Ep 9. Space Kowboy

In season 1, episode 9 of American Restoration, titled "Space Kowboy," the crew at Rick's Restorations takes on a unique project that involves a vintage arcade game. The game, called Space Kowboy, was manufactured in the late 1970s by a company called Meadows Games. It was a popular game in its time and was known for its unique design and gameplay.

When the owner of the Space Kowboy game brings it to Rick's Restorations, it is in a sad state of disrepair. The outer casing is scratched and faded, the buttons and joystick are worn, and the game is not functioning properly. The owner is a collector of vintage arcade games and wants Rick and his team to restore the Space Kowboy to its former glory.

The first step in the restoration process is to disassemble the game and assess the damage. The team discovers that the wiring inside the game is frayed and needs to be replaced. They also notice that the screen is discolored and needs to be cleaned. Additionally, the outer casing of the game needs to be sanded and repainted.

One of the biggest challenges the team faces during the restoration is finding replacement parts for the game. Because the game is so old, many of the original parts are no longer available. However, the team is able to source replacement parts from other vintage arcade games and adapt them to fit the Space Kowboy.

As the restoration progresses, the team runs into a few unexpected issues. For example, they discover that the original graphics on the game are decals rather than paint. This makes it difficult to sand and repaint the outer casing without damaging the graphics. The team has to come up with a creative solution to fix this problem and preserve the original graphics.

Despite these challenges, the team perseveres and eventually completes the restoration of the Space Kowboy game. The finished product is stunning and looks just like new. The outer casing has been sanded and repainted to its original colors, the buttons and joystick have been replaced, and the interior wiring has been fixed. The owner is thrilled with the result and takes the game back to his collection, where it will be enjoyed for years to come.

Overall, "Space Kowboy" is an entertaining and informative episode of American Restoration. It shows the skill and creativity of the team at Rick's Restorations as they tackle a difficult restoration project. The episode is also interesting for fans of vintage arcade games, as it provides a glimpse into the history and design of these classic games.