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Project 'Barracora' (to be renamed....)


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Didn't know whether to put this in the SS restoration or not, as I'm not planning on restoring this rather making a new themed pinball.

 

This is the Barracora that I picked up off Tony (the pinball shed) earlier in the year. (I didn't get a photo of it as soon as I got it home, so this is one earlier in the week, after I removed the coin door)

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture129.jpg

 

Grabbed it as a project pin, minus backglass which I believe was accidently smashed on arrival at the Pinball shed. Tony ensured that it was connected up and set for Aussie power, everything else was 'as-is'.

 

After getting it up to Toowoomba (thanks beas1973), I removed the mainboard and driver board to check on the workbench. Identified a dud CMOS so replaced that. Board worked for around 10 mins before giving me a RAM error. Then thanks to the kindness of Johns-Arcade I managed to get the board up and running again.

 

Some further testing in the machine identified one of the PIA's was bad along with some other logic gates. Ended up replacing and socketing the special solenoid logic gates. Now the machine was all working again! :) I'm not sure if I want to replace all the molex header pins and connectors, these are in pretty bad shape.

 

As you can see from the photos that I'm running out of room very quickly in my place at the moment. I need to get the cab outside under the pergola so I can begin to sand back and fix. It also appears as if this machine had been broken into at some stage as the front under the coin door is now metal and the base of the cab some sort of masonite. I need to patch up both of these modfications. It is also missing the riser between the cab and the backbox. Does anyone have the dimensions of this 'riser'?

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture130.jpg

 

I'm now in the process of stripping the playfield and redesigning the playfield. I'm not sure what I will do yet, however I do plan on keeping the same style/layout as the original barracora. The 3 and 5 bay drop targets ensure that I need to have a theme which is 3 then 5 letters.

 

Here is the playfield out ready for stripping in the "shonky schmakey" playfield rotisserie. The playfield actually looks quite good in this pic, in person it is in quite bad shape. Playfield wear and splitting of the wood, I'm hoping that the sanding down and prepration of the playfield will ensure it's longevity.

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture134.jpg

 

My current gut feel is for another Star Wars themed pin, maybe with the theme "The Force". I even found a perfect Darth Vader topper at Target last week which I've put on top of the backbox for some inspiration.

 

I have enlisted the help of my partner who is a graphic designer to aid in the playfield/cab redesign, however she is not a Star Wars fan. In a surprising twist of fate she is keen on a classic scantily clad women type theme, some kind of playboy theme ("Big Boobs" anyone :lol)

 

There is still an awful lot of work to be done, but I am looking forward to it at the moment. What I am chasing is any ideas for a theme that can fit the 3 letters then 5 letters, or an 8 letter theme. Barracora didn't have any speech, and the limited sounds do sound kind of spacey/sci fi. Any ideas? :unsure

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What I am chasing is any ideas for a theme that can fit the 3 letters then 5 letters, or an 8 letter theme. Barracora didn't have any speech, and the limited sounds do sound kind of spacey/sci fi. Any ideas? :unsure

 

MAD MAXII

 

That is going to be my pinball project when i get the right donor (getaway?) time & motivation

 

and skills:cry.

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  • Super Moderator
sound is the key to what you're doing. see if one of the electronics gurus can come up with an add on sound board for you. maybe even an ipac/jpac and pc..
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Thanks for all the ideas guys, I do like the sound of Futurama as I am a huge fan, plus 'cartoony' art will be much easier to implement. Another idea that has come out on drunken nights to fit the drop targets has been 'Red Dwarf'.

 

Excellent idea stuba, I hadn't even thought of extra sound add-ons. This is something that I will definitely be investigating/implementing no matter what theme I end up choosing :)

 

Time to begin stripping the topside of the playfield tonight

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sounds good, looking forward to more updates.

I am also in the middle of redesigning the playfield and cab of a '89 Playboy, but still keeping the playboy theme.

Why feel restricted to a 3 and 5 letter title? Pick something thats gonna be fun to design and a theme you can stand playing for the rest of your life. The drop targets can simply be targets.

good luck

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A quick update. It's been a dirty few days with the preparation of the cabinet. I've stripped the cabinet and began to sand back. Had some 'fun' removing the side rails, they took me a lot longer than I expected.

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture264.jpg

 

The cabinet had seen better days, and the back was water damaged. The front had seen an attempted break in at some stage and was replaced with some sheet metal. The masonite in the bottom of the cab has also been stripped out. I have picked up some cheap MDF to replace the bottom, back and front under the coin door.

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture327.jpg

 

Will need a bit of bog to fill in the holes, gaps and spaces that will appear in the patching up of this cab. Haven't started on the backbox as yet. The back of it has the same water damage problem, so will need to replace it. I can't see it being as big a job as the body.

 

Keeping with the tradition of always finding some money in a cab I found an argentine coin!

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture260.jpg

 

I have also stripped the topside of the playfield, now begins the fun task of removing everything underneath. Taking plenty of photo's as I know it will be a jigsaw puzzle putting it all back together :o

 

Hopefully this weekend I will get the time to strip under the playfield, then get to removing the inserts. From what little research I have done, its suggested to heat up the area using a hairdryer or heatgun then tap the inserts out. Anyone have any tips on how to get them out easily? :unsure

 

Still deciding on a theme, what I do know is that I'm glad I have a graphic designer as a partner.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Been away the past 3 weeks for work, so finally got a day to do some more work on this before flying up to Townsville/Cairns.

 

Have been having some fun here, woodwork is definitely not my strong point. Has been a nice learning experience however. Have replaced the bottom and back of the cabinet with 12mm MDF. Would have preferred some thicker MDF for the back, but I had heaps of 12 mm here, so that's what it is.

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture337.jpg

 

Had a piece of pine here that was a perfect fit for the area under the coin door which was replaced by a sheet of metal. Perhaps after an argentine coin heist :)

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture334.jpg

 

Needed to do some fancy (well for me anyway) construction and cutting of holes and making a new back of cabinet area on which the backbox rests. The old one was in a real bad way (near rotten) so decided to remove it at the start. Needed to screw in a piece of pine first, then screwed/liquid nailed some more MDF on top to ensure strength and also ensure that the side rails will still sit nicely. I've managed to line it up all nicely as can be seen in the shot, so a bit of bog and sand and will look schmick from the front. As for the shonky jigsaw work where the wiring looms etc will go, I don't really care :lol

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture362.jpg

 

Today have finished a splash of undercoat on side and bottom, as well as inside the cabinet. Have decided to paint the entire cabinet.

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture366.jpg

 

An awful lot of bog work at the front of the cabinet. Will be nice and dry by the time I get back next weekend to look at finishing it up.

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture364.jpg

 

I'm approximately half way through removing everything under the playfield. Have been taking an awful lot of photo's, and then some more. I know that it will still not be enough when it comes time to put it all together.

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture369.jpg

 

Just focusing on getting the cabinet and finished at the moment, was not liking the cold/wet weather here :(

 

I am thinking of making a Futurama machine. Theoretically it should be a lot easier with the artwork, plus my partner is a Futurama fan. I will definitely have to add some extra custom sound and have been watching the other threads here for some ideas. As for side art, I think I found the perfect artwork for a futurama machine

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/futurama-cast_web.png :cool:

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hey Scott,

Great thread. I will continue to watch this very closely. It's a huge project but, a labour of love I'm sure. Great to meet you and Jo today, hope the neck isn't too sore tomorrow and hope you get great use out of the 4-way CP.

Cheers,

Ian

 

PS Futurama is the perfect theme! If you can rig up the sounds using the PC etc. the choice of quotes from that show would be limitless.

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Hey Scott,

Great thread. I will continue to watch this very closely. It's a huge project but, a labour of love I'm sure. Great to meet you and Jo today, hope the neck isn't too sore tomorrow and hope you get great use out of the 4-way CP.

Cheers,

Ian

 

PS Futurama is the perfect theme! If you can rig up the sounds using the PC etc. the choice of quotes from that show would be limitless.

 

Thanks Ian, was great to catch up yesterday. Jo is still complaining about some whiplash but I was more worried about my licence. Got that fixed up today :)

 

Time for a quick update. Just a little more work done on the cab. The playfield is still in the garage waiting for me to take everything off the bottom. All is unscrewed, it is still just sitting there in place.

 

Got some artwork printed out for the cabinet today. Looks pretty impressive :cool:

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture409.jpg

 

Also got the legs, siderails, lockdown bar and coin door powdercoated last week. Cost me $100 which I thought was ok, considering I didn't have to do any prep work, and everything was extremely rusty and in pretty ordinary shape. Door has come up looking very snazzy. Just waiting for the Williams coin door inserts when Gibo gets in his CPR order.

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture407.jpg

 

The cabinet has been painted inside and out in black gloss. Decided to use the cheapy super cheap auto compressor and paint gun. Was pleasantly surprised with the result.

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture397.jpg

 

Cleaned the transformer, and all internal wires. I did mess up and put the power switch on the wrong side (Doh!) Must have been my dyslexic side coming out as I cut the whole in from the bottom. Will need to ensure that it is well and truly protected and to ensure no potential biting! :o

 

I will be looking to apply the stickers to the cab tomorrow. Getting my mate who did the printing to come over and show me how he applies stickers using the wet method. Looking forward to getting it on there so I can then put the side rails etc back on and get the cab back inside. I haven't started any prep work on the backbox to minimise the amount of dust around the place.

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Those legs are begging for some black stripes a-la benders legs :D

 

Cheers

Jacob

 

I like your thinking :cool: I may have to investigate some ways to do this.

I did go for the grey/silver powdercoat as to match bender :)

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I like your thinking :cool: I may have to investigate some ways to do this.

I did go for the grey/silver powdercoat as to match bender :)

 

try it with some car pin stripe tape (or even trim some black electrical tape)- that way if you hate it you can peel it off... To make it permanent you would mask it up and then spray paint the lines I guess (or see how durable the pin stripe tape is)...

 

Cheers

Jacob

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try it with some car pin stripe tape (or even trim some black electrical tape)- that way if you hate it you can peel it off... To make it permanent you would mask it up and then spray paint the lines I guess (or see how durable the pin stripe tape is)...

 

Cheers

Jacob

 

I will investigate some black pin stripe tape once I get the legs on this bad boy, be interesting to see how it works.

 

Anyway, I managed to get the front and one sides artwork on yesterday. Nice and dry today so put a side rail and coin door on. Looking pretty snazzy.

I've used some aluminium offcuts to hide the join of the artwork. What do you guys think?

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture413.jpg

 

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/schmakey/Project%20Barracora/Picture412.jpg

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