Former Hit The Ice Cabinet - nearing the end...

[Sinner]

I'm converting an old "Hit The Ice" cabinet into a MAME unit...it was converted into a "NFL Blitz" cab...the original artwork is there, but there is a coating of black paint over it...I want to strip it down to the wood and repaint everything...I have a "Killer Instinct" cabinet I will try to restore (outside, anyway)...

I picked up the cabinet for $100CDN...it was missing the PCB, marquee and monitor, however, everything else was there and in great shape...

Tonight I removed all the wiring, speaker panel, bezel, and glass...then I wiped the inside down...it was filthy...the cloth I used and the water were black when I finished...I guess that's what 10+ years of not being cleaned will do...

Tomorrow the plan is to get a heat gun and start at the vinyl that's covering the sides...it's not in the best of shape, the original colouring was a horrible orange, and I want something different, so I'm just going to remove everything and paint (or use a laminate, but at $80CDN a sheet, I dunno)...

What should I use to fill any defects in the cab??  Wood filler or Bondo?  What's the strongest to use on wood??

I will post some pics as I take them...

[Sinner]

Anyone know anything about using a Midway bezel with a regular TV?

Will a 27" TV fit into the cab?
Will I need to uncase it?
Is there anything special that should be done to mount this?

I measured diagonally inside the bezel...it was about 26"...I assume this is for a 27" tube...

The cabinet is about 25" or around 25" 1/8" wide...what is the width of a regulat 27" TV in a case??  I would think it would be bigger than that, especially any of the newer ones with the speakers on the side...
 
Does anyone have any experience with this?

Any help will be greatly appreciated...

[geomartin]

Some 27" TV's will fit, but thinks to look for are this...avoid TV's with stereo speakers mounted on the side of the tube.  These will be too wide.  Look for the ones with the speakers mounted under the tube.  Also, take a tape measure and measure the depth of the tv while at the store.  I have never had a clerk question me about this, I always figured I would give them some line about the tv needing to fit in a small tv stand.  Also don't buy the extended warranty, as you will void it if you decase it, which you will probably do.

Best of luck,
Geo

[Sinner]

Here's a few pics...

[Sinner]

There's a couple of spots with damage, that I need to fix, but I'm not sure what product I should use...bondo, or wood filler?

[Sinner]

It's a little hard to see from the picture, but you can actually see the side art through the paint...

I started to peel some of the vinyl away...what a job...
How do you remove that stuff? 
Will a heat gun do any good or is it not recommended?

[Lord Iceman]

nicely done!

[Sinner]

nicely done!

Thank you...I think the hardest part of this, is going to be building the CP...

[Q*Bert_OP]

I started to peel some of the vinyl away...what a job...
How do you remove that stuff?

[Sinner]

I started to peel some of the vinyl away...what a job...
How do you remove that stuff?

[Q*Bert_OP]

I started to peel some of the vinyl away...what a job...
How do you remove that stuff?

[Sinner]

I started to peel some of the vinyl away...what a job...
How do you remove that stuff?

[Sinner]

Would using an iron work?  I'm sure it would throw enough heat.  I may give this a try tonight, unless someone knows that I shouldn't...

[Q*Bert_OP]

I had no trouble getting the decals of an '89 crime fighters off...

[Sinner]

I had no trouble getting the decals of an '89 crime fighters off...

Did you use any kind of special scraper or anything???

[Q*Bert_OP]

I had no trouble getting the decals of an '89 crime fighters off...

Did you use any kind of special scraper or anything???

Nope, While the machine was being loaded, we tryed to scrape it as much as possible so sevral corners was worn, i picked at it, and started ripping it off.

[Sinner]

I'll give it a try..., maybe I can get a razor blade or something to get under the plastic...I don't have long nails, and I can't get a hold of the edge easily...

[Sinner]

OK, I worked at this for almost an hour, and I didn't even get half way through...it's horrible...I tried using a regular iron, and that didn't work...
I guess I'll have to go and buy a heat gun...I'm going away on holiday at the end of this week, so it looks like I won't get to do anymore on it until I get back in 2 weeks...
I'll update when I can...

[Q*Bert_OP]

OK, I worked at this for almost an hour, and I didn't even get half way through...it's horrible...I tried using a regular iron, and that didn't work...
I guess I'll have to go and buy a heat gun...I'm going away on holiday at the end of this week, so it looks like I won't get to do anymore on it until I get back in 2 weeks...
I'll update when I can...

A heat gun is your friend when removing CPO's

[Sinner]

I used to work for a sign company, many years ago, and I decided to try and call some of my old contacts to see if I could get a quote on some vinyl to cover the sides of this project with...I figure if it was good enough for the original, it should be good enough for me...well, here's what I came up with...
48" wide by 5 yards of a meduim finsh vinyl (means not high gloss, but not matte), 3mm...
$23.05CDN + 15% TAX = $26.50CDN

This should cover both sides, and the off-cuts should do the front panel, where the coindoor is...

Anyone know if using vinyl is a bad idea??

[CheffoJeffo]

Anyone know if using vinyl is a bad idea??

I haven't used in on the sides of a cab, but my Neo-Geo 2-slot has vinyl sides and I've used the Happs pica vinyl for the overlays/underlay on my MAME cocktail ... looks great.

I'm trying to figure out what I'm missing, though, because your price seems to be too good.

Cheers.

[Sinner]

Anyone know if using vinyl is a bad idea??

I haven't used in on the sides of a cab, but my Neo-Geo 2-slot has vinyl sides and I've used the Happs pica vinyl for the overlays/underlay on my MAME cocktail ... looks great.

I'm trying to figure out what I'm missing, though, because your price seems to be too good.

Cheers.

Well, I used to work for a sign company in Toronto, and I've called one of their suppliers...they're giving me a good deal...I'm sure it's probably not the same stuff HAPPs has, but I think it'll be good for a home cab...and with fromica for the sides at $80CDN a sheet, vinyl it starting to look really good...

There are a lot of different options you can get, there's high tac vinyl, different thicknesses...I'm getting 3.5mm, but 5mm is also available...colour, finish, etc...I called another place, and they wouldn't give me much of a deal...it was $7.30CDN a yard, for the same material...

If we're still on for the heat gun, when I get back, I can show it to you...I'm also getting a sample book sent out to me from one of the places...

[CheffoJeffo]

If we're still on for the heat gun, when I get back, I can show it to you...I'm also getting a sample book sent out to me from one of the places...

We're still on for the heat gun ... I've stripped everything I need to off of my current projects.

Cheers.

[Sinner]

If we're still on for the heat gun, when I get back, I can show it to you...I'm also getting a sample book sent out to me from one of the places...

We're still on for the heat gun ... I've stripped everything I need to off of my current projects.

Cheers.

Kewl...I'll be gone for 2 weeks...I won't be working on my project, but I will be checking the board now and then...

[Effayy]

Anyone know if using vinyl is a bad idea??

I haven't used in on the sides of a cab, but my Neo-Geo 2-slot has vinyl sides and I've used the Happs pica vinyl for the overlays/underlay on my MAME cocktail ... looks great.

I'm trying to figure out what I'm missing, though, because your price seems to be too good.

Cheers.

Well, I used to work for a sign company in Toronto, and I've called one of their suppliers...they're giving me a good deal...I'm sure it's probably not the same stuff HAPPs has, but I think it'll be good for a home cab...and with fromica for the sides at $80CDN a sheet, vinyl it starting to look really good...

There are a lot of different options you can get, there's high tac vinyl, different thicknesses...I'm getting 3.5mm, but 5mm is also available...colour, finish, etc...I called another place, and they wouldn't give me much of a deal...it was $7.30CDN a yard, for the same material...

If we're still on for the heat gun, when I get back, I can show it to you...I'm also getting a sample book sent out to me from one of the places...

Here in Ottawa I'm using countertop-grade Formica on the sides of my cab, and I'm paying less than $50 per 4x8 sheet.  This is at the Home Depot down the street.  Is the price jacked up that high in Toronto?

- FA

[Sinner]

Must be, because Home Depot here told me it was $79.99
Those dirty BASTA...

[NIVO]

well seeing as your canadian, whats wrong with going back to a hockey themed cabinet? (unless you dont like hockey, and that'd be a sin you being a canuck and all LOL)

HOCKEY HOCKEY HOCKEY   GO RED WINGS!
and sirPoonga if you read this 

[Sinner]

well seeing as your canadian, whats wrong with going back to a hockey themed cabinet? (unless you dont like hockey, and that'd be a sin you being a canuck and all LOL)

HOCKEY HOCKEY HOCKEY

[AlanS17]

How this might seem off the wall, but when I see that cab, it reminds me of a big orange tank. Repainting it in OD green with tank treads at the bottom would be slick. Of course, I might just be full of it.

[CheffoJeffo]

Sinner: Don't know if you are still around, but apparently Canadian Tire has heat guns on sale for C$9.99 this weekend ...

You are, of course, welcome to use mine (which, presumably, is worht more that $10), I just thought I'd mention this as I saw it on CGCC.

Cheers.

[M3talhead]

As far as the monitor goes, I can say this:

That Midway/Williams cab is 99% identical to my old Mk3 cab. The most budget-oriented solution is to find an old (broken) 25" monitor and get a 8liners chassis. Thats the route I went and I love it. You can usually pick up a busted monitor that size for less than $25 depending where you live, and the 8liners chassis is a snap to install at $114 (shipping included via USPS Priority).

Let me know if you have any more detailed questions.

[Sinner]

I picked up one of those heat guns for $9.99, regular $32.99...I'm hoping that it's what I need to get that vinyl off...BUT...I'm still on vacation, so I won't be able to find out until a week from now...

I have no idea what an 8liner chassis is, or where I would find a 25" monitor...I have a friend who gets skids of TVs, so I'm going to try and get one and cram it into the cab...

[AlanS17]

An 8liner chassis is a ready-to-go arcade monitor chassis to fit many different TV tubes. You basically remove the TV tube from its original chassis and just plug it into this thing. You find them at:

http://www.8liners.com

I'll likely be doing this since I have two 25" arcade monitors with toasted (as in black) chassis.

[Sinner]

Well, I'm back from holidays, and I've had a day off before going back to work today...
Yesterday, I put my new heat gun to the test, and got the entire cabinet stripped...I put some wood putty in a few spots, and I'll be leaving it until the weekend, or maybe even week to continue working on it (family obligations and work, always seem to get in the way)...
Heere are a couple of pictures...

[Sinner]

There is this panel on the cab, right next to the coin door...it serves no purpose, I just assumed this was a cabinet the Midway used for a bunch of different games, and wasn't needed for "Hit The Ice" specifically...anyone know what it's for?

[Sinner]

The coin reject buttons, have no markings on them...I want to know how to add a $.25 label to it, I think it must be by sticker, because I don't see any other way of doing this...

The coin door itself is in good condition, though it needs to be cleaned...I think I'm going to sand a couple of areas down, and rpaint the whole thing...
Someone drilled holes around the lock on the bottom door, I may see if there's a way I can cover these, otherwises I'll just have to live with them...

[Sinner]

I'm going to add some castors to the bottom of this thing...they're cheap ones from Wal-Mart, but they are rated for heavy weight, so I'm hoping they'll work...
I'm 5'8", so I hope this won't make the cabinet too tall for me, I tried to simulate the extra height by putting some spacers down and using a piece of MDF to simulate the CP surface, and I think it'll actually be better, but time will tell...

Here's a picture of my next project...it's in my garage, just taking up space right now, but I've collected a few parts...

[CheffoJeffo]

Someone drilled holes around the lock on the bottom door, I may see if there's a way I can cover these, otherwises I'll just have to live with them...

I can't quite make the holes out in the photo, but perhaps this will help:

http://www.rgvac.com/restoration.asp?projid=19

Cheers.

[Sinner]

That's a great link...thanks...I may be able to get rid of the padlock on my KI now too...

[CheffoJeffo]

That's a great link...thanks...I may be able to get rid of the padlock on my KI now too...

It was posted in another thread yesterday. Was surprised that I had never seen it before.

Cheers.