Complete Bram Stoker's Dracula - (yes I'm doing another one)

[s000m]

Here we go.

Hold on here comes the speed hare:




Received this morning, unfortunately it arrived DOA. Diagnostic errors and no display on the DMD. Have agreed to look at it post cabinet work.

Project details:

• Cabinet Prep
• New Cabine Decals
• Powder Coated Rails, Legs, Hinges, Coin door frame and Lock Bar
• Installation of new parts (Pinsound Plus etc.)
• Custom Speaker Panel Artwork
• Custom Backglass Artwork

Expanded Scope of works so far:

Playfield Strip and general restoration of ramps and playfield. Treat existing plastics etc.
Diagnose and hopefully resolve DMD issue/errors.


Here she is:




After trying to test it and relaying the DMD issue etc I wasted no time stripping it down and patching holes/repairing cuts and dents.

Back box had Latch damage to the bottom, pretty severe.



Guides on the back looked 'OK' but i'm going to patch them up and make them look better:





Began the wood filling journey:














Packed up the new rails, legs and lock bar. Along with the existing Hinges and Coin door frame. Took my lock bar as client wants the same powder coat as mine.



Sanded down area's and built up another layer when I got back:

 

[s000m]

Next up labelling the back box headers:

I've stepped up to a lable maker!









H Channel is a big buggered, will need to replace it.




Man this was rusty! I couldn't leave it like that.



Magma rust remover to the rescue:





Cleaned up the inside of the cabinet with cloths and my shop vacuum



Cabinet walls are a bit knocked up:



Cleaned them up, sanded them down a bit and applied new paint:






Legs have some pretty major damage done to the cabinet corners, will need to sort those at the workshop tomorrow



Playfield out. God I hate remove this bugger he's so heavy compared to say Addams Family.



Just need to remove the buttons and flipper boards etc. Ready for tomorrow:



Job done.

Tomorrow I pickup the van, put both pins in and jet off to @jagman for a fun filled day

 

[Calimori]

What cab paint did you use inside? I have a few days off next week and plan to move on my BSD a little.
Oddly, my machine to work on after is my TAF which has had a long time since I stripped it and cleaned topside. Good it hear the playfield is lighter to remove.

 

[s000m]

What cab paint did you use inside? I have a few days off next week and plan to move on my BSD a little.
Oddly, my machine to work on after is my TAF which has had a long time since I stripped it and cleaned topside. Good it hear the playfield is lighter to remove.

Hey Mate, I use Plastikote Satin Black. It provides a decent spread, and nice finish.

You can pick it up from Hobby Craft / Wickes.

I burn through them. I've gone through 3 cans already and expect to use another 3 more between both pins.

Was speaking with Ant on the subjet of rattle cans. He's going to invest into a proper paint system. Space isn't on my side so I'm going to stick with rattle cans for now.

 

[s000m]

Been at the workshop all day. Addams was first on the cutting line but all the prep work for BSD is done. Ready for sanding and paint prime.

 

[s000m]

Unfortunately the decals haven't arrived so work is halted until they arrive.

 

[s000m]

Decals arrived in the week but I couldn't start BSD again until the weekend.


Stripped off the decals, sanded down, wood filled, and sanded again.

Burnt through many pads!

 

[s000m]

Back box re-done, ready for decals tomorrow.

 

[s000m]

Major milestone achieved today, decals all on. Thank God they went on alright!

 

[s000m]

Leg protectors on.

Just showing to show I do cut around the protector!

I hate doing it, especially when it's not my cab!

Shot of cut halfway through:



All protectors sorted:

 

[s000m]

Parts are back from the powder coaters.





Began assembly of the parts back into the cab.

The left channel guide is in bad shape so it's been agreed I should replace it.

The glass channel at the back was equally bad so I've used my Addams one as I'm going metal in mine.





Bolts were thrown into the tumbler





Ultrasonic bath I have is tiny but fine for small plastics

Installed new flipper buttons as originals had burn marks!



The back box metal looked grimy and grim. Client didn't ask me to clean it. But I just couldn't leave it like it.





Wire holders are in for a soak overnight.


Coin door now installed, cleaned and mounted with the powder coated frame.



Tomorrow the playfield goes back in!

 

[s000m]

Playfield was halted due to glass channel being replaced .

Decided to focus my efforts on the interior cab prep.

Cleaned the clips:



Attached on side rail:



Backbox polish completed; looks dark due to the reflections of the black and me!




Sanded the top of the back box. Price paid was only for applying decals not a cabinet restoration. But then I see Ants work and I can't let these decals be mired by some knackered wood work.

Original top:

Had planking



Sanded and painted:



Dry:


We agreed to replace the old latch, it was originally off centre and showed evidence of it being moved 4 times!



Sanded and painted, new latch fitted:

Added a sticker for the lolz


Replaced the old sub, this one is caked in rust:



Pinsound sub fitted:



Machine is getting closer to completion:

 

[s000m]

Again wasn't asked or agreed but I cleaned the harness anyway.

Ultrasonic on the clips too.

 

[s000m]

Glass channel has finally arrived.

Also received the Backglass and speaker panel.

Looks like I can finally get some progress done!

 

[s000m]

Lots of progress today, playfield back in the cab!



Powder coat really brings it together



Added some nylon washers to protect the powder coat



Apron is knackered, agreed to sell my old one as this one looks naff





Playfield looks grim and dull, agreed to do a basic playfield strip, clean and polish





















Time to strip down



Many screws, many bolts





Cleaning time






Deionised water, looks grim it's after doing all the plastics



Example of one set of plastics after cleaning




Mylar time playfield has signs of planking and wear.

 

[s000m]

More pictures

More mylar application











Leaving the metalwork to tumble overnight.

Ordered some titans as agreed old rubbers were falling apart.

 

[s000m]

Backbox board was dirty, tried to clean it up with White vinegar, no dice. Agreed to put on a new coat. Can't have my wifes backglass being lit up by this.



1st coat down



Final coat done



Next up played bob the apple with all the metal parts from the tumbler. Man I need to use my sieve I literally forgot I had it ><



All the old rubbers, shame to throw them in the bin but I don't know what else to do with them



Made a judgement call to use @Colywobbles plastic protectors he did for me a while back, before I did my custom BSD. Looks like they finally get some use!














Titan rubbers arrived this morning, thanks again to @David retro for the fast and efficient service as always

 

[David retro]

Happy to see royal mail got it there in time Thank you for your continued support the game looks great already

 

[s000m]

Wasted no time installing the rubbers.

Previous owner didn't screw in the opto mounts instead they used the Opto PCB'S to secure them.

New screws added should make the castle lock area more reliable.



Titan black rubbers installed. Got nearly all of em done.

 

[s000m]

Titan Rubbers installed, all plastics back in place. Nearly all ramps done but I need to sort the pop bumpers. Will see if I have any lamp holders with legs left as some bright spark jury rigged a bayonet in one....

Scopes been expanded to fit out comet LEDs I know people like incandescents, especially on this game. But come on seriously look at the damage they've done to the ramp.


He's got a LED OCD board so we've got a compromise in my book.





Had to make own insulation card as it was missing on this game.



Yup I know clip is on backwards I noticed after I took the shot




Morpheus mod installed.

 

[s000m]

Next up I need to clean the underside. It's pretty grim...

 

[s000m]

Also:

View attachment VID-20221008-WA0025.mp4

 

[M4carp]

Shame that wasn’t posted at 4:20
Please don’t tell Ron how to get there

 

[newdos]

Lots of progress today, playfield back in the cab!

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Powder coat really brings it together

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Added some nylon washers to protect the powder coat

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Apron is knackered, agreed to sell my old one as this one looks naff

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Playfield looks grim and dull, agreed to do a basic playfield strip, clean and polish

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Time to strip down

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Many screws, many bolts

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Cleaning time

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Deionised water, looks grim it's after doing all the plastics

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Example of one set of plastics after cleaning


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Mylar time playfield has signs of planking and wear.

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Powder coating looks fab especially on coindoor surround but a quick tip re-paint all of your black bolts - here's some before and afters i did. really finishes the job off!!

 

[s000m]

Powder coating looks fab especially on coindoor surround but a quick tip re-paint all of your black bolts - here's some before and afters i did. really finishes the job off!!


View attachment 183292View attachment 183293View attachment 183294

It's by design mate it's supposed to have some patina as it's supposed to be a coffin. I used new bolts for the hinges and side rails.


My custom BSD has the exact same setup.

 

[s000m]

New hinges I spoke of:

Any load bearing elements I've gone new coin door is just a personal choice.



Underside was gross. I did what I could but this could end up turning into a restoration at this rate. It was only supposed to be decals.












Informed Col he's going to want a new cover. It will do for now.

 

[s000m]

Now gone to see Dracula

 

[newdos]

It's by design mate it's supposed to have some patina as it's supposed to be a coffin. I used new bolts for the hinges and side rails.


My custom BSD has the exact same setup.

ah ok cool!!

 

[s000m]

So when this machine arrived it had no working display.

Was hoping it was just poorly wired or loose connections.

Tried a known working DMD driver board, known working DMD.

No display. I check voltages to the DMD. It looks like it's getting power OK.

Even tried another Power Driver Board.

Tried a different set of ribbon cables.

Last thing to try is the MPU?

Couple of things to note.

I hear no sound, attract mode seems to be working, same with GI.

Sometimes I can observe the machine boot cycling.

The VUKs and magnet motor keep firing.

 

[s000m]

Ok so got the display working. Sound and VUKS still firing.

DMD came back by:
Changing the ribbon cables for new ones.
Cleaning the pin contacts.


I used my BSD MPU board, still random firing VUKs.

So it's not the boards, it's either the connectors or the opto board underneath.