Thinking about getting a Radar Scope cab

[Jack Burton]

My local community center has a red nintendo cabinet that used to have Radar Scope in it.  It now has Sky Shark in it, which I care nothing about.  Apparently the coin mechs are messed up and they want to get rid of it.   Apparently it doesn't fit the decor.  The cab seems unchanged cosmetically.

How much should I offer for this game?  And how much is it worth?  I think I can get away with $100. 

I'm torn on returning this to an original Radar Scope or turning it into a Red Donkey Kong.  Optimally I would want to turn this into a Donkey Kong - Radar Scope conversion, since that was an official conversion and it would be cool to have one of those.  I wonder how hard that would be to pull off.

What do you think?

[Level42]

I'd buy it immediately at 100 bucks.

[CheffoJeffo]

Uh huh

[Level42]

Then again, I'd buy it at 200 bucks too probably...

[Mauzy]

I would most definitely go for that and I would also turn it into a red DK if given the chance.

[Kevin Mullins]

I'm always up to saving a red Nintendo cab any way possible.

Returning it back to a Radar Scope is probably going to be slim chances just due to the rare parts.
I wonder if it has the TRS metal tag on it or not? Unless there's some other reason you already know it was a Radar Scope.
Gotta remember not all red cabinets actually became Radar Scopes, some went straight to becoming  DK's because Radar Scope flopped so badly as a game.

But a red DK is always a cool idea.   

Another thing to note is that the game that's in it now is JAMMA.... so it's hard to say if it has much if any of the original power supply, wiring harness, etc still inside.
But at least Sky Shark is a vertical game, so hopefully the monitor has never been rotated, which would mean there would be extra holes in the sides of the cabinet.

Have you checked this cabinet out much yet?

[Level42]

There are ways to rotate the monitor without holes in the side (Like I did for my Mario Bros in red).

If the monitor has any burn-in that could give it away as well. Mine has some minor burn-in, but it's clearly from Radar Scope, so it has spent it's life quite some time as Radar Scope.

Also, if the monitor is in a wooden box, it's not a Sanyo 20EZ, but an earlier model. I love the monitor, I think it's the best looking monitor I've got on any game and I've only replaced one cap yet....

If I'd be able to get another Nintendo cab (doesn't matter which color) it would get a vertical monitor and a couple of DK boards in it (already got those).

Still, Radarscope is not as bad as a game. I guess it was just too late and drowned in the middle of competition like Galaxian etc. I also wonder what would have happened if it had been licensed by Midway f.i. instead of Galaxian. I think an American brand was important for getting games to be a hit in the US.

Restoring it to a RS would definitely be "something else" but for play value, a DK set-up would probably more feasible esp. if you don't have any Nintendo games yet.

[mrclean]

http://cgi.ebay.com/NINTENDO-RADAR-SCOPE-PCB-SET-ARCADE-VERSION-MARQUEE-X_W0QQitemZ250386508047QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item250386508047&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[Jack Burton]

I have looked at the insides of the cab briefly about a year ago.  I didn't know as much about cabs back then so my assessment was very basic. 

That wiring has been hacked up quite a bit.  Not sure how much of the original stuff is still there.

The monitor was of the type that is in the wooden box.

I know it was originally a radar scope because of the bezel and control panel artwork.

If I get it I may try to go with a dual setup for both DK and Radar Scope.  I have never done so with a cabinet but I'm sure it can be done.  It's just getting past the initial headache of a more complex wiring job.  The only thing I would worry about is having enough room in the cab for both boardsets.

I'll leave the artwork, marquee and bezel as Radar Scope but put a switch somewhere on the cab to switch over to DK when I want. 

I have talked to the owner of the community center and he seems a little resistant to sell me the cab now.  He says that they need some kind of game in the center so I'm thinking of trading them a MAME cab in exchange for it.  I've got a Ms. Pac that has been painted black and has a 25" monitor in it, so maybe I can finish that up and give them a cab that can still play Sky Shark just fine along with a lot of other games.

[Level42]

Maybe he meant something more in the line of a console ?

[Kevin Mullins]

I know it was originally a radar scope because of the bezel and control panel artwork.

Well heck.... if it already has the bezel and CPO, I would think those would be the hardest parts to find.
The boardset that mrclean posted would be a good deal then.

Also keep in mind when looking for wiring harness and such that there were a couple versions, think of them as an early and late version. One has more plugs and connectors which is the one you would need for a Radar Scope/Donkey Kong. It works with the four-board set not the two-board set. I forget all the details off hand, but there's mention of it here and there on this forum.

Power supply and such shouldn't be too much of a problem as most are still good and if someone guts a cabinet they usually just throw those away, so you should be able to nab one from somebody if you catch them soon enough.

[Level42]

The best source for Radar Scope info:

http://www.ostermayer.ch/index.html

Check it out, even if you don't want to restore it to a Radar Scope, it's very interesting.

[Kevin Mullins]

http://cgi.ebay.com/NINTENDO-RADAR-SCOPE-PCB-SET-ARCADE-VERSION-MARQUEE-X_W0QQitemZ250386508047QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item250386508047&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Ended at $153.50 + $14.00 shipping.   

[Level42]

Yeah saw that too. Pretty amazing.

[shilmover]

http://cgi.ebay.com/NINTENDO-RADAR-SCOPE-PCB-SET-ARCADE-VERSION-MARQUEE-X_W0QQitemZ250386508047QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item250386508047&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Ended at $153.50 + $14.00 shipping.   

I have 2 of those boardsets...  One definitely works, the other I need to test...

For that kind of $, I might just sell mine... 

[RayB]

Check out this Radar Scope:
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeImage?AdId=114488136&img=http%3A%2F%2Fimg1.classistatic.com%2Fcps%2Fl%2Fkj%2F09%2F3%2F18%2F984%2Fr3%2F7566d29_18.jpeg

[Level42]

 

[shilmover]

Check out this Radar Scope:
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeImage?AdId=114488136&img=http%3A%2F%2Fimg1.classistatic.com%2Fcps%2Fl%2Fkj%2F09%2F3%2F18%2F984%2Fr3%2F7566d29_18.jpeg

OMFG!!!