Author Topic: Cocktail Restoration - Super Pac-Man for ZapCon '16 (Read 7917 times)

yotsuya · « **on:** January 30, 2016, 06:29:24 pm »

Ok, since we're three months out, it's time to get this bad boy ready for ZapCon.

I bought a pair of gutted cocktails from my buddy Jawhn. I sold one to Slippyblade, and kept one for myself. My plan is to turn the cab, which used to be a Ms. Pac-Man into a Super Pac-Man. I already have a Ms. Pac-Man upright, and I actually ENJOY Super Pac-Man, plus it used the same cocktail cab as MP, so it's a good fit.

First step was to get a working Super Pac-Man board, which I picked up from smalltownguy2 there via KLOV. I also found a set of Super Pac cocktail control panels on KLOV, which was great since this one had none.

I sourced a CRT from Jawhn, and capped it. I made a Super Pac-Man to Jamma adapter from a Bob Roberts kit, so that worked well. The game is good to go, now to work on the cab, which is actually going to be the hardest part, because it needs work.

yotsuya · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2016, 06:30:02 pm »

yotsuya · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2016, 06:30:21 pm »

yotsuya · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2016, 06:30:44 pm »

yotsuya · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2016, 06:44:29 pm »

Hands down (or up, in this case), the best economical JAMMA harness you'll ever buy, via Twisted Quarter. All crimped, proper thicknesses, and all labeled....

vwalbridge · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2016, 12:23:32 am »

I love super pac-man. Can't wait to play this at ZaP Con.

yotsuya · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2016, 04:57:57 pm »

Yeah, it's different than what Pac-Man is, and that's why some people may not like it, but have always thought it was pretty good game.

Ok, the bottoms are very unacceptable. Take a look at this picture...

The most damage is clearly on the longer sides. I think this machine was sitting in a pool of oil or cat pee for a long time.

So I broke out the trusty router and I flush them down.

What I'm going to do is build a base on the bottom of the cabinet, Pac-Man style. I prefer that look anyway. I still need to touch up the bottoms, but it'll be a lot easier without all those broken pieces in the way.

yotsuya · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2016, 05:01:02 pm »

I also spent some time getting the rust off of the speaker grills. Usually when I get a Midway cab these are missing and I buy brand new ones, but other than just being rusty and in need of paint, they're in fairly good shape so I'm going to reuse them.

Slippyblade · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2016, 05:29:41 pm »

Do you have any idea how closely I'm following this? Mostly so I can apply anything learned to my build!

On that note, do you recommend a particular type of paint for the grills? I'm gonna be repainting mine as well.

PS: Thanks for selling me the one that was obviously in better shape, I appreciate it!

yotsuya · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2016, 06:22:50 pm »

Quote from: Slippyblade on January 31, 2016, 05:29:41 pm

Do you have any idea how closely I'm following this? Mostly so I can apply anything learned to my build!

On that note, do you recommend a particular type of paint for the grills? I'm gonna be repainting mine as well.

PS: Thanks for selling me the one that was obviously in better shape, I appreciate it!

Yeah, I wanted to make sure you got hooked up.

I primered them first with Rustoleum grey primer, then hit the back with Rustoleum satin black spray. I just primered the front, and now am waiting for it to dry to finish them up.

I just used a bunch of graffiti remover to get rid of a lot of white flecks of paint that were on most of the sides. Bottom frame built, I'm just waiting for some delaminated parts to dry before I install it.

cmoses · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2016, 06:40:21 pm »

Keeping an eye on this thread. I like cocktail cabinets.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yotsuya · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2016, 07:08:31 pm »

Thanks, brothers.

Bottom installed, glued, and painted.

yotsuya · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2016, 07:20:54 pm »

Ta-DA!

vwalbridge · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2016, 07:42:29 pm »

Wow this is progressing quickly. Must be nice to live somewhere above 40 degrees.

yotsuya · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2016, 07:59:30 pm »

Quote from: vwalbridge on January 31, 2016, 07:42:29 pm

Wow this is progressing quickly. Must be nice to live somewhere above 40 degrees.

Yep, it's been gorgeous outside today.

I love Midway coin doors. They're my favorite to restore. I popped the old plate off (already have a replacement) and scrubbed it down. I hit the back with black satin. Tomorrow I'll do a pass with hammered on the front, then finish it with black satin when it dries.

yotsuya · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2016, 08:43:03 pm »

Hey, Slippy, I've got an email out to a local company that sells the glass. Last two cocktails I bought I had the glass shipped, but I want to see if I can do a local pickup.

yotsuya · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2016, 10:31:02 pm »

Just hit the front of the coin door with hammered black. I'll pick up some satin black on the way home tomorrow.

JimmyU · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2016, 12:35:37 pm »

Super Pac-Man is pretty fun. Pac & Pal is decent too.

vwalbridge · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2016, 12:49:51 pm »

You paint satin over hammered black? Do you find that works better than just one or the other?

Do you like the hammered texture with the sheen of satin?

yotsuya · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2016, 01:05:36 pm »

Quote from: vwalbridge on February 01, 2016, 12:49:51 pm

You pain satin over hammered black? Do you find that works better than just one or the other?

Do you like the hammered texture with the sheen of satin?

Hammered black is too grey for my liking. I use the hammered to even out and fill any scratches and nicks, then finish it with satin black so it's nice and dark.

vwalbridge · « **Reply #20 on:** February 01, 2016, 01:08:49 pm »

Quote from: yotsuya on February 01, 2016, 01:05:36 pm

Quote from: vwalbridge on February 01, 2016, 12:49:51 pm
You pain satin over hammered black? Do you find that works better than just one or the other?

Do you like the hammered texture with the sheen of satin?
Hammered black is too grey for my liking. I use the hammered to even out and fill any scratches and nicks, then finish it with satin black so it's nice and dark.

Nice...I never thought about doing that. Good tip. Thanks.

yotsuya · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2016, 01:09:37 pm »

I'll shoot a photo of it when I get home as it stands with the hammered, then afterwards once I put on the satin.

yotsuya · « **Reply #22 on:** February 01, 2016, 01:11:16 pm »

I don't strip the doors down completely anymore, either. Most of the ones I've worked on just need some touchup more than anything else. I did have one door powercoated once, but a friend did that for me.

vwalbridge · « **Reply #23 on:** February 01, 2016, 01:28:27 pm »

Quote from: yotsuya on February 01, 2016, 01:11:16 pm

I don't strip the doors down completely anymore, either. Most of the ones I've worked on just need some touchup more than anything else. I did have one door powercoated once, but a friend did that for me.

This is really good info for me. I've been thinking about how to paint my DK coon door. I was wondering how much of the original paint I should remove first but it sounds like I can just rough it up with sand paper.

I'd love to powdercoat it like you mentioned once. I have no idea, is powercoating expensive?

I'm anxious to see your results.

yotsuya · « **Reply #24 on:** February 01, 2016, 01:46:05 pm »

Unless most of the paint has flaked or rusted off, I find that there is no need to strip it completely.

If I had a sandblaster, maybe I'd be singing a different tune...

behrmr · « **Reply #25 on:** February 01, 2016, 01:49:56 pm »

Quote from: yotsuya on February 01, 2016, 01:46:05 pm

Unless most of the paint has flaked or rusted off, I find that there is no need to strip it completely.

If I had a sandblaster, maybe I'd be singing a different tune...

Same here. And the texture in the hammered covers it all up anyway. And I do the same thing. The textured really isn't black so I hit it satin or flat depending on how I'm feeling.

Don't forget the High Score Save Kit. Nice easy mod.

yotsuya · « **Reply #26 on:** February 01, 2016, 01:52:07 pm »

Quote from: behrmr on February 01, 2016, 01:49:56 pm

Quote from: yotsuya on February 01, 2016, 01:46:05 pm
Unless most of the paint has flaked or rusted off, I find that there is no need to strip it completely.

If I had a sandblaster, maybe I'd be singing a different tune...

Same here. And the texture in the hammered covers it all up anyway. And I do the same thing. The textured really isn't black so I hit it satin or flat depending on how I'm feeling.

Don't forget the High Score Save Kit. Nice easy mod.

Yep. It was. ;-)

tomstewdevine · « **Reply #27 on:** February 01, 2016, 02:28:49 pm »

Very cool, can't wait to see how it all turns out. That bottom was in really rough shape, great call on the base.

yotsuya · « **Reply #28 on:** February 01, 2016, 02:39:23 pm »

Quote from: tomstewdevine on February 01, 2016, 02:28:49 pm

Very cool, can't wait to see how it all turns out. That bottom was in really rough shape, great call on the base.

Yeah, it was. Taking that bottom off, which pretty much crumbled into smelly orange dust, also has the added benefit of me not having to relaminate the whole machine. That remains an option at a later date, but it's not necessary for ZapCon.

tomstewdevine · « **Reply #29 on:** February 01, 2016, 04:02:12 pm »

You think you will take home the prize again? Can a Super Pac cocktail be on the same level as a Macross or Polybius? Which are two of the coolest cabs I've seen.

yotsuya · « **Reply #30 on:** February 01, 2016, 04:08:11 pm »

Quote from: tomstewdevine on February 01, 2016, 04:02:12 pm

You think you will take home the prize again? Can a Super Pac cocktail be on the same level as a Macross or Polybius? Which are two the coolest cabs I've seen.

Naw, I'm going straight restore on this one. Both those were done with WOW FACTOR in mind, but also with the collector/purist in mind, which is why I think they resonated with the judges and public. This one, if it looks like a decent Super Pac-Man cocktail, I'll be happy.

yotsuya · « **Reply #31 on:** February 01, 2016, 08:12:40 pm »

Here's the after pic. This is just with hammered black - but look at how the blemishes on the door are now covered up. Compare it to the before photo.

It's been cold and rainy here, so I will give it a few days before the satin black.

vwalbridge · « **Reply #32 on:** February 01, 2016, 11:16:47 pm »

Nice! Looks great! I can see what you mean by the hammered not looking dark-black enough.

yotsuya · « **Reply #33 on:** February 04, 2016, 07:52:34 pm »

Remember that nasty ass bottom? Five days, some wood filler, and dark walnut stain later...

Slippyblade · « **Reply #34 on:** February 04, 2016, 08:11:43 pm »

Levelers on the raised base? Is that gonna raise the top too much?

yotsuya · « **Reply #35 on:** February 04, 2016, 09:17:32 pm »

Naw, I got them pretty low. It's good height.

yotsuya · « **Reply #36 on:** February 06, 2016, 01:02:04 pm »

So, this is why I do a base coat of hammered black followed by a good coat of satin black....

Now I just need to take a wire wheel to the chrome parts, and then I'll reassemble the whole door, including installing the new plate for the front.

Here go the speaker grills. It's so nice not having to buy three of them, and instead just recycling what I had...

yotsuya · « **Reply #37 on:** February 06, 2016, 03:12:51 pm »

Back in the house for reassembly!

yotsuya · « **Reply #38 on:** February 06, 2016, 10:01:49 pm »

Oooooooooooooo

yotsuya · « **Reply #39 on:** February 07, 2016, 07:14:13 pm »

I'd rather do this than watch the game...

yotsuya · « **Reply #40 on:** February 07, 2016, 07:50:41 pm »

It's alive!

harveybirdman · « **Reply #41 on:** February 07, 2016, 08:29:56 pm »

Taking a break from the no offense Superbowl to say...

Looking good Brotoplasm! I'm going to have to play some in Mame. I've never bothered to figure out how to play.

yotsuya · « **Reply #42 on:** February 07, 2016, 09:37:58 pm »

Quote from: harveybirdman on February 07, 2016, 08:29:56 pm

Taking a break from the no offense Superbowl to say...

Looking good Brotoplasm! I'm going to have to play some in Mame. I've never bothered to figure out how to play.

It's a fun game. There's less focus on mazes and patterns and more on points and ghosts.

yotsuya · « **Reply #43 on:** February 08, 2016, 12:31:31 am »

I find very few things in this hobby as rewarding as restoring a Midway coin door. New plates look beautiful when installed.

Wyo · « **Reply #44 on:** February 08, 2016, 03:09:22 am »

Subbed! Looks great so far!

The only thing wrong with your restore so far is thhat the jamma harness is to many colors. All Purple wires would have been a better choice.

(see what I did there Chance?

)

I agree tho, TQ has the best harness I've found as well.

yotsuya · « **Reply #45 on:** February 08, 2016, 08:23:34 am »

Quote from: Wyo on February 08, 2016, 03:09:22 am

Subbed! Looks great so far!

The only thing wrong with your restore so far is thhat the jamma harness is to many colors. All Purple wires would have been a better choice. (see what I did there Chance? )

I agree tho, TQ has the best harness I've found as well.

Yeah, I'm not that anal retentive. I can't ever think of a situation where I'd open up my cabinet to show people and say, "Look, all the wires match!!!!1!!!"

The only drawback to the harness is the lack of quick disconnects and daisy chained ground, but in both cases when I've used it, I was connecting to existing harness work anyway, so I didn't need either, but if you were using it in a scratch build, you'd have to supply your own. The quality of the parts TQ uses is worth it, though.

Wyo · « **Reply #46 on:** February 08, 2016, 08:34:08 am »

LOL!

A good jamma harness really does make a difference. I just got one in a 100 dollar 60n1 kit and I was like, wtf is this? Ha. The wires were like Pieces of kite string. Get what you pay for, that's for sure.

yotsuya · « **Reply #47 on:** February 08, 2016, 10:23:17 am »

Quote from: Wyo on February 08, 2016, 08:34:08 am

LOL!

A good jamma harness really does make a difference. I just got one in a 100 dollar 60n1 kit and I was like, wtf is this? Ha. The wires were like Pieces of kite string. Get what you pay for, that's for sure.

Exactly. Especially with the power lines. On the cheap harnesses, it cracks me up because the power wires LOOK like they're thicker and more robust, but when you cut them you realize they just doubled up on the insulation.

I buy cheap harnesses for the the ground loop and joystick/button/coin door/video/speaker wires, cut them off the harness, and I toss the rest.

yotsuya · « **Reply #48 on:** February 08, 2016, 11:13:28 am »

Oh, and here's a tip for installing the new Midway door plate...

I got the repro from Ivanx on KLOV (he sells them on eBay as well). He put together a nice installation video that's straight and to the point. Take your old plate, put it on the back of the new plate, and use that to mark where the new holes will go. Get a 1/16 or so drill bit, and drill the 6 holes. Go up 1 step more to enlarge the holes and remove and burrs from the holes made with the first bit. Then what I do is I get 6 brad nails that fit the holes. Then I remove the adhesive backing from the plate, put the nails through the holes from the top side, and the use those nails to guide the plate down onto the coin door. The nails allow the holes to line up perfectly. Press down to make a good adhesive seal, then use the provided rivets to fasten the plate down permanently. Using this method to guide the plate down ensures the rivets fit though the plate and the door, and the plate ends up perfectly straight. In my photo, you see the plate and the nails. I need to find my rivets. Once I rivet the plate down, I can put the hardware back on the door. I just use a hammer and a metal punch to flatten the rivet.

More to come...

yotsuya · « **Reply #49 on:** February 12, 2016, 08:00:53 pm »

Nothing gets the pants messier than a properly riveted repro Midway plate...

yotsuya · « **Reply #50 on:** February 12, 2016, 08:20:22 pm »

And this just starts the afterparty...

yotsuya · « **Reply #51 on:** February 13, 2016, 12:46:05 pm »

Getting parts to wire up the lights in this bad boy....

jennifer · « **Reply #52 on:** February 13, 2016, 02:02:52 pm »

Aircraft rivet squeezers work really nice although they are kinda spendy, The dies don't flatten the head, You can also retrofit a arbor press to do the same thing however that kinda limits the reach you can achieve, A die in a vice works good also but tends to wander somewhat so if you weld plates to the shaft it becomes considerably more stable... Jennifer is a little surprised you had to go buy wire and crimps, the visions of you in my mind are Some crazy "Doc Brown" workshop, rummaging thru giant piles of that kinda stuff late in the night.

yotsuya · « **Reply #53 on:** February 13, 2016, 05:17:26 pm »

Well, I rewired the coin door completely because it was a mess, plus I wanted to rewire the control panel lighting with proper color coded wire and guage for 12v and 5v.

Mission accomplished. Everything glows properly, and I know nothing is going to melt on me.

Malenko · « **Reply #54 on:** February 15, 2016, 08:34:29 am »

I know whos winning the UCA restore award next year!

Great thread, great pictures, and great posts! That coin door looks amazeballs

yotsuya · « **Reply #55 on:** February 15, 2016, 11:17:44 am »

Thanks, bro. Really, the only thing left is to do the art underlay (there's none available online, so I'm vectoring it myself), And order the replacement glass for the top, which I'm going to do in about 2 weeks.

dmckean · « **Reply #56 on:** March 24, 2016, 06:27:56 pm »

yotsuya · « **Reply #57 on:** March 24, 2016, 10:23:11 pm »

Quote from: dmckean on March 24, 2016, 06:27:56 pm

I've slowed down on this since the only thing left is the artwork, but I did put the t-molding on yesterday.


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