Got this painted MK2 cabinet recently that was converted to Tekken 3 (Hunting for a MK2 board now). It was nicely done and clean but as I am in the process of restoring it back to its original glory the paint had to go. I figured I would have to order new vinyl but decided to take a chance at stripping it as I could see a little hint of Raiden in a scratch. Did a test pass of Citristrip up top and low and behold a very bright and not faded logo!
Did 1 full pass on both sides and they came out beautifully! 95% undamaged and in vibrant color. There's only a few spots where the vinyl was starting to thin out or fade but not bad at all and think its a great candidate to consider it salvageable and leave its history.
The control panel on the other hand not so much. Vinyl was very faded or flat out messed up but seeing as how it needed a new top anyways im fine with that.
Now just need to put in more elbow grease on all the little random touch up spots. This paid was relentless in some spots!
Yeah the seller didn't know much about the cabinet. They had it in the family since early 2000s and its always been a black Tekken 3 cabinet. The pics they posted on the listing looked ok but it was the shape that caught my eye and the Midway MK2 sticker that was on the back.
I know a lot of these got converted back in the day so it was worth a shot for the price. The paint wasn't really scratched up at all and nicely done. So i was hoping that maybe the art was under there still and not sun faded all to hell like most end up.
It's weird to think somebody thought, let's repaint it. But thinking back, retro was not a thing yet, just old stuff that had to make place for the new stuff.
Appreciate it! Yeah I was stoked to see it in that good of shape and can't wait to start piecing together the rest of it.
Im in the middle of doing a full recap on the monitor. Original Zenith 25" in a Wells Gardner K7000 Chassis and looking good as hell! No screen burn in colors were poppin'.
Yeah man patience, a razor blade and some orange strip can do wonders. So many cabs like this were just painted over for “next cab up”. I’ve actually seen it on mk cabs the most (probably cause they we’re prevalent and that that stupid button layout made it a great candidate for conversion when the main board or amp board failed.).
Exactly! It made sense for a lot of places to black it out and add a new marquee and board when they weren't getting money out of it anymore.
From what the previous owners told me it got brought up to the 3d fighting world for a few years before it was sold off from a local arcade here in North Kansas City.
They weren't sure of where....possibly an Aladdins Castle.
It was on there THICCCC. I started a test area for around 10 min. It took some off. Did another round and took even more. When I did the side as a whole I let it go for 50 min (Until paint bubbled) and it came off for the most part like wiping away water.
Its been incredible to see what was under it all and still in such good shape. Can't wait to keep at it!
I built a multicade with it cuz i bought it empty for 50$ then I seen the label for the Mk2 on the back of the cab after I put all the guts in it then I got lazy so yeah it just may stay preserved under the black paint forever lol. How did ya remove the paint from yurs? It would actually be cool to bring it back now that I'm thinking about.
Right on! Its still cool you kept the cab intact and using it. Multicades make a lot of sense.
For the stripping process I used Citristrip. You can get it at most hardware stores. Its used to remove latex paint and does a damn good job at it. I would do a little test patch first but from my experience it was pretty safe on the vinyl, even after all these years.
You can just paint it on with a brush and let it sit. I tried it for 10 min at first and while it started to lift the paint it left a lot. In the end I left it on until it started to bubble and flake up which took about 50 min or so for me.
After that just use a plastic scrapper and slide it away. Its glided really nice off the vinyl almost like wiping up a spill honestly.
There are still a few stubborn areas that will take more focused work and elbow grease but 90% was really easy.
Make sure to tarp under and around the area because once the paint starts coming off its messy as all hell.
Nice! Yeah I would do a little test patch maybe up at the top of the sides. Citristrip worked wonders since mine was painted with latex. There were a few scrapes in the paint and I could see the vinyl print shining through so I figured it was worth a shot. Worst case I still had to buy a vinyl kit as planned.
I had to leave the citristrip on for about 50 min before it really took it off but man did it come off easily in most areas. Makes a hell of a mess though so tarp around it good lol
I'll have to try this with my machine I put new vinyl on the side of my TMNT cabinet but apparently it was originally a TMNT cabinet that was painted black I tried to get the paint off but I couldn't maybe I need to try better stuff
Yeah I would do a little test patch maybe up at the top of the sides. Citristrip worked wonders since mine was painted with latex. There were a few scrapes in the paint and I could see the vinyl print shining through so I figured it was worth a shot. Worst case I still had to buy a vinyl kit as planned.
I had to leave the citristrip on for about 50 min before it really took it off but man did it come off easily in most areas. Makes a hell of a mess though so tarp around it good lol
Perfect about the mess the cabinet is in the garage so I should be able to find a nice safe spot to work on it on the downside is I have to peel the new art off in order to work on it
Man thats beautiful! Mortal Kombat 1-2 were always my first choices and true arcade loves but man what I wouldn't give for a Turtles in time dedicated cabinet. I have wasted so much money in that thing over the years hahaha.
It was pretty common for these guys, especially MK1-2 cabinets. They were the latest and greatest and real money makers but eventually 3d fighters became more and more available so places would paint them over, add a new board and marquee to keep current in their line up.
Luckily this also kept away the sun fading issues that so many of these suffer from over the years lol.
Same. I babied it a little at first then I just let it sit longer. Even with the plastic scrapper it glided really well across the vinyl and I was def. scrubbing a little. That old vinyl is def. no joke.
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u/medullah 19h ago
Excellent job restoring that.