Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Encryptor on November 06, 2009, 08:11:07 pm
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I just went and picked this up for a future project. It's in decent shape but it will definitely need work and mucho parts to restore. But this will be just about my holy grail of cabinets! Only thing better would be a full size but just couldn't seem to find one at a reasonable price I could afford. It's been converted to a Trivia Wiz game. It doesn't work right now and I bought it primarily for the cab as I don't think there are that many of them around. I haven't unloaded it yet so the pics are from the ebay auction.
Thoughts, opinions?
Encryptor
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If you want to start picking up parts, get in touch with kjoel0123 here on BYOAC. I know he has the marquee and bezel for the Tron cabaret, and possibly more. Looking forward to the restore thread. :cheers:
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I just went back and found the thread where he had them listed. He won't ship anything glass and I'm not driving 3hrs or more for a bezel and marquee. At least not right now. I'm not going to be working on it for some time so I'm in no rush but thanks.
Encryptor
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Started playing with this just to see if I could get it working until I get around to being able to restore it. The power supply board has a bit of corrosion on one side of it as you can see in the pics below. These were taken after cleaning with electronic contact cleaner. In the first pic you can see where a jumper wire has actually corroded in half. It's JW4 near the top of the pic.
Encryptor
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Anyone know where I could get one of these batteries from? I checked Bob Roberts but didn't see one there.
Encryptor
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Did you see the "Tron Lithium Battery Conversion Kit" on Bob's site? I think that's what you want. He also sells a full Tron PS repair kit.
Just go to his parts page and search for Tron and you'll see these.
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No I didn't see that before. Somehow when I brought up his page it went to a different part of his website and I didn't see it. Thank you very much.
Encryptor
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My honest opinion: It's not a Tron. It's just a "Midway" mini. That same style was used for Ms Pac, Omega Race, and a few others. So really... why bother with the pain of reassembling parts. Just keep looking for a complete one (or completer).
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So really... why bother with the pain of reassembling parts. Just keep looking for a complete one (or completer).
Some possible answers...
1) Because some people enjoy the challenge/aggravation (and avoid thinking of the cost) of a good restoration project.
2) Because Tron cabarets don't pop up everyday locally.
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But what makes it a Tron in its current state? I guess that was my point. It could just as well have been a Ms Pac converted to Trivia Whiz. (Encryptor, you didn't say so explicitly, but the original boards and wiring are still in there??)
It's still a nice size and shape of cab though. Don't get me wrong. I love those.
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That's a good question. I'm assuming -- correctly or incorrectly -- that at least some of the guts are there?
I can't help looking at that cp and thinking of all the bondo work ahead. :)
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My honest opinion: It's not a Tron. It's just a "Midway" mini. That same style was used for Ms Pac, Omega Race, and a few others. So really... why bother with the pain of reassembling parts. Just keep looking for a complete one (or completer).
But what makes it a Tron in its current state? I guess that was my point. It could just as well have been a Ms Pac converted to Trivia Whiz. (Encryptor, you didn't say so explicitly, but the original boards and wiring are still in there??)
That was the first question I asked before buying. How do you know it's a Tron. The guy I bought it from said he had listed it as a mini Ms Pac at first and got a bunch of emails telling him it wasn't a Ms Pac but a Tron so he opened up the back and the labels in the pics below are inside the back door.
I can't say positively but it looks like the wiring is there tie wrapped up. I know the cp is original because when you look underneath you can see the mounting bolts and holes for the joystick and spinner.
I bought this because it's a mini and they're just aren't that many of them around. Tron is probably my favorite game of all time. I've seen very few Tron cabs of any kind in my area and the ones I have seen have gone for $600+.
That's a good question. I'm assuming -- correctly or incorrectly -- that at least some of the guts are there?
I can't help looking at that cp and thinking of all the bondo work ahead. :)
There won't be that much bondo on the cp. When I get around to doing the cp I'm going to have the holes that are there for the Trivia Whiz buttons welded up. I'll just have to grind them smooth and put a skim coat of bondo on.
Bottom line is that it is a Tron mini and I thought the price ($150) was decent for a cab that you don't see that many of. I check ebay and craigslist a dozen times a day and I just don't see mini's there.
Encryptor
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Here's some good reference for you:
http://www.habosarcade.com/Tron.htm (http://www.habosarcade.com/Tron.htm)
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Thanks for the link RayB.
Encryptor
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I had no idea Tron came in a cab like that. I've always seen the uniquely-shaped black cab, never this kind.
Woodgrain + Tron style don't seem to go well together...
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Yeah the mini's came with woodgrain vinyl on them. There is a Ms Pacman mini as well that I know of and there may be others. That's how they came so that's how it will get restored.
I need to figure out where I can get some of the woodgrain vinyl because I'm going to have to fix a couple of spots on the bottom of the cab. I'll have to look at Parts Express to see what they have.
Encryptor
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I had no idea Tron came in a cab like that. I've always seen the uniquely-shaped black cab, never this kind.
Woodgrain + Tron style don't seem to go well together...
Dude, wood grain didn't look good on any cabs. It was just cheap, and fit in with the bar lighting.
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I had no idea Tron came in a cab like that. I've always seen the uniquely-shaped black cab, never this kind.
Woodgrain + Tron style don't seem to go well together...
Dude, wood grain didn't look good on any cabs. It was just cheap, and fit in with the bar lighting.
As true as they may be and as ugly as it may be it came with it so to do a restoration on it one should put it back on.
Parts Express has several but the one that I think is the closest is the Teak.
Encryptor
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I had no idea Tron came in a cab like that. I've always seen the uniquely-shaped black cab, never this kind.
Woodgrain + Tron style don't seem to go well together...
Dude, wood grain didn't look good on any cabs. It was just cheap, and fit in with the bar lighting.
But if he didn't put the wood grain on there, it wouldn't be a restoration, since it isn't being restored to original, it would be his "custom" Tron cabaret.
Nice grab BTW! I look forward to seeing this one get done.