# My Last Action Hero Restoration Part 3

**Source:** Cary Hardy  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2020-05-03  
**Duration:** 15m 5s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMGvpmZz17g

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## Analysis

Cary Hardy continues restoration of Action Hero pinball machine, focusing on installing T-molding trim on the cabinet sides, addressing powder coating defects, painting bolt heads black, and applying a lockdown bar receiver decal. The video covers practical restoration techniques including proper T-molding installation methods, quality control inspection of powder-coated parts, and cosmetic finishing touches.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] When receiving powder-coated items, inspection is critical as quality is not guaranteed depending on the vendor — _Cary found defects on side rails from his powder coater and had to return them for free corrections_
- [HIGH] Proper T-molding installation requires centering all four holes simultaneously before pressing down, not applying one side to the other — _Cary demonstrated the wrong method initially, then corrected to the proper method of hole alignment_
- [MEDIUM] Titan pinball lockdown bar receiver decals provide a nice finishing touch to restoration machines — _Cary recommends Titan brand decals and states he uses them regularly on restorations_
- [HIGH] Bolt heads should be sanded and brushed to provide texture for paint adhesion before spray painting — _Cary demonstrates the sanding/brushing process before placing bolts in a box for spray painting_

### Notable Quotes

> "I'm glad you're doing this before we do the Evans family. you're like I'm going to learn from all your mistakes"
> — **Cary Hardy (addressing assistant/collaborator)**, early in video
> _References another project (Evans family machine) suggesting ongoing restoration work; indicates learning-by-doing approach_

> "When you get your items, you definitely want to look them over top to bottom all around. Because it's not a guarantee, depending on where you go, that it's going to be great."
> — **Cary Hardy**, mid-video
> _Practical quality control advice for powder coating vendors; emphasizes need for inspection and vendor follow-up_

> "I highly recommend it as I do every time I show you that I put one of these on restorations or project machines."
> — **Cary Hardy**, late video
> _Consistent recommendation of Titan brand lockdown bar decals across multiple restoration projects_

> "That is the way you do it. Because I'll press down, remove your masking tape and there you go"
> — **Cary Hardy**, end of video
> _Clear instruction on correct T-molding installation technique after demonstrating incorrect method first_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Cary Hardy | person | YouTube content creator specializing in pinball machine restoration; working on Action Hero machine restoration series |
| Action Hero | game | Pinball machine being restored across multi-part video series; yellow and black color scheme restoration |
| Titan | company | Pinball parts supplier providing lockdown bar receiver decals and other components; praised for quality by Cary |
| Evans family | project | Referenced as upcoming/next restoration project; Cary is learning techniques on Action Hero to apply to Evans family machine |

### Topics

- **Primary:** T-molding installation technique, Powder coating quality control and vendor inspection, Bolt head painting and preparation, Lockdown bar receiver decal installation
- **Secondary:** Cabinet cosmetic finishing

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.78) — Cary is methodical, patient, and enthusiastic about the restoration despite minor frustrations with dust and powder coating defects. His tone is instructional and positive, with practical problem-solving approach. Minor frustration evident with environmental factors (dust, wind) and powder coating issues, but quickly resolved.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** Cary demonstrates detailed technical restoration techniques through video content, providing educational value for pinball restoration community (confidence: high) — Entire video focuses on step-by-step demonstration of proper restoration methods including T-molding installation, powder coating QC, and decal application
- **[product_concern]** Powder coating vendor delivered parts with visible defects (missing spots on side rails); required return for correction (confidence: high) — Cary inspected powder-coated items and found missing spots on side rails, had to return to local powder coater for free corrections

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## Transcript

So we're under this dry obviously. I didn't want to do water because it's bare wood and everything. I don't have it coated or anything, otherwise we could do it wet. I don't think we need to. And I've got a plastic putty spackler thing. Okay. And I got a little... So I should be able to... Yes, I do. Should be able to slide over this. I've never put one on, so I'm pulling your lead on this one. All right. I figure we'll start from the smaller end first and then work our way towards the bigger end because this is where it's gonna be a little more scrutinistic it's closer to the front you think we're in position here pretty good running uphill just a little bit We're in place. All right. The backing. Figure I'll pull up to probably about right here. Okay. And then we'll peel that off and I'll cut it. And then we'll fold it down. I'm glad you're doing this before we do the Evans family. you're like I'm going to learn from all your mistakes hell yeah I've got my little knife right there I need to go over I need to do this Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. But I've got a different, first of all, dirty the mother. So what I want to do is once we get it in the good area where it's going to be centered around that start button and everything, I'm going to go ahead and cut a hole, not all the way to the rim of it, but enough to where I can see clamp right here and right there. Okay. And then one side, other side. So we just need to focus on getting the center and make sure the artwork doesn't fall off down here. God damn, we're not having a livery clock. What the fuck? Or microfiber. This is ridiculous. I think he was collecting all this dust when it was just laying there on the damn blanket right there. Dirty ass fucking garage. People might want to go ahead and just cut this start out. Just cut it like the, cut all the yellow out from the start button. That way we can look at the edge. just the other portion around there. And we can get centered on that edge. Yeah. Thank you. My My items are back from powder coating. Now, when you get your items, you definitely want to look them over top to bottom all around. Because it's not a guarantee, depending on where you go, that it's going to be great. There may be small defects. And I have that on this side rail. I got a spot missing here. And I don't know what the hell happened right there. So this is something that I'm glad that... And there's also more right there. I'm glad that the powder-coater that I used for this project is local so I was able to easily bring these items back to him and of course he fixed it for free so now we gonna go over getting all the bolt heads painted black this is what I gonna do and what I typically do to a lot of machines depending on of course the machine but this one I doing a yellow and black and these bolt heads need to be black I've got the bolt heads sanded brushed really well to give them a nice rough texture so they grab the paint and I'll stick them in a box like so so that way there's no chance of them accidentally falling over or laying down on something it's just a real nice way to do this testing for which way the wind is blowing and I'll give these items a nice cover of paint out here in the Sun so they'll dry pretty sure this day was kind of cool outside too this is probably at the end of February or beginning of March if I had to take a guess I'm moving the box because the wind is blowing a certain direction Let it sit there for a little bit just to see what's going on with the paint and then I give it a nice thick go over. Now I'll let them sit there all day. Now like any other machine that I do I get on the trusty Titan pinball lock down bar receiver decal. This adds a very nice touch to your machine. I highly recommend it as I do every time I show you that I put one of these on restorations or project machines. Now when I first put this on I'm doing it this method I don't recommend it and you're gonna see why I don't recommend doing it one side to the other. I think I realized midway through I'm like nope that's not good and so I pull it up and this is the method that you should use. That way you can make sure all four holes are gonna line up and then lay it down like that. That is the way you do it. Because I'll press down, remove your masking tape and there you go Thank you.

_(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: d1c0b080-edd0-4518-8988-64e0af975719*