AL'S ATARI RETRO CORNER

Good evening fellow Atarians

On a bit of a whim last week I decided to try and replicate a 'proper' retro Atari corner complete and today it started coming together.

I managed to pick up a desk for the price of a packet of biscuits (bloody hard work carrying it down three flights of stairs though) and have started populating it with some Atari goodness. It's mainly dedicated to my 800XL and the various XL peripherals but I decided to put the ST on the pull out keyboard shelf and think it looks rather smart there.

The only visible modern concession is the AVG cart as I don't intend to plug in the 1010 or 1050 for the time being at least. Next step is to get a printer stand to create more storage and a couple of shelves for games boxed games to sit on. Also going to look for a wall mounted magazine rack and a display stand for my Silica brochures

Enough of me blabbering on, here are some photographs below. Comments and suggestions appreciated fella's.

 

Aye, that looks like the real deal to me, Al.
I was wondering how the hell you were gonna manage some huge 70s Schreiber/ Habitat stonking solid desk but these smaller "sawn off" 80s/90s jobs are exactly what we progressed on to and definitely match the fashions of the era and so if you had said "I've just found some pics of my original Atari set up" and posted these, none of us would have batted an eyelid as the items and furniture are spot on.
Well done, mate.
Looking forward to also seeing brochures/display stands to follow - it will indeed be like looking at the sales display in Silica Shop circa 86-89!
Great work, matey.

 

Al - just spotted this "little" beaut - just in case you wanted to go the "full Seventies hog" (1870s):

 

Specsavers for you Andy......."beaut"...In what way is that a beaut.. Is this you?

 

Maybe I should have placed "beaut" in inverted commas there, Paul! Whatever, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think Al may yet swoop for some such similar piece of retro history as it's only going to "add" to the value of his furniture...

I'll get me Beau Geste / Marty Feldman gogs out...

 

You know me, pulling your leg...

I hope Al finds some suitable display stuff, so far it looks ace.

 

Things have halted a bit with the retro corner, but I did manage to get time to turn the 800XL on tonight and have a play at a few games so things are moving, albeit slowly. A couple of other things have been added to the corner and once I get a few more pieces in then I'll take some new photos.

 

Moved some more stuff around in the mancave, now just need to get everything labelled and wired up. The Amstrad 464 has found its way onto a nice little IKEA tv bench so might end up staying as it takes up less room now on the main gaming tables.

 

As always, looking forwards to the new piccies, Al.

I'm also gonna release a 90s Amiga workstation type image or two - see what you've gone and done, you've managed to inspire the parts that I didn't know still existed in my set-ups, bud

 

Excellent, looking forward to seeing the Amiga pictures when ready Andy. I'm certainly enjoying the little Atari setup.

 

This is indeed what it's all about, mate - still enjoying and sharing the lurve of these beautiful old retro relics of ours - no, I'm not talking about us as individuals, I mean the electronica - the vintage gear, man!! PMSL

 

Andy, I'm sorry your 'gear' is vintage. Does that mean, like the old cars, you need to be started by hand?.

 

I've been having a little tinker in the 8-bit corner tonight. Tidied up my AVG cart and Syscheck II memory upgrade now in operation so the 800XL is good to go. It's on to the ST later this week to get it set up on the shelf underneath. And I'm now actively hunting nearby to see if I can find a Star LC-10 printer to go with it.

 

Star LC10 search radars... ACTIVE, AL!
Keep you posted, mate.

Ah, shame the lid's cracked, Al - plus I think this guy is collection only (Rotherham way):

https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...f=marketplace_profile&referral_code=undefined

 

Thanks Andy. I'm considering this one on EBay just now

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22626663...uid=gw2id-dpT96&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

EDIT: I just bought it lol

 

Lurve it, mate.

Bit pricier than mine BUT postage thrown in so that's knocked it down the best part of a tenner.

Wishing you well that it all arrives safe, sound and secure... and it don't come via EVRI!!

Still aint turned up, me Atari Anniversary - just more excuses about an undefined delay in the logistics... or should I say some twit courier's sat on it/lost it/both.

GrRRRZzz!

Nice work, Al.

 

Hopefully you get the package soon Andy. Guess who the courier is for the LC-10.... yep!!

By the way, I posted the Amiga floppy yesterday so hopefully be with you in the next day or two.

 

Should be called Nevri

 

I planned on checking some floppies on the ST tonight and then converting them to image files. Instead ended up spending a fantastic couple of hours playing Zooom, then World Class Leaderboard and finally Kick Off Extra Tiime on it instead. Also discovered a floppy with my old favourite word processor from back in the day, Protext.

Finally sitting down and spending sometime loading up disks on the ST has been great and I really enjoyed myself. I can acknowledge the Amiga is maybe (maybe!) a better computer, but the ST was my first 16-bit micro and when I really got heavily into computers eventually leading to make a career out of it. Not to mention all the fun I had with PD, shareware and cracked games. Still remember buying my first compilation (Automation were the group) down the Barras on Christmas Eve for £5. It had Super Hang On, Super Sprint and Steve Davis Snooker on it. Just brilliant.

The ST I have setup in the retro desk corner is a 520STe with 4mb ram and is still in original condition with no enhancements or other upgrades. I have used it with a plug-in Cartridge emulator that also lets you download games over wi-fi but that's a project for another time. Otherwise this ST will be staying in its original state. However, I have a 520STFM with 1mb ram and a gotek fitted as well and I'm going to use that as a 'play' machine and maybe try some other stuff like USB mouse adaptors and Satan Hard drives on it. But guys, I think I'm finding my love for the ST all over again

Of course, the session was finished by a play on the good old 800XL. Arkanoid first, then Deathchase which is a really good 3D Deathchase clone with a bit more of a storyline.

 

Nice update there, Al.
We all recognise that passion you show whenever you do a good ol wander down memory lane and recall the magical times when our fave bit of kit was brand new to us and the hopes and dreams of at last owning our very own arcade quality games machine was finally realised and the memories just filled with exciting nights (and days) spent creating special moments as we discovered these amazing titles for the 1st time.... difficult to put into words the thrills, immersion, excitement and pure adrenaline buzzes we received...and have never forgotten.
We lurve you lurving the ST, Al, as we know it's TRUE!
I haven't had a moment for retro this weekend as me and Bev have literally been oot n aboot ever since we clocked orf Friday afternoon but I can confirm that Withernsea's flypasts today were excellent (RAF Typhoon screaming through the skies smashing all our ear drums, 2 stunt planes doing amazing acrobatics and a lovely old Tiger Moth chugging along just above the prom/waves were just 3 of the attractions going on), and we've been out with loads of folks and met up with family and friends and most of all, dear old Uncle Har made it to 90 years young and he had a houseful of visitors from morn til night to make him feel special. Hope you guys also enjoyed sunny and smiles for miles weekends too, fellas.



SPOT THE OLD ONE (yep, the retro reject on the left)

OOh, and a great XL Deathchase clip there too, Al - is this conversion now out for the Atari classic? It looks very fast and challenging!

 

Andy, I'm glad you made it clear who was the oldest out of the two of you lol

Deathchase has been out for a while now, well worth a play if you get a chance mate.

I bet that Typhoon would have been a sight and sound for the senses. Will need to look and see if I can find a video on YouTube of it today. Last month I visited a couple of the aviation museums around Carlisle and managed to get a tour onboard a Vulcan bomber. That was something else! I'll post a quick thread with the photo's before I log off tonight.

 

Brilliant, mate.

Looking fwd to seeing your Vulcan tour clip.

Yep, the Typhoon shook the whole town - there were 100s of seagulls wheeling around at first on the prom and when the RAF showed up they all screeched off and hid behind the houses It was that loud it set orf car alarms along the sea front!

I thought I'd heard of Deathchase before and I think Matt has prompted me to play it in the past - must give it a proper shot as the presentation and clips look very exciting.

Let's see if someone filmed the Typhoon over Wid this afternoon... someone must've...

Here's the promo:





Prob doesn't do it full justice the ear shattering noise of this incredible aircraft

 

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!

The power and control of that aircraft, wow. Must have been fantastic seeing and hearing it. Great bit of video work by the cameraman there as well.

 

If I remember right, the turning circle for the typhoon is about a mile..Unlike the spin on a dime they show in films

 

Latest pictures guys. Excuse the mess, I haven't hoovered or dusted since Horace Goes Skiing was top of the games charts....