BBC Model B No2. Will it live again!
Posted: 18 Apr 2021 18:47
So whilst I have focused a lot on the ST series over the years, some of you may have noticed that my retro net is cast quite wide with quite a varied selection of machines, but with a definite Atari focus, because they were my childhood and teenage years machines, along with the Sinclair machines that I'd had before.
At the time, the BBC was too expensive for my parents to buy, hence the much cheaper Sinclairs over the years. I know they'd have bought me one if they could, they are great parents, but I expect this was a scenario repeated across the UK.
The other machines that I remember fondly, are those that I used in the computer classes at school, namely an Apple II and BBC Model Bs.
I've yet to get an Apple II, mostly because prices are silly now, and I'd rather try and find machines that better fit my budget. So I decided to head down the route of the BBC Model B, and bought one earlier in the year for about £90 including delivery.
This No1 machine unfortunately ended up staying in it's box because of the house move, and once we got settled in in our temporary accommodation, I just felt I needed to get my hands on another, and for £55 got a really grubby No2 machine to help keep my retro juices flowing. I suppose I could have got another ST, but I have rather a lot of them and fancied a different challenge. Plus I brought my MSTE with me which helps in that direction.
So this is how BBC Model B looked on unboxing:
With the keyboard particularly grubby:
At this point it felt rather like a barn find car!
I popped off the keycaps to find a host of tiny dust bunnies, which were banished with a stiff brush:
And the PCB wiped down with a floor wipe, which I find very good for getting rid of surface dirt.
Further examination of the KBD found a number of bodges and some missing LEDs for caps lock etc:
And after pulling the mobo out so I could wash the top/bottom cases, there was even evidence of a previous magic smoke incident, though the mobo seemed undamaged:
So I've spent a couple of hours scrubbing this afternoon and the case and keys are looking a lot better:
As you can see, colour wise it isn't great, but at least now it is clean and I don't heave when I touch it!! I have the opportunity to leave it outside in the sun at the moment, so I may opt to try leaving it out to see if the colour improves.
And I'm sure once I reassemble the keys, the KBD will have a much better look and feel.
Given there is evidence of some rework on the KBD and mobo, I'm going to have to get the IPA out and clean off what looks like 30 year old crusted on flux, so fingers crossed it'll all be good.
The KBD bodge wires are going to have to be replaced at some point, but I will leave stuff like that until I'm in my new workshop, unless of course my hand is forced because it doesn't work at all.
Next on the agenda is the PSU, and I'm going to do a basic recap, which is the 2 RIFAs (Otherwise known as magic smoke generators) and the switching PSU starter cap. This is what seems to be recommended as a starting point by the 'experts' though I feel I'm likely to do a full recap once I'm in my new workshop.
At the time, the BBC was too expensive for my parents to buy, hence the much cheaper Sinclairs over the years. I know they'd have bought me one if they could, they are great parents, but I expect this was a scenario repeated across the UK.
The other machines that I remember fondly, are those that I used in the computer classes at school, namely an Apple II and BBC Model Bs.
I've yet to get an Apple II, mostly because prices are silly now, and I'd rather try and find machines that better fit my budget. So I decided to head down the route of the BBC Model B, and bought one earlier in the year for about £90 including delivery.
This No1 machine unfortunately ended up staying in it's box because of the house move, and once we got settled in in our temporary accommodation, I just felt I needed to get my hands on another, and for £55 got a really grubby No2 machine to help keep my retro juices flowing. I suppose I could have got another ST, but I have rather a lot of them and fancied a different challenge. Plus I brought my MSTE with me which helps in that direction.
So this is how BBC Model B looked on unboxing:
With the keyboard particularly grubby:
At this point it felt rather like a barn find car!
I popped off the keycaps to find a host of tiny dust bunnies, which were banished with a stiff brush:
And the PCB wiped down with a floor wipe, which I find very good for getting rid of surface dirt.
Further examination of the KBD found a number of bodges and some missing LEDs for caps lock etc:
And after pulling the mobo out so I could wash the top/bottom cases, there was even evidence of a previous magic smoke incident, though the mobo seemed undamaged:
So I've spent a couple of hours scrubbing this afternoon and the case and keys are looking a lot better:
As you can see, colour wise it isn't great, but at least now it is clean and I don't heave when I touch it!! I have the opportunity to leave it outside in the sun at the moment, so I may opt to try leaving it out to see if the colour improves.
And I'm sure once I reassemble the keys, the KBD will have a much better look and feel.
Given there is evidence of some rework on the KBD and mobo, I'm going to have to get the IPA out and clean off what looks like 30 year old crusted on flux, so fingers crossed it'll all be good.
The KBD bodge wires are going to have to be replaced at some point, but I will leave stuff like that until I'm in my new workshop, unless of course my hand is forced because it doesn't work at all.
Next on the agenda is the PSU, and I'm going to do a basic recap, which is the 2 RIFAs (Otherwise known as magic smoke generators) and the switching PSU starter cap. This is what seems to be recommended as a starting point by the 'experts' though I feel I'm likely to do a full recap once I'm in my new workshop.