Gottlieb Buccaneer Restoration

[mildflame]

The sail area is where the match numbers are, so the touch ups will be seen at the conclusion of each game. The area is not backlit, so I'm "getting away with it". I brushed the jo sonja paint on - a little too thick - and two coats. I might TT the repainted areas depending on how it looks. I thinned the paint so it could be brushed easily.

What do you use to thin the jo sonja paints with, is there something special to use?

There is a Jo Sonja flow medium that is used for airbrushing.

[Strangeways]

The sail area is where the match numbers are, so the touch ups will be seen at the conclusion of each game. The area is not backlit, so I'm "getting away with it". I brushed the jo sonja paint on - a little too thick - and two coats. I might TT the repainted areas depending on how it looks. I thinned the paint so it could be brushed easily.

What do you use to thin the jo sonja paints with, is there something special to use?

As Mitch mentions - you can use flow medium, which I use with the airbrush, or just water ! Flow Medium is much better.

Good stuff Nino 
Interested in the backglass touchups, we don't see too much of this on the forum.
Playfield looks great, can't be too far away from having a game?
Cheers
Dave

Getting closer by the day. I'll have another update tomorrow, but it looks really good with new posts, plastics, rubbers etc !

 

[Strangeways]

Playfield is really coming together. I've assembled most pplayfield parts around the area I need to paint the inserts (Aussie Post lost the package from Gav, so he is kindly sending another set   ). Very straight forward - everything in the playfield is new. Posts, bumper mylar, bodies, caps and rubbers. All Metal is polished. The wooden side rails are refinished and look great - even the guide and guide rails are polished.

These are really just "bling" pictures more than anything, but you can see that if you really want the machine to shine, you have to spend the dollars. Let's face it, these machines DESERVE this kind of attention !














I'll start work rebuilding the bottom of the playfield shortly !


 

[goodolddays]

Looking great Nino .  You were lucky with those colours matching up on the BG too.

[Steve2010]

Very straight forward - everything in the playfield is new. Posts, bumper mylar, bodies, caps and rubbers.

With the bumper mylar, did Gottlieb (for this era) always use the "floating" or non-adhesive type?  I am currently doing a restore on my Surf Champ, and the grit that got caught over the years underneath the bumper mylar ring caused alot of pitting in the playfield.  It also was quite grubby underneath the ring from all the dirt that accumulated.  I am planning on using adhesive rings - maybe not an exact/100% restore to its original, but I thought adhesive is the better way to go.

[Replicas]

Great work Nino 
She looks beautiful.
Darren.

[Strangeways]

Very straight forward - everything in the playfield is new. Posts, bumper mylar, bodies, caps and rubbers.

With the bumper mylar, did Gottlieb (for this era) always use the "floating" or non-adhesive type?  I am currently doing a restore on my Surf Champ, and the grit that got caught over the years underneath the bumper mylar ring caused alot of pitting in the playfield.  It also was quite grubby underneath the ring from all the dirt that accumulated.  I am planning on using adhesive rings - maybe not an exact/100% restore to its original, but I thought adhesive is the better way to go.

Bumper mylar was non adhesive on EMs from factory. They do have a nasty habit of collecting dirt and pounding it into the playfield, but that's not going to be a problem for a home used and maintained machine. I used the adhesive style on the Aces High as I clearcoated them and they were a wider diameter.

[ktm450]

Looks great so far 

[oldpins]

That's one smick looking EM. Fantastic result  .
I use the KASAR paints which you can buy from Bunnings. There is a wide range of colours as mentioned are quite thick and do need to be watered down for spraying. A number of coats are required when spraying as the water must  dilute the pigments in the paint. Still a good product which works and price is reasonable. For some transparent sections, a coloured adhesive vinyl can be stuck to the rear of the BG. This difusses the BG light very well.

[Strangeways]

More Progress - I need to rebuild every section of the playfield - underneath the playfield. All parts are tumbled, cleaned or replaced. There were a couple of coils that did not measure correctly, so I replaced them. The bumper assemblies had their yokes replaced, and even the springs were tumbled ! Here's a picture of a rebuilt bumper assembly;





Flipper assemblies are rebuilt with new flipper kits from PBR. Assemblies are polished up and look new again





Everything is cleaned and checked. Even the corroded screws are treated with ranex. Light sockets are cleaned and new globes fitted. This is one of the best jobs on an EM, as everything "comes together" as each hour passes. Either new or polished parts are installed and the moving parts are no longer tired and sluggish.





Relay Bank is cleaned with degreaser, alcohol and dried with compressed air. All the screws are tightened, adjusted and cleaned. The coil sleeves on the reset coils are replaced. It is essential that this unit works perfectly.





Here's the other stencil Gav sent me. This is for the inserts around the inland and outlanes. I completed this two days ago. I've clearcoated this area with some really good results. The clear was a little too glossy, but it is a lot better than what was there. Here's what it originally looked like ;





Here's the cleared area ;





Much Better !!


Getting closer to having a game.

[Steve2010]

That is serious clean.  How do you find the time to do all this stuff?  I am more than worn out doing the restores I'm currently doing, and certainly go nowhere near the level you go to.  And I know I'm probably stretching the boundary with my wife

[Strangeways]

That is serious clean.  How do you find the time to do all this stuff?  I am more than worn out doing the restores I'm currently doing, and certainly go nowhere near the level you go to.  And I know I'm probably stretching the boundary with my wife

i'm simply passionate about my work. I can't explain it any other way. I find myself locked in the garage and I roll up my sleeves. I have no other hobbies or interests (except family and friends). I enjoy every minute.


I fired up the game this evening and apart from the 5000 point relay out of adjustment, it works perfectly ! I still have to re assemble the touch up area, and I found a few dodgy light sockets. The magic of hearing an EM once again !

I think I need to order new spot targets as well and finish off the apron. Getting close !

[Strangeways]

I decided to refinish the apron as it would look "out of place" on this restoration. A decal from PinballResue was ordered while I stripped and prepared the Apron.

Here's the "before" picture ;





I used Citrus Strip from Bunnings a couple of times. them removed any residue with metho and a green scotchbrite pad ;





White Knight Etch Primer was applied. First a mist coat, then a couple of thicker coats over two days. I waited a week and then applied two coats of Gloss White.





Then I applied the decal from PinballRescue





Spinner was missing from this machine ( the correct one). I ordered a repro "blank" from Pinball Resource, and Wotto was kind enough to draw the images from scratch (from photos). Cheers Mate 

I printed them on my inkjet on to adhesive paper, then applied them to the spinner. finally, I cut a piece of mylar and covered both sides of the spinner.





Here's the spinner installed.





Since this was completed, I had to order the two spot targets. However, I've fired the game up and apart from some minor adjustments, it works 100%. I still have to install the Apron. I will finish it off when the targets arrive. The NEW plastics will be installed once the game is 100% completed - which won't be too long !

 

[mildflame]

can you notice the apron sticker is a sticker up close? or from playing distance?
I could just see in photos but I knew what I was looking for

[Strangeways]

Yes - you can tell it is a decal, but I'm thinking of spraying a clear, which should give it more "depth".