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This #RetroWeekend I have something very special for you: A #Commodore #A1060 #Sidecar. 😁 I got it in May 2023. The restoration wasn't easy, and it took me several month (with longer breaks). I will tell you about it in this thread. 🧵 #RetroComputer

Top-front view of the Sidecar. It looks a bit like an odd PC case of the late 1980s. Only the "AMIGA" badge on the front reveals that it is somehow Amiga related.

There is an opening for a 5¼" disk drive, but it's empty. There is also a red button at the bottom left edge of the front.

Okay, before I let you go to your New Year's party, let's finish the #ZXSpectrum128. 😁

I checked the RGB to SCART cable I got from Sintech, and found two problems: The "bright" signal is not connected, and they actually used a Stereo audio jack, so the sound came from the left side only. I bought a pre-assembled cable so I won't have to solder it myself. Now I had to fix it with three additional 150Ω resistors and three 1N4148, which was quite tricky in the tiny space.

Now the bright colors are displayed, and the sound is much better. First problem (AY sound and bright mode) is fixed. #Retrocomputing #RetroWeekend

Before: Open SCART connector, with good solder work and shrink tubing.

After: More components crammed into the connector, more shrink tubing, it looks quite ugly. Did I mention that I hate soldering connectors?

What about ending the year 2023 with another #RetroWeekend? 😀 Yesterday I got a #ZXSpectrum128 that I am going to restore now. This model is nicknamed "Toastrack" because of the shape of the heatsink on the right side.

The Toastrack Speccys are a bit hard to find today, especially in a good condition. But this model here is even harder to find...

#Retro #Sinclair #SinclairZxSpectrum

A ZX Spectrum 128K "Toastrack" in good optical condition.

Let's do a bit of #RetroWeekend again. I have two #CompetitionPro mini here, both with worn out microswitches. Instead of replacing the switches, I will build up new boards (I will tell later why). The replica boards are designed by @Zitruskeks and can be found here: https://github.com/InsaneDruid/CompetitionProStarMini .

#Retro #RetroComputing

On the left: A green Competition Pro Mini joystick with silver stick and silver buttons. On the right: A clear Competition Pro Mini with red stick and red buttons. At the front there is a corner of an unpopulated PCB.

This #RetroWeekend I will have a look at the #Lambda8300. It is a #ZX81 clone from 1983 that was made in Hong Kong. It was sold worldwide under different names, like PC 8300, DEF 3000, Tonel PC, Futura 8300, Power 3000.

Although it's a clone, there are a few, but major differences. It has 2KB of internal RAM (ZX81 had only 1KB), a slightly different character set, it could make sound, and BASIC keywords could be typed out (ZX81 had the keywords assigned to individual keys).

A Lambda 8300, in its typical white case with a green rubber keyboard. Next to it is a 16K RAM expansion. It looks like a ZX81 RAM pack, but in a white case.

For this #RetroWeekend I planned something classic. I got this #Sinclair #ZXSpectrum several months ago. It's very likely broken, but I haven't found the time to check it. I already did the composite mod, so let's hook it up to a monitor and find out what's happening.

Photo of a ZX Spectrum. The case looks alright so far, except of a few scratches on the faceplate.

Sneak preview of one of the upcoming #RetroWeekend|s. Do you know which home computer model it is?

Closeup of a computer keyboard. In the center there is a green rubber key with a white "S" printed on it, and a yellow triangle graphic symbol next to it, and "ACS" printed above it. Visible neighbor keys are "A", "D", and "W".

Quite some time ago, I asked you what I should restore next, and you voted for a #Commodore #Amiga #CD32 that was showing no picture. This project was waiting in my to-do box for some months now, and I did a bit here and a bit there. Let's use this #RetroWeekend to (hopefully) fix this machine.

#RetroComputing #RetroRepair

A CD32 console. It's in a good optical condition, except of a tiny damage on the ventilation grille.

Today I'm going to refurbish the second of three #C64 that are still waiting for repair. When I got this one, it was quite dirty and with permanent marker text on the back. It was sold as defective because it showed no picture, which I could already fix by replacing the VIC. I also already cleaned the case, and fully disassembled and cleaned the keyboard. (Photo shows the "before" state, of course. 😉 )

Next step: Recapping, and replacing the 7805 with a DC/DC converter.

#RetroWeekend #Commodore #RetroComputing #RetroRepairs

"Before" photo of a C64 Breadbin. The case is quite dirty.

I still have three #C64 that are waiting for repair. Today is a holiday here, and since my mancave is currently in a mess anyway, let's refurbish them (or at least one of them).

#RetroWeekend #Commodore #RetroComputing #RetroRepairs

My plan for today's #RetroWeekend: Assemble a #Dandanator, make it work, and put some of my favorite games on it.

Luckily it needs just a few components. So let's heat up the soldering iron.

An unpopulated Dandanator PCB, and some components (like connectors, sockets, buttons) around it.

My plans for the coming #RetroWeekend: Let's build a #Dandanator for the #ZXSpectrum! 😀

A DIY kit. There's a PCB, sockets and connectors, three chips, a few passive components, a printed case, and a label with "ZX Dandanator Mini" printed on it.

These are the next retro projects on my to-do list, in alphabetical order:

Amiga CD32: no picture, don't know why
Sinclair QL: tested and working, but needs refurbishment
Sinclair ZX Spectrum: untested
TI-99/4A: untested

What project shall I start on the next #RetroWeekend? I will abide by the results of this poll.

The weather outside doesn't invide for a walk, so let's do a #RetroWeekend. Today's patient is a #ZXSpectrum Plus. This one is a special machine because it was a standard Speccy before, and was then upgraded to the Plus model by Sinclair. I didn't knew that Sinclair had offered upgrades.

The top of a ZX Spectrum Plus. It looks quite good, just a bit of dirt.

A closeup of the bottom shell at the expansion port. Instead of a serial number, there is only a red "Upgraded" printed on the case. A (broken) Sinclair warranty seal is next to it.

Today I got more stuff for next year's #RetroWeekend. 😀 Maybe you can already guess one of them?

Two home computer-shaped objects, wrapped in bubble wrap.

The #ZXSpectrum replica is still waiting to be completed. Start of December, I stripped all the rare parts from a broken ZX Spectrum board. Now I'm going to assemble a new Speccy, starting with the resistors, diodes, and capacitors. #RetroWeekend #RetroWorkshop #Sinclair

An empty ZX Spectrum Issue 3 replica board, black solder mask and ENIG finish. There is also a soldering iron and a spool of solder, a S-Video module, and an ESD safe bag with chips.

Finally, the new #Amiga keycaps were delivered today. It was the last missing piece to complete my black #Amiga1200. I'm already looking forward for the next #RetroWeekend. 😀

A white cardboard box. "Amiga Keycaps" is printed on it.

This is my next part for this #RetroWeekend. It's a #ZXSpectrum issue 3 board. I only got the untested board, but no case or keyboard. It must have been a ZX Spectrum Plus, because there is a reset cable soldered to the board.

I removed the ULA and ROM from their sockets before I took the photo, to protect them from ESD damage. #Retro #RetroComputing #SinclairZXSpectrum

#RetroWeekend

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