'The Big Flipper' Atari Wide Body 46/27/19

[icemochalatte]

TheBigFlipper - Atari Widebody Retrofit 46/27/19

Hello. I have worked on my cabinet since middle December and want to show it off. I have done a lot of research in this forum and and in VP. :beer:

I picked up a cheap Atari widebody cabinet - Middle Earth (http://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?any=middle+earth&searchtype=quick#1590). The playfield was recently restored and is in almost perfect shape. I felt a little guilty using dissecting everything, but I couldn't build a new cabinet any cheaper than the cost of this cab.

I am almost done with the project, but here are some pics of evolution of "TheBigFlipper".

Click the pics for a larger view.

A dark pic of the original playfield. It is now hanging on my brother’s game room wall.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05350.jpg (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05350.jpg)

Boards and PSU before removing.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05367.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05367.jpg)

Right side view of cabinet artwork.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05373.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05373.jpg)

Front.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05375.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05375.jpg)

Left side cabinet artwork.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05376.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05376.jpg)

Cabinet serial number placard.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05379.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05379.jpg)

Playfield TV box.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05382.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05382.jpg)

Playfield TV with the bezel still in tact.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05383.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05383.jpg)

I used wood filler to fill dents and where the plywood layers separated a little on the cabinet front.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05392.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05392.jpg)

I sanded it all down for a smooooth finish.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05395.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05395.jpg)

Beautiful. I hope it wasn’t lead paint.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05399.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05399.jpg)

Back box with the wood Bondo.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05401.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05401.jpg)

Just another pic of the back box.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05403.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05403.jpg)

A few steps later… Painted cabinet with the freshly painted legs.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05404.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05404.jpg)

I used paint stripping acids to remove all old paint and sanded them down to bare metal. I coated with primer and black engine paint then cooked them in my oven at 250F for a day.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05405.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05405.jpg)

Playfield LCD with power supply, inverter, and I/O boards connected.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05413.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05413.jpg)

Removed the power supply, and both I/O boards before mounting to the support board.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05425.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05425.jpg)

The inverter had to stay where it was.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05426.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05426.jpg)

Here’s the back box and DMD.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05427.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05427.jpg)

350w computer power supply for the cabinet fans, LEDs and solenoids. Power on lead is connected to the original cabinet power switch.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05428.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05428.jpg)

Empty cab with some of the cabling installed.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05429.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05429.jpg)

Nanotech plunger.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05430.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05430.jpg)

Squirrel cage blower that cools the playfield LCD. Air is ducted between the LCD and board it is mounted to.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05431.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05431.jpg)

It’s getting there. I cleaned the original paint from the coin door and repainted with black engine paint and reflective paint, then about 3 coats of clear.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05434.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05434.jpg)

A little farther away.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05435.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05435.jpg)

There is about 3/8” – 1/2” clearance between the playfield board and plunger.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05436.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05436.jpg)

Playfield LCD and the squirrel cage fan.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05437.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05437.jpg)

Inside coin door. I mounted push switches to both coin return buttons. The red and black buttons (toward the top) are connected to the back box and playfield LCD power buttons. I have since cleaned up the coin door wiring.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05442.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05442.jpg)

Credit switch mounted to the old coin return button.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05443.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05443.jpg)

Side view.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05444.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05444.jpg)

Looking into the cabinet through the coin door opening.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05445.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05445.jpg)

Zoomed view into the back of the cabinet through the coin door opening.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05447.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05447.jpg)

Top-down view of the cabinet without playfield LCD. UPS (battery backup) power relay and cabinet power supply are connected to the original cabinet power switch.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05448.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05448.jpg)

View of cabinet without playfield LCD. Subwoofer is in the back and the big aluminum box is the computer. Computer case is a Cooler Master Stacker and fits nice and snug in the extra wide cabinet.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05450.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05450.jpg)

Subwoofer of the Logitech Z680 set in the cabinet uses an 8-inch driver that is normally too “boomy”, but gives a good force-feedback feel for bumpers, etc.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05451.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05451.jpg)

Looking toward the front of the cabinet from the left.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05452.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05452.jpg)

Playfield LCD out of the cabinet. I removed electronics from the LCD and mounted the LCD to a slab of particle board. The LCD power supply and I/O boards are now mounted with standoffs to the particle board. I later added the 6” bolts to allow placing flat on the ground. Polyester handles are used for lifting the playfield.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05454.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05454.jpg)

Playfield power supply is mounted to the board, but the inverter had to stay in its original place.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05456.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05456.jpg)

Close-up view of the playfield on the floor.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05457.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05457.jpg)

Another couple close-up views of the playfield on the floor.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05458.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05458.jpg)
.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05459.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05459.jpg)

Playfield from top.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05460.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05460.jpg)

Bottom view of the playfield.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05464.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05464.jpg)


I have made more progress after these photos. There's more to come.

[Rawd]

Very very nice work. Keep us updated with more pics please!

[njay]

wow a-class work my friend and welcome to the boards.

its really cool that you used some original parts from the cabinet itself nice work there !

[lettuce]

Coming along nicely. That must be a super widebody, how wide is it? 26"??

[icemochalatte]

Coming along nicely. That must be a super widebody, how wide is it? 26"??

It's almost 27.25" wide inside the cabinet and about 28.75" outside. The Atari super wide bodies were huge.

[Rawd]

It's almost 27.25" wide inside the cabinet and about 28.75" outside. The Atari super wide bodies were huge.

My cab is almost the same size.

[icemochalatte]

Here are some recent pictures. I've cleaned up HyperPin and removed all but the best tables. I tried HyperPin on Win7 with a 60GB OCZ Vertex SSD, but have had some trouble with HyperPin losing focus. I may sacrifice TRIM and install back on Windows XP.

Cabinet with playfield glass installed. I struggled to find a way to create a good looking playfield bezel and after a few failed attempts using rubberized paint, panel board, created a beautiful bezel by painting with engine spray paint onto the underside of the glass.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05527.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05527.jpg)

Cabinet with lit pause & exit buttons on the left and digital plunger/launch ball button on the right.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05528.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05528.jpg)

Backglass and DMD LCDs will be covered using a sheet of tempered glass with speaker holes. I may try polarized tint to reduce glare on the playfield. I also want to tint the lower portion of the backglass so the DMD LCD is not visible unless it is lit and in use.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05536.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05536.jpg)


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05541.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05541.jpg)

Night view of the cabinet with the flipper button lit up.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05543.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05543.jpg)


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05568.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05568.jpg)


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05571.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05571.jpg)

I've read in some threads about problems with UltraPinball/SlamT1lt, but the guy has done some great work with FP. Superman is an amazing table.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05573.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05573.jpg)


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05588.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05588.jpg)


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/th_DSC05597.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/icemochalatte/TheBigFlipper/DSC05597.jpg)

[reko19]

Cabinet with playfield glass installed. I struggled to find a way to create a good looking playfield bezel and after a few failed attempts using rubberized paint, panel board, created a beautiful bezel by painting with engine spray paint onto the underside of the glass

like the bezel idea, how is it holding up with p.f. glass being taken in and out?

[Takedown]

Nice work!

Now the question were all thinking, could it fit a bigger screen? :)

I didn't know such cabinets existed, might rethink which cabinet I try to find now that I've seen this done without cutting the top of the cabinet.

Do you have any pictures of the play field with the lights on? I'd like to see how it turned out with your painted bezel. Again nice job!

[reko19]

Real question is would you want it to fit inside? Is it more realistic when the sides ar cut and there is no bezel? On the other hand it is a bit easier when you don't have to cut the sides and should the monitor fail you don't have to hunt down exact same model.

[Takedown]

Good points, makes me rethink the direction I'll take with screen size / cabinet selection.