Complete Bally Medusa - Playfield Cleanup

[Courtney Blush]

Hi Guys

Well I finally have my Medusa, still sand backglass though :-(

It's filthy but does have its Mylar for the front of the playield. Missing it's kick back but worked out this is just a linear slingshot with a different post (already ordered) and also missing it's lovely red flippers, also ordered.

Anyways, this is not a full restoration as I wouldn't know where to start with a cabinet resto (any offers?)

But heres a few before pics to get it going...

Courtney x

 

[PeteB]

Now that looks like a lovely candidate for a nice restoration! Looking forward to seeing the progress.

What's the condition of the cabinet like?

 

[Courtney Blush]

I have sourced a repro backglass from the states for about £130 so going for that. The cab could really do with restoring, It's rough but solid, lot's of scratches, chips, and wear where it's been moved around in storage for the past 10 years or so, but how far do you go? I could sand it and stencil it, or rather find someone who could as I am lost when it comes to woodwork, put a CPR playfield in etc and then theres nothing left of the original Medusa.

I will clean the mylar to a polish finish, I will try and clean, best I can the upper part of the playfield, restore it mechanically and electrically, hopefully with an original CPU rather than an Alltek but apart from that I don't know how far to go with it.

It's a shame that the only person I know with a spare Medusa backglass (original) won't sell it to me to put back into a complete machine but hey-ho.

Courtney

 

[Moonraker]

It's a shame that the only person I know with a spare Medusa backglass (original) won't sell it to me to put back into a complete machine but hey-ho.

Not wouldn't sell it, more a case of I was asking £10 more than you wanted to pay, so I was happy to keep hold of it....

Anyhow I'm sure that the repro one will be in a lot better condition, so worth all the extra money.

 

[Courtney Blush]

We just had a difference of opinion on value, but you're right a new one would be better. Thank you for the offer anyways

 

[PeteB]

Post some pics of the cab. Depending how bad it is it might not need a full repaint. A good clean and some touch-up is sometimes more than enough.

 

[Courtney Blush]

The strip down starts.

Now have it running of its own CPU and recapped the Sqwark and Talk board.

Wifey stripped and cleaned the red light bar but I kept missing at full light at 11pm last night.

All plastics now cleaned and the playfield clean now starts.

The kick back is just a linear slingshot so that's easy to refit, the lights under the flippers have been complete my removed so need to refit those too but the switches themselves on the rear flippers have also been removed :-(

Does anyone have a photo of the switch wiring arrangement of the zipper flippers please?

I will post some cab pics soon.

What's the best way to remove the metal guides?

 

[ronsplooter]

For the lane guides, put something under them to protect the playfield and then gently lever them out with your preferred prying tool (I find the claw end of a hammer works ok). Go slow as they probably have little fins on the ends and you don't want to damage the playfield taking them out. The other option is to leave them and clean in situ

 

[Courtney Blush]

Latest progress. Cleaning and polishing. Cleaning bulb holders. All new 555's.

Awaiting parts now :-/

Might get the lock down mechanism shot blasted

 

[Courtney Blush]

Some of the dirt is really ingrained. As I don't want to damage any of the remaining artwork I have washed it, dried it, novused it and I think it looks ok. Criticism is welcome though.

 

[DRD]

I love the 70s meets 80s styling. The left goddess has blue eye shadow, just like the Paragon lady.

Those wonderful 1981 Bally vintage games before it all went pear shaped

 

[carl lawrence]

Looking good

Taking out the bank of drop targets at the back is a bit of a pig from what I can remember (not much room )

 

[Courtney Blush]

That's my next job... Once they arrive

 

[carl lawrence]

Just found these of my old medusa
Hope this helps

 

[Courtney Blush]

Helps fantastically. Especially for the leaf switches on the back flippers for the flipper lights.

 

[Courtney Blush]

Thank you

 

[Courtney Blush]

And I think I can use the spinner too :-D

 

[Courtney Blush]

Kick back and red flippers fitted. Just lit by a batter for now as a test until I find some leaf switches fr the upper flippers.

 

[Courtney Blush]

So while waiting for more parts I cleaned up the shooter, installed some coin Windows and bulbs and cleaned all the rust off the lock down.

 

[Jb3d]

Do you have any knowledge of the sturdiness of the translucent red flipper bats? I read a post that said they could chip easily. I'm debating wether or not to replace the non original ones on mine. Where did you get yours from? Best, John

 

[DRD]

I think that Medusa rèally "needs" the translucent bats

 

[andy]

Do you have any knowledge of the sturdiness of the translucent red flipper bats? I read a post that said they could chip easily. I'm debating wether or not to replace the non original ones on mine. Where did you get yours from? Best, John

I think that Medusa rèally "needs" the translucent bats

Medusa should definitely have these to get the proper effect of the under flipper lights (my Fireball 2 also has them, not standard equipment but they go well with the red artwork on that game) I've not seen any problem with chipping or breakages.

Andy @pinballmania has them listed http://www.pinballmania.co.uk/flipkit.htm

 

[Courtney Blush]

They look to be the same internal structure so unless there's something specific about the plastic then they should be fine.

 

[Courtney Blush]

My remade spinner.

 

[Courtney Blush]

The new pop caps and upper flippers.

 

[Courtney Blush]

Overall progress so far.

 

[Courtney Blush]

New apron decal due to the severe fading and damage to the original paint.

 

[Courtney Blush]

 

[Courtney Blush]

Hi @carl lawrence. I don't suppose you could take a detailed close up of the wiring for the zipper flipper leaf switches please?

Regards

Courtney

 

[carl lawrence]

Sorry sold my medusa about 2 years ago to @kevlar ,but I think he has sold it on as well

Calling all Medusa owners pic's please