1988 Gottlieb Robo‑War Pinball Machine Restoration (2 Part) Mini-Series

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1988 Gottlieb Robo‑War Pinball Machine Restoration Part 1/2

Part 1 of my Gottlieb Robo‑War restoration kicks off with a full top‑side teardown, stripping the playfield down to the wood and bringing every metal piece back to life. I clean, polish, and restore all the hardware, refresh the cabinet inside and out, and get the entire playfield prepped for repopulation in Part 2. This System 80B classic is finally waking up after decades, and the transformation starts right here.

 

[TopTierArcade]

1988 Gottlieb Robo‑War Pinball Machine Restoration Part 2/2 (Final)

Part 2 of the final restore turned into a real journey.
I wrapped up the full playfield repopulation, added two spotlights to brighten the shots, and got the game running exactly the way it should.

But then disaster hit — my new translight arrived damaged, and while trying to work around it, my backglass ended up breaking in the process. After a deep breath, a careful cleanup, and some determination, I pushed through and brought everything back together.

To finish things off, I added a fresh set of inner art blades that really transform the cabinet and give the game a sharp, modern look.

The restore is now complete — the game plays perfectly, looks incredible, and is ready for action.