Theater of Magic Reconditioning !

[Strangeways]

Next in the DMD Restoration / Reconditioning Queue is my Bally Theater of Magic. I've be meaning to do this game for a while. It is playable and functional, but it is time to recondition it.

Objective

This machine is not in need of a restoration - and the game actually works, and is more of an "as is" and working machine. However, I'm going to recondition the machine to a point where it will be cosmetically and functionally better than most of the machines that change hands.  It will be at the standard that I will be happy to put my name against.

Most of all - I want to ENJOY the process. I have some plans that will make this game stand out from most.

Condition

Playfield - 9.5/10 - Zero wear. The best "as is" ToM playfield I've ever come across. There is slight exposure of a couple of inserts, but you almost need a magnifying glass to find them ! Main ramp will be replaced.

Cabinet - 8/10 - Really nice. No major dints or scuff marks. Awful coil door security bar and an interestingly bent head bracket and damaged siderail on the left hand side.

Electronics - 9/10 - J120 and J121 will need re pinning. Nothing major.

Let's Begin

Here are some pictures of the machine - "warts and all" - it actually works 100%. A couple of lamps out and rubbers are dirty and worn..





Playfield





Trunk and decal ordered (Littleshopofgames) and Ramp orderd (RTBB)





Playfield Strip

Each section is photographed for reference, and I take notes of what needs replacing.











One SWEET playfield that needs to be cleaned and then polished using the Treasurecove kit.





Basically, the playfield is stripped above and below. I label each connector as I go and place the complete sub assemblies in boxes for cleaning, repairs or replacement. I have one broken sub assembly that will be TIG welded - more on that later.

[GORGAR 1]

I love watching your resto's Nino and of a game I have even better-although mine doesn't need any work done I'll be watching with great interest buy the way will you go white or black rubbers mine has white and looks great so interested to see what you do. Only done a couple of small mods to mine so will be watching with interest

Peter

[Strangeways]

The lower cabinet has some damage to the bracket and the siderail. I bought the game knowing this was a minor issue that I would have to address. I removed the head, and then the brackets. The bent bracket was easily straightened in the vice with two pieces of steel clamped together. As good as new.








Siderail replacement

This it a straightforward process. It does take time, and it can be messy. First you need a hair dryer, and a metal scraper or ruler. Place the hair dryer on hot over the siderail and insert the scraper under the siderail and push up against the melting glue. Move to the next section etc etc. The siderail should simply fall off once you have travelled from one side to the other. The adhesive residue will remain on either the siderail or the cabinet. If you are lucky, most will remain on the siderail. Clean up the reside on the cabinet with Orange Solvent, De-Solvit or anything OTHER than Goof Off. Finally, clean the section with Metho on a rag. Great time to completely clean the cabinet with Nifti !

Here's the results on one side of the Cabinet ;





Preparing the new Siderails.

In the photo below, there is a set of siderails with the correct adhesive strip (green), the incorrect adhesive strip (white) and the bottom siderail is the other white adhesive siderail with the adhesive strip removed and the correct (red) adhesive applied. The white adhesive is the incorrect thickness and has limited coverage. I bought the correct thickness adhesive strip from pinrestore.com.








Removal of the thicker and cheap adhesive was easily done with Orange Solvent and a knife. I used a scotchbrite to remove the residue. Here's a picture comparing the thickness of the adhesive strips. The white adhesive is twice as thick, and there's still some residue on the siderail ! This causes problems with the head bracket scraping on the siderail - it is just too thick.





Next step - Installing the new siderails.

[Strangeways]

I love watching your resto's Nino and of a game I have even better-although mine doesn't need any work done I'll be watching with great interest buy the way will you go white or black rubbers mine has white and looks great so interested to see what you do. Only done a couple of small mods to mine so will be watching with interest

Peter

Pete - I only use white rubbers on my restos unless someone asks for Black. Two games come to mind - T3 and CFTBL - that look decent with Black rubbers. The rest have to be white. Black rubbers have less bounce and they were mainly used because operators didn't have to clean black rubbers that were already black 

I have some cool plans for this game - so stay tuned !

[pinnies4me]

Are the side rails locally supplied? I just wondered as I want to get new ones for my AFM and will avoid the time waste if ones with the correct tape in place are also available.

[Strangeways]

Are the side rails locally supplied? I just wondered as I want to get new ones for my AFM and will avoid the time waste if ones with the correct tape in place are also available.

They were on-traded to me quite some time ago, so I don't know where they came from (local or O/S). The siderails themselves are OK, it is just the adhesive that is too thick. If you do find them local, I have plenty of leftover double sided tape that you are welcome to.

[ddstoys]

I remember playing this one Nino will clean up really well.   Can't say I noticed the bent bracket and rail then but they sure were bent often wonder how that much damage can occur as they are not weak.

  And bunnings sell a double sided tape much closer to original than the white clumps they use on some rails  how thick is the stuff your using?  I'll find mine and measure that?

[Strangeways]

This is the exact roll I have bought off the pinrestore.com site ;

http://www.pinrestore.com/Supplies.html

"Automotive Molding Tape" - about 3/4 of the way down the page. The thickness is very close to the original, maybe slightly thinner perhaps.

Interested to see what Bunnings has, Daniel - Next time I will have a look 

[Scotty]

Hi, just a thought , while you have the playfield torn down..... cut a long story short  are you going to clear the playfield ? Maybe a timbo job ? sure is in good nick.

[Strangeways]

Hi, just a thought , while you have the playfield torn down..... cut a long story short  are you going to clear the playfield ? Maybe a timbo job ? sure is in good nick.

Hi Scotty - This playfield is the best original ToM playfield I've come across. I was lucky enough to pick out a really nice game. Now I have already cleaned, polished and waxed the playfield, and I want to take pictures of it in the natural light (tomorrow). The playfield condition was already excellent, it won't need a clearcoat - but it looks like it has a clearcoat. I've spent 3 hours alone on the playfield - and it shows !

[Strangeways]

Side Rail installation

Now that we have installed the correct adhesive strip, the siderails can be installed. This is a really easy process. First of all, don't remove the backing on the siderails, as you will have to make a "practice run". All you need to do is install the siderail against the cabinet and align the front ground bolt. This should fit easily. Now that you have the siderail in position, check that it covers the plastic glass channel and you are almost ready ! Use three or four pieces of low tack masking tape (painter's tape) hold the siderail in position.





Next, remove the ground bolt and you can swing the siderail down to expose the backing tape. The alignment is set, so it is really easy to take the next step ;





Now remove the backing off the adhesive strip, any fold the sidrail back into position, ensuring the top of the siderail sits prefectly on top of the plastic glass channel





Now repeat for the other side !

[Strangeways]

Inside the Cabinet

Everything is removed (except the transformer assy).  First I vacuum the inside, then clean everything with nifti. I repaint the black sidewalls (mask everything up of course), and then I reassembel everything.








Playfield

OK - So the playfield was excellent when I started this process. I first cleaned it with Nifti and then with a bit of Novus 2. I then spent 3 hours buffing and polishing the playfield. These photos were taken in the sunlight as the photos I took inside the garage didn't do it justice. These pictures are the results of spending time and not taking any shortcuts.

I'll let the photos do the talkin'
















Some of the rebuild parts arrived today (Thanks Greg  ) and this is hopefully going to be reassembled quickly. New ramp looks a million bucks !


 

[piesrule]

Playfield looks awesome! better than new

[GORGAR 1]

Nice PF Nino what's the area around the illusion inserts like they normally suffer from slight outlining? Great work so far are you keeping it or has it been sold

Peter

[Strangeways]

Nice PF Nino what's the area around the illusion inserts like they normally suffer from slight outlining? Great work so far are you keeping it or has it been sold

Peter

Very fine (faint) line around one of the inserts - I think "Levitating Woman". I won't be keeping this title, and it looks like it might be staying within the pinball "family"