Dragon's Lair Fans - Arcade Lifestyle

General Chat => Arcade Lifestyle => Topic started by: ckong on June 09, 2015, 04:09:28 PM

Title: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: ckong on June 09, 2015, 04:09:28 PM
Since C7 I am the proud owner of a nice Q*bert game. The cab is in pretty decent condition, and that's the reason that I don't plan big restoration works. sure, it shows it age, and that is great. Here is a pic of the best side

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/QBert/P1070692_zpsyrz7vjzg.jpg) (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/ckong65/media/QBert/P1070692_zpsyrz7vjzg.jpg.html)

The other side is almost as good. I think that a good cleaning will do and maybe a bit of paint touch-up here and there.

The previous owner did install a new (repro?) CPO, I guess, because it is like new. Fortunately no cracks. It's obvious that the CP also got a new fresh paint  from him.

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/QBert/P1070690_zpsgdyw37od.jpg) (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/ckong65/media/QBert/P1070690_zpsgdyw37od.jpg.html)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/QBert/P1070691_zpshiqvgtsd.jpg) (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/ckong65/media/QBert/P1070691_zpshiqvgtsd.jpg.html)

The marquee is original and in great condition, the backside still has it's protective foil! I will leave it there, you can't see it from the front when the marqee is lit, and removal of the sticky foil could mean that I damage the print.

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/QBert/P1070689_zpsd4sogpey.jpg) (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/ckong65/media/QBert/P1070689_zpsd4sogpey.jpg.html)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/QBert/P1070696_zpssmz0ufhu.jpg) (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/ckong65/media/QBert/P1070696_zpssmz0ufhu.jpg.html)

What's more to say about the game? It's working 100%, the WG monitor is still in very good condition (very, very minor burn in, only visible when you remove the bezel and smoke plexiglass, so absolutely no burn in visible during gameplay) with good colors and pretty sharp. The coin door has the Gottlieb plate  :)  and I'm a happy man.

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/QBert/P1070699_zpsjpukxodw.jpg) (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/ckong65/media/QBert/P1070699_zpsjpukxodw.jpg.html)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/QBert/P1070703_zpsjtqm0qwa.jpg) (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/ckong65/media/QBert/P1070703_zpsjtqm0qwa.jpg.html)

The only things to do, besides the cleaning job, is to install some door locks and to perform the '230V mod'. Oh, and it will get some brand new 'repro' serial stickers etc., from our sticker wizard of course.  :D
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: joeks on June 09, 2015, 04:21:04 PM
Looks great Erik!

Very nice looking machine.
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: anunaki on June 09, 2015, 04:33:35 PM
hell yeah  :spaceace: :spaceace:

I like this cab so much
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: Superully on June 09, 2015, 04:45:45 PM
really nice, erik, one day i'll restore my q*bert cab as well ... ONE DAY! :P
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: Tyrem on June 09, 2015, 05:40:16 PM
really nice, erik, one day i'll restore my q*bert cab as well ... ONE DAY! :P

let me do this for you. ;)
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: Muerto on June 09, 2015, 06:45:57 PM
Great looking Q*bert!
One day I get my QQ up and running... oh wait, just ordered a replacement PCB  ;D
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: DarthNuno on June 09, 2015, 07:03:28 PM
Missa like it!  :-*
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: level42 on June 09, 2015, 08:03:07 PM
I hate you.










 ;D
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: Belike on June 09, 2015, 08:37:58 PM
Nice one, congrats! ;)
One of the very few videogames, made by Gottlieb.
I just came across the list, I found a cab called New York, New York, never heard about this game, might be fun with that speech. :D
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: Q*ris on June 09, 2015, 08:42:51 PM
Too bad the colour of the cables under the control panel are so faded...
...
 ;D
What can I say? It's PERFECT! I wouldn't bother touching anything on that cab... Except the joystick of course  ;)
Enjoy the game :)
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: Franzy21 on June 09, 2015, 10:04:13 PM
Who says there's some work to do on this beauty?
:)
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: Luigi on June 10, 2015, 08:25:10 AM
Nice machine, Erik. Have fun with it!! :)
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: ckong on June 10, 2015, 09:47:44 PM
Thanks guys, it's indeed a nice looking cab, with just the right portion of scarves!  ;D

In the meanwhile, i just finished the 230V mod. Can some techno guy please take a look at the next picture and give his sign of approval?

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/QBert/P1070706_zpsyiicajap.jpg) (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/ckong65/media/QBert/P1070706_zpsyiicajap.jpg.html)

I guess that I now just need to connect an Euro plug to the power cable and stick it in the wall socket? Although, there are 5 fuses, F1 - F5, do I have to replace all of them with fuses of 50% the Amperage?

Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: level42 on June 11, 2015, 11:53:03 AM
No you only have to half the value of the very first fuse, so the mains fuse, in this case (and usually) F1.
remember it is a slow-blow fuse so there has to be a T before the 2A.

Remember, the only place where the voltage changes (doubles), and thus the current decreases (halfs) is at the incoming (mains) side of the transformer. The output voltages (hopefully ;) ) remain the same and thus the fuses on that side of the transformer also stay the same.

Wiring seems to look correct, no guarantee thoug. Power it up without anything connected first and check voltages.
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: ckong on June 11, 2015, 11:57:40 AM
About the fuses on the power brick:

F1 original value is S4A. Should be T2A (according André's Qbert topic)

F2 original value is S3A Should this fuse be replaced? >>> no
F3 original value is S2A. Should this fuse be replaced? >>> no

F4 original value is S10A? >>> no replacement needed
F5 original value is S1A (mine has S2,5A will change that).  >>> no replacement needed

BTW, I just noticed that Juno First has the exact same powerbrick, so I guess that one will get the 250V mod too.  :)


edit: this reply crossed AndrĂ©'s answer. Thanks mate, I now know what to do.  ;D

Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: level42 on June 11, 2015, 11:59:50 AM
I updated my reply, please read it again :)
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: level42 on June 11, 2015, 12:03:58 PM
Good....in return, can you check your coin counter for me please ?

I need to know its specced voltage and type number would be nice. Also, if possible, have a look which wire goes to the plus and which to the minus, both wires from the counter itself will probably be black, but there are two holes in the bracket so one is on top and the other on the bottom. I have no idea if polarity is important with coin counters though.
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: joeks on June 11, 2015, 01:51:02 PM
Power it up without anything connected first and check voltages.

That's actually a smart idea :)
Have to remember that.

PS. I have step-down converters for all my cabs. Might have to consider doing some 110-230 V conversions instead.
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: ckong on June 11, 2015, 02:13:45 PM
I'm ready to power the game up, running on 230VAC, but it is indeed smart to first check all the voltages.

However, where can I find the pin diagrams for A12-p1, A12-p5 and A12-j2 (the 3 plugs on the power brick)? I know, a smart guy can probably read the the diagrams in the manual and figure it out, but I can't (other smart guys know how to read financial balance sheets, P&L's, cash-flow statements, etc.  ;) ).
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on June 11, 2015, 02:21:58 PM
Page 20 of this doc should get you there  ;)

http://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Arcade//Manual/formated/Q-bert_-_1982_-_Gottlieb.pdf

These are the numbers of the pads on the secondary side of the transformer.

Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: level42 on June 11, 2015, 02:44:49 PM
Have a look at that manual and you will find the secret color code combination.....those three digit numbers mean color codes of the wires used :)

It's even better to measure at the 2 output connectors. In that case you know it's good until the "end" of the power supply.
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: ckong on June 11, 2015, 04:10:31 PM
Thanks guys for the help, and the color scheme is a great idea and big help.

So far I measured the monitor (117 VAC), the service plug (226 VAC) and connector J5 (13.8 VDC, schematic says 11.5 VDC, is the surplus a problem?)

And after measuring the voltages on the 3rd connector I flipped the switch and the game is now running on 230V. This makes the shortage on stepdown converters one less.  :)

Next up is Juno First.
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: level42 on June 11, 2015, 07:57:01 PM
Well done !

Here's one  :spaceace: to the battle against those ugly (external) step-downs !!! Gotta kill them all !
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: level42 on June 11, 2015, 08:05:00 PM
(13.8 VDC, schematic says 11.5 VDC, is the surplus a problem?)

No. Sometimes in electronics voltage indications are "about", namely when they are _unregulated_ voltages. Unregulated voltages exist when......there has been no regulation of any kind :D

So, if there's no "complex" electronic schematic to regulate the voltage, or even a simple one like a 7805 or 7812, you can expect voltages to be "about" the value indicated. Once regulated they DO have to be close to spec, so +5V should be not more than +5.15 f.i. The reason is that TTL chips don't like to "eat" anything else than 5V (and even then there is a small margin).

Unregulated voltages also will most of the time measure higher when there is no load connected (like you just did). Once you connect the load, the voltage will drop (because of the load) to about the value that is indicated. This is because.....it is an Unregulated voltage and there is nothing to regulate it :D



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHgDu5_1m70
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: level42 on June 11, 2015, 08:09:42 PM
Waaaaaahaahahahahaha, Oh god....I just HAD to look up the first episode of that show Soap....

It's un-American funny IMHO :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epmuzMbBNvI&list=PLxnJpxCzmV9irpr6MgMEDTAnfsEnnabcS
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: ckong on June 11, 2015, 08:13:47 PM
 :D
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: level42 on June 11, 2015, 08:19:03 PM
Remember it was broadcast by VPRO in The Netherlands BITD.....so it was culturally OK to watch  ;D
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: ckong on June 17, 2015, 09:56:17 PM
Picture of the Q*bert production plant. Notice that the upper coin door doesn't have the Gottlieb name plate, or frame for it. Meaning that this is an early or a late production serie?

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/QBert/Qbert%20manufacturing_zpslbzoqpph.png) (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/ckong65/media/QBert/Qbert%20manufacturing_zpslbzoqpph.png.html)

Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: level42 on June 17, 2015, 11:22:04 PM
Wow great pic. I think someone mentioned in my Q*bert thread that the early one's had no Gottlieb name plate in the coin doors.

My serial is somewhere in the 1600
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: ckong on June 18, 2015, 03:57:05 AM
So yours must be one of them in the above row!!  ;D  Awesome.

The picture clearly shows the final stage of assembly, seeing that the gamescreen is on. Probably end-quality check.
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: level42 on June 18, 2015, 08:45:10 AM
Yup. I think I see mine, the fifth from the front....... ;D ;D ;D

Love those kind of pics....the footage from the Bally-Midway factory showing production of Ms.Pac Man is still one of my favorite Youtube videos.

You know, seeing them so minty fresh and realizing mine looks almost the same does give me a boost. Yes I don't mind a few battle scars but there is also something about having some machines in complete fresh condition, because you know they started of in really bad shape (Ms.Pac) or simply arrived as a sad (almost) empty set of planks, and it was me who blew life into them again. Yes I am proud and happy about doing that !  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: ckong on June 18, 2015, 09:01:02 AM
..... Yes I am proud and happy about doing that !  ;D ;D ;D

And you have all the reason to feel that way. Game on!
Title: Re: Q*bert, just some pics
Post by: Laszo on June 18, 2015, 11:01:16 PM
..... Yes I am proud and happy about doing that !  ;D ;D ;D

And you have all the reason to feel that way. Game on!

 +1

Absolutely, some need just cleaning but some need all the love they can get.