Retro Video Gamer

Welcome to Retro Video Gamer => Retro News & Chat => Topic started by: retromod on August 24, 2014, 17:04:33 PM

Title: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: retromod on August 24, 2014, 17:04:33 PM
I started with the second reproduction of an Atari 2600 prototype.

(http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/2600/white2600.JPG)
Picture: the original white/gray prototype

His existence is currently a mystery but from logical point of view (and timely manner) it could be the Tramiels planned a revive or alignment of the Atari 2600 Junior with the current products like the XE and ST series of devices. This would make perfectly sense as it was low hanging fruit to do so.

The prototype is based on a gray housing of the original Atari 2600 Junior with unknown technical improvements and a black cover (1:1 reproduction from PAL "rainbow" design).

So I prepared an Atari 2600 Junior housing and started painting with the right gray color. As the frontcover reproduction is a common process now it was quite easy to adopt the original rainbow design in the shown black/white appearance.

Last state is the housing is painted, the frontcover already designed and will be manufactured within the next days. From technical aspect I will modify the internal mainboard to output AV via SCART cable/connector like the rare Atari 2600 junior from france (replaces HF connector with SCART cable). I will also include the simple stereo mod to provide superior audio output in comparison to a normal Atari console.

(https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10400874_1519024358311342_784456702800021390_n.jpg?oh=148f353641bb5304213f61b7df8e617d&oe=547383E5)
Picture: painted housing

(https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10612733_1519024388311339_8725992974249306697_n.jpg?oh=d67d9e19b60e458094978a300e5efaa5&oe=5469850A)
Picture: mockup of the already painted console and the frontcover as designed (but not manufactured yet)
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: TrekMD on August 24, 2014, 22:08:38 PM
Wow, that looks fantastic! 
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: zapiy on August 24, 2014, 23:06:12 PM
Don't it just. Very very nice fella.
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: retromod on August 24, 2014, 23:51:44 PM
just ordered the AV Plus/Simple Stereo PCB's for all the prototype devices. There will be a third one but no details yet until it is finished - will be a nice one, too.

All of them only produced once in lifetime. I think about a nice box in black with a cover showing each prototype in white pencil drawing with a short story and timeline. A real collector item full working.
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: onthinice on August 25, 2014, 18:34:13 PM
This is a perfect example of why I am thankful the 2600 was released.  :113: Very Nice!
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: retromod on August 26, 2014, 00:24:23 AM
today I found the perfect box to offer this nice device. Black one. I will create a nice cover for it.

the cover plate of the console itself looks great but supplier created it about 1/10 too big...... so it doesn't fit. Next try tomorrow.
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: guest5266 on August 26, 2014, 03:50:15 AM
I regret selling my Atari 2600 time I invested in another;)
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: zapiy on August 26, 2014, 13:32:13 PM
Yeah I know the feeling fella.
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: Carlos on August 26, 2014, 20:10:22 PM
I love the white case, if they were still going in the 90s they would surely be this colour, or an off grey at least.
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: retromod on August 27, 2014, 02:45:04 AM
Today i completed the housing with the front cover. It looks really great. Waiting for the pcb to implement the mods (av plus and simple stereo via scart).

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t1.0-9/10645171_1522390567974721_90560063333929202_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: zapiy on August 27, 2014, 10:38:47 AM
What will these be sold for fella? Will all your sales be sold exclusive through your German partner?
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: retromod on August 27, 2014, 11:02:05 AM
Quote from: "zapiy"What will these be sold for fella? Will all your sales be sold exclusive through your German partner?

well not sure yet. I will sell all the 3 devices (XE style, concept study and white/gray prototype) as an auction starting with 1 Eur. This will be offered international of course.

My partner exclusively sell my mods and devices but here we are talking not about mass production so there is no benefit to offer returning, quarantee as all these devices are manufactured only once.
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: retromod on August 28, 2014, 15:02:34 PM
this will be the base design for the box. I will add a drawing of each console, the right notice gets a picture of the product and the left notice may contain details about year, designer and a short story
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: guest5266 on August 28, 2014, 15:59:06 PM
Scart a must I would like to see some more HDMI mods on all 8bit micros and consoles
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: retromod on August 31, 2014, 03:43:41 AM
console is assembled. Simple Stereo and AV+ mod integrated. Only box cover is missing.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10409295_1524692251077886_6955699250162602794_n.jpg?oh=15b82a90aa8907b816874e5da97ef305&oe=5461465C&__gda__=1415697932_b3f1eff4a0a2cf7ba5403392edd6366f)
Picture: console from the back

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/10424313_1524692121077899_1169114543367926092_n.jpg)
Picture: console in action

(https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10624960_1524692041077907_6011843224458914230_n.jpg?oh=66da0495428ec96220143ad4fd794d66&oe=546297CC)
Picture: console in box
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: zapiy on August 31, 2014, 08:16:21 AM
Looks very slick fella.
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: retromod on September 01, 2014, 12:04:13 PM
(https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10449453_1525703370976774_572606072348365301_n.jpg?oh=3141d5430df92a618745a6cef6e9d16a&oe=545C90E6)
Picture: mockup of the box, final version currently in production.
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: retromod on September 01, 2014, 20:20:19 PM
And here the final version. With his grey brother  :48:

(https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10346197_1525810224299422_3947211756697515525_n.jpg?oh=f7a1f85aab26f14f7b5d0d4bf0b89ea4&oe=54671A7D)
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: TrekMD on September 01, 2014, 20:23:22 PM
Very impressive!
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: retromod on November 26, 2014, 11:14:30 AM
as picture gets lost:
(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10346197_1525810224299422_3947211756697515525_n.jpg?oh=70872ac4eeeb045b7a20716f0893581b&oe=54DDC17D)
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: Greyfox on November 26, 2014, 11:24:06 AM
truly a thing of beauty Retromod. Atari wouldn't even of got them this cool .. epic stuff. :113:
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: TrekMD on November 26, 2014, 13:25:41 PM
Those look gorgeous.  Well done. 
Title: Re: Atari 2600 Gray/White Prototype Repro
Post by: retromod on November 26, 2014, 15:24:36 PM
hopefully the other 3 are ready soon.

The Bonnie repro only requires the cover text and av/stereo mod to be complete.
The junior prototype repro requires the mod's and finally the function key row to be fixed.
The VAL repro has only the bottom completed.

wish I had 48 hours a day  :26: