exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

stephen_usher wrote: 16 Feb 2022 15:38 On a different front, the replacement key post for the ZX Spectrum+ has arrived so I should be able to finish the renovation tonight. I can also try the tiny springs on the Return key post to see if they make it less floppy and more likely to spring back up rather than jamming.

Splendid, looking forward to seeing the finished article :)

Here's the ZX Spectrum+. I've not replaced the rainbow badge but it's all functional.


I've put one small spring under the left-most arm of the Return key key post. Most than that made the key way too stiff as the springs are a little bit too strong. However, one is enough and the key needs only very slightly more push than the other keys and it no-longer wopples or sticks at all. The spring is just the right size to slip into the T-junction of the slider, which helps to hold it upright. The slight tension between the key post and the rubber mat does the rest.

:goodpost: :coolpics:

Cool stuff :)

In actual use that spring is too strong, so I've ordered some Hornby motor brush springs, which I know are the correct size and are a lot weaker. Hopefully they'll arrive in a few days.

I realised on the way home that I had some spare Hornby motor brushes and brush springs, so quickly replaced the spring in the keyboard. Far better. It doesn't feel any stiffer than the other keys and definitely doesn't stick.

Today I'm trying to work out how the heck I managed to convert "The Artist" from tape to Microdrive back in the day as the cartridge image I have was from a failing, refelted one with a bad block in the main executable so I want to replace that file. (Thankfully the damage is in a non-critical area used for character bitmap data, but it means that certain cursors etc. are corrupt.)

I can't use the *MOVE utility from the MDV Demo Cart as the file on the tape has a null name and you can't specify the destination filename with the command (I think).

I've just put an order in to PCBWay for a generic PLCC-44 break-out board (plug underneath, socket and pin headers on top) so as to help work out how to get a machine working (need to use a logic analyser).

It's only a small board, so it's in the $5 for 5 boards range.

The cost of shipping has gone through the roof! Last year for the same sort of size, $30 all in. Now, $69! That's $51 for shipping. *sigh*

Back to the Apricot hard disk emulation project. I've been thinking... Seeing as normal Raspberry Pi Zeros are unobtainium at the moment and there is code to allow the use of an SD card socket via a few pints and basic FAT32 support for the Pi Pico I think I'll switch over trying to use one of those instead. Far cheaper too.

Not a computer related thing today.

A couple of weeks ago I won an auction for an old Hornby APT train and it arrived today.

Whilst I've been getting my dinner I've also been testing, cleaning, re-greasing and oiling the power car. Goodness it needed a clean. Way too much oil had been used in the past and it had partly dried and caked everything, including inside the body.

Anyway, it's back together than being run in again

stephen_usher wrote: 22 Feb 2022 19:23 Not a computer related thing today.

A couple of weeks ago I won an auction for an old Hornby APT train and it arrived today.

Whilst I've been getting my dinner I've also been testing, cleaning, re-greasing and oiling the power car. Goodness it needed a clean. Way too much oil had been used in the past and it had partly dried and caked everything, including inside the body.

Anyway, it's back together than being run in again

Is that the tilting train I recall from my younger days?

Pretty sure somewhere at my parents is a box with a green GWR tank engine in it and my old beat up Tri-Ang controller!!