Creature from the Black Lagoon Restoration

I bought this Creature from the Black Lagoon from a collector who bought it restored from someone off the internet. There were so many things I didn’t like about the restoration work that was done I don’t even know where to begin… Here it a ‘partial’ list of the parts used in this restoration. Full decal set, chrome siderails – lockdown bar and legs, new hologram, backbox latches, lane guides, green post sleeves, various playfield plastics and blue slingshot, plastic protectors, snack bar decals, teal bumper caps and green LED’s, yellow flipper bats with green rubbers, snack bar outhole protector, all new ramps, decal set, snack bar decals, scoop weld, various coils replaced, new playfield glass, new flipper assemblies, new DMD display, new balls, new rubbers, leg casters, leg bolts, flipper buttons etc ….

Before gallery

I'll start with the cabinet. As you can see there is a huge bubble in the decal under the stainless steel siderails. I'm not sure if they were installed using the wet or dry method but whatever method was used it didn't seem to work well at all.
I'll start with the cabinet. As you can see there is a huge bubble in the decal under the stainless steel siderails. I'm not sure if they were installed using the wet or dry method but whatever method was used it didn't seem to work well at all.
The corners are a primary concern when installing decals, if they aren't trimmed properly they can start to peel if something brushes up against it.
The corners are a primary concern when installing decals, if they aren't trimmed properly they can start to peel if something brushes up against it.
Believe it or not this is the way I picked the game up, needless to say I had an easy time peeling the old decals off. The heads of the carriage bolts are pretty dull looking, it's a small detail but I like to polish the metal carriage bolts before reinstalling them and I also repaint the black ones.
Believe it or not this is the way I picked the game up, needless to say I had an easy time peeling the old decals off. The heads of the carriage bolts are pretty dull looking, it's a small detail but I like to polish the metal carriage bolts before reinstalling them and I also repaint the black ones.
You can see the decals peeling towards the top edge and there's some decent sized bubbles underneath them. There were also quite a few bubbles all along the bottom edge of the siderails. You can also see the backside of the cabinet wasn't painted and the decals were put on in the wrong places.
You can see the decals peeling towards the top edge and there's some decent sized bubbles underneath them. There were also quite a few bubbles all along the bottom edge of the siderails. You can also see the backside of the cabinet wasn't painted and the decals were put on in the wrong places.
There's a lot of wrinkling where the legs attach and there's a nice chunk missing on the bottom edge of the cabinet. The decals weren't trimmed right on the bottom edge so there was a lot of peeling going on.
There's a lot of wrinkling where the legs attach and there's a nice chunk missing on the bottom edge of the cabinet. The decals weren't trimmed right on the bottom edge so there was a lot of peeling going on.
You can see the front edge of the cabinet looks pretty rough and nothing was filled in or sanded prior to painting. I disconnected the entire backbox from the lower cabinet so I could glue and clamp it before filling in the defects and painting.
You can see the front edge of the cabinet looks pretty rough and nothing was filled in or sanded prior to painting. I disconnected the entire backbox from the lower cabinet so I could glue and clamp it before filling in the defects and painting.
In this picture you should be able to see all the bumps and dimples under the decals, even the Creature looks disgusted.
In this picture you should be able to see all the bumps and dimples under the decals, even the Creature looks disgusted.
Moving on to the playfield there were a lot of corroded metal parts that I had to take off and polish, little details like this make a big difference on the finished product.
Moving on to the playfield there were a lot of corroded metal parts that I had to take off and polish, little details like this make a big difference on the finished product.
You can also see the Phillips head screws that hold down the amber colored lane guides are very corroded, these will be polished in the tumbling polisher. You probably can't see the hairline cracks in the 3 amber lane guides but these will be replaced with new ones. The red bumper caps will be replaced with teal green and back-lit with green LED's for effect.
You can also see the Phillips head screws that hold down the amber colored lane guides are very corroded, these will be polished in the tumbling polisher. You probably can't see the hairline cracks in the 3 amber lane guides but these will be replaced with new ones. The red bumper caps will be replaced with teal green and back-lit with green LED's for effect.
The rubber rings go around plastic posts which should all be amber colored. For some reason the previous restorer mixed in some clear colored posts, these will be changed to the proper colored amber posts. Although lamps were installed inside the red pop bumper caps, they weren't secured which made them off center causing the bulb to burn the plastic bumper caps.
The rubber rings go around plastic posts which should all be amber colored. For some reason the previous restorer mixed in some clear colored posts, these will be changed to the proper colored amber posts. Although lamps were installed inside the red pop bumper caps, they weren't secured which made them off center causing the bulb to burn the plastic bumper caps.
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After gallery

Finally some "after" pictures. I installed new amber lane guides and polished all the screws and hardware. The Green LED's have been installed inside the teal green bumpers caps and look great when lit.
Finally some "after" pictures. I installed new amber lane guides and polished all the screws and hardware. The Green LED's have been installed inside the teal green bumpers caps and look great when lit.
The new cabinet decals have been installed with lots of time devoted to preparation. Looks great with the chrome siderails.
The new cabinet decals have been installed with lots of time devoted to preparation. Looks great with the chrome siderails.
Now all I have to do is put the high polished chrome legs on and play it!
Now all I have to do is put the high polished chrome legs on and play it!
The backbox is back together and all the hardware has been polished and reinstalled.
The backbox is back together and all the hardware has been polished and reinstalled.
The DMD display cover plastic has been polished with Novus plastic polish and the translite has been separated from the glass, cleaned and reinstalled.
The DMD display cover plastic has been polished with Novus plastic polish and the translite has been separated from the glass, cleaned and reinstalled.
The chrome trim looks really good on this game.
The chrome trim looks really good on this game.
Many hours have been spent at this point to polish every nook and cranny on the playfield before reassembly.
Many hours have been spent at this point to polish every nook and cranny on the playfield before reassembly.
The backside of the backbox may go up against the wall but if your going to pay attention to details the back must be included. Any nicks and chips have been filled, sanded and repainted. Even the grill inside the ventilation holes was taken off, cleaned and reinstalled.
The backside of the backbox may go up against the wall but if your going to pay attention to details the back must be included. Any nicks and chips have been filled, sanded and repainted. Even the grill inside the ventilation holes was taken off, cleaned and reinstalled.
With the help of a custom silk screen I am able to re-screen the warning text message back where it belongs. There are decals available to do this but I think this looks much more professional.
With the help of a custom silk screen I am able to re-screen the warning text message back where it belongs. There are decals available to do this but I think this looks much more professional.
The finished back side of the backbox.
The finished back side of the backbox.
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