Author Topic: Gottlieb Free Fall High End Restoration  (Read 9019 times)

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Offline oldskool1969

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Re: Gottlieb Free Fall High End Restoration
« Reply #15 on: December 14, 2021, 10:12:10 AM »
Perfection takes time.
FYI my Surf Champ is still going very strong and hasn't missed a beat, even after the West Coast Pinball Festival.
If it isn't broke, it isn't pinball.

Offline Strangeways

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Re: Gottlieb Free Fall High End Restoration
« Reply #16 on: September 16, 2022, 05:50:40 PM »
Sheesh... Been a long time since any of my threads have been updated. So now I have a new PC with photos etc moved across I'll update some of the resto threads, starting with "Free Fall" as it has had a ton of work done to it. Delays have been frustrating, with the shipping and service issues at PBR through the pandemic and post pandemic. But other things were done. This update concentrates on the apron, which is the most recent part of the resto completed (I'll jump back to other sections later). This was frustrating as my paint supplier was closed during the lockdowns, so I tried using rattle cans which was a DISASTER. The regulator on my Compressor crapped itself and the only place I could find a replacement was in the USA. I should have just waited..


Here is the Apron unique to the Add-A-Ball machines ;







Stripped and prepped for primer ( I used Rustoleum cans from Bunnings )







After 24 Hours, this started happening..














It was a little bit better on the ball arch, but not what I wanted, so I practiced the splatter effect from a can, which I did not like.









The Ball Arch does have a Serial number sticker that I wanted to retain. Took an hour to remove it without damaging it !









FINALLY the regulator arrived for the compressor, so I stripped the paint again, and used the tried and tested method of painting and it all turned out well.










The next step was to use the (provided) Pinball Rescue Apron Decals.







.. only to find the horizontal lines under the cards was not straight..







But the Ball Arch came up perfect ;









Now the question will be - Where is the webbing / splatter ? Well that will be covered soon..

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Offline Strangeways

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Re: Gottlieb Free Fall High End Restoration
« Reply #17 on: September 16, 2022, 06:07:45 PM »
The Baseboard was completed some time ago. It is stripped, cleaned, polished and then every contact is cleaned and adjusted.
























The stickers were impossible to remove, but the cards were removed easily as they were stapled.









The timber is carefully sanded.









Each Component or section is removed, checked and then cleaned. The Transformer in this game is not the factory transformer. But it will do the job.









One of the brackets was broken and I had to search for a similar transformer and replace it with that bracket. But I clean and polish the bracket before reassembly.









Score Motor is stripped, cleaned and contacts gapped.









.. until it looks like this ;









Huge Difference after reassembly ;









A New Power cable is installed, and we are ready to test.







The Chime Box is finished and looks great. A fair amount of work here. Replated assembly, polished chime bars and chime kit installed.











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Offline GAP

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Re: Gottlieb Free Fall High End Restoration
« Reply #18 on: September 16, 2022, 10:35:07 PM »
Love your work Nino  @@*

Offline ddstoys

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Re: Gottlieb Free Fall High End Restoration
« Reply #19 on: September 18, 2022, 09:38:50 AM »
Beautiful as always


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Offline Strangeways

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Re: Gottlieb Free Fall High End Restoration
« Reply #20 on: August 11, 2023, 03:18:56 PM »
Even though it is hard work, I still find Zinc Plating fun to do. It is time consuming, but these days the results I have been able to achieve are "as good" as professionals. I don't lose ports either ! So here are some longer pieces - some that are not even seen (playfield arch area) and the channel for the back door.









The HARDEST part to plate is definitely the Lock down Bar Receiver. Here's a finished next to an unfinished ;









Installing Plated Ball Trough parts ;












Coin Entry plate - The AUS Coinage cards / Decals are no longer available, so I had to make my own. I used the documents from Peter's site and printed them and then laminated them. They turned out ok.












The mounting bracket was replated and new lamp sockets installed.







While I had the laminator out, I also did the "Manufacturer's Certificate"







I used two sided tape to install back on to the ball arch. Looks better than I thought !







The Back Door was a different metal than I've seen, so I thought I'd clean it up and polish it... Section by section !







The Lockdown Bar gets a good clean, regrain and some fresh Beer Seal !









Aussie Pinball - Proud to be Australia's Premier Pinball Forum

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http://www.rtbb.com.au/catalog/

We carry the largest range of NEW Ramps in Australia

Offline GAP

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Re: Gottlieb Free Fall High End Restoration
« Reply #21 on: August 11, 2023, 08:05:30 PM »
Incredible work Nino.
Someone will be very excited to get that machine !!  *%*