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Gottlieb Count-Down cabinet restoration


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Since I'm stuck at home with no current projects, I thought that I should get off my butt and do something.

 

I have had a Gottlieb Count-Down for awhile now and it just needs a few things done to it.

The playfield is mylar protected and is really nice and it was updated before I got it with new bits and pieces, so no need to touch it.

The backglass is a new repro one, so that's all good.

Also has a pascal board so no problems there either.

 

It basically just needs and good clean up and a cabinet repair and re-paint.

Also some parts are not quite correct and will need to be replaced. eg. no power button, shooter is the wrong one ...

 

The cabinet itself is painted red with a few dings that will need to be filled etc.

 

I plan on doing things a bit differently this time, starting and finishing the main cabinet, including the power board etc, before starting on the backbox. I find trying to do it all in one go gets a bit over whelming, so trying this approach. [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"large","data-tempid":"temp_149643_1586519121754_253"}[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=JSON]{"alt":"Click image for larger version Name:\t Views:\t0 Size:\t194.3 KB ID:\t2123767","data-align":"none","data-attachmentid":"2123767","data-size":"large"}[/ATTACH]

0789550d154ac3175ab7b27db70ef24d.thumb.jpg.cd593319e86ccdb5c70344a57fb162fe.jpg

b14bd9c6005b939fe906d3d3e0e784af.thumb.jpg.f8f2045f6faebaf170d3bf4e097018ac.jpg

Edited by thejudge
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Today I stripped down the cabinet and partially sanded the side to hopefully see enough of the original artwork so that I can make a stencil.

The design is not too hard just a bit easier when you have something to trace.

I might have to do a bit more sanding but I can see enough to get the stencils close enough.

 

[ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"large","data-tempid":"temp_149645_1586518922246_24"}[/ATTACH]

fe6ecf1c138ab09acb31afbcfcc1d6d0.thumb.jpg.f058cadabc4de6c92369ba4f9c12b893.jpg

Edited by thejudge
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I would be very keen on all the details you can provide on making your own stencils.

Cheers

Craft

 

The way I do the stencils is to firstly sand off enough of the paint to see the original art work. I then highlight the objects as best that I can. In this case I can get almost all of the design from this side, hopefully I will get the rest from the other side of the cabinet. If not I will just estimate based on the pictures on ipdb.org.

 

1900338127_2020-04-1212_49_07.thumb.jpg.28e94361fae21e90fee41ed84e6690c0.jpg

 

I then put down the stencil media and trace the objects for each of the colors.

This one I have started for the white objects. I also mark the objects for the orange color in the areas where they overlap to help with lining up the stencils.

 

1877514513_2020-04-1213_34_39.thumb.jpg.3cee571a73fb41bd5a1657c573d7c4bd.jpg

 

These are the orange objects. Also noted that I mark where the flipper button goes and also the leg bolt holes to help with lining up the stencils.

856135198_2020-04-1213_58_17.thumb.jpg.1feaa513c7985d0467f55a97c9ae4c37.jpg

Once the all the objects have been drawn on the stencil media, then I get a sharpie and cut out the specific objects for that color.

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Ok stencil media ?

Please explain ?

I assume you make multiple stencils? As in one for each colour?

Where do you get it from and what is it exactly, Thank you for the extra detail so far. Much appreciated :)

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Very simple and basic design I would just

Transfer what you have done with your tracing sheet onto the cabinet when you have finished your main base colour of course and just mask it up and do one colour at a time.

I know some people will disagree but with something so basic I think masking tape would work fine.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Ok stencil media ?

Please explain ?

I assume you make multiple stencils? As in one for each colour?

Where do you get it from and what is it exactly, Thank you for the extra detail so far. Much appreciated :)

 

Stencil media I have used in the past is acetate sheets and card board for more detailed designs.

Not quite sure what the stuff is i'm using at the moment as another AA member gave it to me.

But basically you need something transparent that not too hard to cut with a sharpie and doesn't curl too much.

You can get acetate sheets from an art store and I think Spotlight has them as well.

 

Yes, you do a stencil for each color, so 2 stencils for the one side and you just reverse for the other side.

And of cause 2 for the front, 2 for the back box sides and one for the headbox front.

 

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Since I'm stuck at home with no current projects, I thought that I should get off my butt and do something.

 

I have had a Gottlieb Count-Down for awhile now and it just needs a few things done to it.

The playfield is mylar protected and is really nice and it was updated before I got it with new bits and pieces, so no need to touch it.

The backglass is a new repro one, so that's all good.

Also has a pascal board so no problems there either.

 

It basically just needs and good clean up and a cabinet repair and re-paint.

Also some parts are not quite correct and will need to be replaced. eg. no power button, shooter is the wrong one ...

 

The cabinet itself is painted red with a few dings that will need to be filled etc.

 

I plan on doing things a bit differently this time, starting and finishing the main cabinet, including the power board etc, before starting on the backbox. I find trying to do it all in one go gets a bit over whelming, so trying this approach. [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"large","data-tempid":"temp_149643_1586519121754_253"}[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=JSON]{"alt":"Click image for larger version Name:\t Views:\t0 Size:\t194.3 KB ID:\t2123767","data-align":"none","data-attachmentid":"2123767","data-size":"large"}[/ATTACH]

 

I remember seeing that for sale awhile back, was that Nathans one?

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  • 2 weeks later...

After finishing the tracing for the stencils, I sanded the cabinet back and filled up all the scratches and gouges etc.

 

701689388_2020-04-2312_18_25.thumb.jpg.64df88390c8e5fa57e58f916aee03197.jpg

I then gave it a few coats of primer with sanding in between costs.

 

1642636684_2020-04-2414_14_55.thumb.jpg.bad556d9cfed259210c0f469dcdc6cc6.jpg

Normally I spray my cabinets with automotive acrylic at a mate's house, but I wasn't able to do that this time, so I thought I'd try doing it with a rattle can.

 

I matched the color as close as I could and after about 3 coats it's come up alright. I also normally go for a satin finish but I could only get the color I wanted in gloss, so it's shiny :)

 

48592202_2020-04-2912_18_18.thumb.jpg.9b601e0fadbc409cdc6cfc6ccbc9da6f.jpg

797633459_2020-04-2912_19_03.thumb.jpg.1a3add92b4a34284d9494ff8ea134103.jpg

I used 2 cans to do this and about $15 a can, not too bad.

 

The color looks a bit light in the pictures, but I think that's because of the glossy finish and the sun was out as well. In real life the color match is pretty well spot on.

 

Over the next day or so I'll do the speckle effect and let it sit for a few days. In the meantime I have to cut out the stencils and get them ready.

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  • 1 month later...

A month has gone by since my last update and I have stalled at bit on this project.

I have finished making the stencil but haven't had a chance to used them on the cabinet yet due to the weather etc.

 

I have spent a few hours cleaning up the bottom board though, I did the following:

- stripped off everything and gave the wood a good sanding

- reproduced all the labels as the old one were torn and filthy

- replaced the power cord and plug

- replaced the EMI line filter even though it was still working, it is over 40 years old so time to change it

- added the 2 extra fuses to protect the small transformer

 

97084682_2020-05-3119_15_24.thumb.jpg.a5b44eb3859604ca1e6b12a067f8c573.jpg

1407441744_2020-05-3119_15_24.thumb.jpg.8a795bd01908b9dd5b291f2923f000a4.jpg

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Nice work Judge. I have replaced the EMI filter in my Joker Poker the same as yours. I purchased again now for Genie but it looks a bit fatter than the one pictured. Where did you purchase the filter from?

 

Sent from my AGM A8 using Tapatalk

 

 

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  • 6 months later...

A long time between posts on this "quick" project, but as I have fully retired now, hopefully full steam ahead.

 

I have completed painting one side of the cabinet, just waiting for the weather to heat up a bit before finishing off the front and the other side.

 

1128941918_2020-12-3011_05_29.thumb.jpg.782d8d367a4036595686c56475b52368.jpg

 

I didn't have any problems and I am happy with the result. Pictures not that good as it's a bit gloomy today.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Cabinet painting and stenciling finished at last.

 

1957077773_2021-01-1409_12_53.thumb.jpg.ab2bbeb2dfd278faccc604b043a83a4d.jpg

 

I am very happy with the results, the stencils worked out fine with only a few over-spray areas which I fixed up.

 

Now starting to populate the cabinet.

 

129126875_2021-01-1409_12_39.thumb.jpg.37042893f08ae1dfdab711a37be87cbc.jpg

 

Have installed the base board which I refurbished a few months ago. Put in a working power switch and cover which was missing.

 

Working on the coin door now, just have to finish the re-graining on the front.

 

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Finally got the coin door finished today. So much time pulling it apart, de-rusting the metal parts, re-graining the door and polishing everything, then of cause putting it back together again.

 

923353845_2021-01-1713_56_14.thumb.jpg.871d656019369bbca6cf23eb71e1cb32.jpg

 

There were quite a few dents in the door but it didn't come out too bad in the end. The only things missing are the coin return flap and the Gottlieb decal. As I don't need anything else at the moment these parts are a bit too expensive to just order by themselves. I would normally also replace the red coin entrance plates but managed to find a couple that were acceptable for now.

 

One thing that I did spend a fair bit of time on was the coin door frame. As you can see from this image, someone damaged the frame near the lock with a crow bar or something similar.

 

image_162540.jpg.3cb1efa6db805acc9165c2434a9535d8.jpg

 

Using several different metal punches and a metal file, I managed to get it looking respectable.

 

image_162541.thumb.jpg.0fdcc1eccf9b15ceec009de2a5e61de2.jpg

 

Next thing to do is to nail on the new side rails. I put them in position today but I will have to slightly move the flipper buttons to make them fit.

I've had enough today so thats a job for tomorrow.

 

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Machine looks sweet. It looks better than I remember on the street and they were only 1-2 years old then. The frame is fine. Why bother replacing it I say. Credit to your repair skills. I really appreciate a good repair over a replacement. As a tech where replacement was often out of the question, I have a bit of an idea how hard it is to do such repairs. Under a hour to swap a door frame or a couple of hours with a pin punch with the frame in a vice. I know what's quicker but you miss the satifaction when done the hard way.

Great job.

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