Gottlieb Kewpie Doll, Just 21 and Hi Diver - 3 woodrail restorations

[illawarra_steelers]

this is the sister to the sea belles restore.

 

thanks to shane @Ponty for the first post about info. on this game.

 

ended up doing a 13 hour road trip as it was out of bills normal path.

 

this one is sad, though I can see so much potential in this.

 

have already sourced some of the rare parts.

 

this is a real ground up resto of a very tired old girl.

 

Edited August 17, 2020 by illawarra_steelers

[illawarra_steelers]

love the upper playfield.

 

 

spots the ducks and rabbits on the backglass

 

[Ponty]

Good to see you got it and will be following the resto

[Rob1966]

What a beautiful machine.�

I’ve got to get off my ass and seriously find a new project.

[illawarra_steelers]

strange, got onto an aces high from 1957 a few weeks before and it had to be from the same operator.

 

has light up animation in the backglass in 2 spots - the ducks and rabbits correspond to the targets on the playfield.

[illawarra_steelers]

also working on the hi diver next to it at the same time - have ordered this week, new plastics, new animation disc and background scenery from pinball rescue

 

..and repro backglass from shay arcade.

[illawarra_steelers]

okay, something different. as the sea belles is on hold waiting for the playfield to be restored.

 

have added 2 other woodrails that i'm in the process of restoring at the same time.

 

so rebuilding 3 games at the moment, with the kewpie doll waiting patiently to be next.

 

it's nice as i'm down to 3 days a week at work, getting ready to retire.

 

have added gottlieb's just 21 from 1950 and hi diver from 1958.

 

both have some pix here:

 

just 21 https://www.aussiearcade.com/forum/p...ay#post2156312

 

hi diver https://www.aussiearcade.com/forum/t...59#post2153806

 

have bought repro backglasses for both of these games.

 

also have a large pinball resource order on the way.

 

..and new plastics, and both animation plastics coming from pinball rescue http://www.pinballrescue.net/Plastics_Hi_Diver.html

 

lee was kind enough to do a one off for the out of stock spinning disc.

[illawarra_steelers]

had the just 21 out over the weekend, rebuilt and strengthen the rear of the cab. had it all clamped and glued up.

 

the game did power up and kinda worked before pulling the rest of the game down.

 

have stripped the playfield and taking it off to get cleared on saturday.

 

also have stripped the hi diver playfield. it's in amazing condition for the age. just a few inserts are loose, will start cleaning that tomorrow.

[robm]

Love that old playfield. If I'm well behaved, Bill will be delivering my oldest machine I've had to date by the end of the week. Will probably need some tips from you mate!

[illawarra_steelers]

got some work done on both the just 21 and hi diver today.

 

firstly installed mirror blades from jeff, these were originally bally ss blades but altered slightly to fit. also refinished the timber side rails

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on the hi diver cleaned the playfield, all the posts by hand. the playfield originally had a light coat of what looks like varnish, not going to try to remove. for a playfield from 1958 its in great condition. a few of the inserts had sunk and have relevelled them.

[illawarra_steelers]

on the hi diver pulled all the metal hardware off the front. for a door of this vintage it didn't have one dent. so took it off the cab and sanded the paint off. under the paint the door was in incredible condition. was nearly tempted to leave as it was.

 

have all new hardware coming from pbr so will look great when all back together. have primed the door and will wait until the weekend until spraying. the woodrail doors from this vintage were a cream colour from factory.

[illawarra_steelers]

new 31" legs and chrome bolts installated on hi diver.

 

the just 21 legs are timber and have been painted and will take awhile to refinish.

 

[Brad]

The artwork on these are vintage amazing!

 

Brad

[illawarra_steelers]

first of the new parts arrived today.

 

this is part 1 of the pinball rescue order. not only are they nice guys, their products are the best in the business.

 

so decals for the kewpie doll stationery targets, playfield plastics and both animation units for hi diver.

 

the protective film is still on them.

 

wouldn't of taken hi diver on without these parts.

 

will do a side by side comparison later on.

[illawarra_steelers]

comparison between the original and pinball rescue remakes.

 

remember the protective film is still on

 

[Rob1966]

The difference is chalk and cheese you just can’t compare how much better the rescue ones are

[furballx]

Come on mate, don't sell yourself short, you could have saved those old parts if you had to........:o

[illawarra_steelers]

great start to the day.

 

massive thanks again to daniel @ddstoys for sending up some very hard to find parts

 

there are a 5 and 10 cent coin mechs for the hi diver and just 21

 

..and the timber woodrail frame for around the head of kewpie doll, as the game picked up had been 'modernised'

 

great to have friends like daniel in the hobby who will go all out to help, not about the money, or slitting your throat for a deal.

 

[Brad]

This sort of stuff is what Aussie Arcade is all about!

 

Brad

[furballx]

This sort of stuff is what Aussie Arcade is all about!

 

Brad

 

Shit, I though it was about the beers...….you better have some free parts for me next time I fly all the way up there to have e drink with you!

[Brad]

 

Shit, I though it was about the beers...….you better have some free parts for me next time I fly all the way up there to have e drink with you!

 

Haha the beers are assumed as far as I'm concerned. I'll have some "parts" for you though ;)

[illawarra_steelers]

front door done. can't go any further until the pbr parts arrive.

[illawarra_steelers]

once again thanks to daniel for these awesome parts.

 

the 5 and 10 cent coin mechs are all cleaned up and snappy.

[illawarra_steelers]

so stripped playfield for just 21 and went off to get a clearcoat today.

 

will go back in 2 weeks to pick up.

 

so the small things. these are the original 70 year old rubbers off the top of the playfield shooting gallery.

 

the rubbers between each target. they all came up pretty well with a brush in the drill.

 

 

have decided to keep as much as original if it can clean up okay. these parts did. will post after shots tomorrow.

 

also installed the repro plastics for the hi diver. all cleaned up correct red colour posts.

 

...with the most amazing original buffed screws from this era. these are always in really bad state. all 6 that hold the lower 2 kickers in place are in awesome condition.

 

got the flat black on the just 21 head surround. one edge out by less that 1mm but won't notice it at players position.

[illawarra_steelers]

working on the top of the playfield on hi diver.

 

hand polished all the playfield screws, they came up great. this is the first game for years where i haven't needed to replace with new.

 

also installed 4x blue leds in under the top arch.