Restoration of a Bucket full of 1977 Atari VCS Games Console

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The Atari 2600, originally known as the Atari VCS is an iconic video games console and always deserved to be restored when one comes to RMC. Today we have a bucket of Atari VCS which needs to be cleaned, restored, tested and repaired. We learn how to clean metal switches, how to restore black plastics and how to restore paint from the bezel which is so often missing. We also throw in some mods and take it for a test drive.
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[@chinosts]

There is a great onscreen chemistry between yourself and Mark..you both come across as really likeable good blokes. I think it's high time that Mark joins the channel offically!

[@markpayne2162]

Thank you so much!

[@HappyCodingZX]

Wow, this new setup makes Neil look like an even more powerful guru. He is actually levitating!!

[@markpayne2162]

He floats around all day.

[@billybollockhead5628]

It’s hurting my head

[@rkornilo]

Fun little anecdote for you. My mum got me a 2600 for the Christmas of 1982 but before Christmas day, while were out shopping for other gifts, I pointed at someone's bag in their cart and mentioned that some kid got an Atari for Christmas. She asked me how I knew that and I told her because of the shape of the box. So to fool me on Christmas day, she sat the box up on it's tall side, taped the two games she got me (Asteroids and Missile Command) on the sides to look like ears, and made a face on the wide side to make it look like a dog (LOL!). It worked!

[@myeyeshurt1877]

Great story! Do you still have the Atari all these years later?

[@markpayne2162]

Your mum sounds like a legend Ryan!

[@rkornilo]

@@myeyeshurt1877 No I'm afraid not. I gave it to a friend back in the mid/late 90's. Not sure where it went after that. The last game I remember getting for it was Pitfall II.

[@rkornilo]

@@markpayne2162 She was. She absolutely was.

[@daviniarobbins9298]

Was it the all black 4 switch model otherwise known as the Darth Vader console?

[@brendonelton]

12:35 Neil says Flaps, Mark is delighted which is evident by his smile, I almost died laughing!

[@markpayne2162]

I am a professional. I rise above it ... :P

[@OtreblaMaslab]

The intense effort to hold a straight face there was palpable...

[@the_broly_arms]

You know it's going to be a great episode when Mark is a guest. I could listen to the banter for hours.

[@markpayne2162]

Ah, cheers mate!

[@LOTPOR0402]

Remember having an orange Binatone ,in the 70s

[@RcAircraft]

Glad to hear you mention the Spectrum twice in this video. Nice one Lads 👍

[@RMCRetro]

Spectrum is on the menu for our next joint restoration

[@RcAircraft]

@@RMCRetro Oh Goody. I will tune in for that one too. I have four that need work on. Over the lock down I got my Amiga and My Spectrum +3 out I replaced the belt in my plus 3 but the picture started dropping pixels. So i think it needs a re-Cap along with all my other Computers The problem is i have so many. Good news my Amiga worked fine and i played Rod Land with my daughter she loved that game so much.

[@markpayne2162]

UP NEXT: Spectrum...

[@Slay1337pl]

The lighting makes it seem like they're on a greenscreen!

[@markpayne2162]

The lighting has been changed since this video , so hopefully it will be better next time :)

[@mancavehobbies6213]

I had one and the Philips Videopac G7000. I was born in 1966 when England won the world cup...perfect time for me really.

[@pwissink1]

Talking about the Philips Videopac G7000. I had one around 1981 and I have one now again. Would love to see a restoration and upgrade on such a console.

[@eadweard.]

This format is like a game show at first but ended up really fun and natural.

[@markpayne2162]

Glad you think so Edward. Thanks for watching!

[@RetroSteveUK]

I found my Atari VCS thrown out at the side of the street back in 1996. Never done any work to it, and it's still ticking today! Loved watching this restoration video.

[@PMCRetroGamer]

Loving these collaboration videos between you both. I can see Mark is trying to behave himself with his usual cheeky dialogue lol. Keep up the good work

[@markpayne2162]

I AM INNOCENT!!!!!!!

[@Boyinabox]

Picked up an Atari 2600 as an 18 year old during university when the late 00's KZbin gaming scene introduced me to it. Was totally unlike anything I'd owned before and was a great conversation piece, lots of drunken games of Warlords and Adventure with housemates back in the day. Luckily mine is still in working order now, but it's certainly fantastic to see a video like this giving pointers for when mine will inevitably need TLC! Fantastic work.

[@catriona_drummond]

Interesting format but i feel you should both either be standing or sitting. Otherwise it gives that "headmaster asking pupil questions" feel.

[@markpayne2162]

The truth is that we are waiting for the stands for the tabletops. At the moment we only have a high one and a low one. I called dibs on the low one because I quite like sitting down, but I totally know what you mean!

[@MrTBoneSF]

The great thing about the 2600 was that because when it was built it was so expensive to add any built-in features, that the designers allowed the game program to control absolutely everything the hardware could do. That flexibility and the fact that all the display hardware is directly exposed gave it had more life than its "more powerful" competitors that had BIOSes and built-in ROM libraries. Since the game code is literally painting the game a scanline at a time (because RAM for a framebuffer would have cost too much), there's no "you can only have X sprites/colors/whatever on screen at once". So while other consoles were limited to 4 or 16 colors total or 8 sprites, the 2600 could have 128 colors onscreen and dozens of multi-color sprites (as long as the color changes on the next scanline) with no extra cost. Games like Spider Fighter would be impossible on even something like the NES without severe compromises. Check out some of the modern homebrews for things like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Lady Bug, Mappy, or the newly released Circus Convoy and you'll see people put that giant color palette and flexible display hardware to good use.

[@Hairy_Lee]

This was my first games console, bought off an older relative. I have fond memories of moving rectangles and squares and shooting other squares with smaller rectangles. I jest of course.... Loved Pole Position on this thing

[@craigmacdonald4987]

Brasso story - I made a plastic paper weight in high school back in 80's and the old Technical teacher said to use Brasso to polish the plastic... it came up a treat, really worked well!

[@peterg.8245]

It’s really surprising how universal these compounds become when you ignore the marketing. It might be just some 2000grit with a slightly acidic base for corrosion removal but they’re not gonna tell you.

[@markpayne2162]

I remember 80's Brasso smelled of wee. What happened?

[@IrrationalRecreation]

@@markpayne2162 They eventually fixed the gents loo in the factory.

[@hyznth]

I'm not a huge fan of the VCS / 2600 but I was hooked to the very end. This format is awesome! Looking forward to more stuff from the new cave! Sending much love from Hamburg

[@RMCRetro]

Thanks Janek I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@markpayne2162]

I don't think I could ask for better praise. Liebe von unserer abgelegenen Insel senden.

[@piratebear3126]

When I was 10-11 I had the Atari 80 Games in 1 for PC and that made me fall in love with the 2600. Spent hours looking through the museum part with the old arcade machine flyers and the Tempest 2600 prototype. Nothing you can sit down and play for 80 hours, but 2600 stuff is timeless in its simplicity.

[@markpayne2162]

I totally agree!

[@electronash]

I see Mark is sat at the "naughty table" again. lol

[@mccobsta]

Something must have gone bang

[@electronash]

11:25 - I'd probably go for the Amstrad PPC 640 in a Zombie attack situation. It's about the same length as the CPC 464, but twice the weight. And it has a convenient carrying handle on one end, so you can get a proper swing at the zombies.

[@TheDarkHour684]

Thank you for keeping this channel classy, high quality, and family friendly!

[@Inject0r]

I’m really loving this setting, Neil! Maybe you could even think about hosting a weekly/monthly workshop in The Cave and invite even more people (experienced people from the Retro Community and/or also some other KZbin colleagues to collaborate). Mark also really adds a lot of fun to the channel imho! Thank you guys for the great and awesome content. It’s a really fun watch at the end of my working day!

[@RMCRetro]

I'd love that. Mark and I are in a bubble with regular c19 tests, although we still distance. As soon as restrictions are over and it's safe we'll get the old show and tell episodes and visitors along like old times, only with this lovely new cave

[@markpayne2162]

Thank you for your kind comment Tom!

[@carledwards9477]

Awesome show! That background made this even better! The two of you make outstanding presenters and take it to a whole new level. Thanks gents!

[@markpayne2162]

Oh wow! Amazing praise and so lovely of you to comment like this! Thanks Carl!

[@Satscape]

Our dog used our 2600 as a toilet facility once. We used a Hairdryer on it and it still worked..so did the 2600. :-) I imagine they'll be ranked alongside the Nokia 3310

[@74bobby]

I was Born in 74 and the Atari 2600 was the 1st system that I ever owned..

[@bobbus_74]

Snap.

[@bigdbaldydom]

yup

[@Kumimono]

So Mark had to replace his lifeless Wangs with upright ones? I know the feel.

[@markpayne2162]

Aged Wangs need attention these days.

[@owenrichards1418]

At a certain age, it happens. No shame.

[@elizabethanderson2968]

A worthy and important addition to the RMC hoard! Same wood as my grans bedside alarm clock - coffee maker

[@willaimkazer9754]

I remember getting that thing for Christmas in '84. Played Asteroids. Greatt then, great in a emulator now.

[@Fuartianer]

Seeing the cleaning wie soap water, i realised how i missed that. Its like cleaning your mind.

[@markpayne2162]

Like a zen bath.

[@kins749]

Love the Atari VCS, great to see it getting some love. Totally right about comparisons with the Spectrum, I had the same perception that the Atari was all blocks, but in fact some of the later games had better graphics than the Speccy was offering.

[@markpayne2162]

Yes, and to be honest, that coloured my perception of what the Atari 8 bit machines would be like, but in later life I found out they are awesome!!

[@theomacer3094]

Another fantastic episode of RetroMarkCave 👍

[@RMCRetro]

🤣

[@noodles4773]

mark another fantastic restoration, and now i know what pen to buy to restore my 2600.

[@Lilithe]

Niel with the giggles was a nice little outtake

[@piEbo70]

I remember selling my 2600 with 2 joysticks and paddles with about 15 games for £5 back in the day

[@MrDuncl]

I wonder what stories will be told like that in the future. The reason I have a boxed Playstation 2 was that I was at a car boot sale and some bloke was trying to get a girl to reduce the price down from the £20 she was asking. As soon as he walked away I bought it from her.

[@MrBrianms]

Rubber pad with the ink colour then when cured a rubber pad with the clear finish. Great show. Thanks.

[@kb1qzh]

Always good to see Mark and Neil!

[@NeverlandSystemZor]

Oh my week is so much better now that I've had a good cleaning montage. :)

[@mitchyk]

"It gives you an extra foot and a half of swing". Brilliant quote! lol

[@mrblond750]

I was born in 81, Atari 2600 was the first consol I ever had.

[@mickm6309]

Back in the 80's I was operating a Xerox Commercial Copier which had a large metallic photo receptor belt, most scratches could be polished out with Brasso until someone came in to replace the belt.

[@danielson9579]

Mark's face when metal flaps was mentioned 😅

[@markpayne2162]

He does it deliberately.

[@rimmersbryggeri]

This format really brings out the best in both of you guys.

[@thomasives7560]

Nevr-Dull (that's how it is spelled) is a really great metal polish for aluminium (and aluminum, too). One can will last *forever*. It doesn't polish to a mirror-finish, but it is great to return a mildly brushed-aluminum look. Cheers to the great channel and awesome content!

[@neil1637]

Brilliant video. Just found your channel recently and going through your videos. 2600 has a real soft spot for me, and still (I think) looks iconic even today. Some amazing games from it's years and phenomenal homebrew support still. Thank you for the video.

[@mnemo70]

Really good chemistry between you two and a very good easy-going video. But it reminds me of the 4-switch 2600 I threw in the electronics recycling a few years ago because I just didn't have the space after moving. :'-(

[@PJBonoVox]

Love seeing this. I don't personally watch Mark's channel because the double-entendre thing isn't my bag, but you two have a great chemistry. Hope to see more like this.

[@markpayne2162]

Cheers for the kind comments Phil. :)

[@PJBonoVox]

@@markpayne2162 No worries man. To each their own, I say. That black plastic in that 2600 looked incredible BTW!

[@jNetDowling]

Always love your rapport (and a good cleaning montage)!

[@RetroGamesBoy78]

Mark did a great job on the 2600, My first console back in 86, brought back some memories. I now have a couple of juniors in my collection (1 near mint and boxed) and 40 or so games, haven't played it for a few years so maybe this coming weekend i might get the little blighter out for a few hours and fire her up for some pitfall, Centipede, Defender, Gorf, and the like.

[@Mort1988]

Neil is such a great host, when I watched this video, its like watching a TV show.

[@RMCRetro]

Thank you Anthony!

[@Wilksey37]

My dad had a VCS (2600) with the wood enclosure that he got from my cousin, the only game he ever bought for it was "Yars Revenge", it came with a few cartridges (Asteroids, Chopper Command, plus a few I forget the name of - I think one was called Dragster or something, it was a drag race game) about 8 in all, that was early 90's, my cousin had 3 of these (don't know why) and gave it to my dad for free, it got sold when I had a Sega Megadrive.

[@voffie]

That came out spectacular, well done guys! Some helpful cleaning tips in there too, much appreciated.

[@MisterMsk]

Very good episode. I really like this format.

[@tsbspionkop]

Great vid and lovely restoration chaps!

[@HebaruSan]

These sorts of videos are inspiration for all kinds of household DIY tasks, I find.

[@mrt1r]

Awesome restoration! I live down the street from the Simonize corporate headquarters so it's nice to see you using their products.

[@pauljennings8432]

What a great vid, really enjoy / like how you two get on and your love for all things retro. Keep it up!

[@colonelbarker]

I really love this format, so much fun.

[@mart4videos]

You guys were great together in this episode. Really enjoyed watching. Channel keeps getting better and better!

[@markpayne2162]

Thank you so much Martin!!!

[@krisbackenstose6395]

new set looks great, good job.

[@Even-Steven]

The restoration came out far better than I anticipated, it looks about cherry! Great job!

[@markpayne2162]

Thanks Steven. It was really enjoyable to do as well.

[@jl4557]

Great tips to keep these classic systems running.

[@BitchinSpectre]

I can't stop looking at the edge of the rug... it's driving me crazy.

[@RMCRetro]

Heh it drove us crazy in editing too

[@BitchinSpectre]

@@RMCRetro well, at least it's not as bad as 8bitgy's new background...and that looks like it's here to stay...unless you're keeping "wonky rug" as an aesthetic choice, or the ghost of the miller is going around moving things.

[@ogma9027]

Brilliant restoration guys, brings back great memories from the late 70's and early 80's!!

[@markpayne2162]

CHeers Ogma!

[@MadPeteST]

It's the guys! 😁 I used to have a 2600 with wood finish, fond warm fuzzy memories of sitting in front of our Decca colour CRT TV in the living room playing Pong... happy days!

[@SwainyAtRetroAsylum]

The VCS was very popular when I was a kid (I’m 46) but the Speccy was certainly starting to take over. Anyway, a great job lads!

[@natswii]

Great episode and great format thank you

[@RMCRetro]

Thanks Natasha

[@johngnosistarot4959]

You guys are absolute legends.

[@RMCRetro]

Hehe thanks John. We repair the legends

[@sq1rlsqu4d]

I'm really enjoying this format with you two; you're obviously good buddies and it makes the show more fun yet no less informative :)

[@technickuk]

Wow, that restored well. The composite mod actually gave it a decent picture on the CRT TV, too.

[@paulshoemaker4761]

Great episode! I found it both entertaining and informative. I am inspired to tackle my 2600 now.

[@zedmanatutube]

looks amazing, i had the 2600 jr so many memories of me and my brother playing moon patrol or cystal castles. set look amazing BTW

[@markwalsham7115]

Nice to see my old Atari 800XL one again - looking good like this restoration!

[@roscoe500]

Superb restoration, had the later plastic 2600, was my first console in the late 80s. Great to see this put back together and brought back to life. When you were playing the games I was thinking the same about the graphics, also remember them being simpler and 'blockier' than this. Brilliant!

[@retrotechguardian4393]

Great work, looks fantastic, I'll try that Sinoniz product and that orange pen worked well. Great video.

[@earitzelf]

small tip from a soundguy with 30 years experience : when you put on the lavalier mike , tkae the cable and make a small loop behind your vest and clip the cable inbetween it , the cable will make another loop down so you can't see the cable because it is always hidden behind your vest ;)

[@heyseed1673]

I grew up with an Atari 2600 as we called it here, in the 90s. We didn't get another gaming machine till the PSX went down in price after the PS2 came out. I spent a lot of hours with Combat and Centipede, playing against my little brother.

[@DRNicholasJones]

I restored by Vader & regular edition of this both were really trashed by previous owner left in a garage . Brought back to brand new just like this love it .:)

[@Choralone422]

I remember playing several games on a neighbors 2600 back in the early 80's. While the graphics were generally quite simple as a child many times they seemed like so much more than what was actually on screen. I guess that's the power of imagination in a child at work.

[@Theseanparker]

Great video, really enjoyed it!

[@ms-dosman7722]

Fantastic job on that restoration, Mark. And I really like the show format where Neil is hosting, the banter, light jokes going back and forth.. it adds something to the restoration video!

[@leeg4116]

Honestly cannot believe how nice that came out! Thanks for sharing the products that you used, will save alot of people wasting time and money on the wrong things

[@markpayne2162]

Thanks Lee!

[@williammckeown4768]

The cave really looks great. I enjoyed the format. Sometimes the back and forth on shows can be stilted, but you did a good job with the flow. Thanks.

[@frostphoto2600]

Great video! Love the pseudo interview format!

[@damn5987]

Looks brand new, great job!

[@markpayne2162]

Thanks for the kind comment!

[@campusluton]

Excellent vid lads, you two make a great double act!

[@markpayne2162]

Ah, thank you. It's really nice to hear that and thank you for taking the time to watch and comment!

[@IntoTheVerticalBlank]

There are a whole hell of a lot of great 2600 games that are great to play even today.

[@Yukatoshi]

"I came out the same hole" OoooOoooh Matron!

[@toaster4634]

Ah, Dark Chambers and Solaris. Those are two of my favorites. Great job on the restoration guys.

[@plapbandit]

Damn, that is a sweet looking cave my friend!

[@erleichda]

So happy to see a 2600 being restored. I still have our original unit from when we were kids. Console5.com had the exact kit I needed to get mine working perfectly and a new power supply too. I found after installing the tune-up kit that the unit worked perfectly with the RF out into a modern tv. Just used a little RCA to Coax adapter into the cable input on the TV and the image is fantastic. I had thought about doing the composite mod but seeing as it works so perfectly without it, no need to bother. It is a lot of fun playing Missile Command on a 65" TV! Thank you for wonderful content as always, look forward to all your videos.

[@jcardboard]

I knew a guy with one of these growing up in late 80s early 90s Glasgow. As old as it was even then, it had this charm and mystique to it. I think the cartridge designs were a bit part of it. I like the relaxed format of this video.

[@markastoforoff7838]

I got the 2600 for Christmas 1981, along with Space Invaders, Night Driver and of course Combat. I spent many hours playing the 2600 and had a decent collection by the time I gave up getting games for it.

[@nosferadu]

Great episode!

[@markpayne2162]

Thanks Max!

[@VenomStryker]

I love the videos where you and Mark collaborate.

[@markpayne2162]

I love that you love the videos where Neil and I collaborate! Thank you so much for watching!

[@ChrisKewl]

That Trinny TV pairs perfectly with that VCS. Good job, great mod!

[@carguyuk7525]

I played this back in the day. My rich friend had one. I had a Binatone b/w console that played tennis only! Later I had a zx81 then a BBC micro model b.

[@jas8127]

I was in junior school when i first saw this console,went round to my friends house to play combat and kaboom .

[@stevejohnson4774]

Ive restored lots of automotive plastics over the years, a light application of boiled linseed oil by cloth works very well without the silicon feel of Simoniz

[@Dreamcloud9ify]

I could have put money on "flaps" being the main catalyst for the blooper reel :)))) - Great video guys. Keep up with the co-presentations, having someone to bounce off really enlivens the videos. [Not a euphemism] :)))))))

[@MockduckPlaysGames]

Cool video! FYI the first cart shown, Solaris, actually came out in 1991. Kind of incredible given the console was released in 1977.