Hardware GBA and also GBC light mods (SP into GBA, Kitsch Bent to GBC)

[VmprHntrD]

I've got some second hand GBC and GBA systems (original release models) I got recently that are basically brand new, but I want to light up their existence.

With the GBA I read you can stuff a SP screen in there, but not really clear on it. I saw a year old thread here mentioning a specific ribbon cable you can use to straight transplant a SP screen into it and it will work, but it did vaguely mention filing down some plastic so it would fit. Is this the best method and are there links to what I need to do this?

And on the GBC. I know the cheapest option and most reliable is the Kitsch Bent screen, but I'm uncertain I want to be messing with LOCA as I tend to have back luck with glues. Is there a notable difference worth it (anyone got a side by side image?) of one of those with and without the LOCA put in there?

 

[Localhorst86]

As for the GBA, this tutorial seems straight forward:

You can find the ribbon cable on eBay or aliexpress.

As for the GBC: there's a clone called GB Boy Colour which has a backlight screen and seems to be compatible with original GB carts:

 

[yafeee]

If you plan to frontlight your GBC with the kitsch bent kit, the LOCA is essential, in my opinion. It's quite hard to see through the panel without the LOCA.

Here is a thread about it: https://gbatemp.net/threads/cgb-front-lighting-101-kitsch-bent-loca-mod.367705/

There is pictures comparing the LOCA mod with the AGS-001 mod. But you can see examples of moded screen with and without LOCA in kitsch bent website (tutorials).

Edit: about the LOCA, don't be affraid, you will have the time to adjust the screen, remove bubbles etc. It's worth it.

 

[VmprHntrD]

Thanks for the info, sorry not to respond quicker. The GBA I just need to find the 101 to cannibalize is all, the ribbon should be an ebay find I'm sure. As far as the GBC goes, I haven't found images of that Kitsch Bent screen without the LOCA to compare which I was hoping someone had seen or could show me. I don't even know where to get that stuff locally anyway nor do I want to buy a big tube of it I'll never use but a little of.

 

[yafeee]

Thanks for the info, sorry not to respond quicker. The GBA I just need to find the 101 to cannibalize is all, the ribbon should be an ebay find I'm sure. As far as the GBC goes, I haven't found images of that Kitsch Bent screen without the LOCA to compare which I was hoping someone had seen or could show me. I don't even know where to get that stuff locally anyway nor do I want to buy a big tube of it I'll never use but a little of.

You can see what the mod without LOCA looks like at the end of this video:

If you plan to do it, buy a good LOCA glue (some people recommend a brand named OSAKA). Personally, I tried with a cheap LOCA found on ebay (it came in a red transparent tube), and the result was good at the beginning, but after a month or two, the glue turned white ... so I had to remove the panel

 

[VmprHntrD]

Hmm well that is fairly washed out worse than your normal SP does to the image/color quality which isn't good. Guess now is to find someone selling 'osaka' LOCA on ebay or amazon I figure when I go ahead and do this project.

I saved that video to my bookmarks, I'll come back to it. His loca link is some red stuff in a tube.

 

[opt2not]

Any suggestions on a brand of LOCA that would give me the best results? There are so many on ebay, but I have no clue one which are the best ones. I know people swear by the Osaka brand, but I haven't been able to find that particular brand on ebay.
Does anyone have a link to the best kind I should use?

 

[VmprHntrD]

Osaka 6 and 7 I think I heard and 6 was nicer? I'm sure you can google a comparison. I could not local osaka anything on ebay either, then I went out of town for two weeks so I put it all on hold.

 

[Jabodie]

The only place I've found Osaka was here:

http://www.etechparts.com/Osaka-6-LiquidOpticallyClearAdhesiveLOCA-p/130-1516.htm

Having read up on this mod (I plan to do in the next month or two), Osaka 6 is preferred because it is more viscous (easier to apply), has less discoloration during curing (although Osaka 7 still has very little), cures faster, and is less prone to forming air bubbles.

Here is an article from the seller about the differences:

http://blog.etechparts.com/2014/03/19/differences-between-osaka-6-and-osaka-7/