Q*Bert - Is this too far gone?

[ArcadeClassix]

I am super pumped about this build! I played Q*bert for the first time in M*ME after seeing your thread and I am officially tacking it on to my grail list. I love to see people put a true effort in preserving the classics. Kudos to you sir.

 

[monty_a900]

Thanks ArcadeClassix. I think Q*Bert's a great game, well worth the effort to save.

Finished off the prep for painting. 40, 80, 120, 180, 220 grade sand paper. Wood ended up nice and smooth. The sides aren't 100% flat, but not too bad.

Had the CPO colour matched at an automotive paint shop (http://www.brownbrothers.com/). Went for a 2K polyurethane, satin finish paint. 4-1 paint/ hardener (yellow and black)

Didn't apply a primer (it's a single coat system apparently) - although I ended up needing at least 5 coats for a good colour. Rolled initiailly, will then sand with 220 before I get the compressor out and spray.

Lessons learned:

- Use a primer. Should have put a white base coat down.
- Flies are attacted to wet paint. DONT try to remove them, makes the paint much worse
- Don't admire your paintwork and drip sweat onto it..
- I added an "L" shaped metal plate at the bottom/ rear of the cab. I was getting fed up with damaging the cab using the dolly. Not original, but should help reduce damage to the crappy wood.

You'll see from the pics that I tried to build a "paint booth" in the garden to stop flies from getting to the paint. It hasn't worked. Keeps me dry though. I couldn't resist adding a picture of "Poppy" my black Lab. She's been watching my efforts from the patio door

Some pics

 

[monty_a900]

more pics.....

 

[monty_a900]

more pics...

 

[Fudd]

hrmmm, the back bottom of the cab where the vent hole is should be black i believe...at least i painted mine that way..

 

[monty_a900]

Mmmm. I think you might be right

Good Job I bought plenty of black...

 

[SuperGunGuru]

Mmmm. I think you might be right

Good Job I bought plenty of black...

That back bottom section should be black, but you're doing a great job saving this cabinet.

 

[monty_a900]

Fixed the black bit...

Still needs sanding down and spraying.

 

[Phetishboy]

Looking better. That yellow looks a little lemony, but it's pretty close and definitely better than what you started with.

 

[monty_a900]

I think you're right. I'm going to sand flat and respray, so might try another colour match.

 

[p1899m]

I'm impressed. As Frizz said I thought this cab was done and there was no hope. This really is "saving" a classic game.

 

[monty_a900]

I wasn't happy with the roller finish (very bumpy) - so sanded down the entire cabinet with 220 until nice and smooth.

Got the compressor out and put about 10 coats of yellow on the sides. Damn flies are a pain. Just finsihed the last coat and a big fly thing commits suicide in the middle of the paint. Argghhh. However, I have discovered the roll of skicky fly paper has massively reduced the flies in the tent. Just look how many bodies that thing has taken!

Leave this to dry for a couple of days and start on the black.

 

[smalltownguy2]

Wow, just wow. I'm literally in AWE of this restore project. Well done, sir, well done. Karma for you.

 

[JC Arcade]

Outstanding! Did you do another color match or did you stick with the yellow you had?

 

[monty_a900]

I stuck with the same yellow. However, I noticed when I got to the bottom of the first tin of paint, there was some unmixed green paint. Lesson learned, make sure sure you shake the can.

I do think the "new" mixed yellow looks less lemon like.

 

[Phetishboy]

I stuck with the same yellow. However, I noticed when I got to the bottom of the first tin of paint, there was some unmixed green paint. Lesson learned, make sure sure you shake the can.

I do think the "new" mixed yellow looks less lemon like.

The original yellow is on the left, primed in the middle and my color match on the right. You're not too far off.

 

[Tighe]

WOW great job, so many other KLOVers would have junked this cabinet!

 

[kspiff]

This is some dedication here. Reminds me of the Millipede restore I did, but Gottlieb cabs are made of even cheaper wood. Never seen one where the wood wasn't starting to fray and resemble cardboard (at least at the edges).

I'm sure I missed the reasoning behind it by skimming, but I gotta question the call to not just trace the sides and build a new cab out of MDF or plywood. Would have been so much less effort involved, and the result would probably be better if you have some skill with a router.

With all the swelling I take it you are filling the edges and re-routing the t-molding slot as well (couldn't tell from pics and didn't see it mentioned)? If not the molding may look pretty off-center when you install it (been there).

Keep it up, can't wait to see the finished result.

 

[monty_a900]

I did consider getting a new cab built, but I thought it would require more skills than repairing the damage to an existing cab. I also liked the idea of actually saving this piece of 80's nostalgia. If it was much worse condition I probably wouldn't have tackled this, it was borderline enouph for me to give it a crack.

Got the cab ready for the black spraying today. Final sand down using 220 paper, masked off the sides. Blasted any bits of dust off with the compressor and got ready to paint.

I took a shot from the back of the cab so you can see the replaced front section. I managed to reuse the wood brackets(?) and added a "L" shaped metal bracket to give extra support.

Painting to follow...

 

[monty_a900]

Got a smooth finish with the paint sparying at 60 PSI. 4-1 mix 2K paint & hardener, 15% thinners. I could have probably added more thinners for a better finish, but didn't want to risk any runs.

kspiff - Not thought about re-cutting the t-molding slots. Hopefully I'll be able to use the existing slot...

Sprayed ~8 black coats, nice and smooth. Left to dry for a couple of hours and removed the masking.

That's all the painting now finished. Just need to wait for the new artwork to come through from http://www.arcadeshop.com/parts.htm - They do have the Q*Bert CPO in stock, despite not showing on their website..

Still to do:

- Need a solution for the wiring harness. I'm missing the edge connector section, and not sure if I need the filter board wiring.
- Sort out the control panel. Joystick needs rebuilding, new buttons ordered. Replace CPO.
- Install new switching power supply (arcadeshop)
- Apply artwork.
- Monitor's dead. Needs fixing.
- Replace light fixture, looks hacked up.
- Repaint coin door/ metal trim.

Thanks for all the nice words BTW. It helps to keep me pushing this forward.

Updates to follow...