Complete Monster Trash

[s000m]

*** Just a pre-face with the name. Its not trash, don't get upset by it if this game was once yours I just like using funny names for Shop logs! ***

Got this game a while back but never got around to restoring it. The condition was acceptable enough for me to just play it and enjoy it. I kind of comitted to bringing this game to Pinfest and I want it to look better than it is so I've decided to at least get it ship shape ready for the show.

I won't have time for the playfield swap but I have bought one and will install it after Pinfest. I simply don't have the time as I already have another committed job to complete another Theatre of Magic.

With that all said here's some pictures of the current condition of the game.

Playfield is actually pretty good, other than the Drac Track which has a slight 'chew' to it.



Cabinet is definitely a bit knocked about. It shows evidence of a re-decal at one point but unfortunately no preventative measures to stop any of the peeling around the leg areas.





Coin door is also tarnished, going to put a new one on. This game will be getting some love.





Inside was pretty filthy. I'll need to do a playfield stip and harness clean at the very least before Pinfest.











I was hungry, sue me...






Pulled off the braid, removed the speaker grills and other grill holes. Going to completely sand down the cab.




Side shot of the cab.




Close up of the leg damage

 

[s000m]

With the cabinet strip complete it was onto the sanding and repair of the cabinet.

I had some major issues getting the carriage/pivot bolts out as the wood was so chewed in that area that the carriage bolt was basically spinning. A lot of WD40 and some vice grips and a large flat head screw driver convinced it to come out.

Repairing the hole was pretty tedious ensuring I kept the shape whilst not encrouching on the diameter of the hole.




Had a simular issue with the backbox hinge bolt.










It always kind of irks me when someone says 'It's just new decals' like its no big deal to apply them properly. No one who acually does decals would ever say that.

The amount of sanding, prepping and repair to get the cabinet into a condition to accept new decals is anything but simple and just shows pure ignorance to me.

 

[Moonraker]

Cabinet is definitely a bit knocked about. It shows evidence of a re-decal at one point but unfortunately no preventative measures to stop any of the peeling around the leg areas.

They look like original cabinet decals to me. MB was notorious for the leg decal crinkling and I've seen many examples of it over the years. Plus it looks like it has the faded Williams serial number label on the front of the cabinet. I bet you won't be putting one of those on the replacement decal...!

 

[s000m]

They look like original cabinet decals to me. MB was notorious for the leg decal crinkling and I've seen many examples of it over the years. Plus it looks like it has the faded Williams serial number label on the front of the cabinet. I bet you won't be putting one of those on the replacement decal...!

I first thought that but then found evidence of wood filler underneath. Unless Williams got out the wood filler?

 

[Moonraker]

I first thought that but then found evidence of wood filler underneath. Unless Williams got out the wood filler?

Yeah they probably did...

 

[s000m]

Yeah they probably did...

Oh wow, really? I mean wow thats an eye opener.

 

[Moonraker]

Oh wow, really? I mean wow thats an eye opener.

I would suggest that scrapping new cabinets costs money and detracts from the profit margin. A bit of wood filler covered by cabinet decal and the new buyer (operator who's not fussed about appearance) is none the wiser.

 

[s000m]

Cabinet restoration is progressing nicely.

Taped everything up and gave it all a thorough clean and sand before application...





That's not camera shine btw thats literally a plume cloud of aerosol spray.




Left that to cure over night and began work on the interior colour choice (uh oh Scott's got out the colouring pens again)

 

[s000m]

Decals are on, I've begun reassembly of the inside but I'm off out for a wedding today so will try and finish the cab on the weekend.

Shout out to @xianek for his decals. Super thick, really happy with the quality.







Chrome leg plates, because why not

 

[David_Vi]

Oh wow, really? I mean wow thats an eye opener.

There was a post a while back of a cab where someone had taken the decals off and found decals for two different pins from the same year on the same cab. Bally Williams just repurposed an unused cab, twice, then changed their mind. I think it was a WPC95 game.
So I imagine they did all sorts

 

[s000m]

Spent quite a bit on new lockbar receiver, side rails, hinges, lock bar, legs and various new metal pieces and buttons!

Went with a cobalt blue powder coat.

 

[JT.]

It always kind of irks me when someone says 'It's just new decals' like its no big deal to apply them properly. No one who acually does decals would ever say that.

The amount of sanding, prepping and repair to get the cabinet into a condition to accept new decals is anything but simple and just shows pure ignorance to me.

A similar, loudly shared but 100% ignorant, view comes up around making replacement cabinets - "it's just a few bits of ply stuck together, and ply's cheap, right!?!". Well, actually, no....

There used to be a cabinetmaker, Manny, who occasionally posted on here about a decade ago, who made high-end replacement cabinets for people. He left the forum due to the amount of trolling, grief and wind-up merchants (who had no intention of buying anything from him) he got about his prices, even though the reality of it was that his hourly rate after overheads was probably minimum wage. I've got the equipment, woodwork skills and space to do a similar service on a small-scale basis, but I wouldn't even consider it based on what happened to Manny. Not pinballiinfo's finest hour by any stretch

 

[AlanJ]

How much do you need to charge to make a pinball cabinet?

 

[s000m]

There used to be a cabinetmaker, Manny, who occasionally posted on here about a decade ago, who made high-end replacement cabinets for people.

I've got 2 of his cabs in my collection, one is Scared Stiff and the other is Circus Voltaire. When I first started restorations I asked about who made them. It's a real shame we have no one in the UK making cabinets now as I turned down a CFTBL due to it having a bad cabinet (beyond my skills to repair).

I definitely would buy them given the choice.

 

[s000m]

Pin is pretty much done. Just a few things to add but it'll be ready for Pinfest.