Restoring my Grail - Nintendo Upright R-Type

[myPinballs]

I'm far from an expert, but I think the work RAM is the two 64kBit SRAMS at 1F and 3F (one the lower 8, the other the upper 8 bits).
I've no idea how highscore mods work, but I can't think how it'd work if you keep the entire work RAM alive. A reboot would make the program go through the blanking operation to put it back to defaults, so you'd have to mod the program code to avoid wiping it. RAM tests would muck on with it too.
Maybe you could add an NVRAM device to the bus (modifying PALs and tapping into traces), then hack the ROM to point to this for high score data...
Just all seems rather unobvious to my untrained eye

Yeah i'm pretty convinced its rams 1F & 3F on the rom daughter board now. A 16 bit data bus. The main issue seems to be the ram test that's going to write garbage into them at power on before the program resets them with the defaults. I have ideas of creating some extra hardware to load scores from a separate location instead of roms as i know the address to be loaded and then mirroring the regular ram update if new high scores get added.

However, at the moment the easiest way is just to use my new rom editing tools and change the defaults to include my own top score. I am only bothered about the top score i have as this is the one shown on the attract screens and its unlikely to change very often, so for now i may well just create some custom roms.

 

[r-type]

I am not jealous of that at all.

That looks amazing! Top work.

Andy

 

[J69]

We need updates!

 

[myPinballs]

We need updates!

Yeah i've been alittle awol on this one! So busy this year with pinball pcbs!

However, the r-type is still here in my workshop/games room and is still much loved. I am hoping that this christmas santa is kind and brings me my order from mikes arcade

Once i have this then i'm going to do a full control panel rebuild. I got a new overlay when i go the new marquee so thats waiting. I need lots of new buttons, switches, bolts and joystick parts etc as i want this part to be as new as possible

 

[myPinballs]

Went to pick up a new pin yesterday for use with board testing and whilst there i picked up a load of old pcbs boards, that had been sitting in a box gathering dust for years, forgotten about.

Seem to be mainly golf games! but... Checking through them today i've found this 'NANAO' board..

Under the years of dust i found this label.

Turns out to be an IREM Major Title 2 M92 board original, so, i'm going to have a go at converting to an r-type Leo board for inclusion in my much loved r-type cab

More to come when i get to grips with converting this

Rear of pcb

Also, i still need to order my control panel parts from mikes arcade, though i have the list of things i need now done!

myPinballs2019-07-30 16:39:47

 

[Beaps]

Wow just wow. They have one at Arcade Club and I will always remember it. The stick felt so right, and made it play awesome. I've read through the posts and really enjoyed the read. The replacement marquee is like night and day, keep up the awesome work.

 

[mysticmonk]

This is a cab I'd really like, great job

 

[myPinballs]

Well, my r-type leo board conversion sub project is a go!

I tested the major title 2 pcb that i got recently (with a load of random purchases). Still mega chuffed to get this board in all the junk. Real bonus

Board came up ok and passed a ram and rom test. No sound, just a load of clicking and noise, but i'm hopeful i can fix that

Onwards to the rom swap and jumper changes

 

[myPinballs]

Update on my restoration, my order with mikes arcade is finally in, so i have all the control panel parts i need coming now to sort this out properly. Been too long playing with nasty,old, wrong buttons and a worn-out overlay. Excited to get these new parts

 

[myPinballs]

Starting the control panel restoration now my new buttons and joystick parts are on the way.

Some pics. I have a new CPO to install from this old game. First the disassembly and strip down plus the removal of the old knackered cpo plus the glue. nasty..

 

[myPinballs]

One other thing i am assuming my original cpo is faded, because the new one is much bluer though the greens and reds seems to match pretty closely. the lower part of it is less purple. Hmmm, now i'm thinking about it i'm wondering if its not matched great. or there were different versions, or the one they copied was faded... !!

 

[big10p]

I don't know which one's right, but the original one looks better, IMO. Also, the new one looks too small?

 

[urbanledge]

It'd be a crime to get rid of that CPO imo.
They are only original once and there is nothing wrong with it.

 

[Mikonos11]

I have this original panel, but it has a very hard restoration, but not impossible.

Is a pity you destroyed your original, it looked in a good condition, better that my scan file. It would be a easy work to restore for me.

Another thing, if original is available I try to do colour matches every time.

Note: artwork shops not mean a perfect restoration and a perfect printed artwork.

Artwork arcade "R-Type Control Panel Overlay" conseguido para Zona Arcade.

Note: Maybe control Panel Colour is because a sunderization effect.

Regards

Mikonos112019-10-21 13:26:37

 

[_Matt_]

Unless I'm missing something the new one defo looks to small, and yes the colours are way off. It's not because the original has faded.
Loads of people on here would have done exactly the same as you but I have to say that that original cpo looked really nice to me.

 

[myPinballs]

The problem with the original cpo was it wasn't in great condition. It was pretty bad in a lot of places, with tears, fag burns, cracks and areas where it was really shiny and worn from years of hands resting. I was in 2 minds about changing it, but like the marquee change shown earlier when these specific things are damaged then my view is to change them. the same for buttons and joystick parts.

If once completed the colour difference is too annoying then i will endeavour to help get a better colour match one created (as i still have the original in a few pieces) and redo mine! Thats how much i like this game. The size is ok, just my pic from earlier made it look smaller. This old Game stuff is usually ok and thats where my new marquee came from (search back in this thread).

myPinballs2019-10-21 13:55:56

 

[Monstermug]

Went to pick up a new pin yesterday for use with board testing and whilst there i picked up a load of old pcbs boards, that had been sitting in a box gathering dust for years, forgotten about.

Seem to be mainly golf games! but... Checking through them today i've found this 'NANAO' board..

Under the years of dust i found this label.

Turns out to be an IREM Major Title 2 M92 board original, so, i'm going to have a go at converting to an r-type Leo board for inclusion in my much loved r-type cab

More to come when i get to grips with converting this

Rear of pcb

Also, i still need to order my control panel parts from mikes arcade, though i have the list of things i need now done!

Change the green caps. They are notorious for leaking and killing the board.

 

[Mikonos11]

I think original can be restored in that condition. All problems seems to be around crews.

About This old Game stuff, I tell you a secret, some of his better pieces (accuracy) was restored by me, like his R-Type Side Art.

Another secret: they took from side art to reproduce CPO but with colour modification because they assumed that blue tone was the right colour because photos like I showed you.

Now, I know right colour is a little magenta, thanks to you.

Well, along these days I will show you an original scan from a sunderized R-Type CPO and I will show you R-Type Side Art that This old Game is selling.

Note: My screenshots seem to be small in my Main Thead, but if you donwload them they are very big because I like to show full details.

Note2: I worked for a lot of artwork shops without knowledge along these years.

Regards

Mikonos112019-10-21 15:25:44

 

[jugemscloud]

the source for the repro cpo has had the sun bleach all the red out out of it and it should be more like the lilac shade on your original and the sideart not that cerulean blue

keep the original for now and get a good source for a repro

 

[myPinballs]

I think original can be restored in that condition. All problems seems to be around crews.

About This old Game stuff, I tell you a secret, some of his better pieces (accuracy) was restored by me, like his R-Type Side Art.

Another secret: they took from side art to reproduce CPO but with colour modification because they assumed that blue tone was the right colour because photos like I showed you.

Now, I know right colour is a little magenta, thanks to you.

Well, along these days I will show you an original scan from a sunderized R-Type CPO and I will show you R-Type Side Art that This old Game is selling.

Note: My screenshots seem to be small in my Main Thead, but if you donwload them they are very big because I like to show full details.

Note2: I worked for a lot of artwork shops without knowledge along these years.

Regards

Thanks for the reply and info. If i can help you with improving the scan/ art work for the cpo then i will no problem. I don't actually mind the blue version actually, as in the real its not as saturated as the photos make out, but i would like to make sure a properly accurate one is available for use. The marquee reproduction and side art as you mention are spot on and the actual print quality and vinyl finish from this old game is good to.

What would you like in terms of sorting out the cpo colours? Shall i scan the parts i have so you can reference the purple and magenta or send you the vinyl parts? I am going to have to use the reproduction i have for now, but will redo mine if we get a better version made later, or get another metal blank and put the purple one on that.