Tron melamine repair advise

Gunloc

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Hey everyone,

So I bought a Tron on the cheap that was converted to another game (Time Pilot 84'), and I'm looking to restore it to respectable condition. I need some advise on what to do with one side of the cab (or both). The sides were painted black. After giving up on using a heat gun, I used Citristrip, a putty knife and some patience and removed the paint and side art without much difficulty. One side of the cab came out pretty good imo, I feel there's no need to do anything but put new side art on it.

2012-06-16_08-38-12_976.jpg


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The problem is the other side that has what seems to be sandpaper/sanding damage to the melamine towards the front and rear of the cab that surrounds the artwork that I'd be applying there. Just a few areas, not too widespread, but enough for me to see I need to address this.

2012-06-19_06-50-52_385.jpg



The rest of the side looks good and I wouldn't touch it, but due to these few sanded spots, it appears as though I'm faced with spray painting (priming then painting with satin black, then finishing it with a satin clear) on that side. I'm sort of hoping I don't need to go through all that, but I will if necessary. I'm guessing it would be the best thing to do at this point, but figured I'd ask anyway. Would you think I can get away with just spraying a clear satin on that entire side to help blend or cover the sanded damaged areas? Thanks for the advise.


Ted
 
One side of the cab came out pretty good imo, I feel there's no need to do anything but put new side art on it.

You picked up your cab on the cheap, but there is nothing cheap about a Tron restore. If you are going to pay for new sideart, I would not put it on that cab without a complete repaint. The art is too nice and too expensive to not do it right. Strip it down and repaint the whole cab is my recommendation.
 
Agreed. Though the one side does look decent, those dings in the melamine need to be addressed. After they're bondoed and sanded, you'll need to paint. And if you aren't happy with the sheen of the paint when you're done, let it cure a few days and apply black vinyl before applying the side art.
 
Formica

You can also resurface it with Formica, I used solid red on a Nintendo style cabinet I am building. It also comes in solid black and a ton of other solid colors. It is WAY easier than painting or using vinyl. You just brush on rubber cement on both surfaces wait 15 minutes for it to dry then put them together and use a J-roller to make them stick. Then you use a flush trim router bit to trim the Formica to the shape of the cabinet.

You can get it from Lowes, I ordered right at the store. I got two 36x96 in sheets.

Black 36x96
Other sizes



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I have done a few black cabinets and have always had decent results with Rustoleum Oil Black Satin paint with a foam roller thinned with naptha and many many coats 'til it's smooth and you can't see streaks. That's how I roll. And, of course, you want to bondo and fill and prep before you paint.

I like Tighe's method too. might try that someday.
 
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What type of vinyl do u guys recommend for tron? Where do u get it? I know the matte black is not correct for tron. Also would u still prime and paint oil based satin black before applying. Black vinyl?
 
Hey everyone,

So I bought a Tron on the cheap that was converted to another game (Time Pilot 84'), and I'm looking to restore it to respectable condition. I need some advise on what to do with one side of the cab (or both). The sides were painted black. After giving up on using a heat gun, I used Citristrip, a putty knife and some patience and removed the paint and side art without much difficulty. One side of the cab came out pretty good imo, I feel there's no need to do anything but put new side art on it.

2012-06-16_08-38-12_976.jpg


2012-06-16_08-58-51_516.jpg


2012-06-16_11-09-13_670.jpg


2012-06-16_11-15-00_921.jpg



The problem is the other side that has what seems to be sandpaper/sanding damage to the melamine towards the front and rear of the cab that surrounds the artwork that I'd be applying there. Just a few areas, not too widespread, but enough for me to see I need to address this.

2012-06-19_06-50-52_385.jpg



The rest of the side looks good and I wouldn't touch it, but due to these few sanded spots, it appears as though I'm faced with spray painting (priming then painting with satin black, then finishing it with a satin clear) on that side. I'm sort of hoping I don't need to go through all that, but I will if necessary. I'm guessing it would be the best thing to do at this point, but figured I'd ask anyway. Would you think I can get away with just spraying a clear satin on that entire side to help blend or cover the sanded damaged areas? Thanks for the advise.


Ted

Hiya Ted,

Welcome To the Craziest Place on Earth ! or as we call it....The Forums :D


I read your Post and you have a machine alot of members here Wished they had..including me..lol .. but let me give you some great Info before you make a mortal mistake concering yer tron....i'm pretty much a expert at most things named Tron...and i have to say i've seen some GREAT restorations of tron machines..but there is one man here soo far that has restored a tron machine and has done the most Beautiful job doing it and i think This Member you MAY want to talk with...as far as i'm concerned his restoration is 5 star top notch...and i think if your looking to restore yours back to Beautiful condition...he's gonna be the man ...so without any more babbling....here's a link to his restoration..and hopefully you'll understand what i've been babbling about :)

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=236856


so let me just say.. GREETINGS PROGRAM !

And WELCOME...And Good Luck :)



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Daniel.
 
Hiya Ted,

Welcome To the Craziest Place on Earth ! or as we call it....The Forums :D


I read your Post and you have a machine alot of members here Wished they had..including me..lol .. but let me give you some great Info before you make a mortal mistake concering yer tron....i'm pretty much a expert at most things named Tron...and i have to say i've seen some GREAT restorations of tron machines..but there is one man here soo far that has restored a tron machine and has done the most Beautiful job doing it and i think This Member you MAY want to talk with...as far as i'm concerned his restoration is 5 star top notch...and i think if your looking to restore yours back to Beautiful condition...he's gonna be the man ...so without any more babbling....here's a link to his restoration..and hopefully you'll understand what i've been babbling about :)

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=236856


so let me just say.. GREETINGS PROGRAM !

And WELCOME...And Good Luck :)



END OF LINE.

Daniel.

While that restoration is amazing, it isn't so much a restoration but a reproduction. Beautiful none the less. You are a new poster here so I am sure you haven't seen some of the other great Tron restorations here. Here is another recent kick ass one:

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=226305
 
I want to thank everyone for the responses. I've read many of the Tron restores on the forums here including Phetishboy's, Fizgig's, and JediDentist to name a few. They are all fantastic with a lot of time, effort and heart put into those restores. Those cabs are in perfect CQ factory new condition. I have some decisions to make and live with, and I do feel a bit of pressure to do this restore right. Most of the cabs in my collection are in good condition, no where near CQ though. So, if my Tron had decent side art to begin with or wasn't panted black on the sides I'd live with the dings etc and never go down this path to restore it, especially to the extent the pro jobs some of you guys have done to yours. Having said that I know something has and will be done to this cabinet, as it at least needs a new cpo and side art, and I can't apply it in it's current condition. I just need to think about how far I'll take it. Again, I do appreciate all the advise.


Ted
 
I want to thank everyone for the responses. I've read many of the Tron restores on the forums here including Phetishboy's, Fizgig's, and JediDentist to name a few. They are all fantastic with a lot of time, effort and heart put into those restores. Those cabs are in perfect CQ factory new condition. I have some decisions to make and live with, and I do feel a bit of pressure to do this restore right. Most of the cabs in my collection are in good condition, no where near CQ though. So, if my Tron had decent side art to begin with or wasn't panted black on the sides I'd live with the dings etc and never go down this path to restore it, especially to the extent the pro jobs some of you guys have done to yours. Having said that I know something has and will be done to this cabinet, as it at least needs a new cpo and side art, and I can't apply it in it's current condition. I just need to think about how far I'll take it. Again, I do appreciate all the advise.


Ted

Ted,

Very Understandable your thinking on the Matter :)

just most of us Around here are gonna give ya tons of Info so your Never without help :D

the way you use the info is however ya like...but remember..there are a TON of People around that at a moments notice..if your not sure what to do..just ask..cause i know there are at least 4 or 5 members that will chime in to help ya..so if your Ever not sure..post it and you'll ALWAYS get all the nelp ya need :)


i can't Wait to See Pics when yer Done with the Tron:D



Very Good Luck To Ya !


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Daniel.
 
1. Don't ever vinyl a Tron. It's not even remotely accurate, and a waste of Tron art.

2. If I has to do it over again, I would spray paint it. If I had access to an HVLP Spray gun, I'd do that. Otherwise, I think that if you take your time and do light coats with rattle can satin black, it will come out fine.

Your cab is in decent shape, so it wouldn't take much to fix up the few dings and do it right. You'll never kick yourself for doing a quality job, but you will if you do a half-ass one.
 
Before my guy bailed on me he brought a formica sample over. It was vertical grade (thinner) but it still was a bit too thick - it would have stuck out past the t-molding unless the sides had been sanded down further. Plus it had an 'orange peel' texture, so it was not smooth like melamine.

Just tonight I picked up a decent CFM compressor which should do nicely with a hvlp setup for this job. I figured on trying oil-based satin black at first and see how that comes out, possibly trying an enamel satin if I'm not satisfied. Now I just need to repair the bottom of the cab....
 
not sure if you bought art already.

I bought a single side of tron sideart (they said it was NOS, I don't know for sure) awhile back on ebay. It is not perfect and has some issues. But I can ship it to you for $25 total if it helps.
 
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