: Re: Stern Elvis Restoration
Post by: Mr Pinbologist on August 30, 2021, 07:58:10 PM: Yepp all good now, looks sweet as!! ^^^ ^^^