OK, so the casework has had a soapy bath and looks very much better now, it's drying in the sun for now.
I just need to remove the last screw from the plastic and find new screws to replace all the rusty ones.
Cleaning the mainboard, there is surprisingly little corrosion under all the dirt, but what was shocking was the amount of dirt wedged into the heat sink fins!!!
More cleaning required for sure:
PXL_20260804_100921692.jpg (293.1 KiB) Viewed 75 times
PXL_20260804_100957767.jpg (264.1 KiB) Viewed 75 times
But certainly a massive improvement over how it was.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
PhilC wrote: Tue Aug 04, 2026 11:34 am
Wow that was a lot of dirt over everything.
Some might disagree but I'd be tempted to use soap and water on the motherboard too and then leave it to dry out in the sun for a couple of hours
Id be concerned about dust and dirt under the ICs and modulator as cleaning probably won't be able to get to that.
The edge connectors don't look as bad as I thought they might, they should clean up nicely and a good timning should sort them out.
I've had a quick go at one of the edge connectors and it's fine TBH, so not verly worried about that.
I am considering a soaking in soap and water if I'm honest, it's not something I usually do but am concerned about what's under the ICs, though I may be lucky if it was upside down. Likely followed by a scooshing with IPA.
As for the modulator, that is coming out and will be disassembled and cleaned. I think the can is recoverable TBH and I have a silver paint pen that will almost certainly make it look nice again.
I will be trying composite out on it though as I want to have something I can use as I'm short on UHF displays.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
I made a Scart cable up myself and that seems to be working great but my OSSC simply doesn't detect sync, so I guess eventually I'll get an rgb2hdmi for it.
PhilC wrote: Tue Aug 04, 2026 12:16 pm
Well I shall be following along with interest.
I made a Scart cable up myself and that seems to be working great but my OSSC simply doesn't detect sync, so I guess eventually I'll get an rgb2hdmi for it.
I do have some RGB2HDNI boards coming, 12bit versions, though Mr Usher did say it required an analog version IIRC, though it seems there is an adapter board for it.
I'll have 5 boards if you want one.
BTW the joystick corner of my rubber sheet is cut off:
PXL_20260804_121321459.jpg (258.12 KiB) Viewed 63 times
Is that normal?
The case has come up nice with a few coatings of 'Dash and door enhancer':
PXL_20260804_122846115.jpg (377.92 KiB) Viewed 63 times
Next up for the case will be to repair and reinforce the cracks.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
@rubber_jonnie there should be a red rubber ring under the joystick green part, can't remember if there's rubber there too, don't think so, maybe @stephen_usher can remember?
PhilC wrote: Tue Aug 04, 2026 2:08 pm
@rubber_jonnie there should be a red rubber ring under the joystick green part, can't remember if there's rubber there too, don't think so, maybe @stephen_usher can remember?
Yes there is a red rubber ring, so that would make sense. No need for the ring and the buttons.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Sorry for not getting to this sooner. I’m at my partner’s place recuperating from a head injury I got yesterday. (One of the gas struts on the SAAB tailgate came off and the tailgate dropped onto my head. )
The joystick has a “rubber” diaphragm which goes between the green plastic and the top case. You then have the two green plastic parts of the joystick and underneath the ring and then the membrane.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
stephen_usher wrote: Tue Aug 04, 2026 5:54 pm
Sorry for not getting to this sooner. I’m at my partner’s place recuperating from a head injury I got yesterday. (One of the gas struts on the SAAB tailgate came off and the tailgate dropped onto my head. )
