Roberts R500 Cabinet restoration - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Valve'n'vinyl · 14th May 2016, 7:15 pm

I have a Roberts R500 which I have rescued and have got working by replacing the usual suspects AF117, Caps and a couple of resistors in the I.F section. I have been pondering for a while about how to go about re-colouring the Rexine. The rexine had got really raised and rough around the brass wires. At first I thought it was corrosion or something that had reacted with it. I decided to clean the dirt and debris off the cabinet then decide which way to go with it. I used acetone and it shifted the grub in no time. With a little elbow grease and more acetone the "bubbling" went also! result! I couldn't decide whether to go with leather dye or not. I have had some success with this in the past but only with dark colours, mainly black. I did a Roberts R505 in red and it did cover, however, because it needed 3 coats thinly spread it "blocked" some of the grain in the leathercloth. Not obviously noticeable, but I knew it was there and that was annoying enough. Anyway, I digress. I have also had success with spray paints and I decided to commit myself to this route. I went out earlier today and obtained some rather nice spray that was supposed to be a close match (colour on lid does NOT match)... however I am fairly pleased with the result. Because I used acetone on the rexine it removed all grease, dirt, debris and opened up the pores to accept new paint. The paint in question is HUMBROL ACRYLIC SPRAY - GRASS GREEN 80 MATT.

Picture 1
This is the cabinet in original condition, scrubbed but paint had gone darker over the years in the sun etc.

Picture 2
This is the original paint as close as we are going to see it anyway. Man from Humbrol he say Yes (Owner he say NO

)

Picture 3
This is the 150ml can and the lid colour does come extremely close to the original.

Picture 4
Um... not exactly what I was looking for, but it was either this colour or olive green matt.

Picture 5
It certainly looks "fresh"... Birds Eye Field fresh wouldn't you say !

yes, it is more pea green ...

14th May 2016, 7:15 pm	#1
Valve'n'vinyl Pentode Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scarborough , North Riding of Yorkshire Posts: 202	Roberts R500 Cabinet restoration I have a Roberts R500 which I have rescued and have got working by replacing the usual suspects AF117, Caps and a couple of resistors in the I.F section. I have been pondering for a while about how to go about re-colouring the Rexine. The rexine had got really raised and rough around the brass wires. At first I thought it was corrosion or something that had reacted with it. I decided to clean the dirt and debris off the cabinet then decide which way to go with it. I used acetone and it shifted the grub in no time. With a little elbow grease and more acetone the "bubbling" went also! result! I couldn't decide whether to go with leather dye or not. I have had some success with this in the past but only with dark colours, mainly black. I did a Roberts R505 in red and it did cover, however, because it needed 3 coats thinly spread it "blocked" some of the grain in the leathercloth. Not obviously noticeable, but I knew it was there and that was annoying enough. Anyway, I digress. I have also had success with spray paints and I decided to commit myself to this route. I went out earlier today and obtained some rather nice spray that was supposed to be a close match (colour on lid does NOT match)... however I am fairly pleased with the result. Because I used acetone on the rexine it removed all grease, dirt, debris and opened up the pores to accept new paint. The paint in question is HUMBROL ACRYLIC SPRAY - GRASS GREEN 80 MATT. Picture 1 This is the cabinet in original condition, scrubbed but paint had gone darker over the years in the sun etc. Picture 2 This is the original paint as close as we are going to see it anyway. Man from Humbrol he say Yes (Owner he say NO ) Picture 3 This is the 150ml can and the lid colour does come extremely close to the original. Picture 4 Um... not exactly what I was looking for, but it was either this colour or olive green matt. Picture 5 It certainly looks "fresh"... Birds Eye Field fresh wouldn't you say ! yes, it is more pea green ... Attached Thumbnails