identify this cab

[rob1234]

Ok this is converted (Obviously) and I was wondering if anyone knows what it was originally. There are spots of red and blue showing through on the sides towards the bottom. It had a williams power supply in it. Let me know what you think.

[brandon]

Robotron? Moon Patrol?

[rob1234]

robotron is a good possibility. That would explain the blue and red area. Moon patrol has a control panel that is not even with the bottom of the cab. So both of those are out. Can you use paint stripper to reveal the graphics on a robotron?

[brandon]

oops.. you replied before I have a chance to edit

[rob1234]

does anyone have a pic of the sideart for mystic marathon?

[paigeoliver]

Um, Mystic Marathon is a conversion game, so there is no "Mystic Marathon" cabinet, with the exception of a single prototype cabinet that some guy owns.

[Crazy Cooter]

I'm on my way out the door but put me down for a sinistar / robotron guess.  I can't totally see the side panel cut at the point of the CP... "parallel to cp" = my guess is sinistar, "inclined to cp" = my guess is robotron.

(the above are "off the cuff" guestimates)

[brandon]

Um, Mystic Marathon is a conversion game, so there is no "Mystic Marathon" cabinet, with the exception of a single prototype cabinet that some guy owns.

hmm.. didn't know it was a prototype.

[rob1234]

I think it is a sinistar. Now the question is, is it worth trying to convert it back? It is my mame cab, and I am not going to be selling it, however is sinister a rare/popular game? How would I remove the black paint and tecmo decals?

[Q*Bert_OP]

Hmmm... that cabinet looks like it might have been a Williams Bubbles.

To get the Tecmo decal off I would try using a heat gun.I have used a heat gun before to get old (decal)side art off.

To get paint off, use sprayable paint stripper in a small area at a time. Wipe quickly otherwise the paint stripper will ruin the original painted on side art.

[paigeoliver]

No, it isn't worth doing a reverse conversion on. The cost of the parts add up to more than the game is worth, and by doing a reverse conversion you are just killing another one somewhere else, and the OTHER one might not have ever been painted over.

In general its not worth doing a reverse conversion unless you already have a lot of the parts. Otherwise it will almost always add up to higher than the cost of a complete unit, and you aren't "saving" anything, you are just buying parts that were either just ripped out of a dedicated unit last week, or parts that could be used to repair an almost complete unit.

[Tiger-Heli]

Okay, Paige confirmed my suspicions -

http://epg3.tripod.com/sinistar.html

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=S&game_id=9553

From what I've heard, Mega-popular, fairly rare.

However, given yours, you would have to come up with the boardset, the unique joystick and centering spider (repro spiders are available), the sideart, the CP overlay, etc.

I think it would cost you more than it's worth and also be difficult to maintain - so in short, I wounldn't bother.

See Pokerman's comments in this thread:  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,34084.0.html

Also -
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,34077.msg295374.html#msg295374

[brandon]

No, it isn't worth doing a reverse conversion on. The cost of the parts add up to more than the game is worth, and by doing a reverse conversion you are just killing another one somewhere else, and the OTHER one might not have ever been painted over.

In general its not worth doing a reverse conversion unless you already have a lot of the parts. Otherwise it will almost always add up to higher than the cost of a complete unit, and you aren't "saving" anything, you are just buying parts that were either just ripped out of a dedicated unit last week, or parts that could be used to repair an almost complete unit.

I agree with that..

[NoOne=NBA=]

because of all the garage-built cabinets with bootleg 39 in 1 boards floating about the collectible games just don't seem to be worth the money they used to.

I don't think that's the primary factor.

The classic cabs went through the same cycle as Beany-Babies and Dotcom stocks.
They got very overpriced when the "retro" fad hit, and are now coming back down to more reasonable levels.

Good condition collectibles are still commanding a hefty price.

[brandon]

because of all the garage-built cabinets with bootleg 39 in 1 boards floating about the collectible games just don't seem to be worth the money they used to.

I don't think that's the primary factor.

The classic cabs went through the same cycle as Beany-Babies and Dotcom stocks.
They got very overpriced when the "retro" fad hit, and are now coming back down to more reasonable levels.

Good condition collectibles are still commanding a hefty price.

That's probably very true.. and if its like any other collectible they're only worth something after I've gotten rid of mine 

[Crazy Cooter]

.. and if its like any other collectible they're only worth something after I've gotten rid of mine

[rob1234]

I am going to try to uncover the side art. Anyone have recommendations for the paint stripper? Am I correct in assuming this side art was painted on? Is it hard to tell which black is the right layer? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[paigeoliver]

3M safest Stripper.

Follow the instructions and let it sit long enough before scraping. Don't scrape it early because then you will have to use a second application, and THAT will start taking off the REAL paint.