Aliens Restoration Underway...WHY?!

rainman154

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Why? I'll tell you. Because I can remember playing this back in 1990 at an arcade on the Board Walk in Maryland. I dropped $5.50 in the machine to beat it. It was awesome and I still love it. This is one of my most wanted games and I am happy to have it at home!

The cab is an old Williams Defender cab with the rare Stainless coin door.
Monitor was just rebuilt and the pic looks great.
PCB is in excellent condition as well as the speaker and CP.
The cab does need some work done. I have some plans to make this really great looking.


If anyone has a Marquee, Bezel or Side Art for this game, let me know. I am looking for them.

Here are some pics.... more to come as work is done.
 

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Such a cool game. Looks like it will be a fun project.

What are you planning on doing with the sides?
 
Well, that monitor that was rebuilt... yeah it shorted out on me yesterday. SOOOO, I think it needs a new flyback, and I am taking it to chris25810 to fix up.

The sides are going to be the main focus of this resto. I want the BLACK look and not the wood sides. I think it is formica.
So do I just paint the the smooth surface of the formica black?
OR
Do I peel off the formica and go from there? The formica has some spots that are missing, so this most likely is the best idea. The problem is that it will take a LONG time to get all the glue off behind it. I would also have to repaint it because of the Defender Artwork that is under it.
I also need to get the ALIENS side art and Bezel.
 
I pulled off the formica today and was expecting to see some old Defender art work. Instead I saw a "Fast Draw" poker game under. I can see some Defender artwork under the Fast Draw sticker.
Since my plexi-glass was cracked to hell on the marquee, I went to Lowes and got a repro cut. Now if I can just find the correct BULB that goes up there. It is a 14" 14W bulb. Can't find it anywhere!
 

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Now if I can just find the correct BULB that goes up there. It is a 14" 14W bulb. Can't find it anywhere!

I had the same exact problem with my Turbo...weird length, weird voltage, weird wattage. I hated to do it, but I ended up just buying one of those $25 fixtures at Home Depot and replaced the whole thing. Albeit, you might be able to order it online somewhere.
 
I had the same exact problem with my Turbo...weird length, weird voltage, weird wattage. I hated to do it, but I ended up just buying one of those $25 fixtures at Home Depot and replaced the whole thing. Albeit, you might be able to order it online somewhere.

I was thinking the same thing. I might just have to pony up the money and buy a new light. The bulb is going to be impossible to find. I already contacted Home Depot, Lowes and Menards. Nothing.
 
Seems like a Dynamo would be a better cabinet choice...but that's just me. I'd have a hard time enjoying the game knowing I gussied up a bad-ass Defender!
 
Seems like a Dynamo would be a better cabinet choice...but that's just me. I'd have a hard time enjoying the game knowing I gussied up a bad-ass Defender!

Agreed. I am struggling right now destroying the defender art. Although, it was already messed with when they changed it into a Fast Draw poker machine. I may have a way to save the art underneath by using a black layer on the outside. It would stick to it and I could peel it off to save the art rather than painting over it.
 
Check out LUCKYMAN's Aliens restoration/customization. This made me want one; such a sweet looking game:

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=139744

I love Lucky's Aliens. It's so nice. Mine is going to be great too. Since I can't find the BEZEL anywhere (which is just black and blue) I am making my own. I have a great graphic that I am creating in Hi Res. You will see once it is done.
 
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Big day of resto today....I installed the cam locks.... :p
Actually I removed the lighting assembly and also got the monitor rejuvenated which made a HUGE difference on the colors.
I did order the custom bezel that I am having done. Should get it for tomorrow night.
I also took off the metal "loophole lock" that was beside the coin door.
Anyone have suggestions on how to patch up that hole nicely?
 

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Yeah, that is my last resort. I don't want INK JET, but I may have no choice.
Thanks Z!

Just for reference it's pretty well done, It's the art I had on the Aliens I restored about 5 years ago and side by side with the NOS art most wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Here is the game:

AliensFront.jpg
 
Just for reference it's pretty well done, It's the art I had on the Aliens I restored about 5 years ago and side by side with the NOS art most wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Here is the game:

AliensFront.jpg

Awesome!! I did see that pic before. Your side art beside the monitor with the red and the alien is what made me think of doing a custom bezel. That and the fact that they are so hard to find, until you found one! LOL!
Do you still have that machine? Sounds like you sold it?
 
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