How to paint a GBA SP

A quick guide on how to spruce up an old scratched GBA SP

1) Take Apart GBA SP: Firstly you'll need to take apart the console, here is a great video which gives very detailed and clear instructions on how to do this. A few things I'd add to his video is that it is worth being particularly careful when removing the shoulder buttons as they have small springs attached which can go flying across the room if you're not careful! Also, the bottom section has a metal plate attached which he doesn't remove, you'll want to remove this if you plan on painting your GBA.

2) Wash All Parts: Once your GBA SP is all taken apart it is worth washing the outer plastic and all the buttons with some regular washing up liquid and an old toothbrush. Give it a good scrub, a rinse and a dry and you'll be amazing by how much better the console will already look.

3) Sand Plastic Casing: Gently sand the top layer off the plastic with some fine sandpaper, give it a rinse and a dry. This will allow the sprays to stick better and give a smoother finish.

4) Mask Areas: Next use some masking tape and cover over any parts you don't want paint getting to, it literally gets everywhere otherwise! I basically masked every section that wouldn't be on show when the console was put back together again.

5) Elevate Sections: Use finished toilet roll tubes or takeaway cups to elevate each of the separate sections. Stick the pieces to them using masking tape. This is a great tip as you are going to need to move each of the pieces often (for spraying the sides etc) and this allows you to do this without physically touching the plastic

6) Safety: This should always come first, wear a mask, if possible do the spraying outside, if this is not possible do it in an open and well ventilated space. Wear disposable latex gloves, this protects your hands and allows you a bit more freedom when moving and spraying the pieces as you don't have to worry about getting paint on your hands. Wear a mask of some sort, the spray gets everywhere and is toxic. Take breaks if you feel dizzy and make sure you get a breath of fresh air between coats.

7) What Sprays To Use: There are three stages to the spraying process, primer, colour and varnish. I used Montana Gold sprays... I used the Plastic Primer, Ketchup colour spray paint and a Matte Varnish. These sprays seem to be of a high quality and give a nice coating, they're a little pricey but I'd say it's worth it. What sprays you get is up to you though, some people miss out the priming process and some people use gloss varnishes, it's up to you, one varnish isn't necessarily better than the other.

8) Spraying: Work in thin layers and allow time for drying before applying the next layer. I used one layer of primer, three layers of colour and two layers of varnish. Keep the can moving to avoid drips or build up... oh and make sure to shake the can first! I used a fat spray cap to give a wider and quicker coverage also. The most important thing to remember when spraying is patience, allow a good deal of time between layers and don't spray thick layers. The spray tends to cling to the surface more and more as it dries and any blemishes you see may in fact iron out in the drying process.

9) Removing Masking: Allow the paints to dry completely before carefully removing the masking tape. Sand down any spray build up on the inside of the case that got through the masking tape.

10) Reassemble: Put the GBA SP back together, this can be a bit fiddly but refer to the video above if you have any problems, one thing to note though is that the AGS-101 and 001 models use a few different screws, in video he is taking apart a AGS-101 which has cross head screws around the screen, the 001 appears to have tri-wing screws instead (at least mine did anyways!)

11) Marvel: Marvel at your handiwork!

Posted: 08 April 2013