The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => Restorations => Topic started by: Pinball Fixers on September 12, 2008, 01:51:40 PM
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Thought I'd share this old girl with everyone...
This isn't quite a restoration project, more of a make it work and tidy up...
I'll start with the playfield:
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/upper.jpg)
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/middle.jpg)
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/lower.jpg)
It has no rubbers, lots of rust and mould. At least all the plastics are there (and I have the two missing bumper caps).
More to photo's come soon...
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Owned for 30 years - neglected for 20.
i say that the pinball gods decree that the owner no longer deserves this machine and that it should go to a more deserving owner - namely ME!!!!
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Owned for 30 years - neglected for 20.
i say that the pinball gods decree that the owner no longer deserves this machine and that it should go to a more deserving owner - namely ME!!!!
Mate - you are just as bad as me.... and Tony....
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It was actually his Wife who contacted me to repair the machine. She thought it would be a great birthday present for her husband.
I finally got it working properly today - found quite a few wires that had become detached from the contact switches (not broken off, the solder came away from the switch!). Also repaired a burnt out coil, and found a burnt out wire in the main relay bank. Then had a shorted globe socket causing one of the fuses to blow when that lamp was lit. I've also done all the usual things needed on an old EM - like cleaning up the contacts.
So now it is on to cleaning up the playfield (using Gavin's idea's to remove the mould - thanks Gavin!).
I will take some pics of the cabinet, backglass and inside the cabinet in the next couple of days. Unfortunately, the cabinet artwork has been painted over with some horrible colours. I did quote to restore the artwork, but they refused it. So it will only be repair and clean - a damn shame!
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Just be careful if you do the make up pad trick. you dont want it so wet that the meths soaks through to under the paint and into the pf. If this happens - whatever you do - dont rub the pf!!The absorbtion trick brings the dirt nearer to the surface. Let the pf completely dry and then clean as normal with a soft rag.
Looking forward to seeing this - will come up a treat!
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I'll start with the absorption trick, 'cos the mould is on the surface. Hopefully I don't need to do much more than that to remove it.
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OK, here are some more pics that I promised...
The view from the front:
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/whole-front.jpg)
Both sides of the cabinet:
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/left.jpg)
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/right.jpg)
The full playfield:
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/playfield.jpg)
Under the playfield:
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/underpf.jpg)
Inside the cabinet:
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/insidecab.jpg)
Inside the backbox:
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/back.jpg)
And finally the backglass lit up:
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/glass.jpg)
It's a real shame that someone re-painted the cabinet in those horrible colours! I really would like to paint it back to the way is it supposed to be...
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The game is fully playable now! Found a relay that was locking on occasionally, which caused the burnt out coil. As I don't have the schematics for this machine, it took a bit of time tracing the wires through to find it!
Today the cleaning begins...
PS: If someone does have the schematics and/or manual, I would love a copy.
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Super stuff - Nothing better than the satisfaction of fixing an EM "blindfolded" !
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Super stuff - Nothing better than the satisfaction of fixing an EM "blindfolded" !
YEP! ;D
By the way, if anyone is interested, here is the link to the machine on IPDB so you can see what it is supposed to look like...
http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=1442
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I finally had some time today to start working on the playfield...
So, using Gavin's advice, I cleaned the playfield with Metho on a white cotton rag. This worked very well, and didn't lift any paint - something I was glad about, because the yellow was peeling away a bit already.
Unfortunately, the Metho didn't remove all of the mould. There was some really stubborn mould around the flippers and slingshots. I tried using a make-up pad soaked in Metho to lift the mould, but this didn't work either. Finally, I thought I'd try something new... "Exit Mould"
I was very unsure if this would affect the paint on the playfield, so I tested it in an area that wouldn't be noticed... It did not lift or damage the paint in any way! So, I gave it a shot on the stubborn mould... It worked a treat! ;D
The Exit Mould removed the stubborn mould in one gentle wipe!
I didn't spray the Exit Mould directly onto the playfield, I opened the spray bottle, and applied it directly to the rag.
Here are the before and after shots of the playfield:
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/playfield-before.jpg) (http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/playfield-after.jpg)
Not bad hey!
I also used "Carnauba Wax" to wax and polish the playfield. You can see from the pic on the right how nice it has come up.
Next, I will be washing all the plastics and replacing the rubbers, globes and balls...
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Nice work mate. Came up a treat. Are you going to tackle that bit of wear above the flippers or leave it as is? Or is that just some left over staining from the mould?
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Nice work mate. Came up a treat. Are you going to tackle that bit of wear above the flippers or leave it as is? Or is that just some left over staining from the mould?
It is wear, and no I won't be tackling it... This is a machine I'm doing for a customer, and they took the minimum quote I offered. I've already done more then what we agreed to, but I felt I had to.
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That looks particularly nice, Owen - especially the white areas in front of the bumpers. Did you use Meguiars Carnauba paste wax ?
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nice work mate
and its not one of mine either .......
only kidding
those parts due in this week for ya too
mark
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That looks particularly nice, Owen - especially the white areas in front of the bumpers. Did you use Meguiars Carnauba paste wax ?
It was the "Eagle 1" brand Carnauba Wax. Would have preferred the Maguires, but I just "borrowed" it from my old man. Still, came up really well!
nice work mate
and its not one of mine either .......
only kidding
those parts due in this week for ya too
mark
LOL! ;D
Thanks Mark, will see you during the week then...
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Very nice Owen!
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Didnt that come up nice???
Ive already taken a mental note on the Exit Mould - thanks!!!
Little bit of wear on a game like this is perfectly acceptable and in fact is expected, is all part of the character and history.
If a game of this vintage has no wear then its one of 3 possibilities.
Has been restored,
never got played cos its crap,
is a great game that never got played much and indeed a dream come true finding it.
.....The last one is the least likely
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I have to thank you for your tips Gavin! And yeah, it has come up quite nice.
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Mate,
The pleasure is all mine!! it was great to see those vibrant colours come shining through all the crap that was hiding them.
Its a shame that the owners didnt want the original artwork put back on the cabinet, but as cabinet repaints go - its one of the better ones. At least it wasnt hand painted brown - something that seemed to be popular in the 70's ( my theory is that the wives insisted on a repaint so the husband could keep it and so it was always painted to match the curtains, turning it from a pinball machine to a "nice piece of furniture" )
With regard to cabinet artwork - do you do that many??? I can supply a tool that my assist you. PM me for more details at neonplanet@optusnet.com.au
Cheers!!!!
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I was quite surprised how well the colours came up. I really didn't think they would end up so nice! Today I will be washing the plastics and replacing the rubbers and globes, so there should be more photo's later...
I don't do that many machines that need to be re-painted. But I do like to have the equipment necessary to do so when needed. Will PM you.
I've got another machine to do a full restore on coming up shortly, and this one will have the cabinet re-stencilled (in talks with the customer about it now), along with all the usual restoration work needed for a late 70's Bally.
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Well, she's finally done!
It does look great all lit up, and it's fun to play... I like the 5 ball multiball feature <.>
Anyway, here's the final pics... The machine get delivered on Tuesday, so I hope the customer is happy!
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/whole-completed.jpg)
(http://files.pinball-fixers.com/aussie_pinball/lightning_ball/playfield-completed.jpg)
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I'm sure the customer will be more than happy Owen, well done mate!
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I concur.. Excellent job Mate !!
Very pretty.
#*#
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Looks great Owen ^^^
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Top job mate. Another classic saved! ^^^
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Thanks Guys!!
I'm hoping that one day I will get to do that machine properly... I'm going to plant the seed so to speak when I deliver the machine...
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Well, if it was my machine, having seen that transformation id be asking you to go the extra step and get it back to original throughout.
Looks great mate... great work.
friend of mine in US just picked up one of these and absolutely loves it!
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This post might be a few months old...just wondering how I missed this?
Owen, excellent work to you for bringing back this game to life.
Have never played one but from all reports it is wonderful to play and one of Wayne Neyens fave all time designs!
Such a beautiful looking old girl
Thanks for sharing!
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This post might be a few months old...just wondering how I missed this?
Owen, excellent work to you for bringing back this game to life.
Have never played one but from all reports it is wonderful to play and one of Wayne Neyens fave all time designs!
Such a beautiful looking old girl
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Tony!
I called the customer up during the week to see how it was going... I was told that it's is still working a treat and they are very happy with how it came up. Always good to hear feedback like that :D
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Owen thats fantastic and exit mould what a great idea but would have been nerve racking testing it you would have burst into tears if the paint lifted or something. Brave man but it paid off Great Job
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Yes Sir,
I'm just so happy to see others enjoying the classics from the 1950s and 1960s!
Have 3 or 4 'new' ones coming in soon from this era - can't wait! One this coming Saturday! #*#