Nintendo Vs. Unisystem (Vs. Super Mario Bros.) orig. Japanese Plywood DK

grimm

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Nintendo Vs. Unisystem (Vs. Super Mario Bros.) orig. Japanese Plywood DK

Hello!

[size=+1]A little background (boring intro - you can skip if you like):[/size]

Just signed up for the forums today (Aug 12, 2010). This is my first arcade machine and restoration project. I've been browsing the forums as a guest for the past few days and have learned a ton. Thank you.

I've always been a nintendo fanboy; but that fire has only recently been rekindled. Like a lot of people my age (25-26) I grew up on the NES and SNES and moved onto other console systems. I had very little time in arcades as a kid but I DO remember how fun those few times were. Modern games don't excite me (they are missing "the magic") and I haven't really played video games on a regular basis the past few years. A couple weeks ago i started getting back into the NES and found a renewed love for video games that had been missing. This ultimately led my interests to arcade machines which brings us to this…



[size=+2]The Goods:[/size]

nin-dirty.jpg


Bought this nintendo cab from a local video and pinball restoration shop for only $50! I was a noob and had no idea what I had really bought until a few days ago. It IS working but needs a lot of help. The only major issue is that the sound card doesn't work or has problems. If you are really quiet you can hear the game sounds. But it's from inside the machine definitely not from the speaker. Is it the sound board that has issues?

I'll be posting a video soon showing the machine in action.




[size=+1]Plans[/size]

I thought about it long and hard and my current goals are to restore this to a slightly cleaner Nintendo Vs. Unisystem. I do love the idea of reverting it to a Donkey Kong machine but I actually want to purchase a DK cocktail some time soon.

This restore is going to be a "light" restore. I'm not sanding and repainting the entire cab, I'm not replacing the side art. (I kind of like the character it has from the life it's had)

I am:
  • cleaning it inside and out
  • getting a cap kit for the monitor and sound card
  • repainting all black areas
  • getting new t-molding
  • refinishing all metal brackets
  • getting a different CP because this one has been raped
  • getting original or repo joysticks and buttons
  • getting a new marquee
  • getting a new bulb and starter bulb
  • etc.


[size=+1]Questions[/size]

  • The tinted plexi (is that the material? plexi?) bezel has some nasty scratches. Where can I find an accurate repo?
  • I think the coin door might be too far gone. Where can I find an accurate repo?
  • The piece of wood below the plexi bezel (where the DK instructions used to be) What is that finish? laminate? what is an accurate way to restore that piece?
  • I'm sure I'll have a ton of more questions in the coming weeks. Should I keep posting here or start new topics in the general restoration area?


Thanks for enduring this monster of a post. So happy this community exists. :)





[size=+1]Pics[/size]


nin-cp-top.jpg

Nasty control panel


nin-coin.jpg

Coin door in poor shape


nin-marquee.jpg

Typical faded marquee
 
More Pics

nin-graf.jpg

Punk Kids! I got this off with a magic eraser!


nin-back.jpg

Back. Missing lock. Wood Panel is screwed in.



nin-serial.jpg

Vs. Unisystem Serial Plate. The DK Plate is missing but you can see holes where is used to be screwed in

nin-wasp.jpg

WASP NEST! eek!


nin-monitor.jpg

Original sanyo monitor!
 
Even More Pics

nin-speaker.jpg

Original sanyo speaker!


nin-light.jpg

Original light fixture!


nin-tmold.jpg

T-molding is in rough shape


nin-cp-side.jpg

Just Nasty

nin-right-clean.jpg

Starting to clean up nicely
 
Pics

nin-left-clean.jpg

After cleaning with just soap and water.




nin-inside.jpg

Really great inside. just dirty




nin-wood.jpg

Anyone have a clue what this means?


nin-dk.jpg

SO AWESOME. I assume when the cab was being converted to the Vs. Unisystem they peeled the DK stickers off and put part of this one on the inside of the cab!
 
Hello, and welcome to the forums!

Good deal for $50, even though it is a little beat up. Most of them will be like that.

The only major issue is that the sound card doesn't work or has problems. If you are really quiet you can hear the game sounds. But it's from inside the machine definitely not from the speaker. Is it the sound board that has issues?

Did you try messing with the volume adjustment? It's located on the back of the CRT (The instructions on the back door should show you where it is located)
 
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You'd better make sure to hurry up and grab some reproduction OEM t-molding for that machine from audiomidiman before it's all gone.
 
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I'm guessing that triangular mark in this pic is a manufacturing stamp from the mill that made the plywood. May be wrong tho....

Love all the pics. Keep em coming!
 

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