A New Hope... "When you came in here didn't you have a plan for getting out?"

[RetroACTIVE]

Dropped off the controller and power block at the shop today.  They are normally not open but they were there for another customer... stuff should be done by Wednesday.


"You can go about your business"

[RetroACTIVE]

Powder coating shop backed up... still waiting.... Monday 4/6 is the new date...


"Move along.... move along."

[Spyridon]

You're really confusing me with the title changes.  (but keep it up)

[Level42]

+1. At least keep something "steady" in there....

[RetroACTIVE]

You're really confusing me with the title changes.  (but keep it up)

This is fun... I hope I'm not too irritating.

On the project front, besides waiting for the powder coat... I've done a few things and made a few decisions on the restoration process...

The bottom right corner of the unit has a chunk taken out, but does not intrude on the artwork.  The front panel has a chip top half (its small but looks like crapolla)... and after close observation it looks like the person who spray painted the chip on the corner, also tested the spray can on the front of the artwork... and the front panel bottom is a bit munged up sooooo...

My plan is to replace the entire front panel (if I can do it surgically),  I've ordered the front artwork from Phoenix Arcade.  I ordered it Monday moments before their "unadvertised sale"... they refunded me the difference even though I missed the special!  So ... Phoenix Arcade gets high marks from me!

With that when I remove the front, I will be patching that damaged corner and refinishing the black outside the perimeter of the artwork.

This is not the level of restoration I wanted to do, but I'm a bit of an AR person so I guess I'm not surprised.

Also...

I've disassembled the montior, recapped it, added low voltage circuit, replaced all the headers with new square pinned SPOX headers and wire connectors (got rid of all the IDCs).  I've still got to finish the rebuild on this... I've not yet replaced all the frame transistors.

I've rebuild the AR-II board.

I've all the parts to rebuild the power brick... when it comes back from powder coating.

Stuff I've picked up in the mean time:
...a new yoke decal from ThisOldGame
...a new marquee overlay from ArcadeShop
...a new Cinelabs HVT



"Its not over yet."

[RetroACTIVE]

+1. At least keep something "steady" in there....

Fair Enough....

[Nemss316]

 

This restoration is going incredibly well!

Someday, I'll own my Star Wars cabinet, just got to get my midichlorian count high enough!

[RetroACTIVE]

Received my front artwork today... box was crushed by USPS...damaging the vinyl 
I've contacted Phoenix Arcade and sent them pics...



"If there is a bright center to the universe then you are on the planet that it is farthest from."

[Level42]

Wait a minute, do you mean they shipped a (rolled) vinyl in a BOX ?

Art like that should be shipped in a tube like these:



That's the 2nd time I read about a seller of artwork trying to cut corners on shipping cost. Very smart to not spend a couple of bucks more on a $100 piece of artwork.......

Why do people think that shipping companies have only THEIR package to deliver and keep it separate from all the other stuff ? Tell me, if you fly, do you have your luggage in a paper bag ? No, that's because you _know_ that they are going to throw it, bang it, stack it, smash it etc.

Seller is responsible, not USPS.

[RetroACTIVE]

Wait a minute, do you mean they shipped a (rolled) vinyl in a BOX ?

That's the 2nd time I read about a seller of artwork trying to cut corners on shipping cost. Very smart to not spend a couple of bucks more on a $100 piece of artwork.......

Why do people think that shipping companies have only THEIR package to deliver and keep it separate from all the other stuff ? Tell me, if you fly, do you have your luggage in a paper bag ? No, that's because you _know_ that they are going to throw it, bang it, stack it, smash it etc.

Seller is responsible, not USPS.

Yeah... it was sent in a long rectangular box... its unfortunate but  the seller is sending me a replacement.  I was surprised myself to see how it was packaged... hopefully the second time around it will be different.




"Even I can't understand their logic at times."

[m_mcgover]

The bottom right corner of the unit has a chunk taken out, but does not intrude on the artwork.  The front panel has a chip top half (its small but looks like crapolla)... and after close observation it looks like the person who spray painted the chip on the corner, also tested the spray can on the front of the artwork... and the front panel bottom is a bit munged up sooooo...

My plan is to replace the entire front panel (if I can do it surgically),  I've ordered the front artwork from Phoenix Arcade.  I ordered it Monday moments before their "unadvertised sale"... they refunded me the difference even though I missed the special!  So ... Phoenix Arcade gets high marks from me!

With that when I remove the front, I will be patching that damaged corner and refinishing the black outside the perimeter of the artwork.

You may have seen this already, and it is probably not the best example of a corner repair, but it is on an upright Star Wars....so maybe useful:

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=67031

[RayB]

They are just plain being cheap. Buying a single mailer tube is expensive, but if youre in that BUSINESS, you can buy in bulk and it works out to be cheap.  *sigh* some people.... 

[pinballwizard79]

"Ive got a bad feeling about this".

Not really, I just wanted to say that.

"Luke..................................Carri".

Ok, back to your thread.

[Nemss316]

Some fun vids to go along with the awesomeness of this thread:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfqDVP_0O0c[/youtube]


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wGR4-SeuJ0[/youtube]

[TheShanMan]

The Chad Vader series is awesome. I haven't checked in probably 9 months to see if there are any new episodes. Thanks for the reminder.

[RetroACTIVE]

Got my stuff back from the powder coating shop.... yeah!  I glossed the bulk of the body and semi glossed the handles... I also had a gold coat put on the power block frame... check it out!



This gold looks unbelievable!... wish I had new stickers



I'm anxious to get it back together... but real life is keeping me preoccupied.






"You can waste time with your friends when your chores are done."
 

[TheShanMan]

That looks awesome! I was watching an old episode of My Classic Car last night and they had a guy from Eastwood on the show showing off their DIY powder coating kit. Looks really cool, and it's really simple. Only thing is you gotta have an oven you don't use for cooking. When we get our next house I might just have to get some old oven off of CL so I can do this! The kit is here: http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=5572&itemType=PRODUCT

[Level42]

Wow that looks great !!!

I think I will have to plan a date to remove _ALL_ black hardware from _ALL_ my machines and have them powdercoated in one go.

That little DIY kit looks nice but the youtube video seems to have a couple of unfavorable comments...does anyone own a kit like that ?

For an oven, you could consider one of those tiny electric ovens that cost close to nothing. However, larger parts like marquee retainers would require a really big oven, bigger than a regular house-hold oven. And that would take up the same space as a cab.....

[ChadTower]

For an oven, you could consider one of those tiny electric ovens that cost close to nothing. However, larger parts like marquee retainers would require a really big oven, bigger than a regular house-hold oven. And that would take up the same space as a cab.....

You might be able to get away with retainers in a household oven if you took out the racks.  Complication here is that you have to hang the part so it's not sitting on anything.  Maybe if you suspended it diagonally with two hooks.  I'm in the process of working this stuff out right now.  Just had an electrician out to spec out the work to put power out to my shed.  Included in the plan is a 240v outlet for an old electric oven for powdercoating.

[RetroACTIVE]

I received my replacement artwork today... it came in the same square box... it was a little crushed again... there are a few kinks in it.  I'm a little dissapointed it's a lot of money and I just want it to come out great.  I'm sure it will be ok.


"Thats funny,  the damage doesn't look as bad from out here."

[Level42]

For an oven, you could consider one of those tiny electric ovens that cost close to nothing. However, larger parts like marquee retainers would require a really big oven, bigger than a regular house-hold oven. And that would take up the same space as a cab.....

You might be able to get away with retainers in a household oven if you took out the racks.  Complication here is that you have to hang the part so it's not sitting on anything.  Maybe if you suspended it diagonally with two hooks.  I'm in the process of working this stuff out right now.  Just had an electrician out to spec out the work to put power out to my shed.  Included in the plan is a 240v outlet for an old electric oven for powdercoating.

Eh, we got 230 V al around here When you're cooking electrically you get 360 V around here

Retro: Can't believe they sent it AGAIN wrong packaged. I'm sorry but this is sure cautioning me away from Phoenix for the future.

Making a mistake can happen. Repeating a mistake is plain stupid.

[Spyridon]

That powder coating kit looks pretty cool.  I've got my sandblasting kit at my Uncle's garage.  He just happens to have an old working over there.  I think I may try that out.

This piece looks great:


Did you remove the stickers or just cover them up?

[Level42]

I guess if he hadn't removed them they wouldn't have survived the oven ? It would also be better to cover the entire frame with powder coating and not leave the parts under the sticker uncovered.

Just my guess of course...

[RetroACTIVE]

I guess if he hadn't removed them they wouldn't have survived the oven ? It would also be better to cover the entire frame with powder coating and not leave the parts under the sticker uncovered.

Just my guess of course...

Yup... can't really powder coat without a total sandblast and strip.  I peeled the stickers off and reapplied them... they look like crap...  I scanned the whole surface w/stickers before I sent it off to be refinished and sent the image to TOG.... TOG typically has various repro decals and such so I figured what the heck.  There is most likely zero demand for this sort of thing... but whatever... at least I scanned it right?



"I heartily agree with you sir"

[RetroACTIVE]

Here is the RAM Controls complete yoke rebuild kit:


(springs not shown... forgot to put them in the photo!)




"Thank the maker!"

[ChadTower]

Eh, we got 230 V al around here

That would be good except that I'd only be able to run clothes dryers and 15000btu air conditioners.  Pretty much everything not heavy duty runs on 110-120v - even stuff like refrigerators.

[Level42]

Here is the RAM Controls complete yoke rebuild kit:


(springs not shown... forgot to put them in the photo!)




"Thank the maker!"

Yup. Four of these kits are in hands of UPS Cologne right now, waiting for further shipment to ME (and my friends of course ) but I guess there's not much happening today and tomorrow because of easter. Can't wait to work on my yoke

[RetroACTIVE]

Cleaning up the WG6100 chassis... after reading through the WG6100 FAQ .pdf... I've determined I have the following revisions of boards:

Deflection: 327, HV: 329 and Neck: 326

I've made all of the upgrades to my deflection board to bring it up to essentially rev 329 (per faq), and changed out all the frame mounted transistors....

This monitor upgrade is one heck of a job... I sure hope it works.


...oh I should be done with the power supply block tonight!   I will be posting pics soon of all of this ...



"Rest easy Son... You've had a busy day"

[RetroACTIVE]

Here is the completed AR-II board...



Here is the AC Power Block Assembly... done and ready to go!



and... underneath it all



I'm pretty pleased with the way it all came out... Yoke is next... I'm waiting for the lubricants...



"Actually I'm not very good at telling stories... well not at making them interesting anyway."

[Ninten-doh]

Can you do me a big favor and take a pic of the molex plug at the end of the yoke wiring?  Mine was cut off by the previous owner for a Sidewinder hack and I need to convert it back. 

Thanks, and great work on the resto!   

[RetroACTIVE]

Can you do me a big favor and take a pic of the molex plug at the end of the yoke wiring?  Mine was cut off by the previous owner for a Sidewinder hack and I need to convert it back. 

Thanks, and great work on the resto!   

"Did you see THAT!"

[Ninten-doh]

I'm a dope.  I should have clarified which yoke I meant.

I was referring to the 12 pin Molex plug at the end of the yoke controller wiring.  Thanks anyway, someone else supplied me a pic today so I'm all set. 

Carry on.   

[RetroACTIVE]

Yoke is coming together now... here is the mechanical assembly... all but wiring



... another view



I got the TAI lubricants hobby kit... has both high and light viscosity oil and a grease that works fine for dampening the torsion springs.  I tried to get the original Nyogel 779 but its like $55 for 50g of it... the stuff in this kit works fine... then entire kit is available at lubekits.com for $24.95










", this oil bath is going to feel soooo good."

[TheShanMan]

That thing looks so sweet. Based on those pics I'd guess it would be hard to tell the difference between that and an NOS unit. It really looks brand new.

[Level42]

Your quoting is really funny, keep it up 

That's my next step on the SW....I'm looking up to it, I'm not that great mechanically...

David's stuff is amazing 

Did you also grease the wheels ? There's some strange stuff on the wheels that I can see from the back on mine that's aparantly meant to lube the wheels.

Looking great !

[RetroACTIVE]

Your quoting is really funny, keep it up 

That's my next step on the SW....I'm looking up to it, I'm not that great mechanically...

David's stuff is amazing 

Did you also grease the wheels ? There's some strange stuff on the wheels that I can see from the back on mine that's aparantly meant to lube the wheels.

Looking great !

I've not greased the gears just yet... I had a conversation with Dave about that and he didn't seem to think it was all that neccessary.  Afterall, it will be in a very clean environment for the rest of it's life.  I think I'm going to do it anyway just to keep things as smooth as possible, I'm just waiting until I install it.

[RetroACTIVE]

I'm a dope.  I should have clarified which yoke I meant.

I'm the dope!  I was thinking sidewinder was some old vector game     derrrr...




"Damned fool, I knew you were going to say that."

[RetroACTIVE]

Well... I hocked and hocked and hocked my collection to get these:

Amplifone NOS tube
Amplifone Deflection Board
Amplifone HV Board
Amplifone Yoke, Rings and harnesses
Amplifone Mounting brackets

What did it cost me?  A complete Scramble project/cabinet (w/monitor and all the trimmings +2 Scramble board sets), 2 Rampage boards 1 Phoenix board, and a Nintendo JAMMA Adapter.

All that work on that WG... who knows maybe it will find a home in another machine someday (Tempest anyone?) 

All in all... Totally worth it! 




"You'll have to sell your speeder"

[Level42]

Geez, maybe Spyridon would be interested in that WG !

[Spyridon]

Geez, maybe Spyridon would be interested in that WG !

Hmmm...maybe he would be?