Dragon's Lair Fans - Arcade Lifestyle

General Chat => Arcade Lifestyle => Topic started by: polderarcade on February 10, 2011, 09:54:48 PM

Title: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: polderarcade on February 10, 2011, 09:54:48 PM
Oke people  first  sorry for not posting much on the forum because my terrible ingles :oops: I just love reading and not posting to much

But finely I have some time to start restoring my games but I think I can’t do this alone, so I hope you guys have some patience with me and can give me some info.
I know some basic electronics measuring wires and power is not a big problem and not afraid of soldering.

Only problem pcb’s, I did some work on pins, easier to find info for the boards in pinball machines
Finding problems in arcade pcb’s is more difficult, somebody at my work now’s something about circuit boards so I hope he can help me out a little bid
Bud if somebody has info or tips please let me now , where to start?

First project : thunder blade sit-down
Some pics and info
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02167.jpg)
Pcb not working only a white screen the biggest problem now,Screen tested working whit an afterburner board
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02169.jpg)

Rest of the electronics look nice I think so, realy clean
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02166.jpg)

The biggest cosmetic problems big crack in the throttle cover ,and the back site of the chair lots of damage
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02125.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02128.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02123.jpg)


I think its fixable whit some fiber class en liquid plastic after the project is technical working

For the people interested made my self a bar in the game room
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02198.jpg)
Sponsor by sega ;D
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: polderarcade on February 13, 2011, 01:58:41 PM
Yes I am happy there is life in my thunder blade ;D

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02213.jpg)

Started with measuring voltage on the board seems like oke al the chips and eproms get power. Tested if the crystals are running whit a radio sounds like they are working, no clue where to start looking now

Figured out to start some trial and error whit my particle working afterburner board.
Exchanging the main processor, Still no progress
Finally put all the eproms and removable chips from the thunder blade board to the afterburner board and now it’s running only problems whit the sound that I need to solve
It gives a lout humming noise and in the back ground I hear the sounds of the game

I can’t resist to play a game and need to say its dame difficult playing the game siting on the chair
Only bad thing is now I don’t have my after burner board any more :-\
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: polderarcade on February 13, 2011, 03:32:12 PM
Oke two questions now it runs, disassembling the thunder blade for paint and cleaning
When I took apart the cover in front of the seat I found a small pcb whit two connectors looks like you can plug in ear plugs, somebody knows they had an special reason, or why they are there?

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02214.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02215.jpg)

Second question somebody ever seen a grey thunder blade instead of black?
It looks like its intended to be grey but in factory they repainted it black before stickers

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02217.jpg)

One last question is there a place where you can buy security torx ?
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: level42 on February 13, 2011, 10:11:07 PM
Security torx, a good tool shop sells sets with all kinds of (security) bits.

All the other questions, sorry but I have no clue....
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: polderarcade on February 14, 2011, 09:43:52 PM
Sorry my mistake don’t mean the security torx bits, but the security torx bolts as you may now a lot of sega over here (this weekend one more I hope) so the bits are the first thing I got from the hardware store.
On al lot of the big games I am missing bolts or somebody replaced them whit all kinds of other bolts.
I want to put back original security torx

And important as cheap as possible

So a little update on the project, work the complete Sunday to disassemble the game final results:

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02218.jpg)

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02219.jpg)

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02220.jpg)

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02221.jpg)

First thing to do when looking at pics, it looks like the wheels under my thunder blade are not original so I cut them of
Before :
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02222.jpg)

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02223.jpg)

After :
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02225.jpg)

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02224.jpg)


So next step will be sanding it down, repainting and lots of cleaning
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: polderarcade on March 13, 2011, 09:16:18 PM
Oke slowly going it’s time for a little update

The base in paint mode, lessen one it’s a horrible job sand blasting and sanding down a deluxe cab.
lots and lots of strange corners
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02273.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02272.jpg)

Cleant the base of the flight stick
Bevore:
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02267.jpg)

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02268.jpg)

After:
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02270.jpg)

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02271.jpg)

It’s a slow progress but I’m not in a hurry .
Hoping to start whit some plastics restoring this week.
And also started looking for I sticker company for the artwork and a car paint company for the paint on the plastic parts a metallic dark grey blue color, not affable at the local hard ware store :-[

(off topic mode)
Sorry no road trip pics but the new kid in the gameroom ;D

(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i380/polderarcade/DSC02261.jpg)
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: level42 on March 13, 2011, 09:20:25 PM
GREAT !!! Congrats !!
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: Superully on March 13, 2011, 09:36:07 PM
that flight stick looked nasty - well done! and congrats on your latest catch, you're going for the BIGGIES!!!
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: polderarcade on March 14, 2011, 10:33:23 PM
Yes I know just like de big boys more than the up ride one’s only problem is space.
But there two more on the wish list: 2 player racer and my dream cab Sega rally 2 deluxe
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: level42 on March 14, 2011, 11:32:53 PM
There are a couple of VERY nice twin racers for sale in Belgium.....but no low prices !

http://www.gameroom.be/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6510
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: polderarcade on March 16, 2011, 05:28:35 PM
I know bud little bid money problem at the moment, so I decided firs get al the project games op and running
have a lot of BIG projects.
So I can use al available funds for that, and when the big boys are running continue to new old cabs
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: Reboot on October 07, 2012, 03:11:41 AM
Nice cab and interesting restoration because there isn't much info to be found on this cab.
Any progress? Is it up and running 100%?
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: level42 on October 07, 2012, 08:11:22 AM
Polder just picked up my Hard Drivin' (So he can make one good one from the two he has now) and Video Pinball.
He said he is totally focussing on the Afterburner at the moment.
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: Reboot on October 08, 2012, 09:27:52 PM
Ok, that's an even better cab  :)
Thought maybe he forgot about this thread and the cab was finished.
Just bought one myself so was searching info on it.
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: playazclub on February 17, 2013, 09:32:16 AM
So I don't wish to highjack this thread but for those looking for answers on the sitdown thunder blade, I have been posting bi weekly videos on Youtube of my progress.  Currently, the skid and nearly every metal part outside the monitor tower are being powdercoated as we speak.  Best of all, I was fortunate to buy up all of Sega's remaining for this machine (over 800+ pieces) both sitdown and upright so hit me up if you need parts and that includes decals.
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: DarthNuno on February 17, 2013, 10:10:39 AM
Hi playazclub, and welcome to DFL'  ;)

No problem, what are few links of your youtube videos regarding Thunder Blade?
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: Reboot on February 17, 2013, 09:55:42 PM
These are the links I think

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_IG2FIJDhM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_IG2FIJDhM)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=S07QRos_9Q8&feature=endscreen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=S07QRos_9Q8&feature=endscreen)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcKhFMExt9I&feature=endscreen&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcKhFMExt9I&feature=endscreen&NR=1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=LUNYpp8Yygw&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=LUNYpp8Yygw&NR=1)
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: playazclub on April 22, 2013, 10:12:38 AM
I think I'm basically done with this project - at least from the standpoint of videos.  I will be doing a definitive resto thread since I think there are so few of these left in the wild, the're worth saving and nobody ever completes their resto they start on this machiine.  Plus, I have a ton of parts and I'm the go to guy since I have all of Sega's old inventory.

Below are the links to the remaining videos.  My threads will contain much more data and information though.  This is an awesome machine and I am so glad I did this resto.  That said, I spared no expense so I am much lighter in the wallet than I had intended to be when I started this mission.  Enjoy, and feedback is always welcome.

Part 5 http://youtu.be/4EEU5ma6-hE (http://youtu.be/4EEU5ma6-hE)
Part 6 http://youtu.be/P85BFhkPohQ (http://youtu.be/P85BFhkPohQ)
Steering mech http://youtu.be/wy5YyzWSNl4 (http://youtu.be/wy5YyzWSNl4)
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: Bods on July 23, 2013, 04:06:03 PM
I wish I'd bought one of the DLX Thunderblade machines myself sometimes, very cool looking machine
Title: Re: thunder blade Restoration
Post by: synonym9 on November 13, 2014, 04:56:07 AM

Sir, are there still NOS-parts for this machine for sale?

I would like to save a machine that is in use as a backyard-toy but I am sure I will need some parts.





Compared to other Thunderblades I found in the web this unit is in quite good shape especially if you make aware that this one stays AT LEAST for 2 years in the free....might be even longer.