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To decal or not decal, that is the question

DRD

DRD

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One of the most startling transformations on a game is to decal the cabinet. Now this is obviously not cheap, it is messy and hard graft, but it literally gives you a new looking game. I have a relatively tidy games room so I am more sensitive to cabinet condition than some. And in considering a game with a badly scarred cabinet, it dramatically increases the number of games out there I might consider

I really do not know whether this is a good idea. With some products originality is everything, even if dinged.

These decals are now supposed to be uv stabilised, but wé will only know this in 20 years time !!!!!

What do folk think about decals pls ? I saw a game at pinball heaven the other day with new decals, it looked fabulous
 
Ok.... So there normally are two camps on this...

1. You play the machine, and not the cab.
2. You play the machine, however it's nice to have a good quality machine all around.

It's down to individuals perceptions really.
 
Paul said:
Ok.... So there normally are two camps on this...

1. You play the machine, and not the cab.
2. You play the machine, however it's nice to have a good quality machine all around.
Click to expand...

3. People who enjoy the restoration process and making the machines look as beautiful as possible. There's plenty of pinball fans for whom the playing is less fun that the fixing, as we all know.

i'm firmly in camp 1, but i can respect people in camp 3 as well. horses for courses dude, there are no right answers - just don't expect to see your money back if you go that route.
 
Horses for courses as Dan says.

I've got a crappy old Data East R&B which most people would say is a 'budget' table. Many people wouldn't care less about restoring it - but I only have room for one so I want to make it as nice as possible. For that reason i'm happy to spend time and money preparing it and installing custom decals.

Alas progress is slow at the moment. I've got a new kitchen turning up next week so will most likely spend the weekend doing electrics and laying a new tiled floor. Stupid real life getting in the way of Pinball.
 
Very individual.

I always would prefer original screen printed cabinet to a new decals, even if faded. New decals seem paper thin and can bubble and wrinkle although new Stern metal bits prevent this.
 
TBH,I aint too ****d on the cab,used to be,not now.I don't play the cab,I play the playfield,and if game is rare,will even put up with a bad playfield,eg my Robo-war.
The cost a a decal job,even if done by you is roughly £300,For me would rather a color dmd rather than that.
Don't get me wrong,the look VERY nice,just that with all my pins close to each other you see very little of the cab.
It looks cool,and has much kudos/bragging rights,but that's it for me.
But I can see the buzz someone would get doing all that on there own and seeing the fruits of their labour:thumbs:
 
TYHO said:
TBH,I aint too ****d on the cab,used to be,not now.I don't play the cab,I play the playfield,and if game is rare,will even put up with a bad playfield,eg my Robo-war.
The cost a a decal job,even if done by you is roughly £300,For me would rather a color dmd rather than that.
Don't get me wrong,the look VERY nice,just that with all my pins close to each other you see very little of the cab.
It looks cool,and has much kudos/bragging rights,but that's it for me.
But I can see the buzz someone would get doing all that on there own and seeing the fruits of their labour:thumbs:
Click to expand...
What about buying another TX Sector so you could swap it out for a better cabinet ?
 
replicas said:
What about buying another TX Sector so you could swap it out for a better cabinet ?
Click to expand...

and a better playfield,which,as I said is more important than I cabnet.
Plus there is a BIG difference between decaling an ok cab,and a water damaged one.Yes I know it wouldn't fall apart,but it did bother me as made out of crappy mdf(WHY?)
 
at the show it was TX TX TX
at mine it was TX TX
Now jsut TX - it's lonely with only one o_O
 
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