MAMEWorld Forums - EmuChat - Removing the resin from a security module

Hey guys,

I've got a super-rare Victory PCB by Comsoft (NOT Exidy's game also called Victory) which is a Galaxian PCB conversion that has a resin encased security module, and I was wondering what techniques there are to remove the encasement so I can scan the PCB foil pattern and have any custom chips inside dumped? I've already tried heating it with a heat gun and using an Xacto knife but whatever the substance is is still too hard after heating to make that practical, I barely made a dent. I also imagine heating it in boiling water like I've seen done by others wouldn't work any better as I already heated it pretty hot with air.

Any suggestions? The game has been dumped and is already supported by MAME, but whatever encryption method on the encased custom chip I understand isn't entirely understood and I'd like to do whatever I can to preserve this rare bird. I'd like to have enough documented and preserved to make it so if someone was inclined (unlikely) to etch the security PCB and burn the chips they could also convert a Galaxian PCB to be this game, or more importantly repair an existing damaged one. Also the board is not working and overall pretty screwed up, so I'd like to make sure anything custom and irreplaceable is preserved before I start screwing around and trying to resurrect it, thus risking the chance of losing them. It seems to me I've heard paint stripper works sometimes but I've also seen that stuff do a number on the PCB's fiberglass resin too.