No-one escapes the Black Hole Playfield Restoration

[pinnies4me]

Well this is the culmination of a decade long endeavour!

Back in 2005 I wanted to get a restored playfield for my Black Hole. Of course, this was long before we had the quality restoration services we now have here in Australia, so I decided to source a playfield in the US and have it restored by the then masters, Playfield Renovations.

Posting to the old RGP, I soon sourced a playfield in good restorable condition, got a quote from Playfield Renovations, and shipped it over for what was to be the "16 to 20 weeks" restoration service....

I think I waiting until 6 months had elapsed before making an enquiry, and was told it was progressing. A few months later I was told the same thing.... and again after a year or more.

Then the stories started appearing on RGP, people not getting their playfields back, or some who had sent in work well after others getting theirs back, and emails not being returned.

In about 2010 I put the word out to a few US contacts as I just wanted the thing - really, it owed me about $500.00, but I just wanted to get it, finished or not, to feel like I hadn't lost out. Fortunately a fellow pinhead in the US made some contact, and I was emailed by the owner. He said the playfield was about 3/4 done, and ultimately it was shipped over to James (Pinball Inc) who put it in Greg's parts container, and it eventually arrived.

The work they did was good in some ways, but in other ways they had made it harder than it should have been, repainting areas in an awkward way. Timbo took a look, and while he thought it possible to finish, it was going to take a lot of work.


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Nicely repainted astronauts
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This poor guy didn't get finished and seems to have lost an arm
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Some incomplete areas
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But other areas almost completed.
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Some of the techniques used are quite strange, adding in lines over areas that you would have though would have been completed first. Overall it could probably be finished by someone really keen (and skilled), but still a very big job.

In the meantime, Ddstoys Daniel sourced a good restorable playfield locally, which made it's way to Eltimbo...


I'll let the pictures do the rest - Thanks Tim, can't wait to get the restoration of the cab and playfield swap underway!
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[Strangeways]

I remember this playfield !

When I viewed the half done playfield, the technique the artist used was strange, and it appeared many hours had gone into it already. Glad Timbo and Stu weaved their magic - so next step is the lower playfield ?

[pinnies4me]

Probably won't be doing the lower - mine is in decent condition, and given you see it from so far away, is not worth doing.

Plus, clear coating the lower one will make an already hard game way too hard!

[Crashramp]

Wow that playfield looks nice! I'd love a Black Hole, only played a couple of games on one but had a blast and the space theme just tops it off for me. Yours with a newly restored playfield and cabinet stencilling is going to be one very special game.
Great back story too Nick, thanks for sharing it and I look forward to more updates as the restoration progresses. 

[goodolddays]

Playfield looks great Nick.

I must get back to working on my project Black Hole soon .

I have other projects to do first though , such as Playboy and El Dorado cab repaint

[ralph67]

Looks fantastic .
 You must be stoked with the results, it will play super fast .
 I do play one that has a clearcoated  playfield and its deadly fast, compared to my game which is still quite fast for a old girl .
 

 

[pinnies4me]

Thanks guys. I am a bit scared if how fast it's going to play! 

Tim has done a brilliant job as always. 

[riverinapinball]

Great story.
Man the playfield looks super nice. Well done.
Black hole is an awesome game, well worth the full treatment.

[pinball god]

Like the game isn't hard enough, mate better sharpen up on those reflexes Nick. I've slowed up that much in that it takes me 5 minutes to find and press the credit button. Great game, well done

[The pinballist formally known as Dean Morgan]

Very nice

[ktm450]

Wow that looks awesome! Well done guys 

[ddstoys]

Looking good mate shame the game will still hate me