Bally Skateball Restore

[Strangeways]

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 !





Damn - No MPU. Looks like the Solenoid Driver had a issue at some stage (solved later on)





Theres the left hand side of the cabinet that has sustained some paint damage. Notice Ace Frehley peering over the artwork 





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.





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 !

















Plenty of cleaning ahead for this game !

[ajlaird]

Never seen one of these before - there are so many titles to discover!

[ddstoys]

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

[chris288]

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.

[Extra Ball]

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" 

[illawarra_steelers]

What a cool looking game - looks like it would be fantastic to play. Could Bally have got any more onto that playfield 

[MartyJ]

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!

[Strangeways]

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 ;




An area unprotected by Mylar. Must have been a popular game in it's heyday !





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 !





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 ;





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.




In pieces !








Here's the "after" picture.





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 !


 

[illawarra_steelers]

Looks great mate  - what are your plans for the drop target faces? Are decals available?

[Strangeways]

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 

[pinballist]

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.

[Strangeways]

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..

[MartyJ]

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.

[ddstoys]

Those Drops look great Nino what did you use to get them looking so good?

[ajlaird]

I reckon he bought new ones.