Most liked posts in thread: What's new Pussycat too?

Yes, it is a bit "busy" for me too, it would be open except for the chair.
I only have a couple feet of room to get around it. But the chair is worth it.

I couldn't wear the steampunk hat either, but I had to have it for my decor "ambiance." I was looking at it closer this morning and the glasses/goggles are real, I could actually wear them.

 

By the way @Paul "Mclaneinc" Irvine , I sent you a package that I wanted to be a surprise to you on Aug. 6th. My tracking keeps saying it is going in and out of the Chicago distribution center over and over, so I don't know if it is still heading your way, lost, or coming back to me atm. But I had to tell you at this point. I got your address from Andy, so hopefully it is current.I would give you the tracking number, but it's USPS only and would just show you what I get notices about which is in limbo.

 

LOL. If we're talking busy, I say stuff your shelves with stuff - the more, the merrier, lads.

Matt, you are merging and maintaining marvellous micro machinery to the max and I'm all for that.

My shelving units have just respawned another bleeder and so more devices have been removed from their hiding places and are now heading down to the exhibition "front".

I can't see myself showing all this stuff forever and a day - who can - there has to be a day of reckoning in the future when I say enough's enough but right now, I'm getting the lot out and demo-ing it to its maximum potential.

I really like your "extras" such as the steampunk headgear too as it reveals something of the user's eccentricity and let's be frank, guys, there's no-one on this forum whom I would term "normal"!

Brilliant bits n bobs, Matt - keep experimenting and showing what you've got off, mate.

It's a great collection and it's cool for cats, dude.

 

PS. Hope that package makes it through to Paul. You didn't send it on the end of some knicker elastic did you, Matt mate, and it's now twanging in/out of customs?!

 

I can't wait to see more pictures of your "exhibition room" as it continues to grow. I much prefer seeing my and other peoples hobbies grow rather than be shrinking, even if the shrinking of other's collections may lead to super deals for me to acquire. I still have to put up more pictures on my blog.

I had another brilliant day today doing some bartering with the same customer I got my riding mower trailer from for doing work for him. This was a big deal I made today of bartering a full mowing season of work from me for some machinery, another riding mower and a small tractor with a hydraulic system and a job-site portable office trailer. More details and pictures later as I go back this evening to get the trailer to start with, and I'll take some pictures.

The mower and tractor will both have to be restored like I did with my Craftsman mower, but they will grow the business which will lead to bigger jobs like land clearing. And the office trailer will be used for both my new electronics and mechanical workshops, and maybe a proper small office corner with a desk too. So my over crowded bedroom will get some much needed real estate back as I permanently move my work bench and electronic tools taking up command center desk space and 3D printer to the new trailer. Which by the way, is already fully wired for electrical and brand-new paneling and flooring ready to be added too and finished. It even has a working air conditioner too!

 

Keep aiming ever higher, Matt.

Excellent progress - tell us how we buy shares in Matt's Agricultural and Farming services (before the big guys move in!)

Well done, fella - onwards and upwards with your great displays and more, mate.

It's never been a more exciting time for us retronauts as we explore ever more the possibilities of our caves and plans.

 

I forgot to take pictures, but I have to go back tomorrow evening anyway as I had the wrong size ball on my trailer hitch. I have to borrow a heavier duty trailer with a wench from a friend to move the tractor.

 

I'm actually going to get a two-for-one deal out of the office trailer, we looked under it and the super structure has a separate floor frame that is bolted to the trailer frame, which is larger and heavier duty than my current trailer.

So we are going to remove the "building" from the trailer and put it on a cinder block foundation and then weld sheet metal onto the trailer frame for a floor and weld 2x4" wood plank holders to the sides(my brother is a welder so he will handle that) and then I will build removable trailer "walls" of wood planks and slats (like I did with my current trailer, except they aren't removable-live and learn). that can be set in and lifted out of the holders for easy-access loading.

So I'll get a forth riding mower, a multi-purpose tractor with hydraulics for multiple hydraulic attachments, a small electronics and mechanics shop/office building (which will eventually be just the office when we build a larger shop with garage bay(s)) to put next to my two equipment storage sheds. And another hauling trailer, but larger and heavier-duty for the business, which I will need anyway to be able to haul the tractor around or multiple zero turn & riding mowers.

All for one mowing season which equals about $200 per month for 6-7 months, so $1200-$1400. Further investment of probably $500-1000 to restore both the mower and tractor, and about the same for the sheet metal floor for the trailer. But even if it's a full $2000 more investment, if I were to buy all this stuff separately, used but ready to go, or new, I'd have to invest probably $1000 used, $2500 new for the mower, probably $2500 used, $5000 new for the small tractor, $2000 used, $3000 new for the trailer and $1000 to build the small building myself to the state of this one. So $3400 or less with this deal and me fixing them up vs. $6500 used or $11,500 new for all of it.

This was planned anyway, as we grow we want to split into two crews with each of us supervising one, until we can afford to hire foremen and we sit in the office all day dealing with customers and paperwork, I'm just getting the equipment sooner than needed.

 

Hi Matt, package arrived..

Excellent choices there, you know I love a shoot em up and who can't like pong

Very kind words on the box, and as for the 1200, I'm just chuffed that you offered one to me, that in itself is such a kind and friendly thing and we all know just how much idea's can change because of unexpected variables getting in the mix. It's not anyone's fault, it's just life throwing curve balls. I just want to hear that YOUR machines are up and running and if life suddenly forms a perfect path that maybe the 1200 can happen. As said, just knowing that you had it in your heart to offer me one is a GIANT gift..

The gift of a great friend....Beats all hardware hands down Except maybe a working 1450XLD

Thank you..

Paul..

Here's what Matt sent...excuse the meds box...He didn't send those

 

@Paul "Mclaneinc" Irvine I'm glad it arrived safely, I was starting to get worried it was lost or was heading back to me for some reason when more than a month had passed, and the first time I checked tracking a couple weeks after I sent it, it said basically that it was in a distribution center in NYC, I think specifically for international mail, IIRC, then another 2 weeks pass and I started getting updates one after another, about a half dozen in one day, telling me it arrived and left a Chicago regional facility 3 times each!

You will get the 1200XL too, of course I never expected years to pass and still not have it repaired, but as you know, while trying to trouble shoot it and my 800XL which will be a gift to another friend (who I promised it too a couple years before you!) That my own machines would break down or stupid issues* while installing upgrades after repairs that I also had to trouble shoot. And of course work and a lot of other responsibilities besides just work, dealing with my mom, vehicles, home maintenance, etc. way-laying me from my hobbies too. With my brother here now, there will be less of those responsibilities falling on my shoulders alone, too.


My work season is slowing down again though, and I'm starting to find time to get back to getting my machines running. But I'll just get my 800 running again, which has no current issues really, it's just still not put back together because I bricked the Pokeymax Quad I have, so replaced it with my new V3 intended for the 1200XL (I'll get another for it) and it has one or two extra wires I have to run to the CPU board, then hopefully it's just a matter of re-assembly, as long as no other stupid "Murphy's Law" issues pop up while putting it back together.

After that your 1200XL is next, even before mine or the 800XL, since I don't have to worry about burning you some OS eproms anymore for a 4-in-1 OS, since I picked up another 32-in-1 while trouble-shooting my 1200XL, which didn't change anything, except I now have an extra that your 1200XL will get.

I really do hope to get the 1200XL to you by Christmas, or at least before my spring work season starts up again next year. Of course I also know I have said that before in previous years only to not be able to stick to it. I'll be working hard to make sure this year it happens. I'm a man of my word though, and always keep it eventually, if I can't always be timely with keeping my word. Even though 1200XL's are worth a small fortune now, since I offered you one, I'm not greedy enough to change my mind, and in fact know it means that much more to you, and also because I know you will keep it for life and not sell it off either (unless a life & death emergency cash requirements forces it, then I'll be glad you have it to sell in that case, and have my blessings to do so).



*Like the 800 keyboard that I spent months trouble shooting, finally basically rebuilt the entire PCB, which made no change, only to finally discover quite by accident that the space bar was sticking down (I never bothered to press the space bar while testing, just a bunch of other keys) and was only revealed to me one time when I plugged the keyboard in after turning on the 800 which finally revealed the cursor moving across the screen!

 

Great. great to hear, fellas.

We all lurve stories with a happy ending and this one has such a feel good result -

EXCELLENT - enjoy Paul and do let us know how you get on, score-wise!

Great gesture, Matt.

PS. I got a goodybag / parcel from Richie today so will show the contents a little later AFTER Bev is taken out for her birthday bash meal - moussaka on toast - down the local Greek restaurant - wish me luck with the ouzo, smashed plates/Orics and the bill afterwards, guys!

 

@Paul "Mclaneinc" Irvine If you are too tired, Sunday morning is a great time for some arcade shooter action. I haven't played mine yet either, had it for about two months, as with several other games and Atari goodies I've had for months and have yet to try since my 800 is disassembled.

I might have had time for a game or two otherwise, but have been busy with work, chores and errands to attempt much electronic work since last spring. I've taken a couple of things apart to study for possible adaptation (TRS-80 Coco mouse, 7800 console) but no actual solder-to-the-circuit on any of it and most is still disassembled and in boxes or bags awaiting time for me to get back to them.

I haven't actually played any 8-bit system since winter's end, except one evening with the 7800 after I got it from @nysavant and then promptly took it apart to upgrade the video from composite video to S-video/Chroma-Luma and haven't had time to actually do more than pick out needed components for the job, otherwise it's also been sitting still disassembled and I haven't even tried my new 7800 Dragonfly hardware upgrade & SD card drive since I got it! I am planning on working on the 7800 this evening, and if I finish it, then over the weekend I'm going to finish up and assemble my 800.Unless I decide to side-track myself working on the trailer and getting ready to move work benches, furniture and equipment in...

I've just been playing 90's and post game consoles a little here and there for the past 6 months! Otherwise for my vintage systems and electronics all I've done is some re-arranging and re-re-arranging as I've gotten new items and furniture, and that is going to be happening again very soon as I'm finally going to get my new office/shop trailer this evening after a couple of false starts.

 

Go for it, Matt.

I'm very much looking forward to your return to your vintage kit, after all the furniture rejigging, but also how the reassembly and upgrades go with your 7800 and 800.

Should be great to see how these beauties perform real soon.

GAME ON!

 

never mind about the Coco series being like the TI-99/4A chaining out the side, I miss-remembered. I was browsing ebay to see what's available for peripherals and stumbled across the TRS-80 multi-pak device, so I don't think TRS-80 peripherals have pass-thru like I thought. I'm going to need one, as even the disk drive plugs in there instead of the serial port like I assumed.

 

It's in the five year plan. This Coco will go where my 800 is now, and the 800 will go to my new office/shop trailer. The trailer is my extension for now. I will be installing work benches and a desk, so I'll probably have room for the C64, when I get one, out there too. Or move the coco 2 out there and install the C64 next to the 1200XL. Until I build on to the house. I think I'm only going to get a C64 and be satisfied with my Atari 8-bits and the TRS-80 CC2 and a C64 system and that will be it for me for vintage computers.

 

Brilliant - life gets better all the time, Matt!

Happy installing and fitting out.

 

My brother just noticed that the AC unit doubles as a heating unit as well.

 

Matt, my friend, do you sleep?

Always on the go...Fair play to you..

 

I'm about 6hrs kip a night, Matt, so know where yer coming from.

NEVER enough hours in a day for sures.

 

They say, "the devils work is never done" but he would be hard-pressed to keep up with you Matt

I believe you work in your sleep

 

Inspiration often comes to me while I lay in bed at night at least...

 

Not quite, but I can't keep it a secret, I'm too excited...inspired by...





I came to this decision after yellowing returning with a vengeance after retro-brite a few years ago, and with an 810 that has cracks in the case that need repair and an splotchy complexion anyway, and long thought and pondering finding "800 beige" paint and restoring. But finally concluded, since I am already beyond the point of no return with an already custom hacked case, I figured "why not create as close to the dream you've had ever since you first saw the IBM 'ATARI' PC?". But this won't be exact, no case modification or exact colors, etc. I'll be putting my own unique twist on it too...check out my custom key-cap decals! I've been meaning to add graphic symbols to my Atari keyboards anyway, but with Worst (Best) Electronics being the only source...

This will be my whole 800 system: 800, 810, 410, CX85, mouse (TRS-80 converted), a joystick and possibly my extra Atari touch-tablet.

Of course the letters "IBM" will never touch this system except for on the appropriate keys, it will still have a Fuji badge and the Atari 800 name, though they will be new, to match the motif, and I may still add the "personal computer" or other unique signifiers.

The system will still be accompanied with the contrasting black of the 2 Indus GT drives, LCD monitor and my home-made wood monitor stand that I already painted black to match.




All paint colors chosen for closest match to the colors in the picture, but based solely on my memory of the colors in the picture and what colors where available. Not bad, oy?

Keyboard decals will only be used on keys that will be white (the lighter grey keys with print in the "IBM" picture) the colored keys I have a different plan for restoring the key-cap text.

I was also given inspiration to do this from my TRS-80 Coco 2*, as it sat where the 800 will sit, while doing testing. By the way, that's also my "new" refurbished PC standing on end there, I finally have a Windows 10 computer, which I am using right now.
My old Win 7 PC is still set up in my room.



*(which, by the way, also got it's new Hitachi 6309 replacement CPU for the Motorola 6809, with 1.78Mhz "turbo" mode. With an external 512K & OS-9 card I will be Coco 3 compatible, except for graphics, so Coco 3 OS-9 compatible except for Coco 3 only games)

 

My NOS Avalon Hill games arrived today, with versions on each's cassette for Atari 8-bit and TRS-80 Coco.

Also another couple of sets of custom Atari key caps, these in black, which I got only to use the graphic symbols off of them for my 1200XL computers. The key cap decals with the graphic symbols will be cut in half and the half with the graphic symbols will be attached to the front of my 1200XL keyboard keys, just like the original graphic symbol stickers produced by Atari. The rest will be saved for a rainy day; possibly an all black Atari in the future? Poly-Play, where I got the Avalon Hill games, and also have the new Atari 8-bit, Infocom-like, game on pre-order also sells the custom Atari key cap vinyl decals in black and white, if anyone is interested.

https://www.polyplay.xyz

 

Trying to identify the responsible of the damage for the C64 I mentioned above in this thread. Bingo!

https://www.pictorial64.com/fault.htm?id=u14_1

MOS 7709 or the equivalent should be enough for the fixing. U14 chip has been extracted and found broken.