Discs of Tron environmental restoration

[Alpha1]

So welcome to the new forum. I've been saving this for this new forum software as the old one would have taken 500 years to convert and upload my pictures!

This Discs of Tron environmental (EDOT) was found and bought in a bulk buy from Europe in the late 1990s/early 2000s.

Sadly the original owner and one of the first members of ukvac, Frank Suffling, died and the machine was sold to me along with other machines that were auctioned off on JAMMA+ for the family to raise funds for them.

I promised his brother I would restore it. It took me 12 years but I have, and I reached out to his brother at Christmas to share with him the pictures of it fixed and fully working.

This thread is the mammoth 7 month journey it took me to do that restore.

 

[Alpha1]

One of George Gomez's greatest!

@The Deliveryman magic van turned up and helped me get the machine from storage to home to start the restoration.

Stay tuned.

 

[Alpha1]

Right so I get the thing inside the gameroom.

The game has a flat base with six leg levellers that collapse as they can't take the weight. This means they all suffer from hideous drag damage.

I've been hoarding parts for years and have ready:

New CPO (update: can't find the CPO! )
Spare boardset
New rear glass artwork
New floor decal
Manual

Assessing the game I decide to tackle the base and make it beautiful before standing it upright to strip and restore.

Anyhow it's in!

 

[Alpha1]

So let's assess the bottom damage. It's pretty rough and will need filler. Luckily it's all in the black so should restore well.

I decide to stick a skid pan on the thing to raise the edges to stop it from happening again.

Various pictures of the start of the process. I pull off some of the vinyl get my gear out and make a jig and start sorting the base.

 

[Alpha1]

As it's just chipboard and gets crumbly, I use wood hardener as recommended by the wood filler companies. I remove any loose bits and get to work.

I leave the jig in place for around 5 days.

 

[Alpha1]

Whilst it's stood up on its back I want to accomplish two things.

Sort the rear 45 degree section and stick the skid pan on. I decide on marine ply.

Max helps me which was nice!

 

[Alpha1]

I now have to position the 700lb lump to lay it down to start the prep work for sorting the bottom edges.

I'll tackle one side at a time.

 

[Alpha1]

Boom one side more or less done other than some refinements.

Time to tackle the other side.

 

[mysticmonk]

700lbs, heavy stuff!
I'd say this came out well in the end

 

[Alpha1]

As it lay it down ready to tackle the other side I check out the pantone colours for any touch ups it might need and clean the top section.

 

[Sbdesign]

This thread does show off how this new forum and photos is much better on phone!

Very nice cab and work 👍

 

[strykr]

Real labour of love this one ol, but worth it! Top work.

 

[Sbdesign]

As it lay it down ready to tackle the other side I check out the pantone colours for any touch ups it might need and clean the top section.

Where you get your swatches?

 

[Alpha1]

Where you get your swatches?

Bought it off eBay.

 

[Alpha1]

Found some more time yesterday and this evening to continue on the game. I'm nearly at the finish line on the second side.

 

[Alpha1]

Finished the remaining side.

I'll stand it up tomorrow 🥳

 

[Alpha1]

Time to install the Happ Controls pica vinyl back on the rear end that I took off.

Many thanks to @Equites for supplying it when I posted a wanted.

Almost time to stand it up.

 

[Alpha1]

 

[Alpha1]

Got into the coin door and I've removed the control panel which is utterly filthy!! 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢😱😱😱😱😱

 

[Alpha1]

When I played an edot in the arcades around 1989-91 I always remember the carpet backed leaning area.

I started to take off metal work to be repainted/powder coated and I was amazed at the carpet.

Original colour appears purple.