Dragon's Lair Fans - Arcade Lifestyle

General Chat => Arcade Lifestyle => Topic started by: Superully on January 04, 2012, 03:11:21 PM

Title: [Superully's Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on January 04, 2012, 03:11:21 PM
a lot of players in the arcade world think that ZOO KEEPER is the best arcade game ever produced. while i don't entirely agree with this statement, i'll happily admit that zoo keeper is a kickass game featuring some unbelievable cabinet artwork all around. taito ditched the usual universal taito logo sideart for a comic-style art covering both sides and the cabinet's front completely. because of its fun gameplay and artwork, everyone IS game for zoo keeper :arrow:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6634431779_f10409ca35_b_d.jpg)

i picked the cabinet up during my first england roadtrip (https://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/index.php?topic=1652.0) from rav's place one and a half year ago. unfortunately, it is missing most parts of the wiring harness and the entire board set. looks like another masterplan has to be set in motion ... 8)

i emptied the cabinet almost entirely to make it easier for getting it up into my apartment. here it is still in my car after transporting the game over from my storage :arrow:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6634432257_bd16ca9457_b_d.jpg)

let's pull it out! apart from spider webs and some light mold, the entire socket is missing. those pedestals were just poorly designed :'(

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6634433113_ffcbfc7c9e_b_d.jpg)

because nothing is inside the cab anymore, it is pretty light and therefore allows us to carry it up without using a trolley. here we are, still at the bottom of the seemingly endless staircase :P

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6634433541_941434aa39_b_d.jpg)

first bend - looking good so far

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6634433835_bd2b137369_b_d.jpg)

piece of cake!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6634435139_6ee094d3db_b_d.jpg)

four bends later, we're almost there, only a few more steps ...

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6634432627_3f9f6b41ea_b_d.jpg)

right in front of my apartment entrance door (man, my beard is getting greyer and greyer, perhaps i should stop work like that)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6634434899_1b83f08fa5_b_d.jpg)

done!!! the cabinet in my study, ready for a first inspection

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6634434363_5acff3954c_b_d.jpg)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Muerto on January 04, 2012, 05:07:21 PM
So looking forward to thos restoration!!! Man that sideart is KICKASS looking!!!!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: level42 on January 04, 2012, 07:47:09 PM
Yeah,yeah,yeah, I feeeeeeeel this is your perfect candidate for Eurocade 2012 !!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on January 04, 2012, 07:59:38 PM
Great one to enter the resto line  ;)

Now its empty, perhaps a scan of the side and front is possible  ::)
(or is there already reproart for this ?)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on January 04, 2012, 08:02:57 PM
Now its empty, perhaps a scan of the side and front is possible  ::)
(or is there already reproart for this ?)

yepp, there is! i'll only do touchups though.
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on January 06, 2012, 04:54:48 PM

inspection time! starting at the very bottom - or better: what's left of the base!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6643009563_ba2fc7aa7d_b_d.jpg)

correction, i have another piece of the base here with me

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6643079741_b96e50316e_b_d.jpg)

look at that crappy material

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6643080539_712cd00f8e_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6643081297_7b7aba0d39_b_d.jpg)

what do you think, can this be saved? ;) :P

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6643081891_777093587d_b_d.jpg)

unfortunately, the missing base also left its marks on the cabinet itself

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/6643017195_1707e96fb6_b_d.jpg)

same shi**y material as the base! this is going to need a lot of attention

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6643017745_d55ced9dbb_b_d.jpg)

full frontal view of the (empty) cabinet

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6643015047_5072e06737_b_d.jpg)

the fabulous frontart is still in pretty good shape ...

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6643018057_989aa01c59_b_d.jpg)

... but the bottom parts worries me a little bit!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6643010553_faeb1b9594_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6643011823_f8862e3119_b_d.jpg)

let's turn to the sides, starting on the right

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6643013529_d98c2fe826_b_d.jpg)

while everything looks fine from afar, a closer look reveals the usual wear, dings and scratches! :'(

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6643016843_267fdd7cce_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6643008319_f305677397_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6643012533_13609d94b6_b_d.jpg)

the cabinet's left side

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6643011415_a204cef03b_b_d.jpg)

nothing new there

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6643011019_163b2df298_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7030/6643016507_2456111fdb_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6643013217_ab6b199e0b_b_d.jpg)

nothingness inside

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6643012859_49ba2bacb5_b_d.jpg)

stickers on the back - the unreadable one in the middle is going to be reproduced by our vector king 8)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6643009089_1ded7c4188_b_d.jpg)

taito serial plate

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6643014525_fa870e8104_b_d.jpg)

as you can see, the cab is going to need a lot of attention, mostly woodwork and touch-ups for now (hopefully, i will find a perfect match for the two colors). i still haven't decided whether to work with the cabinet "as is" or if i should disassemble it entirely (like i did with my jungle king). disassembly would make work on certain parts much easier, but of course it would also involve so much more work. however, i do have the experience from my jungle king resto and luckily this experience is still "warm" (if you know what i mean)!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Muerto on January 06, 2012, 07:04:26 PM
hehe, that "crappy" material is MDF!!! very stirdy - except when humid/water present...
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: level42 on January 06, 2012, 09:30:10 PM
Compared to plywood it is crap though....
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on January 06, 2012, 11:04:39 PM
looks like you need to stick that new alusticker to a piece of aluminium, it looks like a plate instead of a sticker..
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on January 09, 2012, 10:06:54 PM
i still haven't decided whether to work with the cabinet "as is" or if i should disassemble it entirely (like i did with my jungle king). disassembly would make work on certain parts much easier, but of course it would also involve so much more work.

the decision has been made - or better: the decision "made itself". why? well, in order to fix the damages to the sideart i had to remove the screws holding the cabinet together (at least for the most part). when i had them out and moved the cabinet around to lay it on its side, the "roof" basically slid off :arrow:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6669051085_245e15f100_b_d.jpg)

"that's a sign", i thought to myself and started disassembling the cabinet

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6669048573_7795b4307e_b_d.jpg)

i'm becoming an expert on taito cabs :P

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6669049447_b5f44579d8_b_d.jpg)

having the cabinet taken apart is going to make the restoration process so much easier!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7156/6669047601_14f0102eaa_b_d.jpg)

have i said before that i'm in love with the zoo keeper art? ;) :-*

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6669050207_4e7a89abc3_b_d.jpg)

up next: prepping the individual pieces for cosmetic surgery!!!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on January 29, 2012, 06:08:24 PM

just because i'm not posting a lot of progress pictures doesn't mean i'm not making progress, it's just that things are moving really slow because of the condition of the wood. it didn't look that bad at first glance, but the more i got into it, the worse it got. one side of the cab was literally damaged all way round which meant filling sanding filling sanding filling sanding ...

but why not simply show you some pictures ... ?

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6783111769_133c1dea6b_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6783113495_e996626128_b_d.jpg)

out comes the knife!!! :twisted:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6783103689_ff0a7f312a_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6783108253_6182f92801_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6783112423_658fbfc68b_b_d.jpg)

before starting the filling / sanding session, a lot of wood hardener is needed first!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6783107653_2be453d12a_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6783108883_30fbb9ab9f_b_d.jpg)

wood filler ready!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6783106935_5df76fc893_b_d.jpg)

let the games fillings begin ...

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6783109431_2d928d7e6b_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6783110977_d8f73dde7a_b_d.jpg)

:o :shock: :o :shock: :o :shock: :o

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6783110179_3255c4af39_b_d.jpg)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 05, 2012, 03:29:03 PM

after sanding, more sanding and even more sanding ...

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6822477885_ae50f98e3b_b_d.jpg)

... i'm done with the woodworks (for now)! let me show you some pictures of the current condition of the wooden parts, starting with the front piece :arrow:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6822479647_3be49d394b_b_d.jpg)

in detail :arrow:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7156/6822482077_1aedeb0e4e_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6822481827_f0193f44bd_b_d.jpg)

now on to the sides, first the front :arrow:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6822483275_a5abb7d58f_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6822482569_c20196e18d_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6822480149_97365296d0_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6822481001_e902a570d1_b_d.jpg)

then the back :arrow:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6822481415_58db96597b_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6822478811_f24df14df8_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6822478361_791cf6f9ee_b_d.jpg)

as you can see, i had to remove a lot of rotten wood and fill countless holes to make the pieces sturdy again. everything looks extremely rough at the moment and hopefully i'll be able to find matching colors for the upcoming paint job! the worst part is over though (i hate filling and sanding), let the fun part begin ...
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on February 05, 2012, 03:35:57 PM
I love those "nougat shots"  ;D

(http://www.sweetieworld.co.uk/images/sweets/20070712132718059_m/Whole_Tubs_of_Sweets/Almond_Nougat.jpg)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Dr. Blair on February 05, 2012, 03:42:07 PM
So, can the wood filler go right on top of the wood hardener? Or is there some prep that needs to be done in-between? Very cool stuff, but the way.
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 05, 2012, 03:44:49 PM
nope, no special preparation, it can go right on top of the wood hardener. all you need to do is give that stuff enough time to evaporate, it smells like hell! :twisted:
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Dr. Blair on February 05, 2012, 03:53:02 PM
Cool. Thanks. (Learning...) :oops:
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: level42 on February 05, 2012, 05:26:07 PM
The wood filler is called Bondo on your side of the big water....
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Dr. Blair on February 05, 2012, 07:50:56 PM
Ah, I see. Thanks.
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: level42 on February 05, 2012, 08:32:31 PM
Uh, oops forgot you live in Japan.....well at least its called Bondo in the US.

What it boils down to is that is is a two component poleyester filler, there are loads of brands....
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 05, 2012, 08:39:15 PM
the stuff i'm using most of the time (ponal duo) has two big advantages: (a) it can be formed nicely into shape an hour after applying it (b) it adheres perfectly to the wood underneath. of course, the downside to this is that you have to wait about a day before you can sand it down. in case there are still small gorges left, i use the "quick bondo stuff" which is usable for about five minutes and can be sanded after half an hour. downside to it is that the adhesion isn't as good as with the ponal duo stuff!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Dr. Blair on February 06, 2012, 05:25:04 AM
I'll look around at the Japanese home center and see what I can find (But I'm not really sure how much bondo I'll need for a scratch build. It might come in handy though...)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 06, 2012, 07:04:42 AM
(But I'm not really sure how much bondo I'll need for a scratch build. It might come in handy though...)

hopefully NONE!!!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: leonk on February 09, 2012, 01:35:15 AM
Here in Canada/USA bondo is a product mostly used in repairing cars after an accident.  It's actually a sort of hard plastic rather than wood which dries a hard pink color.  Is this the same product? (it's ready for dry/wet sanding after 1 hour or so)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 09, 2012, 09:42:23 AM
ponal duo and what you american guys call bondo are definitely two different products - just compare the drying time!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 12, 2012, 03:24:19 PM

paint job time for the smaller wooden pieces

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6862647305_a0605aa5db_b_d.jpg)

everything's prepped well, surface is smooth and dust free

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/6862648165_edd8fba780_b_d.jpg)

i'm using a 2 in 1 primer - paint solution together with an additive for smooth surfaces

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6862649391_75b44bcddf_b_d.jpg)

rolling rolling rolling (note that i have protected the license plate)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7188/6862648713_f67e8c4ec9_b_d.jpg)

removing the protective layer (i'm having some minor paint runs underneath, but those can be removed easily)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6862649789_65f76976f4_b_d.jpg)

see, nice and shiny!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6862650923_1b5970a8a1_b_d.jpg)

first batch of wood painted, i'm happy with the results!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6862644943_7f05c8e471_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6862645999_6fea5518c6_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6862646731_8fc5aeddc8_b_d.jpg)

up next, the bigger pieces of the taito puzzle! 8)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Muerto on February 12, 2012, 03:31:17 PM
great Ully! :spaceace:
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: scr33n on February 12, 2012, 03:43:43 PM
Nice result Ully ... but how many coats 1 or 2?
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 12, 2012, 04:21:02 PM
Nice result Ully ... but how many coats 1 or 2?

i did 3 or 4 coats (depending on whether it's visible on the outside or invisible on the inside. after giving it enough time to dry, i used a foam abresive block ("schleifschwamm" in german) for a light sanding and sprayed two black spraycan layers on top for a nice flat finish. turned out great!!!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on January 05, 2014, 05:53:53 PM

after two years of "zoo keeper nothingness" and the parts gathering dust in various rooms of my apartment, i've decided to return to this project (and finish it). why did it take that long? well, the artwork on my cab is heavily damaged and honestly i was hoping for reproduction vinyl stickers to come out to slap on top of the old stuff, but rich from thisoldgame.com seems to be stuck in reproduction hell, therefore i've finally decided to give it a go and see if i can't fix the damages myself!

first order of business: finding the right colors! for that, i'm using my color scanner - as always!

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2846/11778960936_acbb165c56_b_d.jpg)

the results are in, but as you can see, it's not a perfect match: only two out of three bars  :(

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/11778183715_be772d7ce3_b_d.jpg)

let's compare the result of the scanner with a color palette: hmm, doesn't look too good, therefore i'll order the two colors which are closest to the result and try to mix the orange color myself

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3783/11778964596_d706910eae_b_d.jpg)

after A LOT OF mixing and testing, i've come up with an orange tone that is an almost 100% match. time to get out that frog tape and start with the edges ...

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2887/11778415803_8e0f65b1e4_b_d.jpg)

looking good so far, but can you spot all those damages on the inside?

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7432/11778411723_898cc74d37_b_d.jpg)

not my favorite type of work, but there's no other way to fix that. all it needs is tons of patience and a steady hand!

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3814/11778939136_87c3b6ef50_b_d.jpg)

now that orange is done, time for blue

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7396/11778171165_2c5157ba70_b_d.jpg)

looking really good, don't you think?

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2852/11778580494_845dd4a53f_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7399/11778576714_31b9e7b456_b_d.jpg)

last piece to clean up: the front plate! i'm masking off the entire lower artwork ...

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/11778155445_98417d2b90_b_d.jpg)

... to give it an even look!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7332/11778150685_78dd7dc010_b_d.jpg)

it was an incredible amount of work and many hours i put into this, but i can't be happier with the results!

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/11778382613_848478815a_b_d.jpg)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Robinholland on January 05, 2014, 06:06:25 PM
Very nice result  8)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on January 05, 2014, 06:31:43 PM
Thats looking real good ully !
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: scr33n on January 05, 2014, 06:41:33 PM
Awesome result Ully  :spaceace:
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Belike on January 05, 2014, 06:50:11 PM
Nice to see you back, awesome result, I really missed your restos. :D
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Muerto on January 05, 2014, 07:08:52 PM
Very very good job on the paint/masking! Loking really good! :spaceace:
Did you ever get the ZK pcbs from Archer?? Cant remember... Does it run??
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: scr33n on January 05, 2014, 07:19:50 PM
I really missed your restos. :D

+1  8)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Q*ris on January 05, 2014, 08:15:28 PM
I really missed your restos. :D

+1  8)

+1000 !!!!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on January 05, 2014, 08:39:50 PM
Did you ever get the ZK pcbs from Archer?? Cant remember... Does it run??

jepp, i did - along with some other stuff that was missing from my cab. unfortunately, he couldn't find his mint marquee and bezel anymore :'(.

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3820/11782858036_cdae636494_b_d.jpg)

whether the stuff is working or not: i have no idea, never tried it! i'll reassemble the cabinet first, then lay everything out on the floor and give it a shot. but hey, it's zoo keeper, working boardsets go for 400+ bucks, so don't get your hopes up too high! :P
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Muerto on January 05, 2014, 10:34:49 PM
Its the same PCBs as in your Qix, so it should be an easy assemble.. - if your Qix runs original hardware??
Shame about the Marquee and Bezel, maby you should go for reproed stuff??..
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on January 05, 2014, 10:46:08 PM
Shame about the Marquee and Bezel, maby you should go for reproed stuff??..

AFAIK, repros don't exist for ZK
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: anunaki on January 06, 2014, 06:34:35 AM
I'm very impressed by your woodwork, great restore thread indeed  :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on January 06, 2014, 07:52:45 AM
looks like the stickers on the powersupply are looking still good, if not, i have them in vector for you if you want the file  ;)

(http://www.opdenkelder.com/Pics/Alusticker/41.jpg)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on January 07, 2014, 06:15:47 PM
looks like the stickers on the powersupply are looking still good, if not, i have them in vector for you if you want the file  ;)

thx etienne, i already redrew those for my jungle king cab, so no need for these at the moment, don't even know whether i'll have to replace them at all. but thx again for your offer!

btw, the line spacing between "rated slow blow" and "fuse" looks different than the other spacings!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on January 07, 2014, 07:21:39 PM
the space between the first line and the second also differs from the second to the third line.

i have just placed it exact on top as the scan had them which i received

i could adjust it to have the same [enter]'s though  ;D
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Luigi on January 08, 2014, 06:35:51 AM
Your passion is amazing....as always :)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 05, 2014, 07:17:21 PM
over the past few weeks i've been putting the cabinet back together - slowly but surely and with the help of a lot of clamps :o :D

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/12326697264_bbb4f7accc_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3788/12326391893_a30ca1230c_b_d.jpg)

it took quite a while, but this is where the cab stands right now! i couldn't be happier with the way this turned out :)

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3747/12326226475_ee60060830_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7382/12326224115_334c6e9208_b_d.jpg)

but we all know that cosmetics are only one part of the restoration hobby, the other part is the electronic stuff. everything i got for this cab had been totally untested, therefore i had no idea where i stood. so i started with the power supply, because those taito power supplies were NOT built to last. and lo and behold, mine wasn't any better, because it only produced the +12V voltages, everything else was dead!

so i followed the first rule of every taito restoration: throw out the old power supply and get a switcher with an adapter from arcadeshop. and so i did! ordered it a little over two weeks ago, today i got a letter from the customs office that something was waiting for me. drove over, paid my balances, drove back home, set everything up properly, double checked all the connections (because there's a lot of wires guys) and basically was ready to give it a try. here's my temporary setup with everything connected ...

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/12326234735_f9afb20b0d_b_d.jpg)

the monitor had the wrong connector, so i had to rewire it, but then i was finally ready to go. i always expect something to blow up in my face when i power up a game for the first time after having worked on it, but fortunately everything remained quiet. so i got up, walked around to check the monitor and here's what i saw :arrow:

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3678/12326671004_ee5aec49c8_b_d.jpg)

the picture looks a little bit washed out, but (a) i haven't cleaned the monitor yet and (b) the camera was somewhat out of focus, but in reality it looks really good. what you can see here is a test screen waiting for the inputs to be checked. unfortunately, i couldn't move any further, because the coin door (which has some switches that you need to move through the menu) is already installed in the cab and the control panel with the joysticks and the buttons is currently disassembled because i'm waiting for a missing piece (joystick grommet). but for now, i'm EXTREMELY HAPPY, i have a great picture, the boards are running so far (although i have no idea whether the self test will show any ram / rom errors) and everything seems to be fine!!!

:spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:

next order of business: remove that board and wire mess from the floor, fix the switcher and the stepdown converter to the power supply board and throw everything into the cab!!! can't wait to continue work on this one ...

Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Digimon on February 05, 2014, 07:26:22 PM
Great work!

It's always a pleasure to follow you work!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Muerto on February 05, 2014, 09:59:46 PM
 :o :o :o :o :o
WOW! A working Zoo Keeper pcb(s) - what are the chances??!!! :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 05, 2014, 10:07:41 PM
WOW! A working Zoo Keeper pcb(s) - what are the chances??!!! :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:

still won't put my hopes up too high, but at least i've got something. i was expecting unreadable crap on the screen - if any, so that's a good start. i will know more hopefully by the end of the week!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Q*ris on February 06, 2014, 12:02:41 AM
YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on February 06, 2014, 08:13:02 AM
Cool !

Nice to read some progress on your projects again after a long time, i missed those threads !  :spaceace:
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Belike on February 06, 2014, 09:46:16 AM
Good, you really need a gameroom to share these beauties with us. :D
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: level42 on February 06, 2014, 08:16:42 PM
It's good to have you back Ully :)
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 06, 2014, 10:38:17 PM
thx guys, it's good to be back!!! :) :-*
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Tyrem on February 07, 2014, 08:30:31 AM
thx guys, it's good to be back!!! :) :-*

 :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Q*ris on February 07, 2014, 12:48:09 PM
...
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 09, 2014, 04:25:16 PM

switcher and step-down converter fixed to the power supply board ...

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7409/12410653653_0b4ca47575_b_d.jpg)

... and everything's back in the cab!

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/12410649723_ed31410c1b_b_d.jpg)

let's give this a try! since i haven't installed a highscore battery on the board yet, i get the usual memory error during the boot sequence, but i can skip it with the help of the switches on the coin door. after a few seconds, here's what i see on the screen :arrow:

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/12410667743_3d3d9b547f_b_d.jpg)

hell ya, everything seems to be working: sound is loud and clear, picture is nice and colorful, controls are responding! looks like i've got really REALLY R-E-A-L-L-Y lucky on this one since a working board set sells for 400+ dollars!!!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7369/12410499415_17afcdbbd6_b_d.jpg)

zeke approved!!! :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/12410987574_1cf2d4ee7d_b_d.jpg)

i'll have to take some money shots of the cab, but first i have to clean my study, because i can barely walk with my schoo stuff and my arcade stuff lying everywhere! i need a real workroom guys ...
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on February 09, 2014, 06:19:27 PM
Nice !!!!!

I love it how the instructions have a backlit like jungle king !  :spaceace:
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Superully on February 09, 2014, 06:58:50 PM
I love it how the instructions have a backlit like jungle king !  :spaceace:

me to! but contrary to the printed piece of plastic they used on jungle king and taped to the back of the bezel, the zoo keeper instructions are printed directly on the bezel!
pro: looks somewhat smoother
con: heats up through the lamps underneath and starts to crackle eventually, once it's gone, you have to exchange the entire bezel - or live with it!
Title: Re: [Restoration] everyone's game for Zoo Keeper
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on February 09, 2014, 07:10:16 PM
Varnish it from the inside  ;)