Zaxxon Rebuild

Area69

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Ok so you've all seen the trashed out Zaxxon I posted a few weeks ago.

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It really is bad. It's parked in the middle of my gameroom/work area, and it stinks and I think a new piece of it falls off daily. I cant wait to break it up and drag it to the curb.

My plan is to build a new cab and transfer the parts I can salvage. I know it's a common game, and I know they go pretty cheap. I'm just looking to develop my skills at cabinet building and restoration. I do love Zaxxon, it's a highly underrated game. Back in the day, this was a favorite of mine for a year or two, and I was pretty good at it.

Im going to be using laminate to replicate the original woodgrain look. I started building the base of the cabinet this weekend. I think it's going pretty well. This was my first time using laminate and I can tell you that I'll be using it more often.

Here are a few pics of the new base section.

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The woodgrain laminate is "English Oak" from Wilsonart. Its a little darker than the Sega woodgrain, but the grain pattern is very similar. Anyway, thanks for checking it out, I know this section of the forum doesn't get much traffic.
 
Looking really good my man. Zaxxon is a classic in my book. You using a router or a table saw? Cab parts look pretty precise so far.
 
Thanks Phet, I'm using a router for almost everything. My holy trinity: router, biscuit joiner, quickgrip clamps.
 
Nice work so far! The original looks like a loud noise would cause it to collapse into dust, I'm anxious to see how the new one looks when you're done. BTW, what's the backstory on this cab? I take it that it was left outside for a long time, how much did it cost?

I've just discovered the wonders of having a router myself, I'm using it to make a new cocktail cab using the badly water damaged originals as templates, it's a tool I wish I had gotten years ago!
 
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Nice work so far! The original looks like a loud noise would cause it to collapse into dust, I'm anxious to see how the new one looks when you're done. BTW, what's the backstory on this cab? I take it that it was left outside for a long time, how much did it cost?

I've just discovered the wonders of having a router myself, I'm using it to make a new cocktail cab using the badly water damaged originals as templates, it's a tool I wish I had gotten years ago!

The guy that sold this to me claimed he received three games as a partial payment for some flooring work he did for some old timer. He had a Centipede which sold before I got there, and a Pinball Action converted from a Dig Dug. I think they were stored outside under a tarp. The Pinball Action was a lost cause, so I took the Electrohome G07 out of it. I gave the guy $60 dollars for the Zaxxon and the spare monitor. I ended up getting both monitors working pretty good, they have the usual screen burn, but a cap kit and horizontal coil repaired the G07.
 
Im trying to cut the two side panels but I'm not certain of the exact dimensions. Can someone tell me if the bottom edge and or the top edge is at a 90 degree angle to the back? I know that the top back corner has an angled cut-in that matches the bottom front corner, but are the top and bottom of the side panels at right angles to the back?
 
Nice work! I dig Zaxxon... I've always thought those Sega's were funny looking cabs and most of them are totally beat up making them look even worse. When you have it done it will look way better than it did new. I really like the darker color wood grain, it doesn't look as cheap.

I've never seen a Zaxxon restored... I can't wait to see it done.
 
Most of my day was spent working on this project, and yet it seems like I didn't really get much done.

I managed to get the side profile cut out and laminated. My old cabinet was too damaged to get an exact trace, so I had to go with my best guess on the design. I spent a good amount of time trying to get it right, based on pictures from the web, and I feel pretty good about it.

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And here is a sexy shot of it laminated. Merle Haggard in full effect.

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The base is almost finished, there are a few holes that need cut on the top piece. I also got the lock installed and the door shuts smoothly and flush.

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It should start to look very good once I add the t-molding.

Best part of the day was washing up the old coin buckets and placing them in their new home.
 
Wow, you are cruising right along.
I've just about wrapped up my restoration of a Zaxxon.
If you still need dimensions, PM me and I'll try to get them to you ASAP.

There are some people working on replacement side art here.

When you install your new CPO, DO NOT try to reposition it. You just have to get it right the first time.
Mine also bubbled a little on the front between player 1-2.
If I was going to do it again, I'd spray some Super77 adhesive first.
 
Awesome project.. I've thought about building a Sega cabinet someday, much as you are doing.

Are you using particle board or plywood for the panels that get laminate? It's looking great!
 
Thanks for all the support guys. It's good to have people following along.

I'm using MDF, I hadn't really thought about using plywood, but it would've been much lighter. More than once, I've dropped a finished piece on the ground and damaged a corner so badly that I had to start over and cut a new one.

I didn't get much time to work on the Zaxxon this weekend. I spent an entire day, shopping with the girlfriend, aghhh. I finished cutting out the right side profile and cut out the pieces for the back, including the back door and exhaust fan opening.

One thing that really sucks about this cabinet, the top side profile sections. You can only cut one out of a 49" x 97" mdf. That also goes for the laminate. I tend to be a bit lazy when it comes to planning, and that's one that bit me in the ass.

Here are a few pics of what I did today. I made a copy of the right side profile with a flush trim bit. The back three pieces were difficult to get right, but they turned out near perfect, and almost square. Fortunately the fan opening on the old cab was strong enough to just trace with the flush trim bit router. I'm looking at the stickers on the old back panel, it sucks that those are going in the trash.

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