exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

stephen_usher wrote: 30 Jul 2024 17:47 I'm not sure that it's going to take very long for you to get this one running actually.

You were indeed correct, it's now running:

Turned out the final hurdle was just to reflow the CPU socket, after which it booted fine with both an original ULA and mogwaay's replacement.

Not quite the plans I had for it as I just wanted it for the case really, but I can't resist a challenge and now I have another fully working Electron...

Well done @rubber_jonnie.

The other week I bought a job lot of C64 and Spectrum 48K motherboard to strip for spares.

The hardest part is deciding whoch I should strip for parts and which to try fixing. So far I could fix all the C64s and only 2 spectrum ones made the ultimate sacrifice for services to retro computing community.

PhilC wrote: 02 Aug 2024 08:45 Well done @rubber_jonnie.

The other week I bought a job lot of C64 and Spectrum 48K motherboard to strip for spares.

The hardest part is deciding whoch I should strip for parts and which to try fixing. So far I could fix all the C64s and only 2 spectrum ones made the ultimate sacrifice for services to retro computing community.

I hear ya. :lol:

Honestly I really had no intentions of fixing this Elk, it had no ROM, no ULA, a missing transistor and the CPU looked like it was soldered in with one of those old Weller soldering guns...

But you know when you think 'I can fix this, let's have a go', and suddenly you have it running and that wasn't the plan. I'm glad I did but instead of having 3 electrons and no spare boards, I've gone from 2 3 Electrons and still have a spare board!!!

I'll try again for just a case I think.

:dualthumbup:

PhilC wrote: 02 Aug 2024 08:45 The other week I bought a job lot of C64 and Spectrum 48K motherboard to strip for spares.

The hardest part is deciding whoch I should strip for parts and which to try fixing. So far I could fix all the C64s and only 2 spectrum ones made the ultimate sacrifice for services to retro computing community.

Hmm, was gutted at CL2 not to have won that C64...better start saving up (though it was always the older breadbin-style ones that I saw when I was in my Beeb period - not as keen on the newer case design personally).

JezC wrote: 02 Aug 2024 12:29

PhilC wrote: 02 Aug 2024 08:45 The other week I bought a job lot of C64 and Spectrum 48K motherboard to strip for spares.

The hardest part is deciding whoch I should strip for parts and which to try fixing. So far I could fix all the C64s and only 2 spectrum ones made the ultimate sacrifice for services to retro computing community.

Hmm, was gutted at CL2 not to have won that C64...better start saving up (though it was always the older breadbin-style ones that I saw when I was in my Beeb period - not as keen on the newer case design personally).

Yeah, the breadbin is iconic really. I managed to get one (Off PhilC IIRC), and am really happy with it, especially since I have the VIC20 as well. I do have a C64C but it isn't as nice, though it does match the C128 nicely :)

I other news I decided, since it was hot and sunny, to try to retrobrite my 2 brown looking Electrons, and the first one looks great:


The left case is the one I just did, right hand side is the 'Good' Electron that has no obvious brown patches. Annoyingly I thought I had a before photo (It was VERY brown) but it's come out great. Looks even better in person.

I used the immersion method in a plastic tub, so warm water from the tap, about 250Ml of Hydrogen Peroxide 12% (I believe that's classed as 40 vol) and then submerge the two cases. We're only talking about 3-4 inches of water, then left to ''cook' in the 30C sunlight for about 4 hours.

The other case is still 'cooking' as it was worse, and I have the keycaps in there too in bags filled with the solution. Fingers crossed they will come out nice too.

So much better than making retrobrite 'gel' and definitely the way I will go in future., as at least then the liquid covers the case parts evenly. I think I need to get a bit more HP while it's sunny so I can do a few more machines.

@JezC I'm parting with a lot of my computer collection over the next few months, so could probably sort something out for you when you are ready.

PhilC wrote: 02 Aug 2024 16:49 @JezC I'm parting with a lot of my computer collection over the next few months, so could probably sort something out for you when you are ready.

It's a shame you need to do that, but let me know if what you're selling, I may also be interested.

PhilC wrote: 02 Aug 2024 16:49 @JezC I'm parting with a lot of my computer collection over the next few months, so could probably sort something out for you when you are ready.

Thanks for the offer - I'll have to check my finances around the time you're planning to re-home some of your collection (and if funds allow, then find a way to add it to my collection without it attracting any attention...along the lines of "What, that old thing? I've had that more or less forever"...possibly several months after it's been added into the fold :roll: ).

I might try a C64 emulator on some other platform first (so I get a feel for the difference compared to my Beebs - the only real game I remember is one where it played Scheherazade along to the gameplay - Arabian Nights or something) - if only to get my expectations in line!
:D

@rubber_jonnie it's not a case of having to part with things as such But if the worst happens then my wife would have less stuff of mine to deal with as she has no idea about electronics and retro values.

@JezC no rush mate, I have a couple of C64Cs, a couple of breadbins and even a couple of C128s that I should really part with as my C64 obsession was getting a bit much :lol: