Sea Wolf semi-restore

DP Louie

Well-known member

Donor 2011
Joined
Nov 23, 2008
Messages
2,184
Reaction score
155
Location
Visalia, California
So, I picked up this Sea Wolf several months ago, and it's been sitting patiently in my garage ever since. The game would come on, but the monitor had a double image, the sounds were sketchy, and the game would not coin up. I actually was able to have some communication with Alex at Electronforge (!) and he repaired the boards for me. I've had them for a couple of months now, and I've been dying to play this game, so I finally started my "semi-restore".

The cab is actually in really good shape, but it's missing the upper rear door (anybody have any measurements?). The paint is flaking in a few spots and there is the typical gouges here and there, but overall very nice. The periscope needed to be repainted and greased, and all the mirrors cleaned. I've got the game disassembled already, and will be capping the monitor and repainting the periscope assembly this week. The monitor was caked with dirt, and the burn is pretty bad, but hopefully the blue overlay will mask some of that. The bezel looked to be in great shape, but once I removed it, there was some minimal flaking going on, so I guess I'll do the triple thick treatment.

047.jpg


045.jpg


050.jpg


048.jpg
 
Well, this thing was FILTHY inside! I've got it completely stripped now, so this is going to be a bit more work than I planned on, but this cab is so cool, I just can't bring myself to skimp on it. I'm going to clean it then repaint the inside flat black, then start the re-assembly. I ordered a new coin door plate and some t-molding from arcadeshop, so those will be replaced as well. Check out the pic of the black light starter fixture - some real Disneyland technology going on there. :D You can really see the color difference in the white that was covered by the coin door frame in the last pic.
 

Attachments

  • 042.jpg
    042.jpg
    94.5 KB · Views: 181
  • 031.jpg
    031.jpg
    97.5 KB · Views: 181
  • 058.jpg
    058.jpg
    97.1 KB · Views: 181
  • 045.jpg
    045.jpg
    93.4 KB · Views: 171
Nice work so far!

If I'm doing anything significant, I'm the same way, have to tear it all out and clean it!
 
Looking good! Do you happen to have any pictures of the crosshair light box? I'd like to see where the red light effect is coming from. Is it an overlay of some kind?
 
My cross hairs are amber. I got this 'restored' Sea Wolf from a certain KLOV member, but he didn't replace the cross-hair bulbs as part of his restoration? I finally fixed that about a month ago after I saw a Sea Wolf out in Cali with the cross hairs lit up. I was like "Mine doesn't have that." He was like "it should". Got home, pulled out the assembly and sure enough, all 4 bulbs were, just like Fritz likes his men, dead and black. Some restoration. I need to find that guy and slap him.
 
Looking good! Do you happen to have any pictures of the crosshair light box? I'd like to see where the red light effect is coming from. Is it an overlay of some kind?

Here's a pic of the lightbox, plus one of the monitor chassis and the black light fixture (yes I replaced the starter socket) that I've cleaned up and repainted. The pcb for the chassis is out and waiting to be recapped. I got all the pieces for the periscope sanded and painted today, hopefully have these reassembled this weekend.

Arc, while I would love to have an original upper rear door, I don't think I could justify the shipping and cost of the door, as well as the refurb time. I can cut a new one from a $10 sheet of MDF or particle board. But, out of curiousity, how much would it set me back to have you ship it to me?

Also, while the paint is in overall nice shape, there are some areas where I can just see the beginning of delamination, where the paint is starting to crack. I'm thinking of putting a couple of coats of satin clear over the cab... thoughts on that? Good idea or no?
 

Attachments

  • 008.jpg
    008.jpg
    98.4 KB · Views: 236
  • 020.jpg
    020.jpg
    93.9 KB · Views: 222
Thanks for posting the picture of the cross-hair light box. There must be two different versions. Yours has a clear cross hair like others I've seen, but I've also seen some Sea Wolf games with an amber cross-hair as Phetishboy says.
Interesting.
 
My cross hairs are amber. I got this 'restored' Sea Wolf from a certain KLOV member, but he didn't replace the cross-hair bulbs as part of his restoration? I finally fixed that about a month ago after I saw a Sea Wolf out in Cali with the cross hairs lit up. I was like "Mine doesn't have that." He was like "it should". Got home, pulled out the assembly and sure enough, all 4 bulbs were, just like Fritz likes his men, dead and black. Some restoration. I need to find that guy and slap him.

Man, the nerve of that dude. What a dick!
 
DP Louie - restoration looks great keep up the great work...plan on having a periscope game in my line up sometime in the next few years. Although I'm really into EM...my addiction (collection) is expanding into Midway black and whites.

As much as I've been tempted to purchase one of these now and hold it to restore. I'd better hold off until my other projects are complete next spring. Temptation, temptation...
 
DP Louie - restoration looks great keep up the great work...plan on having a periscope game in my line up sometime in the next few years. Although I'm really into EM...my addiction (collection) is expanding into Midway black and whites.

Thanks. I don't have any EM games (yet), but it seems like my taste is turning in that direction. This Sea Wolf is just a kick to work on and admire the system of mirrors that make this game cool. I fondly remember playing a Sea Wolf in a local ice skating rink when I was very young, so this game will always be near and dear to me.

I watched a bunch of football over the weekend, but I did manage to get some of the internal periscope pieces repainted and put back together... ;) Next up is some bondo work on the step, then I'll be touching up the sideart and the inside of the cab.
 

Attachments

  • 010.jpg
    010.jpg
    97.4 KB · Views: 202
  • 012.jpg
    012.jpg
    97.8 KB · Views: 187
Awesome! Good luck with the resto. I've restored 2 Sea Wolfs so if you need any help (doesn't look like you would ha ha) pm me.

Thanks man. I am compiling a comprehensive list of questions and will be sending it to you shortly. :D

Actually I do remember reading through one of your threads where you had rebuilt the periscope, that has provided me with some inspiration.
 
Thanks man. I am compiling a comprehensive list of questions and will be sending it to you shortly. :D

Actually I do remember reading through one of your threads where you had rebuilt the periscope, that has provided me with some inspiration.

I'm sure I'd be asking YOU the questions if I was standing next to you. One word of advice, take notes and make drawings on how everything came apart and needs to go back together....
 
One word of advice, take notes and make drawings on how everything came apart and needs to go back together....

Words of wisdom for sure! I did take tons of pics, and a few notes, but I'm sure there will be several head-scratching moments when it's time for re-assembly.

I'm just about done with all the interior bits, so today I decided to start sanding the step, back doors, and the top and back of the cabinet. Here's a close up of the step - nothing a little bondo won't take care of.
027-1.jpg


This vent on the lower back door is broken, so the plan is to pull the pieces out and glue them back in in the proper position. I'll have to be careful with these as they seem to be very fragile. I now have an original upper back door thanks to Arcrevival - thanks Dave!
016.jpg


Here's a shot of the empty cab after the initial sanding
032.jpg


Slowly but surely...
 
Back
Top Bottom