Synonym9's Restomod #2: Gottlieb Reactor

[synonym9]

My friend the unbelieveable Markinator (Mark Hooks) picked this machine for me the other month and now it arrived in Austria.

From the games I imported from the USA I decided to restore Reactor first due to the following reasons:

NOW are the Mylstar Multi-JAMMA-PCB's are available and I dont know how long
I always store them wrapped in strech-wrap but the cab does not even worth to waste the foil in its condition XD
It is on the smaller side, so it is a good candidate for my livingroom collection.

There is a guy on John's Arcade who posted about a Reactor converted to Rastan and rare as reactor is I am sure it was this certain one.
I think most people would'nt consider to restore the machine and would probably remove what can sell (which is almost nothing) and scrap the rest.

I go a route in between, I completely replace the cabinet (as there is almost no wood that is not swollen or/and moldy) and replace the wood and build the machine together again.



On day one all was about inspection and disassembling.
It was not easy as all the screws and nuts are rusted together.

As you already expect the machine is far from being a beauty
(sorry for the portrait-mode pictures, they are from the seller...I hate the Iphone-style photographing)









The monitor looks as expected...HORRIBLE

 

[synonym9]

At the vendor I cleared last back in august 2014 I have a tons of perfect monitors, so if not one of you got a good reason to stay with the old monitor I am going to replace it.

I had good luck with the CP, under cover-foil I fould the original CP, of course with some holes drilled but that is normal as we all know.
The foil was very sturdy and did'nt want to come off...unbelieveable what difference the tiny hairdryer from my mother made



My mom helped me and did a good job on the CP....



I already prepaired the CP for the neighbor to weld the holes...I hope he does today.



So far so good...or in fact better, a new CP would not only go on the budget, I would'nt even know where to get the measurments from.
So, lets look if we got as much luck with the speaker panel, this would be the next thing I would'nt know where to get measurements from.

As you see I had good luck another time, also the CP is there, so no hurdles for the restomod anylonger.



Thats it for now, now I must find artwork....I am not intended to buy the super-expensive ones online as I thing the machine at this point will be 6-800€ only for the restoration-job.
So the old and 1000 times asked question, if someone got scans please tell me. I am a graphic designer and can restore the scans myself

I still have some question (I as in a previous thread about the Mylstar PCB). What Trackball should I buy for the build (size and brand) that is new and also works perfectly with the Multi-Mylstar-board?

 

[TimothyC]

Thats it for now, now I must find artwork....I am not intended to buy the super-expensive ones online

You realize that awesome, gigantic *screen printed* side art available from Darin at Phoenixarcade.com I'm sure. On a machine that's going to be worth $2000+++ when you're done with it why not use what is widely considered the best of the best? Besides he's been known to give discounts on larger orders so buy the rest of the art for it and couple other pieces for something else and you'll pay even less. Nothing wrong with saving money of course, but on an A list title that's worth major $ once restored it seems silly not to at least buy the best side-art available. Regardless, good luck on your project

*Oh, and it's wicked cool that you got your mom to help ! Awesome

 

[synonym9]

I will think about your advice...but from what I recall the package is 300+usd which is really a lot for some stickers.
My mom can be awesome....WHEN she is in the mood ; )

 

[fuji8bit]

How's the restoration going? Also, I'm doing a reproduction Reactor and have some questions on mounting the Control Panel

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

5+ year NecroBump!

You may have to wait a bit for a response - he was last on the forum in May of 2020.

Let's do the time warp again!