How do you save a cracking pinball playfield?

Zack5959

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I just got my Flash Gordon Stripped down. 99% of what paint is left is cracking, 10% of the paint is gone!

If I were to buzz a sander over this playfield, I fear it would be catastrophic. Touching up the missing areas is no big deal, but I dont have the artist skills to start from scratch.

Is there a product that can be applied to tighten the cracking up?
Anyone ever make a silk screened print of a FG playfield?

A repo is not an option here, not gonna sink that kind of coin into this machine.
Thanks in advance!
 
I can't make a recommendation of what to do, but FG pinballs seem to always have this issue, or worse. I guess their age and paint that was used back then, is just not ageing well.

My bro in law managed to find a better one then he had and is doing a swap now.
 
Im thinking I may have to brush some Varathane onto this one and work it into all the little cracks to keep everything together.

Keep the opinions coming, and thanks toolguy
 
I love the interwebs, lookie what I found.

Im gonna send it off to my sign guy to see if this a high enough resolution to scan and duplicate.

fgplaf_9700.jpg
[/IMG]
 
not too sound like a jerk here
but if its is not worth the $500
why do anything at all.
do you know the time involved with stripping and preping the playfield just for an overlay.
and getting it absolutly perfect with no bubbles or ripples, lined up with all the holes.
And you know if you have a bubble or ripple the ball will move diffrently.
and then put everything back. just for an overlay, meaning it will sell for less with an overlay.
Pins cost money, taking a cheap or easy way out will only cost you in the long run.
just my opinion.
 
not too sound like a jerk here
but if its is not worth the $500
why do anything at all.
do you know the time involved with stripping and preping the playfield just for an overlay.
and getting it absolutly perfect with no bubbles or ripples, lined up with all the holes.
And you know if you have a bubble or ripple the ball will move diffrently.
and then put everything back. just for an overlay, meaning it will sell for less with an overlay.
Pins cost money, taking a cheap or easy way out will only cost you in the long run.
just my opinion.


I could prep everything and set the overlay in a few days. Longest wait would be the special primer for the adhesive to stick to.

It is to some people, just thought I'd throw that out there.

Yes it is, but this is not the Holy Grail of pinball machines. I want to play the game after its done, which means I dont want it to be so perfect it belongs in a museum. The more knicks and bruises, the more you just want to play the hell out of it....thats my opinion.
 
I just emailed the picture to my sign guy.
We shall see if its workable :D
 
not too sound like a jerk here
but if its is not worth the $500
why do anything at all.
do you know the time involved with stripping and preping the playfield just for an overlay.
and getting it absolutly perfect with no bubbles or ripples, lined up with all the holes.
And you know if you have a bubble or ripple the ball will move diffrently.
and then put everything back. just for an overlay, meaning it will sell for less with an overlay.
Pins cost money, taking a cheap or easy way out will only cost you in the long run.
just my opinion.


Sorry to re-quote you, but how is my proposed idea a bad one, or any less quality than doing paint touch-ups?

I can get a 'dry' print and use a rolled contact cement to apply the overlay....leaving me some wiggle room to set it properly. Follow that with the Clearcoat and sanding...why wouldnt it be just as good as any other method?

And you mentioned its decreased value with the overlay? Im not concerned with value, im keeping it to play!
 
I'm not sure if it helps any, but Monster Bash had a problem where after a few years it would develop a crack or warp due to the large arch they cut into the playfield for Drac's movement. I believe Williams had shipped some sort of metal bracket/brace that was designed to prevent the warping.

I know this doesn't help with the visible issue, but could help with structural issues (if you are having them). I don't have any more info on the bracket, but it might be worth you investigating if you think it would help.
 
I love the interwebs, lookie what I found.

Im gonna send it off to my sign guy to see if this a high enough resolution to scan and duplicate.

fgplaf_9700.jpg
[/IMG]

I bought one of these from Arcade Renovations before they went tits up. You will not like it, and it will waste a lot of your time installing it.

Once the playfield cracks and gets warped it is pretty much done, stick a fork in it.
 
I'm not sure if it helps any, but Monster Bash had a problem where after a few years it would develop a crack or warp due to the large arch they cut into the playfield for Drac's movement. I believe Williams had shipped some sort of metal bracket/brace that was designed to prevent the warping.

I know this doesn't help with the visible issue, but could help with structural issues (if you are having them). I don't have any more info on the bracket, but it might be worth you investigating if you think it would help.

That helps greatly, as I never thought of that.

Wouldnt it be cool if I put twin hood support rods on the playfield to support it?
 
That helps greatly, as I never thought of that.

Wouldnt it be cool if I put twin hood support rods on the playfield to support it?

I saw from a quick RGP search that there was discussion about further bracing the Monster Bash playfield with angle iron. Might be something else to consider. Do you have any pictures of the damage? Maybe if we see it some of us will have better ideas of what could be done?

I'm thinking maybe some thinned glue and clamping, but that would depend on the cracks.
 
I saw from a quick RGP search that there was discussion about further bracing the Monster Bash playfield with angle iron. Might be something else to consider. Do you have any pictures of the damage? Maybe if we see it some of us will have better ideas of what could be done?

I'm thinking maybe some thinned glue and clamping, but that would depend on the cracks.

I do have pics but they are at home. Ill post them hopefully tonight
 
I love the interwebs, lookie what I found.

Im gonna send it off to my sign guy to see if this a high enough resolution to scan and duplicate.

fgplaf_9700.jpg
[/IMG]

That's not even close to high enough resolution to look any good. There's a reason why that image is posted at that resolution :)

Why don't you just preorder a new playfield here:

http://www.classicplayfields.com/order.html

An overlay is going to look horrible.
 
we should just step back for a moment here.
I havent even seen a picture of your exsiting playfield
can we see a pic of it, and actually multiple pics would be great
 
Here ya go: Sorry its a cell phone pic. I have better ones at home.

2011-01-23_16-13-22_244.jpg
 
That's not even close to high enough resolution to look any good. There's a reason why that image is posted at that resolution :)

Why don't you just preorder a new playfield here:

http://www.classicplayfields.com/order.html

An overlay is going to look horrible.

thanks for the link but 600 bucks is not financially wise to sink into this game.

I can go pay 600 for a much better complete game, and part the rest out and make money.

Im running this pic through resolution enhancement software to see how crisp it can get. Again, I dont want the end product to end up in a museum, I just want it to look good and play good. Because everyone is telling me an overlay will not look good, Im gonna do my best to make it happen AND look good. I will admit failure if that happens, so its a win win for everyone :D
 
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