Embedded Files
Some time back we were lucky enough to win a 'collection only' MB Vectrex on eBay. Although it did come with 6 very nice boxed games, including overlays, we wanted them all (it was a small catalogue) so also purchased a multi-cart to go with it.
This was all well and good, but as any of you who have played with a Vectrex know, the screen is black and white only, so without the coloured overlays games can look a little dull and confusing. The cart didn't come with overlays of course, so I wondered if it would be possible to make some at home. Turns out it is!
Ideally, you'd just get the images professionally printed onto a sheet of acetate (remember OHPs!), using a professional printer that printed in white too, but that option wasn't open to me, so a DIY job it was then!
Here's what I did ...
Print a copy of the overlay on both and A4 plain paper and a transparent sheet. Use a decent laser printer if possible. Try not to melt the acetate round the rollers! Get hold of a sharp scalpel and glue.
Using scalpel and ruler, cut out the middle area on the A4 sheet (the bit that needs to be transparent, but is currently a solid colour).
Also cut out any 'white' bits such as score headers (in this case footballs!), from the middle area. Discard rest of middle.
Put a dab of glue round the front 'frame'.
Line the printed transparent sheet up over it (so all lettering etc aligns) and press down. The transparent sheet should now be glued to the front of the the A4 'frame'.
Flip over, line up, and glue the score headers on in their respective places on the back of the transparent sheet, so they show though when you flip it over. You need to put glue on the front of these pieces, and align them with their transparent counterparts.
Now laminate the combined transparency and A4 sheet (hot heat to make sure laminate in middle is as clear as possible) and trim round the coloured border to fit the Vectrex. I used 250gsm laminating pouches. Once trimmed, I then ran the whole lot through the laminator once again, just to finish off. Voila!
They're by no means perfect, but look fine and do the job really well!
This one's the real thing ;)
I originally got the overlays from Vectrex World, but they don't seem to have them any more. Never fear, luckily I did save them and here they all are in in thier PDF goodness!
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