Author Topic: Space Invaders - Done (Read 24974 times)

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #40 on:** February 24, 2011, 10:16:53 pm »

It always works out to 6 coats for me... I try to do less but I just don't get the results I'm after if I use any less than 6 coats... (this is of course with a roller)

Here is the last sanding... I use 600 grit between the last 2 coats

Last coat... looks a little purple at first...

As it dries ... it settles into a nice deep blue... I've noticed some SI's are a little lighter... mine was quite dark (the lighting in the garage makes it look even darker than it really is)... I used the back door as the color match and its really spot on.

White is tomorrow!!!!!

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #41 on:** February 27, 2011, 08:53:50 pm »

Well into the white now... I LOVE this color!!! It's super forgiving!!!!!

Tomorrow is coat 4, tues 5, wed 6... stencils by the weekend!!!!

Spyridon · « **Reply #42 on:** March 01, 2011, 11:15:54 am »

Don't forget the black speckles. You'll probably want to do them before the stencils.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #43 on:** March 01, 2011, 12:32:34 pm »

Quote from: Spyridon on March 01, 2011, 11:15:54 am

Don't forget the black speckles. You'll probably want to do them before the stencils.

You're absolutely correct speckling was done on prior to stenciling. I've not looked at the stencils... but I bet (based upon the number of stencils) the white eyes of the aliens on the white utilize the base color (that is there is not a separate stencil for the eyes). So here is the deal, the original paint job definitely stenciled the eyes on top of the black as a separate step. So what I plan on doing when I speckle it, is to put some tape on the white paint around where they eyes will be. This will prevent speckled eyes

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #44 on:** March 04, 2011, 06:43:40 pm »

Started to stencil today !!!!

Not gonna lie... don't care for the speckling effect once the cab is nice and clean... but it came out good and it will be more authentic when all is said and done...

Believe it or not it was tough to get the right amount of splatter... I used a natural bristle brush and hacked it down to about 3/4" of brush then sliced some of the bristles out ... using a flicking motion (fingers against the brush). Use a pair of latex gloves... its friggin messy. I tried and tried against a cardboard box to get the method good enough. Believe me... it was stressful!!!! I had this nice pristine white paint job... and if I f'd this up... I would have to probably quit!!!!

These stencils are from ThisOldGame.com For those of you who have used stencils from Gamestencils.com, these are a wee bit different. The thickness of the vinyl appears to be a bit thinner than gamestencils. Also gamestencils cuts registration marks into each layer... ThisOldGame stencils do not have that aspect. However they are nicely cut and fit the cab pretty well so if you match it up with the profile of the cab... your done. I shifted mine up just a bit because of where the foot of the bottom alien landed... it was a wee to close for comfort.

Here is the paint I used...close enough for home use

Red is first on the white portion of the cab but second on the blue portion...

Light mist of red...front

...sides

Viola!!!

Black tomorrow!!!

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #45 on:** March 05, 2011, 08:10:36 pm »

Got the black done today...

It looks nice... the stencils are a bit different than the original art... but the artwork looks so darn good with new colors. I also dropped the alien on the front down right to the edge of the cab... this is not how the stencil has it... it is however how my cab was originally painted.

...before premask removed

...after premask removed

again... nice light coat... got to be careful with that darn rustoleum... sometimes it spits.

I found it easier to remove the stencil from the bottom up due to the mask around the legs.

Overall I'm thrilled... cant wait to get the rest of it done so it can be put in the gameroom!!!

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #46 on:** March 06, 2011, 07:22:55 pm »

Here is the first layer of the large stencil... color order is white, black, red.

opt2not · « **Reply #47 on:** March 06, 2011, 08:59:40 pm »

Looking really great Retro!

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #48 on:** March 08, 2011, 07:21:58 am »

Quote from: opt2not on March 06, 2011, 08:59:40 pm

Looking really great Retro!

Thanks!... Getting there...

Once you get those aliens back on the sides... it really starts to feel closer to done

Red is last... tonight!

Spyridon · « **Reply #49 on:** March 08, 2011, 08:54:25 am »

Looking really good. This is an incentive to get me back to working on mine. How do you think the base blue color on the sides matches up to the original. It's hard to tell in the photos.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #50 on:** March 08, 2011, 09:10:17 am »

Quote from: Spyridon on March 08, 2011, 08:54:25 am

Looking really good. This is an incentive to get me back to working on mine. How do you think the base blue color on the sides matches up to the original. It's hard to tell in the photos.

My game was really really dark... so matches mine pretty darn well... I've seen most of them lighter though. I do think its probably little dark for most as there are more occurrences of them in a lighter shade...

Vigo · « **Reply #51 on:** March 08, 2011, 12:11:46 pm »

Wow, this is really looking awesome!

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #52 on:** March 08, 2011, 09:34:47 pm »

This is without a doubt the most time consuming paint job I've done to date... sooooo much masking/re-masking etc... inside/outside paint... I'm exhausted.

Here are the final shots...

Red layer...

Trim and insides you didn't see...

Tomorrow it will get hauled down stairs where it will be put back together

I've a few touch ups but nothing major left...

bleargh · « **Reply #53 on:** March 09, 2011, 12:50:05 am »

NICE... colours really stand out (gotta love what a fresh coat of paint can do).

opt2not · « **Reply #54 on:** March 09, 2011, 01:16:12 am »

Fresh!

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #55 on:** March 11, 2011, 09:14:02 am »

I started working on all of the parts needed to be finished before we can put this bad boy back together.

The first thing I addressed was the incandescent light board. To preserve the glass bezel by reducing the amount of heat generated by the lamps, I first tried some LED lamps that were of the same form factor... they did not produce nearly enough light... and even though they were spec'd at 180 degree beam, they sat too far in the holes to really give them the omph they needed to work.

My plan is to replace the light board with 20" cold-cathode tube. Rather than booger up the original part, I chose to re-fab the light board specifically for the cold cathode unit.

Here is the original with led lamps...

Here is the new cold-cathode version... I made it in two pieces, the main piece is identical to the original except for the slot routed out for the cold-cathode unit. The second piece is 1/2" plywood that the cold cathode unit mounts to and it will screw to the back of the main piece. Also not shown is an AC to DC converter that is mounted to the back of the second piece to convert the Space Invader's AC to 12VDC for the cold-cathode unit.

... here are the two pieces fitted together.

Moon lamp assembly is rusted a little... so a little sanding and rustoleum satin black should do the trick...

Here is the old and the new... (I can't wait to see this thing lit!!!!!)

A little control panel work... check out the improvised PAL nut ..

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #56 on:** March 14, 2011, 08:12:01 am »

Here is the rest of the control panel... TOG's overlay is PERFECT!!!!

Didn't do anything with this one beyond just moving the parts over... It could use some new switches... which I'll probably do real soon.

Monitor chassis... did a quick cap kit before installation...

... don't forget this!!

All I can say is that this looks so unbelievable!!!! I've never ever seen a perfectly clean space invaders in my life... and if I did I don't remember it. The depth and volume of the 3D effect is absolutely spectacular... This monitor is crisp and the invaders are crystal clear on the reflective surface. Pictures don't do it justice.

Its AWESOME!!!!

...of course

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #57 on:** March 16, 2011, 10:08:09 am »

Cold cathode unit installed and lit...

Coin door... (just noticed the right insert is a bit crooked)

Here are some final shots of it.

This was the most time consuming (at least from a paint perspective) restore I've done. But I'm thrilled with it. It was the first game I ever wanted and finally its here... thumping away!!!! I will still go around with a small paint brush and hit some of the stenciling where there was a blurp or two around the edges and I need a set of locks for the rear doors.

Since October I've restored an APB, a Berzerk and this Space Invaders. I'm done now for a while... time to start enjoying these games...

jennifer · « **Reply #58 on:** March 16, 2011, 11:21:12 am »

Nice machine.... I"ve been kinda wonderin" though, why roll out the base, then spray solvent?.... I mean [beyond the compatability factor]
wouldn"t that have been just as easy to spray everything?

yotsuya · « **Reply #59 on:** March 16, 2011, 11:27:36 am »

Beautiful job there on all your machines, Retro! Your craftsmanship is commendable!

Vigo · « **Reply #60 on:** March 16, 2011, 11:27:42 am »

Wow! That is stunning!

opt2not · « **Reply #61 on:** March 16, 2011, 01:00:38 pm »

Gorgeous looking! Congratulations! It looks beautifully new and minty...

Post a full-cabinet picture of it all turned on and lit-up!

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #62 on:** March 16, 2011, 01:30:05 pm »

Quote from: opt2not on March 16, 2011, 01:00:38 pm

Gorgeous looking! Congratulations! It looks beautifully new and minty...

Post a full-cabinet picture of it all turned on and lit-up!

Thanks! Will do the pic... its in a tight spot in the room hence why my pics are fragmented so much.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #63 on:** March 16, 2011, 08:01:54 pm »

Quote from: jennifer on March 16, 2011, 11:21:12 am

Nice machine.... I"ve been kinda wonderin" though, why roll out the base, then spray solvent?.... I mean [beyond the compatability factor]
wouldn"t that have been just as easy to spray everything?

If I had an HVLP sprayer... I would have sprayed the whole thing for sure. I've mastered the roll on technique...however I'm thinking about investing in some spray equipment for the next project

jennifer · « **Reply #64 on:** March 16, 2011, 09:35:28 pm »

Well worth the money, but fortunataly no harm/foul..... turned out great!!!!!

MythTrip · « **Reply #65 on:** March 18, 2011, 12:33:35 pm »

Awesome looking game. Outstanding job. All your time and effort was definitely worth it.

One question I have is did the original game use a green overlay that changed the color of the player's
ship and bunkers?

bleargh · « **Reply #66 on:** March 18, 2011, 12:44:05 pm »

WOW... That's one schweet looking Space Invaders.

Like yourself, can't say that I've ever seen one that looked that nice. I'm jealous.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #67 on:** May 19, 2011, 08:34:03 pm »

Here are the door plans for those in need

BurgerKingDiamond · « **Reply #68 on:** August 24, 2011, 10:59:19 am »

that is stunning!

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #69 on:** August 24, 2011, 01:42:07 pm »

Great job, my man

wp34 · « **Reply #70 on:** August 24, 2011, 02:02:12 pm »

Beautiful. Your attention to detail is to be commended.

Yamaha_ERG121 · « **Reply #71 on:** November 11, 2011, 05:07:56 pm »

Wow that cabinet looks like it just came out of the factory yesterday!
It looked horrible before.. but now!

Nothing but respect, great job!

g_block247 · « **Reply #72 on:** February 26, 2012, 10:09:39 am »

great job! if i ever win the lottery and want a game or two done, i know where 2 look

Santoro · « **Reply #73 on:** March 02, 2012, 08:46:26 pm »

Looks amazing.

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #74 on:** March 05, 2012, 11:11:59 pm »

Thanks guys... I sold off many of my games. But this one... I really really love. In fact I think most of all the early games that use the translucent mirror pretty much rock!

I think I'll hold on to this one forever unless someone wants to cough up 2K for it.

uncle_jose · « **Reply #75 on:** August 14, 2015, 11:31:43 am »

Hands down one of the best SI restoration thread!

krussel · « **Reply #76 on:** August 14, 2015, 03:06:49 pm »

Totally amazing


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