Pinball playfield decals?

[slycrel]

Hey all.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience putting new decals on a pinball playfield.  This weekend I will be getting a twilight zone which has a couple of decals worn off.  I will have the decals available to me, but was wondering if it woul dbe worth my time to try and do this myself.

Anyone done this?

[ChadTower]

What decals?

[fredster]

marvin3.com used to have a total rebuild project on it. "This old Pinball" shows how to restore them.

It's not a project for the weak of heart or the impatient.

[ChadTower]

Doesn't sound like he's talking about a trashed playfield, though.  It sounds like his has some peeling decals... though TZ doesn't have any on it, unless he's just talking about mylar. 

If it's just the clear mylar, get them off and replace them with new ones.  A search on rec.games.pinball should give you 100x more info than you need.

[slycrel]

The guy I'm buying it from gave me some pictures...  Not sure on the terminology, but it's possible it's the mylar itself.  It's the overlay or whatever for the door panel ligts.

Sounds like it might be a bit more than I want to tackle right after purchase.  I may need to wait and get comfy with it for a bit.  This is my first pin, so I don't want to screw it up.  =)

edit:  apologies for the bad picture, I didn't take it, the seller did.  Of course all his other shots are crystal clear. 

[ChadTower]

Oh, on the inserts.  I'm not sure if those are decals or painted.  Either way, that's not a very big deal.  Clean off the inserts and put the new decals on.  You can't harm that playfield with a basic insert decal unless you are using a screwdriver or something weird in the process.

[Wade]

That's playfield wear, which is a BIG issue to collectors, but fortunately it is easy to repair if you don't mind an imperfect game.  From the factory, the entire top of the field was painted.  On some games, ball wear has taken the paint off the playfield or sometimes just the inserts.  (there is no such thing as factory-installed insert decals... although Jeff McAfee would try to have you believe otherwise.)

I've done some of these recently, and the good news is they look pretty good after being installed.

First, get some insert decals from Jeff McAfee (classicarcades.com)  The quality of the decals isn't very good, but he's the only guy making the stuff, so what can you do.  Just take a razor and carefully cut (shave) off the remainder of the insert paint (including the clear paint).  Then use tweezers to carefully position the new ones.  Press VERY hard to get them to ahere well.  Then do the same for mylar protectors if you have those, too.  He is making insert decals now with the mylar layer already applied, so it would be one less step installing them.

Good luck!

Wade

[ChadTower]

Isolated paint loss on inserts like that is usually caused by raised inserts.  Are they completely flush with the playfield?  If they are not, that is an issue that will not only affect gameplay but eventually will destroy your inserts.  New inserts are NOT easy to find.

[slycrel]

Thanks for the information guys.  It's good to know where I can pick up some inserts if I need them.

The guy I'm picking this up from has some insert decals that's coming to me with the machine.  I'll be headed out of state tomorrow to pick it up, so by saturday night I'll know more.  But this gives me a pretty good idea what I'm looking at as far as getting it taken care of.  I'll probably wait a month or so and play the heck out of it before I dare take a razorblade to the playfield.  But if it's real obnoxious it may happen sooner.

[ChadTower]

If the inserts are raised they will be destroyed in short order.  Make sure you check on that.  Soon.

[slycrel]

What do you mean if they are raised?  The existing insert decals or the ones I'll be putting on later?  I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

Either way this isn't going to change the decision to buy this pin, just what I'm going to do about it when I get it.

[ChadTower]

Not the decals, the inserts.  Sometimes the inserts start to raise up becoming higher than the playfield surface.  The ball slams into them constantly at that point and basically shatters them one tiny piece at a time.

[Wade]

Just a word of advice, don't spend too much for this game.  TZ playfields RARELY have wear, and I know an awful lot of people who have paid $2000 or less for one.  Just keep it in mind.  Just because Treasure Cove advertises $6k for one doesn't mean they are all worth that.  TZ is a pretty good game though, and will probably always be pretty easy to sell, it's so popular.

Wade

[ChadTower]

The inserts do wear a lot more often than the rest of the playfield, though.  It's common to have some insert ink wear but no real damage anywhere else.  Check the slot machine scoop hole, too.  That's the other really common wear spot.

TZ is a good game but way overrated IMO.  Too complex, too stop and go.  There are tons of games as good or better that are half the price.

[Wade]

I agree.  I think it's a neat looking game with a cool theme, but for some reason it just hasn't grabbed me.

Wade

[ChadTower]

I had one.  Never got into it enough to justify keeping it when I could sell it for what it brings.  Sold it.

[slycrel]

Picked this up saturday.  It's in better shape than I had hoped.  Other than the 2 decals being worn off the ball trough has a huge line worn out of it where the ball is shot that I may have to look at later.  Everything else is about what I'd expect for a 13 year old machine.

Yeah, I got this one for $2300.  Considering it's one of the top 2 games that I like (TZ and AF) it was worth it to me.  Maybe I've not played other games that are in as good of shape as the TZ's I've played, but between that and AF I'd have a hard time coosing others that even compare much.

And if you live back east I have seen them for this price fairly regularly in varying conditions.  I've not seen many under $3000 in the west coast area.  (I'm in Utah)

The guy who previously owned this machine has put a few hundred dollars just into some of the mods for a TZ, some of which I'd not feel I could live without.  Included are new clock boards, replaced optic sensor for powerball, reinforced drop target for slot machine, gumball lights and gumballs, slot machine toy, 3rd magnet, and probably a couple others I'm forgetting.

I'm happy with the purchase, and a couple local people who should know have mentioned that it was a good deal.  Though I think TZ prices have been falling a bit in the past year or so in general.  They were up there with Addam's Family for a while, but they've now gone down and AF's price has only continued to go up.

As far as the type of game...  it's a very "enclosed" playfield, with lots of ramps and holes, special shots and such.  I think it's great for people who like precision shooting and such.  Addam's family swings the other way, it is a very open table with enough bells and whistles to keep things interesting.  Just depends on what you like.  From what I hear people either love or hate TZ machines, rarely are they lukewarm.

[ChadTower]

With all that extra stuff it's a decent deal.