The "back from the dead" thread - extreme restores

Tornadoboy

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The "back from the dead" thread - extreme restores

I thought it was time to start another one of these threads, the stories are always very inspiring and a lot of help to those of us currently working a restores!

What games which others would have called unrepairable have you brought back to life?

I've got a couple that may eventually qualify but I'm not done with them yet, one is a beaten up Turbo mini that's turning out pretty but not working yet, and the other is a Arkanoid converted Centipede cocktail with all the wood completely destroyed by water damage that's getting rebuilt.
 
I'm not sure if a lot of people would've put the time into this "Tron" I got (pulled the cabinet out of a trash pile)... it was converted to Two Tigers and I had to get the Tron CP, bezel, shroud, grips, spinner, boards, an eprom burner to convert the board back to Tron, marquee, light fixtures, plexi pieces, etc... almost all of them came from different places too. Took a little bit to hunt down all the pieces. Luckily the original (not in great shape) Tron sideart was under the TwoTigers art.

tron1st.jpg

MCPMachine.jpg


DLSFII.jpg

I don't have an after picture for this one I don't think... but it was converted back to Dragon's Lair. Had to buy an entire package (LD player, LD, Art, CP, Coin Door, all the game boards, harness, etc etc). I still haven't put all the art on it as I'm waiting for the funds to redo the black vinyl... but she's come a long way.

Also got a Robotron cabinet that was completely empty... got the boards, monitor, CP, sticks, buttons, built a harness, etc for that. Still missing some art (bezel, marquee, CPO, and needs to be repainted)... but that was another one that I literally pulled out of a trash pile.

Nothing too inspire'ng as I haven't completely finished a single restore yet... but, each of them still took a LOT of work.
 
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After hacking off the bottom foot, recutting a new back door, replacing every piece of artwork, installing a switcher and adapter, and there's even a brand knew WG K7something in it. I now have this:

IMG_0943.jpg


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The best before and after shots I have are from taking my MAME rig back to a functional arcade machine again. Not a classic 1979-1984 machine by any means, but I like it:

Before:
HPIM1559.jpg


After:
HPIM1627.jpg
 
Here's a kinda long slide show of the first Missile Command I did a total restore on
http://s1127.photobucket.com/albums/l628/JoeB1355/Missile Command Restoration/?albumview=slideshow


and here's a link to the second one both complete rebuilds with their our challenges!
http://s1127.photobucket.com/albums/l628/JoeB1355/Missile Command 2/?albumview=slideshow


For a taste here are the before and after shots of MC # 1

Before:
'
before.png


After:
after.png

Wow! Nice Job on both. I recently aquired a MC that needs a full restoration. Did you have a restoration thread on either machine? You may get a few pms from me if thats ok.
 
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