Repainting 2600 bezel borders?

[SlowCoder]

At one point there was a thread about the proper marker/paint pen colors to use on the bezels. I've been unable to locate that thread.

 

1. Has anyone properly color matched markers/pens/paints to the bezels for the original gold (H6 Sunnyvale), orange (Taiwan woodies) and silver (Sears)?

 

2. What methods have you used to apply the new colors? I read at one point, a hard rubber roller might be a good method.

[dwane413]

I tried a Google search for posts at this site with orange paint and found this:

 

Atari 2600 Orange Paint Match

 

It's about joysticks and may not be what you're thinking of.

[SlowCoder]

Today, I went out to the local crafts store and bought these markers:

 

I have to say both markers were spot on for color match for both the 2600 woody (orange) and the Sears (silver).

 

Both of the bezels had a lot of the paint worn off, and didn't look good. Here's what they look like after repaint:

 

Woody:

 

Sears:

 

- I removed the old paint with alcohol and washed the bezels edges with soap/water to remove any contaminants that might keep the new paint from adhering.

- I applied 2 layers of paint, allowing it to dry between.

- Rather than attempting to paint the edge with the tip of the marker, I applied the paint from the side of the marker. I believe this allowed me to maintain better control of the application, and lessened any tendency for the marker to slip off the edge.

- The new paint can be removed with alcohol, so if you mess up, you can remove and reapply.

Edited June 25, 2011 by SlowCoder

[+SpiceWare]

That looks sharp, thanks for sharing!

 

I've put the info in my iPhone so next time I'm near a craft store I can pickup an orange one for my sixer.

[holygrailvideogames.com]

Years ago someone sold the orange paint on eBay that matched the paint for the 2600.

[Benzman66]

Nice job Slow! I am definitely impressed at your expertise!

[SlowCoder]

Nice job Slow! I am definitely impressed at your expertise!

 

Haha! "Expertise". Boy do I have you fooled! Actually, it's my anal nature (probably some amount of OCD mixed in), and my desire to learn.

[Jr. Pac]

Wow! Strange thing is, my 2600 looks almost exactly like yours, even with the exact same dent in the border. This is great, I'll probably be doing this for mine...

[Schizophretard]

Not bad.

[mtshark7]

What did you use to go over the letters? Stencils or templates?

[Schizophretard]

What did you use to go over the letters? Stencils or templates?

 

I think those have the original paint and SlowCoder just painted the edges.

[mtshark7]

Oh ok...is there any information on getting stencils or templates for the words on the switches if you wanted to paint the words a different color?

[Schizophretard]

Oh ok...is there any information on getting stencils or templates for the words on the switches if you wanted to paint the words a different color?

 

I doubt it. You could probably get paint pens like SlowCoder used with a really fine tip and paint over them. If you're going to use different colors then I recommend finding fluorescent colors because it would probably look awesome under black light or glow in the dark colors. You could probably make it look normal with the lights on and then glow or fluorescent when the lights are off if you pick the right colors.

[SlowCoder]

Oh ok...is there any information on getting stencils or templates for the words on the switches if you wanted to paint the words a different color?

I know where my skills come to and end. And this would be it. I would just ruin a bezel attempting it.

[SlowCoder]

Wow! Strange thing is, my 2600 looks almost exactly like yours, even with the exact same dent in the border. This is great, I'll probably be doing this for mine...

I've been in your house.

[mtshark7]

That sounds awesome!

 

Oh ok...is there any information on getting stencils or templates for the words on the switches if you wanted to paint the words a different color?

 

I doubt it. You could probably get paint pens like SlowCoder used with a really fine tip and paint over them. If you're going to use different colors then I recommend finding fluorescent colors because it would probably look awesome under black light or glow in the dark colors. You could probably make it look normal with the lights on and then glow or fluorescent when the lights are off if you pick the right colors.

[Jr. Pac]

Wow! Strange thing is, my 2600 looks almost exactly like yours, even with the exact same dent in the border. This is great, I'll probably be doing this for mine...

I've been in your house.

? No you haven't. I don't understand what you are saying.

[Schizophretard]

Wow! Strange thing is, my 2600 looks almost exactly like yours, even with the exact same dent in the border. This is great, I'll probably be doing this for mine...

I've been in your house.

? No you haven't. I don't understand what you are saying.

 

Slowcoder is kidding.

[SlowCoder]

Wow! Strange thing is, my 2600 looks almost exactly like yours, even with the exact same dent in the border. This is great, I'll probably be doing this for mine...

I've been in your house.

? No you haven't. I don't understand what you are saying.

It was a joke. You said my console looks just like yours. So I said I've been to your house. You know ... and stole your console, painted it and took pictures of it.

 

Sigh ...

[Jr. Pac]

Oh. I get it. No wonder my 2600 is missing!

Edited June 29, 2011 by Jr. Pac

[SlowCoder]

Oh. I get it. No wonder my 2600 is missing!

[+SpiceWare]

Stopped at Hobby Lobby during lunch. While they had Elmer's paint pens, they didn't have any in orange so I picked up this one by DecoColor.

 

Before

 

After

 

It's not an exact match for the Atari's orange, but it does look better and it appears to be the same shade as the Elmer's orange.

Edited June 29, 2011 by SpiceWare

[SlowCoder]

Stopped at Hobby Lobby during lunch. While they had Elmer's paint pens, they didn't have any in orange so I picked up this one by DecoColor.

 

Before

 

After

 

It's not an exact match for the Atari's orange, but it does look better and it appears to be the same shade as the Elmer's orange.

 

Good job.

 

I'm not really sure there is a perfect "Atari Orange". I think, depending on the batch, the shade can be slightly different.

 

It might be the lighting or the camera, but your orange looks a bit on the rich/dark side of "Atari Orange".

 

And, that appears to be a H6, correct? If so, looking at the original color of the bezel, it looks like it might have originally been yellow, not orange. If I remember correctly, yellow was limited run or very first H6s? (Someone is welcome to correct me). If that's the case, I would definitely repaint it yellow.

 

My Vader H6 had the yellow bezel before I removed its paint (it was in bad shape), and I will probably repaint it when I find a good shade.

[+SpiceWare]

Thanks! I'd not have considered it if I hadn't seen your topic.

 

I think the Atari orange has a bit more yellow in it.

 

The photos are of my light sixer, my heavy has a lot of more it's original paint left:

 

If you compare the photos you can see how the left & right edges are different on the heavy.

Edited June 29, 2011 by SpiceWare

[Rockin' Kat]

SlowCoder, what are the UPC numbers from those pens?