Complete Bally Minizag 1968 shop log - The final furlong

[Ashbo]

Last "refurb" looks like it involved painting with the legs still on, then painting the legs black, whilst still attached....loving the nylon feet painted over too. This is one classy machine.

 

[Ashbo]

That's enough for today...mental note, don't pick the hot air gun up at the front!!

 

[Ashbo]

Little progress, not very often.....

This evening a bit of filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling.....
At this rate should have the undercoat on by next year

 

[Ashbo]

Finally finished sanding and filling the backbox this weekend.


Started priming last night and continued today. Pics to follow.

This weekend was cleaning nuts bolts and screws. Bit of a crap job.



Decided to take a day off, too hot to work, so ended up working on the playfield...

...pulled off the Mylar pop bumper rings. It was so hot this morning they just fell off...


Then tried to colour match, touch up and hope for the best.

No need for a hair dryer, the paint dried on impact....

 

[Ashbo]

Quick back box prime shot....note the coach bolts, 1st time putting them in a drill and spinning on sandpaper.....who knew!!!

 

[Ashbo]

Late lunch, off to the shed to cool down...

Thought I'd put the metal work in the head as I'm focussing on the playfield for a bit (clear coat Sunday approaching). Found a few bits I haven't derusted and polished yet. Oh well, they will wait.

Gathered the resolve to remove the backglass from next to my desk and inspect and put in the head. It's safer than by my desk.

Looks like the edging needs a lot of work and some touch ups needed on the glass too.

 

[Ashbo]

Ok, so as clear coat Sunday approaches, it's Time to get the playfield on the rotisserie and remove all topside furniture....

...ah, no budget...ok, let's lean it up on something and get started.


Having issues with the slingshot arms not fitting through the holes, need to dismantle the assemblies here, all three of them.

Also need to read up on the roll over buttons. They screw from underneath, but seem to have a permanent clip on the bottom of the plastic. May have to just drop them down and fill the hole with foam.

 

[Ashbo]

Still a way to go on the playfield surface, but it's hot and it's been a hard day so only trusted myself to tape and mask.





Along with making sure this girl is at her best (as good as she can be) before I preserve her forever in lacquer, I need to find a way to protect the roll overs (no recessed) from the clear.

Sunday approaches..... exciting!!!

 

[Ashbo]

Busy day today...

Task one clear and hoover the shed...as well as protect the glass with sticky plastic floor protector

Next, make sure I'm happy with the playfield...

Hmm, I'm not. Last week's light blue has dried luminous, so time to scratch that off and do it again.

Also found a screw I snapped off last year, needed to remove that and fill.


Finally sand with 600 grit and deep clean with naphtha.


Made some foam pads to use as protectors for the rollovers and then leveled the playfield.

Next, get ready to spray on the first coast of clear. Light dust first then a good coat after 5 mins.

Looked ok as I was doing it,returned after 10 mins to find the dreaded orange peel...

Patience Ash, let's see what we have tomorrow.

 

[Ashbo]

I think the thinner evaporated too quick. Will need to sand back tomorrow and try again first thing in the morning.

 

[Ashbo]

It's touch dry after 3 hours, in the morning will do a wet soapy sand and clean followed by another coat.

 

[Ashbo]

Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Clear has got under some areas of the playfield and started to delaminate the top veneer.

Ouch!

Will need to glue these spots down and put some weight on top. Didn't see that one coming.....

.....I was looking forward to this job ......sucker

 

[Ashbo]

That's me for today then....best laid plans and all that.

 

[Ashbo]

And relax, project still on ...



Thank you Evo-Stick, greaseproof paper, scrap wood and heavy stones.

 

[Ashbo]

A quick touch up and then sand sand sand. This second coat will work.

The glued and repaired surface

A dash of paint ..

Never an award winner, but it's fine ...nothing a thick second coat wont cover.....

Fingers crossed....

 

[Ashbo]

In other news today, I was the lucky recipient of a parcel from fellow Minizag restorer, @Phil Lee . I am a lucky man indeed!

 

[Phil Lee]

The race is on! Lol. With plenty of zig zagging ahead methinks!
Best of luck Ash.. happy to help!

 

[Ashbo]

The morning after report

Following a much smoother application last night at 23 degrees, it looks like warm is the way to go with rattle can clear. Hot just didn't react well.



There is a lot of work to do on the low spots and there are some really rough areas around the thumper bumpers that need sand paper and spot filling with clear. Look at how the clear refracts/reflects light in the low spots....not pleasant



However, this is me for a week or two, just going to let this coat cure.

 

[Ashbo]

Back from a week holiday, time to sand....400 grit and trying to get rid of all shiny spots.

Once I did this, attempted to fill any low spots with a pipette and clear sprayed in to the lid. That was easier said than done, it drips out of the pipette so quick, bubbles form and then hardens so fast. An art me thinks. I will let that dry and sand again, then keep repeating till it's leveler, then I'll do another couple of coats.

Hopefully by that time I'll be getting close to level.

 

[Ashbo]

Six weeks on, she has finally cured. Not over the moon with the finish. The aerosol 2k wasn't full 2k and the thinners didn't mix perfectly leaving dimples and imperfections.

Got my dad round to inspect and he talked sense into me, is it better than it was...yes, miles better, so move on. And that I will.

Sanded with 800,1000,1500,2000,2500,3000,7000 and soapy water.

Then Novus 2 and orbital sander and a foam pad.

Then polished. Looked ok.

Then 2 coats of wax and polished that off by hand.




It's clean, it's shiny, it's done.

Time to put this playfield back together.....

 

[Phil Lee]

Looking fabulous. Was going to post pics of my effort - 2nd thoughts now!! (I probably will, it's good to have a laugh!!)
I have got it back to playable condition, but it's never going to look as lovely as yours is.. great work mate.

 

[Ashbo]

Looking fabulous. Was going to post pics of my effort - 2nd thoughts now!! (I probably will, it's good to have a laugh!!)
I have got it back to playable condition, but it's never going to look as lovely as yours is.. great work mate.

Depends on the angle of the photos......these are "eBay" photos

No laughing allowed here, these girls are over half a century old, there is only so much that can be done

 

[Ashbo]

And so the task of removing each mech, cleaning and reassembly begins....

 

[Ashbo]

Outhole done


Left bumper done...

 

[Ashbo]

Skip forward a few hours and the other two slings, the two outhole, the playfield switches and rollovers, the zipper flippers and the gi, all re-attached. Next, the thumpers, but that may have to wait a while....

 

[Ashbo]

Sanded and primed the upper apron last night. Needed to drill out the rivets to do so.

Next my first ever use of the airbrush....

Not quite the right colour,but now I have an airbrush, no bother, I'll just wait for it to dry, sand off and tweak the mix. Nice

 

[Ashbo]

The weather is bad, so no chance of painting now till next year so may as well get the parts out the shed and reassemble so we can have a play whilst we wait...

 

[Phil Lee]

Fabulous! I just fetched mine back (was a project in my partner's garage) and then realised I had no room for it, alongside other machines I want to work on. Sadly going to move it on - but been a fabulous game to work on and play.
Is it normal to fall in love with each and every game!!
My one question - that I never got to the bottom of.. the rollover button next to GROOVY 'Y'.. what does it do?! Never worked that out!
Groovy indeed.. enjoy - one of the best 'family' games IMHO - the skill shot's quite easy and the three kickers mean it half plays itself - but still a real challenge to get all the spotlights lit.
Have a good one! Look forward to seeing it in it's full glory.

 

[Ashbo]

Fabulous! I just fetched mine back (was a project in my partner's garage) and then realised I had no room for it, alongside other machines I want to work on. Sadly going to move it on - but been a fabulous game to work on and play.
Is it normal to fall in love with each and every game!!
My one question - that I never got to the bottom of.. the rollover button next to GROOVY 'Y'.. what does it do?! Never worked that out!
Groovy indeed.. enjoy - one of the best 'family' games IMHO - the skill shot's quite easy and the three kickers mean it half plays itself - but still a real challenge to get all the spotlights lit.
Have a good one! Look forward to seeing it in it's full glory.

Yes, I think if you make a machine work when it was broken when you got it, it holds a place in your heart, regardless of whether anyone else likes it.

The Y roll over should light up a pop bumper for 10 points a hit I think.

Was hoping to get a first ever game today but alas the fuses were all wrong and two holders were a reward and forgot to order new ones...doh!!!

Didn't matter in the end, just did some more polishing if the metal parts and tidied up. There is always next weekend.

On another note, now she is shining and smells nice, it's funny how the girls in the house like it now when they didn't a year ago

 

[Phil Lee]

Great call. Just checked it out.. the two (left hand side) yellow pops light if you get the central top lane.. if not, you're right - the 'Y' button rollover lights them. Phew. Glad I learned that before it left!
Yes, cute machine. Obviously getting to know every nut bolt and spring in a machine develops a bond - but definitely something sweet about Minizag.. missing it already - and it isn't due to leave until Tuesday!
Thanks for that.. and enjoy!