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

I've been doing a little more work on my trailer. I installed the power line to my shop/office trailer last week, I finally have overhead lighting, built in heat and air and all the extension cords through the window are gone and all my equipment can be hooked up now. Though I do wish the trailer had more wall outlets, I'll have to install a few more when the workbenches are installed. An electrical box with 60 amps of power ready to use.

And so I started pulling out more equipment and using scrap wood again to expand my electronics work bench area. With the limited space I currently can only expand up or down, not out. It's only for utilitarian purposes and temporary so looks aren't important. They aren't important to me for a workshop anyway, but this is also my office and that part I want to look as good as possible, even just for me, as I have never met with a customer in my offices anyway, always in the field.

But as I said it's all also temporary until I get some steel work benches installed that will cover half the walls in the trailer, then I'll have room to expand outward like an American city, instead of up or down like a Japanese city. I eve already have the work benches, but they don't come with their counter/table/bench tops. They are designed for 3/4 inch ply-wood to be installed and I refuse to pay a couple hundred dollars for a few pieces of plywood I could get for about $50 just two years ago. When I bought plywood for the floors 2-3 years ago, I payed about $15 for 4x8 foot sheeting and with the bad economy and high inflation those sheets now cost $50 a piece.

So the work benches have to wait until I can get the ply wood for a reasonable price or free through my business I may get a hold of some extra or scrap that is large enough and good enough.

I built a shelf for my oscilloscope, though it isn't repaired yet, and some racks for my electronic component boxes, so I don't have to stack them and move them all around when I want one on the bottom anymore, out of an old CD tower rack.

The CD holder part was made out of very cheap plywood that I think is actually Balsa wood with a vinyl laminate. many of them were broken and it looked terrible anyway so I cut it into two pieces salvaged from the rest of the tower too badly damaged. Then I broke out every other or sometimes 2 cross beams so the larger plastic boxes wood fit and made two racks, one shorter than the other, but all my boxes fit. The CD holder had two sides that had a high-quality steel separating them that they attached too, the two halves forming one holder rack, and connected them directly to each other. The steel frame I've repainted and am using for an installation project involving that toy helicopter drone I got for Christmas. I'll show it off when I'm done.

The shelf built from scrap wood and is a corner installation with scrap 2x4 planks anchored to the wall with long screws and then the shelf board screwed to them with 3/4 inch plywood scrap for strength sine the machine is quite heavy, after lifting it alone to the shelf (I swear it's 50 pounds at least) and only the planks on the wall hold it all up. But I don't need any other support under it either, freeing up head room.I will have to stand for the mean time to use the oscilloscope, once it is repaired. I installed a portable fluorescent light under it for even better lighting than the ceiling fluorescent lights. I also have my adjustable battery power LED torch on the wall too, and of course wear my magnifying headset with LED lighting too. I need all the light I can get anymore and magnification for working on the small components...and reading glasses too. But now I have plenty sources of it. I also added more lighting to my XL command center that I'll show later too.

I got rid of the ugly window blinds, I'll be making temporary curtains for the windows out of scrap material to use until I get new blinds, curtains or shades for them that fit properly. Proper racks, shelving and pigeon holes will come when I install the workbenches and I'll get rid of the scraps, but for now, they serve their purpose.

My most used tools I hung to the wall with screws too, to gain more workbench area but still have them at hand. Especially since I've got two power bread-board circuit testers there now and have the box racks there for easy access too. I'll probably be covering what is left of wall space around it all with electronic reference materials for quick reminders instead of having to pull out books and folders with the stuff. Like I already have on my Analog/Digital PAD. Nice and over-sized so it's all easy for me to see.

Anyway, here is my expanded electronics work bench corner...

 

Now that is a proper man shed!!

 

A couple of new toys arrived today from Video 61. A new Starmaster Joystick I ordered to be a parts backup, since my dog chewed up one of the buttons on the one I had just converted to 7800 two-button compatibility. Only $12 each, it might still be a fair price even with the cost of shipping and VAT or whatever extra you lads have to pay for which I pity you, especially with shipping skyrocketing around the world for everyone! They are very rugged controllers, but then Kraft has always been known for well made controllers, if not always great design or ergonomics; *ahem* looking at my TRS-80 Deluxe joystick, made by Kraft, for Tandy/Radioshack (and Apple branded ones too),

Of course versions that looked like it were sold for Atari/Commodore and compatibles, I had on very similar on my 130XE back in the day, but it was much "flimsier" than the Tandy joystick or the Starmaster which was unusual for Kraft joysticks.

Anyway, the Starmaster is rugged, and more comfortable to hold than a CX40 or even my Wico Command Control (though not as rugged as the Wico). It uses metal bubble contact switches like the CX40 too, but they are much sturdier with a VERY nice click sound when pressed, so much so that before I took it apart I was sure they were leaf switches or like the micro switches in those wonderful Konix Speedking controllers that were sold by Epyx in the states and re-branded the 500XJ. So I was actually really surprised when I opened up the Starmaster the first time and saw heavy-duty metal bubble contacts.

And I was also quite surprised while on Video 61's store site that they are now modifying these controllers themselves for 7800 compatibility and re-branding them the "GRIPSTICK" selling them FOR $30. But the standard unmodified Starmaster are still just $12.

http://www.atarisales.com/gripstick.html

Just to make it more worth the shipping I decided to order a very reasonably price Atari disk game for $14.95. Cycle Knight, an interesting game I remember playing a pirate version of in the early 90's. Listed in the NOS disk game category, I was expecting it to come in it's original cardboard box, as the main point for physical vintage media is collection and display.

Man was I disappointed when I got just the disk and manual in a plastic case, similar to the ones Video 61 sells their original cartridge games in, with shoddy labels and one-sheet laminated paper instructions, printed in draft quality, as is the cart labels. I'm not going to return it or complain because Lance is a decent guy even if he is lazy and cheap on his original title releases and he even sent a second Starmaster joystick to me for free last time, though I did spend about twice as much. Next time I order NOS games from him on disk or tape, I will start asking if they come in their original boxes though...

What original box covers looked like For Cycle Knight can be seen at this link to Atarimania: http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-cycle-knight_1470.html

So I'm just going to get the box image online and resize and print out a cover for the plastic case like I did with the cases that Secretum Labyrinth and Xenophobe came in. Which I converted to Gorf and Star Trek cases (as seen in picture below too, purchased an official looking box and label, (custom made by someone in the Atari community that I have a mind block on their name right now) for my Xenophobe cart and have yet to make my own new package and label for the Secretum Labyrinth game.




I made a monitor stand for the TRS-80 Coco 2 out of scrap wood, but I still don't have a monitor for it if you are wondering...

The overall plan is to get my 1200XL, 800CX and TRS-80 Coco 2 all CRT monitors again. The 1200XL will get the CBM 1084S I have once I repair it, and will have s-video (with the wonderful SV 2.1 upgrade) or Chroma Luma actually and eventually it will get a VBXE with RGB out to the 1084 too. The 800CX has the Sophia 2 which I will reprogram to VGA out and get a bright white PC VGA CRT monitor for it. The Coco 2, with the new SuperSprite FM+ graphics board has a dual-display* system; In standard mode it will have composite out to either a small 14" composite monitor if I get one, or may just have an LCD I'm using for my Atari's atm. But new graphic board for the Coco 2 has RGB output via a Scart port and I made a custom Scart-to-VGA cable for it so it's second screen will be another PC VGA CRT monitor with another RGB2VGA converter/scaler I bought for it like I use with my Atari Jaguar.

*of course with both my upgraded Atari's, they are also capable of dual-display now, but it just shows the same thing on both in a different video signal output whereas the Coco 2 with the SuperSprite FM+ has software already written to use both displays at the same time for different display outputs from the Coco 2. One game uses the second screen for a map and the main game is on the first!

 

I rename you...Inspector Gadget...

 

Some more new toys arrived for me today. This time some goodies for my Bally Professional Arcade. The same bloke that lent me a PSU to test my Bally with, which I eventually bought from him, and sent me some new buttons and such for the system made me an offer I couldn't refuse for an item "bundle" that pretty much completes the hardware side of things and turns it into a full-fledged 32K computer, less only a real keyboard, which was never officially released as promised, so a DIY project as nobody is selling kits for that in the tint Bally community. The community is lucky to have the stuff I got below!

Anyway, without further ado, here are the 32K external ram expansion. Yes, the Bally has a Parallel Bus Interface! And just like the 800XL, there is no +5V, so like with Syscheck on the XL, you have to get the power from another port if you don't mod it. Luckily the Bally has a lightpen port separate from the controller ports.

Also, The Ulti-Multi cart, not SD or CF card based, but has an internal flashrom which already contains every game and utility ever released for the Bally loaded on, except maybe a few homebrew carts made in recent years, but you can count them on one hand, due to the small community of owners. So I have the full library basically.

Last, a third party Assembler that was originally released way back in the 80's just after it's demise commercially and people wanted more than the 4K Bally Basic (There is a more advanced Basic on the multicart too, apparently, or at least adds to the 4K Basic cart, which is still required for the tape I/O anyway. Of course I won't be using Basic or Assembly much until I make a real keyboard for the Bally.

But normally the ram expansion and the multi-cart both sell for $120 each, and the Assembler cart is $30. He sold all three to me for $180.

 

Sounds like a cracking deal you got there Matt. Especially that UltiMulti cartridge

 

#Sounds great, Rich - you're proving once more that we never stop learning.
Have great fun when it all comes through and please update us.
Hope you're keeping well, mate - Al was asking after you too on Friday.
Keep smiling through, buddy and thanks once more for all your help recently with the Orics.
Top thorough repair man par excellence.

 

Two words: bloody brilliant.
The finish, colour scheme and overall effect oozes early 80s micro classic design.
You just wanna play with it all and see what it's capable of.
Great add-ons too there, Matt.
I look forward to some demos of what the machine can do when it's really ramped up and the software's pushing the micro to its new limits etc.
Hope as well you get sorted with a CRT / VGA monitor for the Coco soon.

Oh, and keep on drinking Canada... dry - you know it makes sense as those Cannucks need the income!

 

That's a shame that John is in ill health, I wish him well. I haven't had the opportunity to try out the Super Sprite board yet, or the Coco 2 really at all yet. I've just been working on hardware and awaiting an opportunity to get a good monitor for it. I still have no SD card device, I really wanted to get the MOOH, but contact with the person who makes it has been very problematic for me, then I finally made contact and he said he would make more MOOH boards in January and I have had no more responses from several email attempts again since February. It had so much more to offer than just the SD drive like the CocoSDC, but I guess I'll just have to settle for the CocoSDC at this point and order one soon.

In the meantime I have a cassette drive and could put programs on tape and load them, but as I said, I haven't gotten around to using it yet. I'm still in the middle of several projects I started over the winter but failed to finish due to my mother's health and obligations with her, and now I'm back at work full time and dealing with all the usual equipment issues there too, so I'm maybe managing to find one evening a week to work on stuff and some projects are awaiting parts too, etc.

 

Yeah Matt, I got an email from Tormod as well. So my NX32 RAM expansion and uDW server should be ready soon too!

 

I assume you would be interested in one working or not? I know I generally steer toward the cheaper non-working for parts or repair myself since I'm confident I can fix them and save some money.

 

Hmmmm....mental note, probably not safe around children....

Have fun Al, watch out for those Northerners, would rob ya blind

 

So, my computers and consoles aren't the only things I've been upgrading lately. I've also been upgrading my 3D printer.
I now have stabilizer bars to reduce vibration for better prints and an enclosure to keep a consistent temperature for better prints, but it will also allow me to use ABS plastics as well as the PLA.

Another upgrade I have yet to install is an auto bed leveling sensor to make proper leveling quick and easy. And the last item that hasn't arrived yet is a laser engraving head so I'll be able to do engraving soon as well. That is still to arrive next week, I'll post a pic of it when it arrives.

 

They were between $22 and $25 dollars each, with shipping, etc. they cost me about $180, so not so cheap, but I bit the bullet as they are still cheaper than others, as you say.

 

Back when I had the market stalls and shops I used to buy Atari and Amiga dust covers for about £0.50 each. Price has certainly increased over the years lol. Think I will need to use tea towels over mine instead

 

Have you got that time travel switch fathomed out yet for the unexpanded VIC-20, Al?!

 

It's Dr Who, the ultimate time traveler

 

Jeez... I wouldn't know, mate.

Stopped watching that around the David Tennant era.

Ooops....!

 

To be fair, that's probably when I stopped as well Andy!

 

I don't remember which actor was the last before the female Doctor Who, but that was the last time I watched. As soon as I heard the new Doctor was a female and the show had gone to the extreme of political correctness I have never bothered to turn in. It was bad enough when The Master was made a female, I put up with that, but I can't abide The Doctor as a female. And it's not even a male chauvinist, 20 or 30 years ago I probably would have excepted it, but just in light of the PC climate and the show in general going too the extreme with being PC and woman activists going way beyond "equal rights" and seeming to want to be actually put above males these days I just refuse to accept it. I probably wouldn't be watching it any more even if The Doctor were still male because of what they have turned the show into, and the attitude that male testosterones becoming an "evil" in main stream society and shows. To me that is the real evil and I refuse to put up with it.

 

This is another of the joy's of a bloke's man cave - there's always something else to aim for to make it the creme de la creme of ALL caves/trailers and man boltholes etc.

You WILL get there, Matt - just a few more accessories to lay yer hands on and then you'll be able to retreat into there in a state of semi-permanent bliss and self-sufficiency.

Jammy bugger!

Hey, my garage conversion into a pub has had to be paused for now but it's all system go shortly to get that up and running for the end of summer so watch this space!

 

Yes, a small wet bar may be something else for me to consider. Maybe I can find one that looks like a Dalek (Dailek?-I've seen it spelled both ways) which the top tips open and storage below...or make my own, if I can find the time...

 

Well, I did some Google searching for a Dalek shaped mini/wet bar with no results. There are plenty of globe shaped mini/wet bars, but other than that all are just different style of furniture/carts and a couple portables that look like old-time travel chests/boxes. Not even an R2-D2 droid style mini/wet bar which I find disturbing, I thought that would have been made at least, if not a Dalek version! So I guess I will be forced to make my own when I can find the time. I had a floor standing unit about 4-5 feet tall, or about actual size prop Dalek's in mind to buy, but if I construct my own it will probably be in the 2-3 feet tall range to sit on top of a University dormitory style mini-fridge...I did find R2-D2 and Tardis shaped mini-fridges by the way...

 

Sadly as it's back to Russel T Davies, I imagine he will continue his crusade to make everyone gay in some way. Looking at the new Doctor I think it's a given. Shame I liked some of the stories but the drive to make it overly PC killed it.

Sadly Tennant is only in for the anniversary which I believe is a two parter and as he's such a great actor there are piles of work out there for him.

Was looking at the price of a PS3 on ebay, 40 quid (machine only, no pad) seemed the norm so you got a great buy there..

And yes, double dipped (oh errr) which surprised me as I did two lines and had 2 numbers on each, normally only do one. Must be some odds on getting 2 out of 2 but would have preferred a chunk of cash more

Here's hoping..

 

I still prefer playing The Need For Speed on my 3DO, Gran Turismo 2 (original Playstation version) on my Dreamcast using Bleemcast for emulation and enhanced graphics, 24 Hours Lemans, Test Drive V-Rally and F1 World Gran Prix on my Dreamcast, and, last but not least, the classic Atari Jaguar World Tour Racing for my 3D/simulation drivers. I've got several newer NFS, Test Drive, MSR, etc. for my original Xbox and 360, but I still prefer the 90's/00's classics myself. Really the ones that started it all.