Killer Instinct 2 Restore: Rare Orchids

hailrazer

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Time to restore my Killer Instinct 2 cab.

It came to me as a Tekken Tag Tournament. I got it for $75 from a Vendor in Birmingham, Alabama. Needed a power supply and after that it worked perfectly.

I noticed it had a sticker underneath which is when I found KI2 hiding there. I tried to Citristrip off the paint but the sticker underneath had gouges which let the stripper bleed into and ruin it.

So I decided to strip it down and completely re-do it.

Here's the original pics :

tekken2.jpg


tekken1.jpg


tekken3.jpg



So far I have stripped everything off and next I am going to sand it.

Click on thumbnails for High Res pics.





 
What are you going to do for the side graphics? I picked up a set of NOS ki2 side art, but it seems to be a little smaller than it should be. Definitely actual Midway produced art.. Just not right or I was applying it wrong :(. I'm hoping to find something that will work in the near future.
 
I got the side art from usamusement.com

It is NOS. It comes in 2 pieces per side.I haven't checked to see if it fits the cab perfectly, but I will check when I get home Friday.
 
Thanks, it's going to be a good looking cab when it's done.

And no , none of them have any KI2 side art. :(
 
Glad your bringing her back to life! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Try this site, I found a KI1, but they might have a KI2 set. Email them.
http://www.gameongrafix.com/products/killer-instinct-1-sideart-full-cabinet

Or here:
http://www.arcadeoverlays.com/storefrontprofiles/deluxeSFshop.aspx?sfid=17232&c=408446

I don't know if I would get my side art from gameongrafix.com. That's where I got my MK3 side art and it looks good from far away but when you get close it's kinda blurry. Also the material they print on is total shit. Very fragile stuff and tears easily. Def not the srtong 3M vinyl that you do want.
 
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Okay here is the sideart from usamusements.com
You just have to email them and they will send you an invoice with Paypal.

It is wrinkled a little bit , so I imagine it's going to be a little tough to put on, but I will manage.
And it fit's my cab perfectly so I have no idea what's going on with yours JRudebaugh.





Here is the marquee and front/side cp artwork from GameOnGrafix:




I re-did the coin doors. These were insane to strip, worst I've ever done. Here's the steps I tried.

1. Sandblasting.......No go. Couldn't even get part of it stripped.
2. Wire brush..........No go. Had to push down so hard that it was eating into the metal.
3. Aircraft Stripper...........This worked. It took 6 coats, a wire brush and a metal scraper.

Pain in my backside these doors were. Hardest, toughest original powdercoat I have ever seen.

But I got it off and then powder coated them back with hammer tone flat black powder coat. Then I put on new coin door entry bezels, flaps, and reject buttoms from mad-amusements.




I also re-did the Control Panel. The overlay that I got was pretty wrinkled. I might buy a new one if this one won't lay down better.

I also put on new Haap competition sticks and buttons. I have a lexan overlay that I will be installing next.


 
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I thought mine was going to fit perfectly, but there is about 2-3 inches of overlap between the top and bottom that makes the overall size just a little bit too small. Like I said, it could be doing it wrong, but it seems to be just a little too small. Let me know how it goes when you apply them.

Justin

Okay here is the sideart from usamusements.com
You just have to email them and they will send you an invoice with Paypal.

It is wrinkled a little bit , so I imagine it's going to be a little touch to put on, but I will manage.
And it fit's my cab perfectly so I have no idea what's going on with yours JRudebaugh.





Here is the marquee and front/side cp artwork from GameOnGrafix:




I re-did the coin doors. These were insane to strip, worst I've ever done. Here's the steps I tried.

1. Sandblasting.......No go. Couldn't even get part of it stripped.
2. Wire brush..........No go. Had to push down so hard that it was eating into the metal.
3. Aircraft Stripper...........This worked. It took 6 coats, a wire brush and a metal scraper.

Pain in my backside these doors were. Hardest, toughest original powdercoat I have ever seen.

But I got it off and then powder coated them back with hammer tone flat black powder coat. Then I put on new coin door entry bezels, flaps, and reject buttoms from mad-amusements.




I also re-did the Control Panel. The overlay that I got was pretty wrinkled. I might buy a new one if this one won't lay down better.

I also put on new Haap competition sticks and buttons. I have a lexan overlay that I will be installing next.


 
Hmmmm....my KI2 cab looks to be one solid piece and does not have that glossy look to it. I wonder what's different or why midway switched it up? Good start on the restore!
 
Hmmmm....my KI2 cab looks to be one solid piece and does not have that glossy look to it. I wonder what's different or why midway switched it up? Good start on the restore!

The NOS art they sell was for full side conversions of other midway and similar profiled cabs. The 4 pieces were able to be shipped in a shorter tube, I'm guessing.
 
I also re-did the Control Panel. The overlay that I got was pretty wrinkled. I might buy a new one if this one won't lay down better.

I also put on new Haap competition sticks and buttons. I have a lexan overlay that I will be installing next.



Where'd you end up grabbing the overlay from? Gotta get those dust washers below the metal plate :)

Coin doors look fantastic
 
Where'd you end up grabbing the overlay from? Gotta get those dust washers below the metal plate :)

Coin doors look fantastic

The overlay was from GOG. It is very nice quality but it had a few crinkles in it that won't smooth out. The joystick and buttons are just setting in there for the pic. Not permanent yet.
 
I got quite a bit done today even though it may not look like it :p

I sanded everything down. Some of it had artwork or something underneath and was pretty hard, but my belt sander took care of it.

I also glued in 2 dowels in the coin door bar holes.

On the back above the door, there was a piece knocked out from someone prying the lock. So I removed the entire upper back and built then installed a new one.







And here is everything sanded down and ready to go.










Next up I have to bondo about 8 spots. Then I will prime and paint the cabinet Sunday.
 
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