Robotron\Joust - Which way would you restore?

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I picked up a Williams cab awhile back (thanks Ross!) to resto-mod into a multi-wms. I'll post a complete thread with pics when I cross the finish line. Now, at first glance I wasn't sure what it was but I scraped a little of the red paint off and it was brown with joust under it so I went with it. Now, I've started the paint removal (cab has some serious water damage on the bottom with some other dings and gouges so the art was not to be saved any way) and after getting through to the Joust I found under that was Robotron. I see there was a thread on this last year, about re-used cabs, so what would this be considered originally, Joust or Robotron?


I'm probably going to the Joust route with it, unless there are compelling arguments to go Robotron....
 

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Looks like you have one that was repainted for reuse in which case the cabinet style was used for some of both games. I would say restore it to either one. Which one being what you want it to be. Personally, I don't know how I could do without one of each.

Having one of each, I like my joust looking like this: http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3ds-max-joust-arcade/428465
and my Robotron looking like this: http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/robotron-arcade-max/428507
Notice the Robotron goes straight down in the front while the Joust curves in. I just prefer them to look a little different. Yours was originally a Robotron and was repurposed as a Joust.

If I had only one as a multi, I must say I prefer the Joust sideart over the Robotron. That guy mounted on the bird is just more appealing to me than the simpler Robotron art.
 
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I think MW will sell for more $$ that either of those games. I would go for MW look for the marquee and CPO. Don't they make MW side art too. I'd use that.
 
I think MW will sell for more $$ that either of those games. I would go for MW look for the marquee and CPO. Don't they make MW side art too. I'd use that.

There have been a few on here that made the cabinet look like a single game but then did the Multi-Williams control panel. The Multi-Williams side art is fairly small compared with regular Joust side-art and the marquee is kind of busy with multiple games listed.
Pics of Joust Multi-Williams:
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=78187
vs. full Multi-Williams:
http://www.coinop.org/sale/MultiWilliams.aspx
 
That was a Robotron cabinet (they had the straight fronts). It must have been repainted at the end of the Robotron run so they didn't have to buy a Joust cabinet.

If you were going to refinish as one cabinet and then multi-it, I would redo it with Robotron stencils. From what previous threads have indicated, the Robotron stencils are easier to work with as they are geometric as opposed to the Joust ones. Plus it is a Robotron cabinet based on the silhouette.

ken
 
I have the exact same problem Duane. I just picked up a Joust cab. It has everything except the boards in it. Of course I want to put this new JROK board in it whenever they become available, but I'm unsure if I want to restore the cab to the original Joust, or make it a Robotron. I regret selling my Robotron, so I was leaning that way. But after seeing this Joust cab in person finally (it's been a long time since I really got a good look at one), I'm having second thoughts. The Joust cab really is beautiful. Tom (Gorf69) gave me a Multi-Williams CPO not long ago, and I'd like to use that. I don't really like the Multi-Williams side art, so I would probably go with JUST Joust or Robotron. I think you and I are going to have to sit down and discuss this over a couple of beers. I need to get you that EM manual, too....
 
I can say for sure that the multi-wms side art is out - I just don't care for it personally and I'm not doing this for the $$. I do have a multi-wms metal panel and overlay from that run awhile back that I plan on using, and I already have a Joust and a Robotron marquee so I could go either way. I would just need to order stencils and a bezel for whatever I ultimately decide.

This cab was cut and painted as robotron, but was re-branded as joust at the factory and lived it's life as such until it was converted into who-knows-what before ultimately being stripped with things looking rather bleak... and looking around the web it appears that this was really common with the early jousts being repainted robotron cabs. In fact, one such post was directly relating to this, with the poster concerned that some 'anal klov'er' would become unhinged at his project because it's shape is robotron but painted as joust - are there really members here who are this uptight?

I ran this by the wife (who only tolerates my hobby) and her thoughts were that between the two, the joust sideart was preferable. However, she also suggested that like my centipede that I put my own spin on it to make it more of a one-off - certainly food for thought...

John- we sure do need to get together for a few drinks and discuss this - it appears we are both thinking alike on our separate projects.
 


Robotronmodel.png
 
I'd go Robotron. I had the same situation you did and decided on going Joust before I realized that mine was actually a Robotron repaint. Mine was painted Robotron from the factory then the factory repainted it as a Joust. The only way to be totally accurate would be to do the same thing, paint it as a Robotron, then repaint it as a Joust, which obviously is an absurd waste of stencils, paint and time. Since I already went Joust, I think you need to go Robotron.

photo29.jpg

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I read your thread but don't quite catch what your point of owning the machine is? Are you going to play it, or display the sideart?

Joust is fun but Robotron has better long term gameplay and mystique if you are entertaining guests. If you are looking for dual competition then Joust wins but it still doesn't have the raw thrills of smash TV's dual competition (see what I did there?...)
 
Go with both:

9d7a_12.jpg

Ok - I'll admit that to me, that art looks very nice. I took a look around the web to get an idea of size and unfortunately don't see anyone selling it. It sums up the 'robotron painted over with joust' nicely.

To clear up any confusion, this project will be a multi-wms in the end - I just like to pay some tribute to the original when I can. Sure, since it's just a multi I could just krylon it black and call it a day but I prefer items in my collection to look better than that - while at the same time not screaming 'multi'. While I respect those that created the multi-wms art that is out there, it's just not for me. As it is, I'm leaning more towards joust, but changing it up slightly (much like my centipede).
 
Followup:

After many setbacks outside the hobby I was finally able to get back to this project. Just finished the stencil work today - need to let it cure and then do some touch-up work and stencil the logo (anyone know where to find this before I re-invent the wheel?) - before I shoot the clear and start re-assembly but I thought I would share the progress.

I chose black over brown - with the original joust colors rather than joust 2 - just to be unique.

Also pictured is my 'other project' I've been working on - holiday weekend full of painting and beer.
 

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Hey, Flash Gordon!!

My buddy Dave (dlbagna) is working on restoring one of those. Did you find stencils?

TwistedPins had the stencils for FG - that was the place recommended to me. Didn't turn out too bad, some minor touchup needed but I expected that.

Back on topic - the bottom 10 inches of the joust cab was completely replaced as it was so water damaged. Cab was also solid red when I got it.
 
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