(See also Using glass "paint" to recolour the exterior of a pinball machine.)
(See also Video of how to redecal (exterior artwork) a pinball machine.)
(See also Video of how to make plastic protectors for a pinball machine.)

Doctor Who Pinball RePaint

Hi all.

My Doctor Who pinball was badly faded like all Doctor Who pinballs seem to be. The decals don't seem to be available and my solid-fill with glass paint doesn't work for colour gradients. I decided to try spray painting the cabinet. In an ideal world I'd have an air brush but this is not an ideal world so I made do with an aerosol spray paint can.

I am extremely impressed with the results and recommend it. It's simple enough to practice in a mock-up situation with a piece of board and some tape. If I were to do it again I would glass-paint the yellow first. My yellow had dried out and all the shops were closed so I couldn't/didn't do that. I'd mask the "DOCTOR" as well as the "streaks" and start button circle. I would also base-paint the "WHO" with an apropriate yellow before over-spraying with the red. Spray-paint is good! I only put on one coat and removed the masking tape within a minute or two of applying that one coat.


Masking

Masking takes a bit of time but is well worth it.

Another shot:

Painting

Spray in progress. Masking tape (~30mm wide) held off ~50mm by the blocks either end:

Another view. I sprayed from about 600mm away using a very fine drift spray. You end up with red spray powder everywhere but it helps make an even job. Practice with a piece of white paper covering the "WHO" to get a bit of practice.

Masking removed

"WHO" finished (black to be touched up yet), note the "flyer" on the rear of the pinball which I used as a reference.

Usual story, no garage/shed so lounge is it! What a tolerant wife! ;)


Finished machine. Red streaks: Glass paint (masked). "DOCTOR" marker pen. "TIME STREAMS" & "START": marker, start button circle: Glass-paint. Backbox-side: marker, "V" under "WHO": spray-paint. I'm not entirely happy with the "DOCTOR" with marker pen but it's easy enough to mask/paint over. It certainly looks better than being faded though.

Note: The spray paint I used was:

    Plasti-Kote, Projekt Paint, Gloss Super, 340g, "1120, Bright Red, Rouge vif, Hellrot"

The nozzle is fantastic on the can I have. I've had other branded cans and have had splutter but this one was excellent. It could just be the luck of the draw though.

Note: After a period of use I recommend using paint around the "Start" button (and anywhere that fingers will rub) as the glass paint "wears" with finger use.

There are heaps of high-resolution images of the finished cabinet here.

Cheers... Clark

(See also Using glass "paint" to recolour the exterior of a pinball machine.)
(See also Video of how to redecal (exterior artwork) a pinball machine.)
(See also Video of how to make plastic protectors for a pinball machine.)