Hi chaps, inspired by the thread here by @kev a I'm shortly about to start restoring my own Whirlwind so thought I would document it here.
I've restored a few machines in the past, but always just concentrated on getting the playfield bits and mechanics/electronics as good as possible, without really paying much attention to the cabs. This time I'm going to redecal the cab too and get the thing looking decent.
I acquired this Whirlwind probably about 15 years ago now from a member of the uk.pinball Yahoo Group, as a trade for my Operation Thunder + cash. I never did anything to the machine restoration wise (except fix the topper), but simply played it. Mechanically and electronically it works perfectly (but missing the knocker), however cosmetically the cab is rough and the playfield isn't in great nick with considerable wear around the spinning discs.
Then I took a bit of break from pinball for a few years, but have got the urge to get back into a project. I see over the last 10 year or so pin prices have gone up considerably, so it probably wouldn't hurt to chuck a few quid at this one.
Here's a few pics before I start:
It's a '6 footer', i.e looks alright from a distance in the dim light of a gamesroom (or garage)
The topper is the only thing I did to the machine all those years ago, it was yellow and cracked so that's been repaired and painted and the grilles removed and cleaned/painted silver. The replcement decals I got from Marco Specialities were terribly pixellated so I never fitted them. Need to find some decent quality repros now, and that fan blade needs a proper clean.
Coin door knackered (been forced open around the lock) and missing most of the mech, so need to find a replacement.
Cab and head has the usual chips and dings etc, nothing a bit of a filler shouldn't be able to sort out given a bit of elbow grease. Repro cabinet decals wern't available 'back in the day' when I got the machine, so it's great we have the opportunity to get these things looking nice again.
Playfield is mylared (not the rare Diamond Plate version sadly) which I plan to remove. Could be a disaster, but I'm doing it. I see there's a couple of playfield repro options now from CPR and Mirco. They are expensive and lots of controversy about quality and chipping/pooling of the clearcoat though. We'll see when we get to that stage.
Wear around the spinning discs is pretty bad
Damage around the NW target is a bit dodgey looking. It has Cliffy protectors around the holes though.
Ramp looks like it's been repaired at the hinge.
Generally dirty and grimey
Underside doesn't look too bad. Obviously all this will be stripped right back and cleaned, tumbled, polished etc.
Cab filthy inside.
WTF has happened here, that does NOT look safe! Obviously will be sorted.
Inside the head the boards are complete and unmolested. Missing the knocker though.
Translite is OK, a couple of small scuffs on the rear but generally decent. It's the later W print, not the Cubs/stickered version.
Displays seem nice and even with no burnt segments that I can see.
So there we have it, need to pull my finger out and make a start instead of just talking about it!
I've restored a few machines in the past, but always just concentrated on getting the playfield bits and mechanics/electronics as good as possible, without really paying much attention to the cabs. This time I'm going to redecal the cab too and get the thing looking decent.
I acquired this Whirlwind probably about 15 years ago now from a member of the uk.pinball Yahoo Group, as a trade for my Operation Thunder + cash. I never did anything to the machine restoration wise (except fix the topper), but simply played it. Mechanically and electronically it works perfectly (but missing the knocker), however cosmetically the cab is rough and the playfield isn't in great nick with considerable wear around the spinning discs.
Then I took a bit of break from pinball for a few years, but have got the urge to get back into a project. I see over the last 10 year or so pin prices have gone up considerably, so it probably wouldn't hurt to chuck a few quid at this one.
Here's a few pics before I start:
It's a '6 footer', i.e looks alright from a distance in the dim light of a gamesroom (or garage)
The topper is the only thing I did to the machine all those years ago, it was yellow and cracked so that's been repaired and painted and the grilles removed and cleaned/painted silver. The replcement decals I got from Marco Specialities were terribly pixellated so I never fitted them. Need to find some decent quality repros now, and that fan blade needs a proper clean.
Coin door knackered (been forced open around the lock) and missing most of the mech, so need to find a replacement.
Cab and head has the usual chips and dings etc, nothing a bit of a filler shouldn't be able to sort out given a bit of elbow grease. Repro cabinet decals wern't available 'back in the day' when I got the machine, so it's great we have the opportunity to get these things looking nice again.
Playfield is mylared (not the rare Diamond Plate version sadly) which I plan to remove. Could be a disaster, but I'm doing it. I see there's a couple of playfield repro options now from CPR and Mirco. They are expensive and lots of controversy about quality and chipping/pooling of the clearcoat though. We'll see when we get to that stage.
Wear around the spinning discs is pretty bad
Damage around the NW target is a bit dodgey looking. It has Cliffy protectors around the holes though.
Ramp looks like it's been repaired at the hinge.
Generally dirty and grimey
Underside doesn't look too bad. Obviously all this will be stripped right back and cleaned, tumbled, polished etc.
Cab filthy inside.
WTF has happened here, that does NOT look safe! Obviously will be sorted.
Inside the head the boards are complete and unmolested. Missing the knocker though.
Translite is OK, a couple of small scuffs on the rear but generally decent. It's the later W print, not the Cubs/stickered version.
Displays seem nice and even with no burnt segments that I can see.
So there we have it, need to pull my finger out and make a start instead of just talking about it!
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