Star Wars upright - restoration

[shilmover]

Hi all,

Fairly new to this forum (and hobby).

I picked up a Star Wars upright cab today (will post pictures soon) and I have a couple of questions.  But first, some details:

The bad:
- Cab is not perfect: 
  - Back cover is badly bent (stored in a garage on an angle), but I can build a new one.
  - T-Molding is missing (can replace that)
  - Vinyl is peeling on the top of one of the panels (I would expect that I can get replacements for this, although probably pricey)
  - Sides have some pieces broken (bottom corner and right middle)
  - Monitor in the cab does not turn on (a red LED lights up on what I think is the sound board)
  - PCB in the cab is apparently bad
  - Marquee plastic is cracked badly (can be replaced).

The Good:
- Got the Empire Strikes Back artwork (new, prefect)
- Got with it a small wood cabinet on wheels:
  - Has a working monitor on it.
  - Has working PCBs in it.
  - Has Speakers (extra)
  - Apparently, this was built to test Star Wars PCBs.

The questions:
1.  How can I fix the peeling side vinyl?
2.  How can I fix the broken wood?  Is there a wood filler that can be used?
3.  How can I check out if the monitor can be fixed?

Thanks in advance!  This is exciting...   

EDIT:  The red LED is not on the sound board, but on the Deflection PCB (I am assuming that this is the "Spot Killer" LED I read about in this Forum?)

[Level42]

Welcome here  !

There's heaps of info about how to restore wood/boards etc. on this forum. Try searching or the Wiki to give you a start.

Yes that red led is very likely the spot killer.
Does the game play blind ? (That is, you hear sounds when crediting it and starting it ?)
The Vector monitors are different beasts than regular monitors, but they are surely fixable.
Read the thread on my SW cockpit for lots of info:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=68094.0

What monitor is in this cab, is it still the Amplifone or has it been replaced (pictures !)

I'd sure like to see some pictures, especially of that extra small cab on wheels

www.thisoldgame.com has ready to use backpanels if you don't want to make your own...

[shilmover]

Thank you!  Happy to be here!

I have not been able to find much info on the monitors themselves, hopefully you guys can help.  I believe the one in the cab is original.  It has the flyback on a separate board on the side:

[shilmover]

And some pictures of the Box:

[Kevin Mullins]

See http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72065.0 about your monitors.

[shilmover]

Oh, one more thing...  I have not received the dead board set yet (the person is searching for it) so the cab does not have the PCB there (sound board is there).  I am worried about plugging the working boards into the cab until I confirm all is good.

[FrizzleFried]

Your cabinet has the Ampliphone monitor and your "box" has a Wells Gardner monitor.  Good news is that WG monitor will work in the cabinet if you cant get the Amplifone to work... Also good news is that working WG monitor is worth some dough. 

Mind if I ask what you paid for it?

PS:  You have the PCB cage for a SW in the "BOX"...the photo "BOX2" shows the PCB cage at the right.  Is there a set of boards in that cage?

[Kevin Mullins]

PS:  You have the PCB cage for a SW in the "BOX"...the photo "BOX2" shows the PCB cage at the right.  Is there a set of boards in that cage?

I was curious about that too..... looks like a complete pcb set of something.

[shilmover]

PS:  You have the PCB cage for a SW in the "BOX"...the photo "BOX2" shows the PCB cage at the right.  Is there a set of boards in that cage?

I was curious about that too..... looks like a complete pcb set of something.

There is a PCB cage with a working set of boards.  Let me clarify everything that's there.

In the cab:
- Yoke
- Bezel and artwork
- Working Power Supply
- Fan
- Coinbox, mechanism and doors
- Non working Ampliphone monitor (with the boards that go with it)
- Metal PCB Cage with no PCBs (currently, as the seller is finding the non-working set)
- Cab needs restoration
- Speakers

In the "box":
- Working Power Supply
- Fan
- Working Wells Gardner Monitor
- Metal PCB Cage with working boards
- Sound board (assume its working, but have not tested it yet)
- Speakers

So in a nutshell I almost got 2 Star Wars games.   

Paid $500 (probably could have gotten it cheaper as the seller was moving and accepted my offer way too quickly   ).  That also included the ESB Marquee and graphics. 

Quick question... is it worth fixing the Ampliphone monitor?  I know that the Flyback itself is $99.

[FrizzleFried]

The Amplifone is desirable as it is a medium res tube instead of the WG's standard res.

Now,  if you get to a point you need some dough,  I REALLY need a WG6100 neckboard....

[shilmover]

The Amplifone is desirable as it is a medium res tube instead of the WG's standard res.

Now,  if you get to a point you need some dough,  I REALLY need a WG6100 neckboard....

Thanks...  I will start working on the Ampliphone.  Will let you know about the WG6100.

[shilmover]

Worked some more on this today...

Looking in the box, underneith, I noticed that there is a Marquee light too.   I guess that's what the 2nd switch on the side is.   

Also noticed that the wires from the speakers are disconnected.  Plugged them in and when I start the game up, i get three of four tones, then a clicking sound (every second or so).  I will dig through the service manuals to see if I can figure what that sound means.

This box is a nearly complete SW game   

[shilmover]

Mind if I ask what you paid for it?

$500

[Kevin Mullins]

You got a good deal.

[shilmover]

You got a good deal.

Thanks.  That's what I figured...

Might go back and see what else he has.     (He did have a few including a Missle Command).

[Level42]

Yep good deal.

But I'd prefer one thread about this cab/set I just answered on the one in "monitors", some things already answered here

An Amplifone is definitely worth fixing. And it's not hard at all. If you need Q3 (BU406D) on the HVT, I got plenty left from my repair. (Ordered 10, still got 8 left ).

[shilmover]

Yep good deal.

Thanks

But I'd prefer one thread about this cab/set I just answered on the one in "monitors", some things already answered here

Sorry, posted a link in the other thread pointing to this one...  i will continue all postings here.   

An Amplifone is definitely worth fixing. And it's not hard at all. If you need Q3 (BU406D) on the HVT, I got plenty left from my repair. (Ordered 10, still got 8 left ).

Thanks,  I just might take you up on that offer.

[shilmover]

I need to replace some of the graphics for my SW.  I have seen them in several places online...  ANyone has any feedback on which is the best?  I have seen them on ArcadeShop and MameMarquees.

[shilmover]

An update...

I picked up the second (bad) SW board yeserday (along with th Space Fever cocktail that I will convert to DK...  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72182.0). 

Decided to plug it into the cab and see what happens.  I did so without the interconnect board being connected (did not notice it in the box).  Looking through the holes on the gold shielding case, I noticed three flashing red LEDs).  Oh well...  It was worth a shot.   

About 15 minutes later, I noticed the Interconnect board.  I connected everything together, plugged it in and turned the beast on...  A couple of clicks, the red LEDs solid so I figured it was dead...  As I was reaching for the power to turn it off, I heard: "The Force will be with you"!!!!  Moving to the front, I pulled the trigger and heard: "Red 5 Standing By" followed by game play!!!  Woo Hoo!!!  IT LIVES!!!   And this was the "bad" board. 

Plugging it into the test cabinet, it came alive, but looks like everything is just red (no green, yellow, etc).

Here is the funny thing...  connected in the original, working board and I realized that there is a short somewhere as it works sometimes, when I jiggle the cable.  A couple of times it started with a laser firing sound, a could with Darth saying "the Force is strong in this one", "Use the Force a couple of times" and a couple of times with a bit of the SW theme.  Any idea what this means?  IE, What is the real start up sounds for the system?

[Level42]

The game (at least mine) is silent until you credit it. On the first coin Obi Wan says "The force will be with you". On the second coin followed by "always". Then trigger to "select" a game level. "Rogue 5 standing by..." etc.

Did you check the interconnect cable to the sound board ?

This was my first power up ever:


In this video I credit it two times, and select a level and start play, should give you an idea about the sounds:

[shilmover]

The game (at least mine) is silent until you credit it. On the first coin Obi Wan says "The force will be with you". On the second coin followed by "always". Then trigger to "select" a game level. "Rogue 5 standing by..." etc.

Did you check the interconnect cable to the sound board ?

This was my first power up ever:


In this video I credit it two times, and select a level and start play, should give you an idea about the sounds:

Cool.  Mine is set to Free play, so I get "the Force will be with you" right away (and that's on the "bad" board).  will check the "good" board tonight...

Waiting on the flyback for the ampliphone so that I can rebuild it...  but I leave tomorrow for 10 days to Europe.  So it will have to wait.   

[Level42]

Europe ? Come over and play my SW CP

[shilmover]

Europe ? Come over and play my SW CP

Believe me, I would so love to!!!  Going to Germany via Amsterdam for a few days, then Tel Aviv for a few.  In November, I will be in Barcelona.

[shilmover]

Some pictures of the cab:

1.  Back of the cab.  Need to rebuild all three back boards.
2.  Close up of the back.
3.  Front of the cab.  Missing the t-molding on the left (was going to replace all of it anyway).
4.  Marquee is in really bad shape.  New one ordered.
5.  A couple of sections on the right side are broken...  will need to use bondo here.
6.  Bottom corner is really bad...  lots of bondo again (lots and lots).
7.  Edges need to be fixed too.

I am planning on restoring it to to working condition first, then strip the sides, new vinyl on the sides and new art.

Comments?

[Level42]

Wow, this one had a much rougher life than my cockpit...

The marquee itself looks ok, aren't the retainers bad ?

Nothing impossible though, a good cleaning will already improve things a lot. Shame about the sides, because that'll mean new side-art...

Hope to see lot's of pics on your progress...

By the way, any chance you can pack one of those: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72279.0 in you luggage

[shilmover]

Wow, this one had a much rougher life than my cockpit...

   

yup.   

The marquee itself looks ok, aren't the retainers bad ?

no, just the vinyl

Nothing impossible though, a good cleaning will already improve things a lot. Shame about the sides, because that'll mean new side-art...

I know, but that can be done over time

Hope to see lot's of pics on your progress...

Count on it!!   

By the way, any chance you can pack one of those: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72279.0 in you luggage

Sorry, at the airport.     My wife will be picking me up one...  want me to get a 2nd one?  (assuming they have them)

[Level42]

Yeah, but how would you get it to me ? Would be pretty expensive to ship I guess because of weight and size ?

[shilmover]

Hey all,

I got back from Europe and decided to replace the flyback and caps on the Amplifone.  Spent about an hour doing that, checking, double-checking, triple checking, etc.   Plugged it all in and...  It's ALIVE!!!     I am so excited, almost as much as my kids!! (who am I kidding...  I am way more excited!)

I do have a couple of questions:

1.  When I start it up, it all looks great but after about 30-40 seconds, I get a bright dot appearing in the middle of the screen and lines from all over converging on it.  How do I fix that?

2.  The top of the screen seems to be truncated... How do I "shrink" the video down?

[D_Zoot]

1.  When I start it up, it all looks great but after about 30-40 seconds, I get a bright dot appearing in the middle of the screen and lines from all over converging on it.  How do I fix that?

2.  The top of the screen seems to be truncated... How do I "shrink" the video down?

1. Turn down the brightness


2.  Put the game in test mode and get to the green test grid screen.  Use the pots on the game board to adjust image geometry.  This is pretty well covered in the manual,  if you don't have it, it can be downloaded from the usual sources.


Regards,
D

[shilmover]

Thanks a bunch...

[Level42]

Congratulations !!! I exactly know how you felt


Yes turn down the brightness so that you just don't see the white dot in the middle. Don't let is run with the dot !!! It'll burn your screen !

You should adjust it on the HV-PCB's original pot's near the HVT.

About the picture size: there are pots for this on both the vector PCB AND the deflection PCB. Adjusting the size (x and y) will also influence the diamond and BIP settings, so first get the correct picture size (you need to be able to see the blue dots in every corner of the screen).

Go through the entire set-up as described in the manual. The most important to correctly set the screen are the diamonds-screen and the BIP-test screen. What I did was first adjust the diamond screen, then went to the BIP-test screen and adjusted again. It then still looked good at the diamond-screen.

Here's just the video of the test screens. Mine looks much better after adjusting the pots.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OvaSxKpfMzM

[shilmover]

Congratulations !!! I exactly know how you felt

I know.   

Yes turn down the brightness so that you just don't see the white dot in the middle. Don't let is run with the dot !!! It'll burn your screen !

Did that (both turn down the brightness and didn't let it run)...

About the picture size: there are pots for this on both the vector PCB AND the deflection PCB. Adjusting the size (x and y) will also influence the diamond and BIP settings, so first get the correct picture size (you need to be able to see the blue dots in every corner of the screen).

Now working and looking great!!

Go through the entire set-up as described in the manual. The most important to correctly set the screen are the diamonds-screen and the BIP-test screen. What I did was first adjust the diamond screen, then went to the BIP-test screen and adjusted again. It then still looked good at the diamond-screen.

Will do, but why did they have to put the pots so far in the back.  so hard to change while trying to look at the monitor...  I guess I need a helper...   

[Level42]

   
     
1) Remove the PCB-set from it's cage while adjusting. Place it carefully on f.i. a chair without metal etc. of course.
2) Use a mirror It was easy to put it on the seat of the cockpit, maybe a bit harder on the upright.

3) Pictures ?

[shilmover]

   
     
1) Remove the PCB-set from it's cage while adjusting. Place it carefully on f.i. a chair without metal etc. of course.
2) Use a mirror It was easy to put it on the seat of the cockpit, maybe a bit harder on the upright.

Good Idea!!  will try that...

3) Pictures ?

Of what, the game in play?

[Level42]

Yes please !

[shilmover]

will do.

[shilmover]

She died again...   

Was going through the test menus this morning, when after a few minutes I heard a 'pop' and the screen turned off.  Still plays blind, but no video.  The Red LED is NOT on, but there is no neck glow anymore...

Any ideas?

I did take pictures before she died...  will post later this morning.

[Level42]

OMG ! Please let it only be a fuse....

[shilmover]

God, I hope so...   

Meanwhile... some pictures (ignore the dust  )

[ratzz]

She truly is a thing of beauty. 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!