The SCARS on your games. Let's see them.

CyberDude

Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2016
Messages
368
Reaction score
11
Location
Utah, Utah
I thought when first getting into this hobby when I purchased games I would have to restore them back to perfection if there were any scars at all. However...Electronically I make no exceptions and do make sure the marquees light along with the coin lights. What Im talking about is cosmetic scars... some scrapes on the side art , a couple cigarette burns on the CPO and other SMALL defects dont bother me as much as I thought they would. I feel some scars give the games a bit of character and an authenticity of where they came from. I would rather keep things as original as possible with a few exceptions. One of which are CPOs that are cracking and separating from the control panel will eventually get replaced with a nice reproduction. These so called scars actually mean something to me now. How do you guys feel?

Ciggy burn scars on DEFENDER CPO:



Side art torn off on ZAXXON:

 
Last edited:
I had the same progression. I got into thinking I would 100% restore everything to perfect condition and now 25+ games in I laugh and am not mad when I find things like "Matt + Shelly" scratched into things.

Electronically I strive for perfection or as close as possible which I dont see ever changing.
 
I'm totally with you, CyberDude! :)

These scars define the history of the cabinets and I only replace parts like controlpanels on cabs that were modified to hold a different game. I replace rusted screws or buttons that were badly melted by cigarettes. When I imported my Journey I ordered all artwork for the cab but the only thing I used so far is the marquee. Left sideart and controlpanel as it was, they're not that bad. I had to replace the bottom of the cab, because it was broken and so I had to paint the kickplate and the bottom area of the sides. Except that everything has been left original.
 
so since you started this thread, let's do some SHOW & TELL!

here's OZZY perma-etched into the side of my taito crazy climber cab:

crazy_climber_ozzy.jpg
 
I eased up afteri realized no one can see the $200side art with all the games crammed together
I still usually re do the fronts and control panels
 
I'm on board the "battle scars" bandwagon. They give the games some character. I haven't done any restorations in that area, nor do I intend to. As long as the game WORKS, I'm cool with it not looking like it just came out of the crate.
 
restorations are for suckers with too much money and time on their hands.

well, not always, some of those projects look very cool.

my games are all natural though. the only blemishes are my PC-10, which I got new sideart for when I bought it, and the Defender that's painted over black. we'll see someday.
 
i enjoy watching, reading, etc all the restore stories here of KLOVers with flawless, better-than-factory-PERFECT restores

but i'm part of the ARCADE SCAR KREW (should we all get commemorative tattoos?)

as long as the side art is mostly there, t-molding is close to original color, and the cabinet doesn't smell like a hefty bag full of dead ferrets ... COUNT ME IN

PhotoFunia-1489098058.jpg
]
 
I'm a fan of the scars also. I almost never replace even tmolding these days. Exceptions are Nintendo cabs because it's always chipped up bad. Replaced the Ladybug tmolding for the same reason. CPOs that are cracked are no worries. It has to be bad for me to replace it these days. Magic eraser gets the standard ones clean and you can sand cig burns out of Nintendo CPOs.
 
I have a super clean all original pacman that some jaghole was kind enough to carve F*ck into.
 

Attachments

  • 20170309_192903.jpg
    20170309_192903.jpg
    177.2 KB · Views: 74
OUCH!!! Thats a bad one.

I dont really mind.. just kinda funny that its the only thing on an otherwise super nice machine.

I go after nice survivors so all my stuff has something up with it... thats part of the fun. I dont like shiny new shit.
 
I call these "blemishes" patina.

I'll replace anything that is horrendously f-ed up, but I enjoy my games having a little patina on them. It reflects their history being on location.

It's cool that some little hoodlum carved his initials into the side of a game in some smoky arcade back in 1982. Let's honor his act of being an arcade badass. :)
 
My red DK has an excellent Blair Witch dick man carved into the coin door. Tough to photograph and took me a month or two to notice. Have had a few opportunities to replace it, but have never been able to bring myself to do it. The red DK's have a different paint finish on the coin door anyway.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20170311_005347917.jpg
    IMG_20170311_005347917.jpg
    569.9 KB · Views: 25
  • IMG_20170311_005128854.jpg
    IMG_20170311_005128854.jpg
    358.1 KB · Views: 25
  • IMG_20170311_005207944.jpg
    IMG_20170311_005207944.jpg
    528.5 KB · Views: 46
Oh cripes.

It's been said already; as long as the game works is what matters.

My woodworking skills are non-existent and I'm barely keeping my head above water with the electronics aspect on these games sometimes.

I will never win a prize for 'Best-in-show". Actually, truth be told I can barely stand playing any of these games for more than 5 minutes at any given time.

I will however say that this hobby rules. There's nothing out there like it.

Feast you eyes on some of my Arcade machine scars. The last one being an honorable mention with an ashtray on my PP.
 

Attachments

  • 102_3901.JPG
    102_3901.JPG
    817.9 KB · Views: 25
  • 102_3902.JPG
    102_3902.JPG
    953.2 KB · Views: 23
  • 102_3904.JPG
    102_3904.JPG
    1 MB · Views: 26
  • 102_3900.JPG
    102_3900.JPG
    763.4 KB · Views: 31
That built in ash tray on the last photo is awesome. Every damn game should of had those.


Oh cripes.

It's been said already; as long as the game works is what matters.

My woodworking skills are non-existent and I'm barely keeping my head above water with the electronics aspect on these games sometimes.

I will never win a prize for 'Best-in-show". Actually, truth be told I can barely stand playing any of these games for more than 5 minutes at any given time.

I will however say that this hobby rules. There's nothing out there like it.

Feast you eyes on some of my Arcade machine scars. The last one being an honorable mention with an ashtray on my PP.
 
Back
Top Bottom