Asteroids Owl Eye Coin Door Retrofit

[nanoryan]

Hey guys, thought I would share some pictures of my latest project.

I have wanted an Asteroids with an owl eye coin door for a really long time. They are pretty hard to find (for me at least) and I already have a nice Asteroids so .. I found a junker owl eye door in my stash of parts and went to work.

Not sure what game this door was originally from (there is some blue paint on the underside if that is a clue) but it was pretty rusty .. no major dents fortunately.

Took it apart, lightly sanded it with some 400 grit, and painted it with good old Rustoleum 7777. The texturing was a little tricky but I think I got it pretty good.

Time for reassembly! Everything in little baggies to keep it organized. Apparently, there is a five image limit so more to come in a second post .. stay tuned!

 

[nanoryan]

All cleaned up, reassembled, and lookin good.

Had to build a custom wiring harness. Fortunately Bob Roberts had the right connector.

I expected the owl eye frame to just drop right in but I was wrong. There was a slight clearance issue so I had to route the edges of the door opening 1/8". I also had to move the door interlock switch back a little.

All installed and looking sharp! Some purists will probably hate this but I think it looks great! And I can re-install the old original door if I want to so it isn't a permanent mod.

 

[nanoryan]

Oh and thanks again to Mylstar for sending me the toggle switch!

 

[djw90]

That door looks awesome!!! WOW Bravo!!! was the connector different on the harness? Did you have to make a adapter??

 

[Hyde]

Wow, very nice indeed! What other games did the owl-eye door come on?

 

[ArcRevival]

I'm somewhat of a purist but i think that is kinda cool. I really like the look of those coin doors better anyway. Those doors came on Atari Fire Truck and Lunar Lander, not sure what else. There were a few Asteroids that came with them too ,that is why the retrofit isnt so bad.

 

[ChompingQuarters]

I love the Owl Eye coin door. Yeah, only early Asteroids came with them but still I consider this an acceptable swap IMO.

 

[ArcRevival]

I love the Owl Eye coin door. Yeah, only early Asteroids came with them but still I consider this an acceptable swap IMO.

Ya, it's not like he stuck a spinner or joystick on the control panel.

 

[nanoryan]

Thanks for the comments! Anyone know if any other manufacturers used owl eye doors?

Hyde - I believe the owl eye doors were on a number of Atari games from 1976-1979. The earliest game I could find with an owl eye from Atari was Starship I. I didn't see any owl eye's on games from 1980.

djw90 - The connector is an Amp 24 position. Bob Roberts sells them (M/F pair with pins/sockets).

I think this door came out of a Subs because that is the only game I found in the KLOV DB with an owl eye door that was painted blue. Below is a picture of the full game. I really like the chrome eyes, they are an attention grabber. Now I just need a Defender with a nice stainless steel door and I will be all set!

 

[ArcRevival]

Defender with stainless coin door is the only way to fly

 

[CamaroMurph]

Anyone know at what serial number Asteroids converted from owl eye to regular coin doors? My Asteroids is serial number 2796. It does not have a owl eye but has a 3 slot with 2-0.25 slots and 1-$1.00 slot.

Murph

 

[DanInDenver]

I have NOS plastic 25 cent inserts. $3 each shipped.

 

[nanoryan]

I have NOS plastic 25 cent inserts. $3 each shipped.

PM sent! thanks

 

[ChompingQuarters]

I have NOS plastic 25 cent inserts. $3 each shipped.

PM sent as well.

 

[djw90]

Yea the first 17,000 Asteroids had the Owl eye door. Its funny this thread came out the day before I was going to begin work on my asteroids swap.

Basically my Asteroids is totally rebuilt. I have the owl eye coin door, rebuilt monitor chassis, brand new tube. rebuilt control panel, flawless marquee, rebuilt boards and PS. Its beautiful except the cab. The cab not horrible, sideart is about a 6.

Then I picked up what someone claims is a HUO asteroids. Im not sure about that but its really really nice. I was planning on swapping the insides of mine into that cabinet. It does not have a owl eye. So now im torn.

did the bolt holes line up ok for the coin door??

I have some new sideart that I was going to put on the other machine, so it would be real nice too. I just wanted to keep the one with the original sideart, and rebuilt parts.

 

[nanoryan]

Yea the first 17,000 Asteroids had the Owl eye door. Its funny this thread came out the day before I was going to begin work on my asteroids swap.

Basically my Asteroids is totally rebuilt. I have the owl eye coin door, rebuilt monitor chassis, brand new tube. rebuilt control panel, flawless marquee, rebuilt boards and PS. Its beautiful except the cab. The cab not horrible, sideart is about a 6.

Then I picked up what someone claims is a HUO asteroids. Im not sure about that but its really really nice. I was planning on swapping the insides of mine into that cabinet. It does not have a owl eye. So now im torn.

did the bolt holes line up ok for the coin door??

I have some new sideart that I was going to put on the other machine, so it would be real nice too. I just wanted to keep the one with the original sideart, and rebuilt parts.

Yup the bolt holes lined up perfect.

 

[MitchO]

My Atari Football had the Owl Eye Coin Door.

Though one of the coin switches is missing on it and it doesn't seem to match the standard coin switch.

Mitch

 

[cadillacman]

i wondered what the hell that coin owl eye coin door of mine fit..

mabye i wont scrap it quite yet...

 

[Robotron Jon]

I did a similar project a few years ago but I never wired up the door and never reconnected the toggle switch.

Still looks better than the original door I had, which was a later one and was damaged.

 

[ChompingQuarters]

i wondered what the hell that coin owl eye coin door of mine fit..

mabye i wont scrap it quite yet...

Don't scrap it... Ship it to me.