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Painting Apple hardware - what colour? (derp.foo)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've recently acquired an Apple Macintosh Color Display. Sadly, it's very yellowed (or rather, oranged). I was thinking about forgoing retrobrighting and just going for painting it. Anybody here who's done that before? Any idea how I can most closely match Apple's "platinum" colour?

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

PANTONE 14-0105 TPG

Also be careful, because some solvents in the paints could melt the plastic. So test it first on a small part on the inside or so.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I understood that to be the "Putty" colour of the Apple ][, not the "Platinum" colour Apple was supposedly using at this stage.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Maybe this is helpful. https://imgur.com/a/TNpqz

If you find any additional information please share it with the rest of us. I have a really yellowed AppleVision 850 in the project pile. It's too big to redrobright and get an even result.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Thank you, that is indeed helpful.

I've found a local supplier that can mix Sikkens ON.00.78 for me, which looks to be close to that colour. I've been lightbrighting the plastic for a few days to see how that works out and consider my options.

I'll keep you posted.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would try to retrobright it and if you are not happy with the result, you can still paint it. You can also try to sunbright it: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8P1OVj0IcqY

Painting it requires sanding, a lot if masking and wears off over time if the device is in use. And it’s irreversible. Once the damage is done, theres no way back.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I know. Sadly, there had been a (by now degraded) sticker on top of the monitor which left a clearly visible discolouration that I believe requires a fairly aggressive retrobright to get rid of, which I'm afraid might damage the plastics.