A noobs adventures in cab ownership!
- Thread starter ChrisBEANS
- Start date
ChrisBEANS
Active member
I wish I’d bought it for a dollar!!
How do people make money on these things?! If I were to sell it (never!!), I’d need close to two grand to break even!
Far more than it’s monetary worth, but still a sight cheaper than Play Leisure would charge I guess
How do people make money on these things?! If I were to sell it (never!!), I’d need close to two grand to break even!
Far more than it’s monetary worth, but still a sight cheaper than Play Leisure would charge I guess
Looking good Chris , SO glad the 6 slot went to a good home as is being played on , The way it should be.
"I took a brief video, and e-mailed the guy who makes them. Absolutely to his credit, he replied almost straight away, explained that as it's a small operation he personally tests everything before dispatch and that he though the problem might be with my MVS motherboard, however, he had a couple of simple things in mind that were worth trying first. One of which was to check the connections on the cable between the MVS and the EL panel control board." - So glad of this as well !!! Its one of the things I cant test on the bench, Chuffed its not the 6 slot.
Dave.
Dan (TT_Rage) - Get well soon as well !!
TheDaddy2021-07-05 20:48:12
"I took a brief video, and e-mailed the guy who makes them. Absolutely to his credit, he replied almost straight away, explained that as it's a small operation he personally tests everything before dispatch and that he though the problem might be with my MVS motherboard, however, he had a couple of simple things in mind that were worth trying first. One of which was to check the connections on the cable between the MVS and the EL panel control board." - So glad of this as well !!! Its one of the things I cant test on the bench, Chuffed its not the 6 slot.
Dave.
Dan (TT_Rage) - Get well soon as well !!
TheDaddy2021-07-05 20:48:12
ChrisBEANS
Active member
I think I'm settled on the fact I want to completely dismantle the U4, get some metal work done.
Needs a little bit of flattening and smoothing around the coin box, and mainly get some bits filled where the commercial operator cut holes for a coin mech and where things were removed and before having blanking plates rivited on
As the coin mech isn't in use, I need to think about how/where/if to install a coin button...
Then to get it all powder coated.
I have absolutely no idea where to start, or where I might approach to have the metal work done, or who to speak to about powder coating. It's going to be an adventure
I'm also thinking about getting the CP chromed, but again, a bit out of my depth on this...
It'll be fun working it all out, and I'll definitely get some decent updates in over the coming weeks
Needs a little bit of flattening and smoothing around the coin box, and mainly get some bits filled where the commercial operator cut holes for a coin mech and where things were removed and before having blanking plates rivited on
As the coin mech isn't in use, I need to think about how/where/if to install a coin button...
Then to get it all powder coated.
I have absolutely no idea where to start, or where I might approach to have the metal work done, or who to speak to about powder coating. It's going to be an adventure
I'm also thinking about getting the CP chromed, but again, a bit out of my depth on this...
It'll be fun working it all out, and I'll definitely get some decent updates in over the coming weeks
Very nice work!...but you mention getting things filled?, holes will have to be plated & MIG welded.
Esp if you are getting items polyester coated..you cannot use body filler & then get it powder coated, only spray paint the body filled parts matey.
99% of cabs were painted 'Albeit' poorly from the factory anyway...
Esp if you are getting items polyester coated..you cannot use body filler & then get it powder coated, only spray paint the body filled parts matey.
99% of cabs were painted 'Albeit' poorly from the factory anyway...
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Cheers, genuinely appreciate the advice. This is where I’m totally put of my depth so I’m happy for as much advice as possible…
Reckon a body shop is the best place to approach? Some sort of steel fabricator??
Reckon a body shop is the best place to approach? Some sort of steel fabricator??
Phils Arcade
Senior Member
Been on here for a short while now, mainly looking for MVS carts, etc., but recently started on boards and looking at original cabs.
This is the first time, taking time, to go though a few of the other channels on here and these restorations are amazing. You've done a bang up job on that 6 slot, really a credit to you.
Used to do electronics a LONG time ago, but still have my original equipment all boxed away. Now that I've managed to nab 2 cabs, think it will be time to start pulling the gear out and see if it's still works, lol.
Lots to learn, but seems the guys on here are a real knowledge base.
Keep up the great work.
This is the first time, taking time, to go though a few of the other channels on here and these restorations are amazing. You've done a bang up job on that 6 slot, really a credit to you.
Used to do electronics a LONG time ago, but still have my original equipment all boxed away. Now that I've managed to nab 2 cabs, think it will be time to start pulling the gear out and see if it's still works, lol.
Lots to learn, but seems the guys on here are a real knowledge base.
Keep up the great work.
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Thanks dude. I was only able to do any of it with the advice and support of people here and on AO. Would be great to see you start a thread of your own with those two cabs. What do you have?
ChrisBEANS
Active member
Bought this from China months ago. Forgot all about it, and it arrived today... My plans for it will either be a massive triumph, or it'll get binned and I'll never speak of it again
Phils Arcade
Senior Member
ChrisBEANS said:
That's now expanded to 3, lol. Grabbed another cab from Ken. Got Super Pacman, Asteroids and now Centipede. Looking for a cheap restore project such as Space Invaders cab or similar.
ChrisBEANS
Active member
No update since July?! Let’s fix that…
So, the U4 originally had a powder coated CP surround to match the rest of the cab.
For whatever reason, the operator had removed the coin entry and riveted a piece of metal over it, and had repainted the surround white. It hadn’t been done well, was rough to the touch and was generally crappy.
A real shame as the original powdercoating on the rest of the cab is in decent shape considering its age.
The underside of the CP housing was even worse. It’d been painted with some horrible black stuff and all the components including the hinge and the brackets for the locks had been painted on.
It had to be refinished in any case, and I’d always desperately wanted the chrome (or stainless steel maybe??) CP surround, but I could never find one, or a cab for sale with one.
So my options were:-
1 - Strip it, and paint it white again but properly, or maybe powder coat it. - problem here is that unless I did the whole cab, the new white would be a contrast and likely jarring.
2 - Strip it, and polish it up to look like the stainless CP surround. - problem was that although the white paint stripped off without issue, the black stuff inside was impossible to shift. It also turned out that the metal underneath wasn’t suitable for polishing, nor do I have the skill to do an adequate job in any case.
3 - Strip it, and get it chromed by the bigger boys - problem with this, is that it’s not authentically as the cab was made.
I’m all for authenticity, and faithful, sympathetic restoration but as the CP surround had already been repainted, and needed to be stripped and refinished anyway, I figured I’d opt for the chroming…
Genuinely interested in whether people think this was the wrong move?
I still haven’t picked it up, but I’ve got photos from the metal finishers this morning…
So, the U4 originally had a powder coated CP surround to match the rest of the cab.
For whatever reason, the operator had removed the coin entry and riveted a piece of metal over it, and had repainted the surround white. It hadn’t been done well, was rough to the touch and was generally crappy.
A real shame as the original powdercoating on the rest of the cab is in decent shape considering its age.
The underside of the CP housing was even worse. It’d been painted with some horrible black stuff and all the components including the hinge and the brackets for the locks had been painted on.
It had to be refinished in any case, and I’d always desperately wanted the chrome (or stainless steel maybe??) CP surround, but I could never find one, or a cab for sale with one.
So my options were:-
1 - Strip it, and paint it white again but properly, or maybe powder coat it. - problem here is that unless I did the whole cab, the new white would be a contrast and likely jarring.
2 - Strip it, and polish it up to look like the stainless CP surround. - problem was that although the white paint stripped off without issue, the black stuff inside was impossible to shift. It also turned out that the metal underneath wasn’t suitable for polishing, nor do I have the skill to do an adequate job in any case.
3 - Strip it, and get it chromed by the bigger boys - problem with this, is that it’s not authentically as the cab was made.
I’m all for authenticity, and faithful, sympathetic restoration but as the CP surround had already been repainted, and needed to be stripped and refinished anyway, I figured I’d opt for the chroming…
Genuinely interested in whether people think this was the wrong move?
I still haven’t picked it up, but I’ve got photos from the metal finishers this morning…
ChrisBEANS
Active member
First two are my best attempts at stripping the CP surround…
The rest are images sent by the metal finishers…
Can’t wait to pick it up!!
The rest are images sent by the metal finishers…
Can’t wait to pick it up!!
neo-geo-mvs
Active member
Wow shiny
Phils Arcade
Senior Member
That looks really well done.
Did they have much repair work to do on it? I know when chroming any small indent or score can really show up in the finished work.
Did they have much repair work to do on it? I know when chroming any small indent or score can really show up in the finished work.
ChrisBEANS
Active member
No repair work needed at all, apparently.
When I picked this one up, I showed them the rusty one from a few posts up too, and they reckon that’ll be fine for the same treatment.
I’m surprised, but super happy!!
I might make a fight stick out of it…
When I picked this one up, I showed them the rusty one from a few posts up too, and they reckon that’ll be fine for the same treatment.
I’m surprised, but super happy!!
I might make a fight stick out of it…
eccentric-nut
Active member
That looks the absolute business!!! Wow very impressed!
Can I ask what the process is called you had done?
As I have a U4, and might perform a conversion if I can find a company locally offering this type of work.
Can I ask what the process is called you had done?
As I have a U4, and might perform a conversion if I can find a company locally offering this type of work.
ChrisBEANS
Active member
It’s simply chroming, and can also be called nickel plating I think.
Just Google local metal finishers, and then obviously triple check their reviews to find the best.
I’m really happy with it, can’t recommend it enough!
Just Google local metal finishers, and then obviously triple check their reviews to find the best.
I’m really happy with it, can’t recommend it enough!
Lastspaceship
Active member
Ace this u4 is going to look the business. I’m with you the chrome surround look is the one.