Terminator 2 Restore

quickray

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Donor 2018
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Just sharing some photos of a Terminator 2 I just wrapped up. This restore took over a year to complete. I don't know how many hours of work it took but it was a lot. I seriously don't know what it is with these cabs. They are almost always trashed. I feel like operators probably just tossed them aside as they broke, as they are work to fix.

The cabinet took on water damage in its life. The moisture got on top and ran down the back side and panels on the cab. The sides at the bottom were also badly swollen, probably a good inch at the bottom.

Edges were rough all around the cab. A lot of it was also just crumbly, so much so when sanding wood just started flying off, so I had to completely rebuild edges quite a bit.

Summary of Things Done

Guns
-Completely stripped, sandblasted and sealed all metal parts inside both guns. They were disgusting, filled with rust and old soda spills
-Gun shells painted and clear coated in high gloss black
-NOS Rocket and Triggers installed
-New Trigger springs, switches, and stoppers installed (to keep the gun from being as noisy)
-New Pots and NOS gears installed. Reflowed solder to all connections
-Gun bases sandblasted and powder coated

Cab
-New wood installed on both sides, cut across four inches up from the bottom
-Water damaged wood removed from the back, new pieces cut and installed. Primed and painted, sprayed with a rattle can
-New back door cut and installed, original was water damaged. Primed and painted the door. Sprayed with an HVLP
-Bondo and built back up edges all around the cab. Used wood hardener in a lot of spots, lots of Bondo, sanding, more Bondo.
-Saved the top of the cab with sanding, wood hardener, sanding, priming, and painting.
-Completely cleaned, sanded, painted, and cleaned again the interior of the cab. It had small amounts of white mold in some spots.
-New Midway handles installed on the back
-Laminated the sides, front, and control panel with WilsonArt 1595 black
-Side art and front art installed, artwork by This Old Game
-New CPO by This Old Game installed
-New marquee by Joe Szabo installed
-New marquee LED light installed
-New Blood Red T Molding installed

I can't even remember if that's everything. There might be more. Overall a ton of work. Not really sure what to post in this thread. I'll post a few before and after photos. If anyone wants more info let me know.

One thing is certain, when this game is clean and working properly, it completely kicks a$$!
 
Some before…
 

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Guns Cleaned Up
 

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New wood installed
 

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Inner shroud cleaned up, these were really rough as well due to water and probably soda spills
 

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Inside before and after. Cleaned, sanded, and hit with spray paint all around inside.
 

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Not gonna exhaust this restore with countless photos, here is what it looks like wrapped up and finished.
 

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Absolutely killer! I have one waiting for me to get to it. I hope I can get it half that nice! Mine is surprisingly solid, so although the side art it faded and has some wear and scrapes I'm going to resist the urge to replace everything. Nice job on the guns, they look amazing!
 
Absolutely killer! I have one waiting for me to get to it. I hope I can get it half that nice! Mine is surprisingly solid, so although the side art it faded and has some wear and scrapes I'm going to resist the urge to replace everything. Nice job on the guns, they look amazing!
If you have any questions at all, about the guns or anything else, let me know and I'd be happy to help. I've been staring at this game and the insides for so long now. Feel like I know it.

There are some things I had to redo in gun reassembly that I didn't know initially, so it can be tricky.
 
If you have any questions at all, about the guns or anything else, let me know and I'd be happy to help. I've been staring at this game and the insides for so long now. Feel like I know it.

There are some things I had to redo in gun reassembly that I didn't know initially, so it can be tricky.
Thanks! If there's any major tips you have I'd love to hear them! I bought mine as a project, it's 98% complete but all in pieces. I have several sets of gun plastics and one complete extra gun mount and mechanism. Just need to get it all back together sometime.
 
I too brought one back from dead. Replaced the crt and all. Noisy for a home collection - I keep it around because the side art is boss. Nice job w yours it's a beaut.
 
I too brought one back from dead. Replaced the crt and all. Noisy for a home collection - I keep it around because the side art is boss. Nice job w yours it's a beaut.
Thanks! Agree with you on the side art. It's actually one of the reasons I placed the game where it is, so when you come down the stairs one of the first things you see is Arnold staring at you. It's just a bad a$$ cab.
 
Hi @quickray , I'm working on my T2 cabinet which is quite a similar state to what yours used to be in. I've got the metal gun parts quite rusted just like yours were. After you got them sandblasted, what did you use to "seal" the bare metal? thanks!
 
Hi @quickray , I'm working on my T2 cabinet which is quite a similar state to what yours used to be in. I've got the metal gun parts quite rusted just like yours were. After you got them sandblasted, what did you use to "seal" the bare metal? thanks!
You have a few options.

1. You can have the parts powder coated. Usually the place that does the sandblasting will be able to do this.

2. You can paint them yourself. Spray them with Rust Oleum.

3. You can use WD-40 to seal them. It's not the best sealer, but if you're simply going to put the game in your home then it should be fine.

I opted for Number 3. I laid all the parts out on a table and generously sprayed them with WD-40 and let them sit for 24 hours. I then wiped off any excess with a microfiber.
 
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