Williams Blackout Pinball Project

[Strangeways]

After removing the mylar i noticed that most of the inserts were loose

They have cupping and will have to flatten them .

I am unsure on how to do this ?

Remove the cupped insert. Be careful if there is art on the insert, as this may cause an issue. Use a block of wood roughly the size of a sanding block, and cut the desired wet sandpaper to fit and overlap the wood. place in the vice. Spray water or windex on the sandpaper. Face down, start to sand the insert, going in circles. Observe the insert. If it has artwork starting to sand off - STOP. If not, keep going. continually check that the insert is starting to level. Change to a higher grit. Start at 400, 600, 800 (to flatten) then 1000, 1500 and finally 2000. Polish with novus 2.

Repeat for all the inserts.

If art is being sanded off - Plan B - Find an insert decal kit.

The other option is to buy all new inserts and decals.

[pinoffski]

Just a small update
Have removed all inserts now
also touched up some of the playflield
Just the Black only

I will say i am getting a bit overwhelmed with all the extra work
as 80 percent of the inserts were loose after i removed the Mylar

as there is no replacement for this playfield and i just don't want to destroy it ...
with a noob mistakes
 

[Strangeways]

"Noob mistakes" usually happen if you rush things. You will make mistakes from time to time, that's how you learn. Once you level and re-glue your first insert, your confidence will grow. When the playfield is completely done, you will notice the difference visually, and also it will play better. It is not "extra work" - it is "extra fun". STOP when it's not "fun" anymore. Take a break. Then come back to it. Pinball restoration is a marathon, not a sprint race.

[goodolddays]

Just a small update
Have removed all inserts now
also touched up some of the playflield
Just the Black only

I will say i am getting a bit overwhelmed with all the extra work
as 80 percent of the inserts were loose after i removed the Mylar

as there is no replacement for this playfield and i just don't want to destroy it ...
with a noob mistakes
 

Keep up the great work Dave . I think Nino is spot on with his advice too :)


I made a noob mistake with my Space Odyssey playfield swap which I must mention in that thread when I update it 

[pinoffski]

Thanks Dave & Nino
The advice and support is gold..

Removed the bumpers and the plastic that surrounded them with Loctite freeze spray only had minor paint removed

Masked playfield and put in ear plugs in the light globe inserts
for a Refresh to the white that is under the plastics .

have not used the air brush in at least 2 years ..

it is not perfect but i a basically happy with the result

Wife thought the white did not match but after i showed her that that bumpers still have the the old lacquer / coating over it 






 

[goodolddays]

Looking good Dave .


I will soon be getting to try out some airbrushing myself when I attempt to spray the red back into my Space Odyssey glass.


Have only briefly mucked around with it once before

[Strangeways]

Thanks Dave & Nino
The advice and support is gold..

Removed the bumpers and the plastic that surrounded them with Loctite freeze spray only had minor paint removed

Masked playfield and put in ear plugs in the light globe inserts
for a Refresh to the white that is under the plastics .

have not used the air brush in at least 2 years ..

it is not perfect but i a basically happy with the result

Wife thought the white did not match but after i showed her that that bumpers still have the the old lacquer / coating over it 






 

Amazing what a difference to the overall playfield when you refresh the white areas.

[pinoffski]

Today i start to level out the inserts .
I tried something different as i have seen that people use superglue to level out the insert'

I used KBS ClearCoat  with some success .

Was done in two batches the first lot i had some surface bubbles .

And the second batch i had the aircon on at 24 deg and had no surface bubbles .

have sanded some that have not worked out .
 

[pinoffski]

Have started putting the inserts back in not completed as i am away for work again for the next 2weeks.

Sent the boards to Ken and they arrived back early in the week so i had a present to open today

very happy 






 

[Strangeways]

Ken does an amazing job saving these old boards !

[pinoffski]

Progress have now been slow ..

back on the road for work....
unfortunately i broke a insert so i then ordered some but i am not happy with the colour
so i removed one from a flash playfield this afternoon ..

it is a better match
the one on the right is the original and the one on the left is the one from Flash
and then there is the other


 

[goodolddays]

Lucky you had a spare PF to rob from, Dave

[Strangeways]

As long as they match your playfield.

Remember that the inserts in your game have been subjected to uniform years of a hot and bright #44lamp behind it. That new insert will more than likely be an exact colour matched with a NOS playfield.

[pinoffski]

My apologies to the members here as i have not updated this thread for a long time
will update the progress on how i finished this pinball..

[pinoffski]

I made the decision to reglue the inserts with Loctite super gelfor me with my lac of experience with this product i had some issues

 I was using a steel ruler to level out the inserts and i was not should if they were level with the playfield
so i cut a peice of perpex ..