Complete Bram Stoker’s Dracula (BSD) 🧛‍♂️

[Dave Playman]

I picked this BSD up on Good Friday from Facebook marketplace and have been enjoying playing it since. This apparently was a ex-Pinball Paradise serviced game some 8-10yrs ago when the previous owner purchased it.

When I bought it, it was missing some backbox GI lighting. Couple of transistors and that problem was solved. It also had mist ball issues. New long opto board from Homepin and it’s been rock solid since. I’ve literally just hammered it all spring/summer!

So its in good condition, but it’s long overdue a deep clean, re-rubber, etc. Someone must have waxed it with an orbital/electric polisher as there is residue flicked everywhere! It’s in every nook and cranny! So a topside tear down is the only way I’m going to clean it up properly.

This is my second ever time doing this (Fish Tales was done December 2020) and i didn’t document that on here, so thought I would give this Shop Log thread a go with Dracula this time

Here are some before and during photos of progress so far.

 

[Spandangler]

Nice one Dave. Don’t forget to take that ball trough out and give it a good clean otherwise the playfield will be dirty again in no time. Anywhere the ball sits. Scoops, etc.. give em a good clean.

 

[Dave Playman]

After having everything laid out on the floor in some sort of order; I started with a foam cleaner to remove surface grime off the playfield.

I then proceeded with Novus 2 to get the ground in dirt and scratches out, and then waxed the playfield.

I then started to put new red star posts and sleeves on, along with new roller over plastics and new Perfect Play silicone rubbers from Pinball Bazaar.

Next was starting to refit some plastics. I foam cleaned these and then used Novus 1 plastic polish to bring them up to a nice shine.

 

[Jay Walker]

A couple of tips I can add, before you re-assemble it further;

There are a lot of separate items to have their wiring passed through the hole alongside the lifting ramp - make sure they're all in place before securing the lowest layer of fittings. I actually put a label under the playfield, marked '4', to highlight how how many wire harnesses are used.

The pay-off switch for the r/h ramp and the switch for the subway are in the same area and have the same connector, allowing them to be crossed over. One (not done by me) reached a location with them like that.

 

[replicas]

You waxed a Dracula playfield............
God help you when you come to play it again.

 

[Ant-H]

Looking good. The playfield has cleaned up really well.
Just out of interest, what foam cleaner did you use?

 

[Dave Playman]

Looking good. The playfield has cleaned up really well.
Just out of interest, what foam cleaner did you use?

Hi, thanks for that. I’m really pleased with how it’s come out. The foam cleaner is from Pinball Heaven.
Just as an extra, the Mothers wax is the best wax I’ve tried to date

 

[Ped]

Looking good. Are you planning on doing color dmd and or pinsound? Pinsound alternative scheme is awesome for BSD

 

[Dave Playman]

Next up, I took the subways off and gave them the foam clean and Novus 1 treatment.
Gave the cabinet a quick vacuum and then swapped the bolts on the front of the cabinet with new black ones. I changed the leg bolts and castors for new black ones too, to match the black legs.

 

[replicas]

I put a pinsound into my Dracula, totally changes it for the better. Gives it a lot more atmosphere.
Gotta love BSD. Just need to change out the speaker panel for a clear window one I got from @xianek ( thanks guy its beyond fantastic) and put in the Color DMD.

 

[Dave Playman]

In the final stages, I cleaned and waxed the ramps, and fitted a Col’s plastic protector to the centre target bank.

I basically cleaned all the plastics one by one before putting them back, and after several hours it finally all came together. I’m really happy with the end result

Only thing left to do now is adjust the mist ball gate slightly and replace the left sling linkage as I somehow broke it whilst cleaning.
Overall it’s a nice player’s condition game and I’m very pleased with how it’s come up, considering this is my second time doing this.

 

[Dave Playman]

Just for ease of reference, here are some side by side comparison shots of the before and after

 

[Dave Playman]

Looking good. Are you planning on doing color dmd and or pinsound? Pinsound alternative scheme is awesome for BSD

Thanks
I’m quite happy with the original display and sound to be honest. I guess those things can be upgraded in time, but right now I’m planning to just leave those items stock.

 

[Dave Playman]

I put a pinsound into my Dracula, totally changes it for the better. Gives it a lot more atmosphere.
Gotta love BSD. Just need to change out the speaker panel for a clear window one I got from @xianek ( thanks guy its beyond fantastic) and put in the Color DMD.

Thanks
I’m going to have to check out the Pinsound on this game on YouTube now to see how it sounds
Again, no plans to upgrade just now….but maybe later down the road, who knows.

 

[Ped]

Looking good. Are you planning on doing color dmd and or pinsound? Pinsound alternative scheme is awesome for BSD

This ( my shop job from lockdown #1) doesn't really do the pinsound justice but you get the idea. It's also what happens when you wax the playfield on a BSD

 

[Dave Playman]

This ( my shop job from lockdown #1) doesn't really do the pinsound justice but you get the idea. It's also what happens when you wax the playfield on a BSD

Wow! That does sound really good! Totally different atmosphere for sure!
How much did you have to do to yours over lockdown?

 

[replicas]

That playfield has come up really nice. I'm wondering if it's one of my old ones. I let a nice BSD go to @cooldan and another to @ronsplooter and regretted letting both of them go. I was lucky to get another really nice one which is staying for a good while. But that one has come up really nice , fantastic game. Enjoy.

 

[Ant-H]

Pinsound works really well with some games and I agree, it really changes the atmosphere of Dracula.
The colour dmd looks awesome as well

 

[Ped]

Wow! That does sound really good! Totally different atmosphere for sure!
How much did you have to do to yours over lockdown?

I've had it since about 2011 (from @roadshow16 ) and it's been long overdue for an overhaul. Didn't touch the cabinet. It's a bit tired and faded ( though red is restored with a sharpie pen lol) but was finally prompted by the old sound board expiring with a small bang and a flame. Had a few niggling issues so sent the boards to Phil @ Pinball heaven who did a remote battery box for the cpu and repaired the sound board for me whilst I took the playfield out, stripped everything, cleaned, polished, replaced the coffin ramp which had a huge crack in it and changed all the bulbs for LEDs. Whilst it was in bits I bought the pinsound and speakers (boy what a difference!), the colorDMD and also @xianek 's clear speaker panel. Bldy thing is lightening quick now though so I've never got near my previous high score

 

[Dave Playman]

That playfield has come up really nice. I'm wondering if it's one of my old ones. I let a nice BSD go to @cooldan and another to @ronsplooter and regretted letting both of them go. I was lucky to get another really nice one which is staying for a good while. But that one has come up really nice , fantastic game. Enjoy.

Thanks, appreciate that
This one came from a non-forum member. It was a Facebook marketplace ad near Bristol and the guy had it for around 8yrs. It was his only pin. He said he bought it from Pinball Paradise.
I’m not surprised you regret letting those others go, and now on your third It’s an awesome game isn’t it. Infact, it’s probably my joint favourite game along with Getaway in my lineup. This will be staying for a good while also

 

[Kilgore]

Fanatsic work Dave looks so good. Mine is long over due something similar. Drac is one of my all time favoirte games. Simple to understand tricky to master.

 

[Dave Playman]

A couple of tips I can add, before you re-assemble it further;

There are a lot of separate items to have their wiring passed through the hole alongside the lifting ramp - make sure they're all in place before securing the lowest layer of fittings. I actually put a label under the playfield, marked '4', to highlight how how many wire harnesses are used.

The pay-off switch for the r/h ramp and the switch for the subway are in the same area and have the same connector, allowing them to be crossed over. One (not done by me) reached a location with them like that.

Thanks for the heads up on this
Unfortunately, I was already further down the road when I got your message. I ended up feeding all the connections through the hole next to the ramp mech as forgot about the rear hole! I did label the connectors though to make sure I didn’t cross wire when refitting so no issues in the end

 

[Gonzo]

Really nice Dave

 

[Dave Playman]

I've had it since about 2011 (from @roadshow16 ) and it's been long overdue for an overhaul. Didn't touch the cabinet. It's a bit tired and faded ( though red is restored with a sharpie pen lol) but was finally prompted by the old sound board expiring with a small bang and a flame. Had a few niggling issues so sent the boards to Phil @ Pinball heaven who did a remote battery box for the cpu and repaired the sound board for me whilst I took the playfield out, stripped everything, cleaned, polished, replaced the coffin ramp which had a huge crack in it and changed all the bulbs for LEDs. Whilst it was in bits I bought the pinsound and speakers (boy what a difference!), the colorDMD and also @xianek 's clear speaker panel. Bldy thing is lightening quick now though so I've never got near my previous high score

Ahh wow, nice! A good ten years then! That’s great. I guess if the original board failed, and you love the game, then making the Pinsound upgrade sounds like a good idea.
My cabinet is not too bad either to be honest. I think the red on the sides has been masked up and painted. I can’t tell 100% but if it was original red I would be very lucky! The text on the front of the cabinet below the coin door has been red sharpie’d on mine too

 

[Dave Playman]

Fanatsic work Dave looks so good. Mine is long over due something similar. Drac is one of my all time favoirte games. Simple to understand tricky to master.

Thanks mate! I’m sure you will get to yours soon enough
BSD is also one of my favourites. Chasing that 3x stacked multiball is so good, and when it all comes together, it’s so satisfying
Thhhhiirrrrrtyyyy miilllliooonn

 

[Dave Playman]

Really nice Dave

Cheers Kris! I’m really pleased with it

 

[Jay Walker]

Looking again, I wonder if it may have once been owned by a large operator - the coin entry label having 20P and 10P apparently covered up brings back memories of games from 'major' suppliers with "Do not insert 10 or 20 pence coins" on the pricing card. I suppose they either couldn't be bothered with them, or couldn't grasp how to accommodate them in pricing schemes. Some of them hadn't locked out those coins, in any case, even though it was easy to do.

 

[Dex-Jay]

Wow, very nice. There sure was a lot of wax schmutz on that thing! Came out very nice, cab decals do look good too. Well done that chap!

 

[Spandangler]

Dude it looks like a different machine. Fantastic work. Can’t wait to play it. You’ve gotta be happy with how that’s come out.

 

[RudeDogg1]

Would look great with a custom paint job on the buildings and graveyard [emoji6]