The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => Restorations => Topic started by: Mr Pinbologist on May 21, 2017, 09:24:09 AM
-
Time for the next resto... well this will be just a "get going and tart it up a bit" rather than a complete resto, as its not getting a cab repaint as i dont have the time to do it!
This is the Stern Lightning that Ian (aka Howzat) picked up a last June for $300 from a mate of mine during a road trip we did to Armidale, (i picked up a Wms Flash in Guyra on the same trip for $230 which has since been fixed up and sold).
Anyway some pics of Lightning that we started on yesterday;
The cabinet is not too bad, I've already repaired the bottom panel that was falling out!
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0007_zps4t5dmqy5.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0004_zpsbhabtqaf.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0005_zpsmmyqex6d.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0006_zpsdb47kvix.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0016_zpsd6bztvwl.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0017_zpsbd8jjxn3.jpg)
The backbox needs some attantion, chipboard (SHITboard) on back of backbox and MDF on the front edge water damaged
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0018_zpspdtaeza7.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0019_zpswsdahyjm.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0008_zpsh8smpxyn.jpg)
The playfield on the other hand, is a different story! although it looks ok at first glance on closer inspection it has a LOT of wear!
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0010_zpsadppxw38.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0011_zpssxo4lcyt.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0012_zpsibldxzsr.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0022_zpswppytx21.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0023_zps0p0qtbpd.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0025_zpsxbtoyjgk.jpg)
I got a bit of a lucky break with the playfield, i've done a deal with Nino for a Lightning playfield he has that is in a LOT better shape than this one, so it'll be a simple playfield swap for this game rather than trying to restore THIS one #*#
Soon as the replacement p/f arrives the work will begin *%* *%*
-
This is the home made backglass that the game had %.% %.%
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0013_zpsyfmv3yqj.jpg)
And here is the translite i found on ebay that will be used instead.. much better i think!!
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0001_zps4izv8rs3.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0003_zpsmdcdt8at.jpg)
And the bag of goodies that came with the game.. new coils, lamps etc
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/mrpinbol/1981%20Stern%20Lightning/0015_zpsdv1djiky.jpg)
-
I have never played this game before . this will be the 1st game I have owned with an upper p/f and no bumpers
I have always wanted a B/knight or Flash G but there quite pricey, so hope fully this will be a good player
I would be keen to get some opinions of game play from you guys
As Mitch said where getting a replacement P/F from Nino and repainting the legs and coin door
The B/box surrounds will be replaced I carnt waite to get this in the line up Howzat
-
Custom crate arrived today. Long story @@^
-
Progress update;
The replacement p/f arrived from Nino about a couple of months ago. MUCH BETTER than what i had to work with on the original p/f *%* Thanks Nino ^^^ ^^^
First four pics; the playfield as received...
And last three pics how it looks now after refurbishing. ALL of the inserts removed, flattened and refitted level, some minor touchups done (mainly around the inserts), mylar applied and reassembly started.
Some of the parts will be swapped over from the old playfield. The ramps are from the old p/f as they were in better shape, regrained/polished and fitted.
-
Backbox and cabinet repairs being done;
Backbox back panel replaced and front backglass surround replaced. Lots of delaminated ply needed to be glued ^&^
Cabinet had a few loose joints reglued/clamped/screwed together as needed and back panel repaired.
-
Looking sweet mitch
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Never seen a lightning but it looks like a cool game, I'll enjoy following your progress with this one.
-
Glad the playfield is being used on a game. I was hoping to find a project Lightning to utilize it, but it is going in a game to be played - so I'm happy !
It is a cracker of a game. The classic Sterns are always overlooked, but this title won't leave a collection. Great game !
-
Thanks for sending the P/F Nino and the grate is the best way to do it
It will get used as Big dog Cam sends P/F down to Mitchs quite often
Mitch is doing a great job I carnt waite Ian
-
Thanks for sending the P/F Nino and the grate is the best way to do it
It will get used as Big dog Cam sends P/F down to Mitchs quite often
Mitch is doing a great job I carnt waite Ian
Was not comfortable sending the PF unless I had a crate.
-
Hi guys, a quick progress update;
Cabinet progress pics;
Backbox progress
-
I broke one of my golden rules with this one and did some touchup work on the cab and backbox rather than a total repaint.. i normally WILL NOT do cab touchups as the end results usually up looking like dog shit, but since this cab really wasn't too bad i decided to have a go at it with the airbrush.
The worst of the wear was below the flipper buttons which was what Ian was most concerned about getting repaired. I ended up using the same Trident brand airbrush paint i use on playfields and backglasses, matching the blue as best as i could which was pretty hard to do since the colour had faded differently between the left and right sides ^&^
Some of the yellow was resprayed as well, using automotive acrylic (after some failed attempts with the Trident waterbased airbrush paint). The cab abd backbox were clearcoated after the touchups work to seal and protect them.
First two pic showing the cab before (since i lost the original pics i posted due to the photophuckit stuff ups)!
Next two pics blue touchups done, before clear applied (cabinet had been sanded before touchups were done).
Rest of the pics showing the end result after the clearcoat applied and side rails going back on..
Not perfect but looks much betterer me thinks :D
-
Playfield update;
Drop target banks removed from old playfield, refurbished and fitted to the donor playfield.
-
Looking good Mate. Playfield looks very busy and colourful !
-
I'm on the home stretch now, playfield work now complete, having just finished refurbishing all of the lamp sockets #*#
Time to plug the p/f in for testing and fix any issues found.. looking pretty good so far, with not as much work needed as i thought it would need, mostly just some switch cleaning/adjusting.
-
Video does not work @@^
-
Video does not work @@^
Weird.. i can see it on My pc but not on my smart phone !@#
EDIT' Try it now.. vid was set to private, changed it to unlisted and i can see it on my smartphone now!
-
Looking good mate
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Very nice ! Busy playfield, but the overall art package is impressive.
-
I'm on the home stretch now, playfield work now complete, having just finished refurbishing all of the lamp sockets #*#
I was curious, what do you do to refurbish the lamp sockets?
-
I'm on the home stretch now, playfield work now complete, having just finished refurbishing all of the lamp sockets #*#
I was curious, what do you do to refurbish the lamp sockets?
I remove them, clean them up inside where the lamp fits in and solder the base where they are often loose and spinning. I also usually solder the wire directly to the center pin instead of the solder lug.
-
Final update;
Playfield was installed into the cabinet a week ago, and after several days of final testing the game is now complete #*# ... well complete except for the non working speech board which i'm hoping i can repair @@^
The game was picked up this morning, minus the speech board as the game doesn't need it to play, i'll fit it at a later date if it can be repaired.
The game has turned out pretty well for a game that was destined to be scrapped for parts if i had bought it when it was originally offered to me! Until Ian put up his hand for it, i had plans of using the boards and parts for a test fixture. As far as i was concerned at the time we got it, it was worthless, with a worn out playfield, dead speech board and no backglass! Thanks again to Nino for selling Ian the playfield that is currently in the game, and saving me from a world of hurt trying to restore the original one!!
It's good though to see it up and running again and playing well. the translite doesn't look as good as a proper backglass, but its way better than no backglass at all (or the painted piece of glass that was in the game when we got it %.%
-
One last pic of the game set up in Ian's lineup!
Apologies for the crappy pic from my crappy smartphone.. will get some better pics later on and post them *%*
-
Very nice work there mate. You never know, the backglass might be reproduced in the future. The game can now be enjoyed rather than parted out. Like you, Mitch, I could never bring myself to part out a machine.