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Stuff and Things.

Blogs & guides and tales of woo by forum members.
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PhilC
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by PhilC »

@mrbombermillzy both drives are IBM. Can't fault it failing after all these years.

Backed up and replaced by a 32gb CF card now. Has made the Thinkpad so much quieter.
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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mrbombermillzy
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by mrbombermillzy »

Ah, glad you got it sorted. :)
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2026 6:31 pm @mrbombermillzy both drives are IBM. Can't fault it failing after all these years.

Backed up and replaced by a 32gb CF card now. Has made the Thinkpad so much quieter.
Nice.
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...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Well, my composite board PCBs arrived today:

PXL_20260921_154007571.jpg
PXL_20260921_154007571.jpg (180.42 KiB) Viewed 101 times

My first ever PCB that I designed :) Toothbrush and Enterprise 64 speaker for scale.

I'm sure it has faults, but I built one:

PXL_20260921_154021322.jpg
PXL_20260921_154021322.jpg (237.01 KiB) Viewed 101 times

And hooked it up to the Enterprise 64:

PXL_20260921_154030431.jpg
PXL_20260921_154030431.jpg (253.66 KiB) Viewed 101 times

And it works just fine :)

Very happy that I didn't stuff it up!!!

Next I will modify this so I can add a 3.5mm CVBS connector, and then I can use it with ready made cables :)

:girldance:
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...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Thought I'd try running up one of the composite mod boards on my heat plate, I think it turned out nice :)

PXL_20260924_094500167.jpg
PXL_20260924_094500167.jpg (240.92 KiB) Viewed 86 times

And this time with an actual relateable scale :)

PXL_20260924_094543984.MACRO_FOCUS.jpg
PXL_20260924_094543984.MACRO_FOCUS.jpg (331.28 KiB) Viewed 86 times
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...
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rubber_jonnie
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Posts: 15332
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by rubber_jonnie »

And another project just arrived:

PXL_20261001_115015339.jpg
PXL_20261001_115015339.jpg (244 KiB) Viewed 14 times

Another Elf, but this time an elf, not an Elf II. I'll build it later in the year I think.
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...
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rubber_jonnie
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Posts: 15332
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Location: Essex
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by rubber_jonnie »

As a regular buyer of parts for projects I often use eBay and I've cultivated a few trusted sellers, so here they are if you want to give them a try.

Nikko Electronics
Ferndale Electronic Supplies
MS Graphics
MBRC LTD
TC Electronic Components
Bright Components
UK In Stock Components
Elecomp
LittleDiode
Switch Electronics
Enigma Component Shop

I've always had good service and decent components for all of these sellers hence why I'd recommend.

In addition Enigma has an online shop where they claim 20% cheaper than their eBay store: Enigma-Shop

The other store I trust is: Cricklewood Electronics

Hope that's useful.
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...
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