That playfield looks amazing

But now for a nooby question.

What is the best approach for a playfield restoration, remove mylar, remove and replace mylar, or clearcoating? The clearcoating looks fantastic - but is it a long term restoration option or just a preference?

 

Each playfield should be evaluated in isolation. The "best approach" would be the condition you are comfortable with. If the game has mylar, and it is in good condition, then it can be left alone. If it is dull, shrinking or lifting, then look at removing it. Games of this era didn't have factory mylar, but the operator installed Contact (used to cover school books). It was in good condition, but it lifted very easily. The decision to clearcoat the playfield became apparent when I looked at the amount of the original clear that was being removed as I cleaned the ball swirl marks. There was no way the playfield could not be protected. I was initially going to clear it myself, but I thought I'd leave that to a professional, who did an impeccable job for me.

In this case, the clearcoat was a necessity. Given the game is rare and collectible, I wanted to finish it as original as possible and that meant investing more time and effort in a clearcoat.