OK...it has begun. I bought a Stern Lightning on Ebay for a cheap amount and it has been sitting in my workshop for almost 2 months... time to get cracking! It works if I use the power supply from my Galaxy, so it is a good sign! Here is what needs to be done:

- board updating (lots of burnt connectors)
- corrosion omnipresent (bad storage)
- pf needs a big-a** cleaning and MINUTE touchup
- 2 inserts need to be reglued
- need a better backglass
- LOTS of polishing

Of course, I forgot to take a global pic of the machine... I will later. This is what I have done so far:

Lower cabinet work so far:

- vacuumed all the crap
- installed a new power cord
- removed power supply to clean up and update
- all small metal parts are in the polisher
- shooter rod and prop rod polished

Next: reassembly and coindoor polish/paint!

Parts in the polisher... and shooter rod knob before... and after!

Lucky, this is a really fun pin !! I hope to see more pics soon !

ouin .. .fallait qu'on s'en parle pour que tu te d�cide

i too can't wait for pics.  but what i can't really wait for is a meeting when its all nice and done.  keep up the work and the info.

Sheesh! Talk about sudden interest! I didn't think that there would be such an interest in an old Stern pin.

Well Phil... yes and no... I have been thinking of working on it for a while, but with all the house renos and all, it was difficult.

And for those who asked me for more pics, here they are...

As you can see, backglass has big paint cracks in it... but it does fit the lightning theme!  

And as for the playfields, the main one has magic-eraser dust on it right now after I have scrubbed it... can you see any wear? I don't!    The upper playfield has 2 small chips in the middle, but other than that, is extremely nice!

Once the cab is refreshed, I will start dismantling and cleaning the playfield... top AND bottom. And for any of you that know my work, I don't just pass a rag...

More updates to come!


Sparky

Here's what the cab looks like...is quite decent! A couple of chips here and there, but is structuraly 100%.

I have a lot of interest about this pin, don't forget to update your work !! I like those old stern pins for the great sounds and robot voice !! I hope i can heard the real sounds coming from this pins because vpinmame doesn't emulate them well.
Flight 2000
Freefall
Lightning
Split Second
Catacomb
are my best stern from this era

UPDATE! I have COMPLETELY dissassembled the coindoor and will be sandblasting and repainting it. All metal parts behind the coindoor have been polished... yes, I am that crazy.

Here's a quick breakdown and pics:

- retouched the black inside the cab
- coindoor dissassembled and going to be sandblasted
- lockbar mechanism has been sanded, polished and clearcoated (this was COMPLETELY rusted... now looks new! You can even read the STERN lettering on it now)
- started reinstalling polished metal parts
- cleaned flipper button assemblies with Mean Green and toothbrush
- PinballPro sub kit has been ordered
- cab wiring has been cleaned in the dishwasher
- prepping for sanding of inside of cab (best way to remove the crap on the bottom inside)
- received new Stern coindoor decal, so will install it when paint is done

Here's a couple of pics...

Sparky

damn nice.  great work.  picky bugger ain't you.

Quoted from gorydeath

damn nice.  great work.  picky bugger ain't you.

As my Grandfather used to say:
Anything worth doing is worth over doing!

Nice work Ian

Adam

Pour peinturer la porte et les pattes, chez walmart et home depot y a une peinture qui s'appel RUST OLEUM fini martelé, ça se raproche en crisse de l'original. Faut mettre une bonne couche sans primer.
Avec deux couche tu perd l'effet martelé.