Universal Zero Hour Restoration/Rebuild

DZA

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Donor 4 years: 2013, 2020-2021, 2025
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I am starting this thread to document my restoration of a Universal Zero Hour.

This started here - https://forums.arcade-museum.com/threads/universal-zero-hour-empty-cab.501354/

I have the cabinet paid for but now need to get it. I could make the drive but need my trailer and the weather is kind of a mess right now. I will have some other posts related to actually getting it. I also have to pick up a Taitronics cab from VA for what will be a Lupin III creation.

In the meantime:

1. I have a marquee I got from Ebay. See the attached pics. Great shape overall.

2. @TSB has Universal stuff he is going to send to me. This includes the control panel, wiring harness, and coin door. TSB - please post some pics here when you get a chance.

3. https://forums.arcade-museum.com/threads/deconverting-zero-hour-and-reproducing-the-art.356802/ - tells me the artwork exists. @GeorgeGlass - please reach out. Worst-case scenario I have to go to Funspot (which is closer to me than actually getting the cabinet) and take a lot of pictures to see if someone can print sometime for the upper bezel. I HAVE AN EXTRA COSMIC ALIEN UPPER BEZEL IF SOMEONE WANTS TO TRADE.

4. I am sure I am going to need folks like @rotheblog to snap some pics of their cabs and provide feedback. I have a Devil Zone, Cosmic Avenger, and Cosmic Alien so I should be OK but I never know.

That is it for now.

I have to actually get the damn cabinet now :)
 

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I may have the power supply, too. Could you take a pic of the power supply box & PCB mounts @rotheblog ?
 
I may have the power supply, too. Could you take a pic of the power supply box & PCB mounts @rotheblog ?
That would be great if you do. There is a really fantastic thread on Power Supplies right now that is totally staying on topic...
 
Niiiice. This will be good. Sweet that you've lined up so many of the parts already, not an easy task.
 
@rotheblog - @TSB and I are trying to figure out if his power supply is "right" for Zero Hour. Do you have pics?

Anyone else have pics?
 
I can provide help sometime by Sunday.

Is there something in particular that you want photos of? What details are you trying to figure out.
 
I can provide help sometime by Sunday.

Is there something in particular that you want photos of? What details are you trying to figure out.
@TSB has a power supply he wants to verify. He can provide more details.

I assume you don't have any parts available (marquee brackets, light fixtures, coin boxes, etc).
 
I can provide help sometime by Sunday.

Is there something in particular that you want photos of? What details are you trying to figure out.

An overview pic of inside the back of the cab would probably be enough to identify the power supply and wiring layout.
I've got parts that are for two different Universal cabs, and I just need to identify the correct parts for him.
 
I now have the CP and harness thanks to @TSB

Here are some pics.

The actual metal of the control panel is in great shape.

The plastic overlays, not so much. They are pretty faded and cracking. The good part is that this is all "on the bottom" so hands on the control panel will not affect this.

I am not freaked out about the condition and am happy it is original. I can always get a repo later (if I can get some scans) but for right now I will enjoy the fact that the "patina" of the game will be preserved.

Also I have had my Cosmic Alien for years and never come across a control panel...
 

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I now have some scans from @Evanc of the bezel and back marquee!

Recommendations on who to have print them??
 
Thanks. @TSB - does this at all look like what you have? It looks like what is in my games as well (i.e. I don't know how much these deviated from one Universal game to the next).


It does. I found it in my Ladybug box, though, so I need to make sure that it's not one that I'm holding for that rebuild.
Are they the same between the two games @rotheblog ?
 
Here is a pic of the one in my Cosmic Avenger (someone replaced the one in my Cosmic Alien long ago). I can check my Devil Zone tomorrow.
 

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Here is inside my Devil Zone. Looks the same.
 

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I notice both PCBs have pretty bad "hot spots". Hmmm. I wonder if I should be doing some preventative maintenance. @rotheblog have you seen this? I see the big heat sink on yours.
 
I now have a coin door. Thanks @DLP

I have to figure out now how I want to restore it.

I could leave it (it is not terrible) and just clean it up.

Or I have easy access to sandblast it and repaint it. The issue here is that these doors have a strange black texture paint that I am not sure how to reproduce. @Phetishboy or @rotheblog do you have any clue how to refinish these doors properly? It almost is like a matte black hammered look....
 

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I now have a coin door. Thanks @DLP

I have to figure out now how I want to restore it.

I could leave it (it is not terrible) and just clean it up.

Or I have easy access to sandblast it and repaint it. The issue here is that these doors have a strange black texture paint that I am not sure how to reproduce. @Phetishboy or @rotheblog do you have any clue how to refinish these doors properly? It almost is like a matte black hammered look....
There is a satin black textured powder coat out there. My friend Chris Rhoades used it all the time on his machines. When I had mine done I just did it in regular smooth satin black and it looked great.

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Tha
There is a satin black textured powder coat out there. My friend Chris Rhoades used it all the time on his machines. When I had mine done I just did it in regular smooth satin black and it looked great.

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Thanks. I was actually just looking at your Lady Bug thread. The T-molding part will be key. As for the door, I'll have to look into the powder coating option. If that is not viable, I'll go your route.
 
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