Retro console mods & custom artwork

Old hardware. New guts. One-off art.

Every build gets opened, fixed, upgraded and closed up properly before the artwork goes on. Scroll to watch one come together.

Teardown

Opened without a single snapped clip

Security screws out with the right gamebit, shell halves eased apart, and every part bagged and labelled on the mat.

3.8 mm / 4.5 mm gamebit · security screws
Isopropyl 99% · board clean
C1–C7 · Recap

Thirty-year-old capacitors come out

Electrolytic caps dry out and leak. They are swapped for new low-ESR parts so the picture and sound stay clean for decades.

470 µF 10 V → 105 °C low-ESR
Old electrolyte cleaned · traces checked
U5 · Region unlock

Play cartridges from any region

The lockout chip gets a lifted pin and a hidden switch, so imported games boot without an adapter.

50 / 60 Hz switch · optional
Fully reversible
M1 · Video mod

A sharp picture on a modern TV

An RGB or HDMI board is fitted straight onto the video chips. No blurry composite, no input lag from cheap converters.

RGB, component or HDMI
Clean ribbon routing · no hot glue
Q1 · Power

Runs cool, lasts longer

The hot linear regulator and its heatsink are replaced by a modern switching regulator that wastes far less power as heat.

7805 linear → switching module
Output checked at 5.00 V
D1 · Lighting

A little glow, if you want it

Addressable LEDs for power indicators, underglow or translucent shells, set to any colour or a slow cycle.

Reassembly

Tested, then closed up

Every build is soak-tested with games running before the shell goes back on. Then the outside gets its turn.

Artwork

The art goes on last

Your design is drawn to fit the exact shell, then painted, printed on cast vinyl or hydro-dipped and sealed with a hard clear coat.

Shell prepped · retrobrighted
2K clear coat · matte or gloss
Finished

One of one

Try a different finish on this build:

Start a commission
Scroll to open it up
Services

Repairs, mods and artwork under one roof

Send in your own console or pick one from the shelf. Every job starts with a full health check, so you know what you are getting before anything is changed.

C · CAPACITORS

Recaps and repairs

Fresh capacitors, cleaned cartridge slots, reflowed joints and replaced fuses. Dead and dying consoles brought back.

M · MOD BOARDS

Video upgrades

RGB, component and HDMI boards, fitted neatly with proper connectors and no drilled holes unless you want them.

U · LOGIC

Region and quality-of-life

Region switches, 50/60 Hz toggles, IPS screens and USB-C charging for handhelds, rechargeable save batteries.

Q · POWER

Power and cooling

Switching regulators, new power supplies and quiet fans, so the console runs cool through long sessions.

D · LIGHTING

LEDs and clear shells

Coloured power LEDs, underglow and translucent replacement shells that show off the work inside.

ART · SHELL

Custom artwork

Hand-painted, printed or hydro-dipped designs, drawn to your brief and sealed to survive real use.

On the bench SNES / Super FamicomMega Drive / GenesisNESN64PlayStationSaturnDreamcastGame BoyGame Boy AdvanceGameCube
Finishes

Pick a look, or bring your own idea

Three of the house finishes. Each one is redrawn to fit the shell it goes on.

Process

How a commission works

  1. Tell me what you want

    Which console, which mods, and any ideas for the artwork. Rough sketches and mood boards welcome.

  2. Quote and design proof

    You get a fixed quote and a digital mockup of the artwork on your exact shell to sign off.

  3. Build and test

    Mods fitted, board tested, artwork applied and cured. Progress photos along the way.

  4. Packed and shipped

    Double-boxed and insured, with a parts list of everything that was changed inside.

Commission

Got a console in the loft?

Fill in the form and your request is written up ready to send, or email directly.

hello@robsconsolemods.example

Most builds take two to four weeks depending on the artwork.

What do you want done?