DK3 Bezel Differences

[Phetishboy]

I never knew this, but there are different versions of the DK3 Bezel. The first thing I noticed was the tint. One I have is tinted, the other is clear as a bell. The other thing I noticed was the inside of Stanley's mouth. On the tinted bezel, it is red, on the non-tinted version, his mouth is as white as Frizzy's is on 'Organic Garden Hose Night' down at the Moose Lodge. Anyone know why there are these differences? I mean, they were all kits, no dedicated DK3's, so why change the style?

 

[Phetishboy]

Anyone know if the difference in Stan's mouth color and the tinting was a mistake or a money-saving measure? Which version do you have?

 

[jow]

I used to have the red/tinted version:

 

[jsquared]

I have the tinted Never seen a clear one around these parts.

 

[7146aaron]

There is also an extra cocoanut on the clear one. Second palm down on the left side. Why would they do that?

 

[Phetishboy]

I don't think it is an extra coconut, I think it is a continuation of the tree trunk of the top palm.

 

[ataritoobin]

Didn't some of the earlier, Pre-DK Nintendo games have a separate tinted bezel? Maybe it was for cabinets like that. Though, there'd be no reason you couldn't take out the extra tinted piece and just put the new one in.

 

[Rrcade]

I have a lovely bunch of coconuts, I think it is a continuation of the tree trunk on top.

What the hell???

 

[Rrcade]

My newly acquired Dk3 has the Red mouth

 

[Phetishboy]

Well today while cleaning them both, I noticed another difference. On the clear bezel, the graphic is screened on the backside. On the tinted bezel, it is screened on the front. I also wonder if the explicative, 'Boon', was supposed to be 'Boom"? I assume so. Silly Japanese.

 

[FrizzleFried]

It would stand to reason the tinted plexi would have artwork on the outside else the tint would discolor it. DK and DKJR artwork is on the outside. I am guessing the clear bezel is perhaps an official Nintendo replacement? Dunno.

 

[TexasHotshot]

Very interesting... having been in a collectibles market years before being in a video game one, I dig these sorts of observations.

My best guess is that the first one is the clear, untinted one, being that the tree on the left has an extra piece of art shown for the trunk, how bad the mouth looks, etc.

Usually in these kinds of cases, the better looking one is the more common as well, as someone didn't like the look of the first run, or the printer made an error.

Even possible that the earliest kits at the AMOA show used the first one shown, prior to the machine going into full production. Most games have something minor that changes in that interim period of time.

 

[Wundercade]

He has the red mouth on the flyer.

 

[TexasHotshot]

Yes.. true. But does he on the bezel on the machine in the flyer?

I don't have a high res enough version of it to be able to tell.

 

[Deadly]

Phet I've never seen a clear one before. From your pictures I see many small differences. I would have to venture a guess that someone vectored the artwork and made their own - which would also explain why there are many small differences including color. Just a guess of course.

 

[Wundercade]

Well, on the machine on the flyer, it's hard to discern, but the darkness in the mouth area is more consistent with red than white. I am referencing the online flyer archive.

 

[FrizzleFried]

Very interesting... having been in a collectibles market years before being in a video game one, I dig these sorts of observations.

My best guess is that the first one is the clear, untinted one, being that the tree on the left has an extra piece of art shown for the trunk, how bad the mouth looks, etc.

Usually in these kinds of cases, the better looking one is the more common as well, as someone didn't like the look of the first run, or the printer made an error.

Even possible that the earliest kits at the AMOA show used the first one shown, prior to the machine going into full production. Most games have something minor that changes in that interim period of time.

It could even be a JAPAN/US version difference. We've seen differences in the cabs themselves when comparing the two types.

 

[CamaroMurph]

As to the comment prior on early Nintendo bezels, my Radar Scope bezel is clear plexi with the artwork on the back. It also has a tinted plexi attached with double sided tape to the back of the bezel. I just took the two pieces apart for some cleaning and I have to say that it looked like the tinted plexi was a factory piece.

Don't know if this helps or confuses the matter but thought I would throw some fuel on the fire.

Murph

 

[TexasHotshot]

Wundercade... the main art in the flyer is more consistant with the side art overall... tons of games that have variations in colors and art from bezels and other art... such as Pac-Man, where Pac's eyes are blue on the CPO but red elsewhere. Hmmm.

Murph's observation may hold some water to back up Frizz's point, too. Could be the import version.

 

[Wundercade]

True, both types have to be factory in any event. I don't think the clear is a knock-off.