Tron cabinet repair

[acevedor2]

Hey guys, just picked up a working Tron, looks pretty nice, bad news is bottom 3-4 inches are fairly soft.  You can't put your finger through them but the bottom edges are crumbling pretty good.  Bottom line is it needs to be repaired.  Almost looks like termite vice water damage.  MY question is, do I just repair the bottom of the cab, or make a new cab?  I know that should be an easy question, but my problem is how do I remove the entire bottom of the cab and replace it.  There are tutorials, but all of them only show one side being repaired at the bottom, which is pretty easy because you have a solid side to attach the patch to.  In my case, all four sides at the bottom will need to be repaired.

The only way I can think to do it is to attach some runners to the inside to screw through.  But even then, you end up with the runners essentially holding up the cabinet since the bottom is attached to it (hope that makes sense).  Any ideas?   I am all ears.

[Fozzy The Bear]

It's actually not as difficult as it sounds or might feel right now....

1) First of all determine exactly the height at which the higest point of damage on any of the sides is evident. this is the height of the repair you will have to make on all sides. Hopefully this does not extend as high as the start of the artwork.

2) Carefully remove anything which is mounted in the very base of the cabinet. It is extremely likely that this height will extend upwards beyond the base plate and you will have to replace that as well.

3) Make the replacement sides, front, and back parts carefully matching the existing ones.

4) remove the T-molding from the bottom half of the cabinet and tape it up out of the way.

5) Use the new parts as a cutting template and mark up and cut the damaged areas off the cabinet.  including I suspect removing the base plate. Support the structure of the cabinet carefully while you do this. Although most cabinets will hold together perfectly well with this much cut away at the bottom.

6) Make some new internal, battons that overlap each joint by about an inch each way. Glue and Screw these to the existing cabinet. Glue and screw your new sections onto the battons and replace the base panel. This will be more than strong enough. The battons are only holding the timber together, they're not taking the weight of the cabinet. The replacement wood is taking that weight and that is significantly stronger than the crumbling stuff that you're removing.

7) don't forget to route the t-molding slots in the new sections to match the position of the original ones.

8 ) Follow the patching tutorial you mentioned to fill and paint over the new patched bottom section. Or if you prefer, then mask up all of the artwork and respray the entire cabinet.

That's all there is to it..... If it sounds like a lot of work, then look at it this way, you'll be saving a genuine classic that would otherwise get trashed and it's still much less work than building an entire new one.

Hope that helps.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[acevedor2]

Ok Fozzy, I am sold!  I love this game which is why I am willing to do what I can to fix it.  I'll check it out tomorrow and see how bad it is.  One additional concern is that the battons I use to fix it will be in the way of re-mounting the pcbs.  Though I guess I can just relocate them.  Thanks again and I am sure this was just the first of MANY questions I will have as I repair this.  I am getting ready to order all new sideart, cpo overlay, etc.  The sideart has been mostly painted over so I am going to have to redo it.  No sweat though.  What material do you recommend I make the patches with?

[Fozzy The Bear]

What material do you recommend I make the patches with?

The best result will certainly be obtained with a good quality marine ply. But make sure that it's exactly the same thickness as the original timber.  AFAIK... Tron cabs are all made from ply. If it is then don't try to get away with MDF it won't work out well at all. Just go for as close a match to the original material as you can.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

P. S. How about some pictures of your new aquisition???

[acevedor2]

I'll be posting pics this evening. Got to get her unloaded from yesterday.  Can I get this marine ply from home depot or Lowes?

[WaRpEd]

On the Marine plywood try a local boat repair shop for some scrap pieces the size you need. This will be a lot cheaper than marine plywood by the sheet at $50 plus. I've never seen Marine plywood at Lowe's or Home Depot as it's a specialty plywood.
Good luck on your TRON restoration .
Cheers

[acevedor2]

Here you go.  I guess the important thing is that all the pieces are there and she is playable as is.  I have a good deal of work to do to make it show room (which is my ultimate goal).  That said. Not bad at all.  Someone painted over most of the sideart and the inner art. Why I have no idea.  You can tell it's still there, but it is black.  Now I am just trying to figure out how fix the small cigarette burns in the shroud.  I know I can't get a replacement so I am going to just have to fix it myself.  I was thinking maybe of using plastic epoxy.  Thoughts?

[Fozzy The Bear]

Ahhhh! OK... that's a type of particle board. You'd get away with using MDF.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[More Cowbell]

That cab is in great shape outside of the very bottom. Nice find. My Tron restore needed a bit more replaced at the bottom. It can definitely be done, just take it slow and pay attention to the details. I went ahead and replaced the bottom as well using MDF for the bottom and the sides (about 12" up). It will still be 95% easier than building a cab from scratch. Good luck!

[Encryptor]

Nice find! You can get the shrouds on Ebay once in a while. I've seen the complete set of plastics for Tron on there twice in the last few months. Whether they are as bad as yours is hard to tell.

I also saw once in the newsgroup that someone was making reproductions of all the Tron plastics. If you ask there you might be able to find something. Good luck.

Encryptor

[acevedor2]

Thanks guys.  I love Tron.  I am glad I was able to find it. Price wasn't too bad either (450).  I have seen them significantly more.  Cheers!

[BUCKETHEAD]

I have an extra Tron shroud.

It is in great shape aside from the stickers peeling off.

I think i paid $20.00 for it ?

I ended up not needing it.

You can PM me if your interested?

Cheers!   

[BUCKETHEAD]

Pictures of shroud.

Problem area high lighted.

Best i can describe it, Is that it kinda looks like a surface graze.