Holy fuckballs...my Model M mod & refurb worked!

User avatar
just_add_coffee

12 Jun 2017, 07:29

Old PN 92G7454 from Goodwill. New paint job for the case and barrel plate, LEDs, membrane, screw mod, lube. The rattiest cable imaginable, daisy-chained from DIN 5 to PS/2 to USB. Somehow ... all keys work. It WORKS!!!

Image

Image

I have some minor things to tweak, and I still need to bring this board into the 21st century ... Soarer's, TMK, will Phosphorglow ever restart Colossus? But the fact that I've successfully brought a Model M back to life is a wonderful feeling!

(A feeling enhanced by several beers thus far.)

(If I ever have the chance to work on a Beamspring, I'm celebrating with one of those water bongs and marijuana, which is legal here. I've led a very sheltered life and thus have never done pot. But this occasion may deem it necessary.)

User avatar
taylorswiftttttt

12 Jun 2017, 07:50

removed
Last edited by taylorswiftttttt on 25 May 2022, 11:14, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Scottex

12 Jun 2017, 22:04

It does look weird
Also, you need a new cable and a cool metalic badge

User avatar
just_add_coffee

12 Jun 2017, 22:53

Scottex wrote: It does look weird
Also, you need a new cable and a cool metalic badge
I used Rustoleum Hammered Bronze and I took the photo with a potato. In real life, it's warmer and more bronze-looking.

The new cable is dependent on how I do the programability, and I'm working on a new badge that better fits the palette.

User avatar
2ter

13 Jun 2017, 23:00

congratulation. hammerite and other similar paints where often used on metal tools. because of the hammered like structure it can be applied to rough surfaces and it conceals little imperfections. it looks quite nice for a painted plastic case, i even like it more than most of the smooth powder coat and paint people use to finish their metal keyboards. i think a blank set of keys would go well with it and it absolutely needs a different led overlay.

User avatar
just_add_coffee

14 Jun 2017, 07:28

2ter wrote: hammerite and other similar paints where often used on metal tools. because of the hammered like structure it can be applied to rough surfaces and it conceals little imperfections. it looks quite nice for a painted plastic case, i even like it more than most of the smooth powder coat and paint people use to finish their metal keyboards.
This is the second board that I've used a hammered paint on, and I've been happy with the results.

I just wish that there was a larger variety of colors. I've been itching to do a Model F in either a blue or green reminiscent of the original IBM Selectric.
...it absolutely needs a different led overlay.
Hmmm ... you might be right. Maybe the original overlay would look better here.

User avatar
cookie

14 Jun 2017, 10:50

Looks a little bit like the Game Boy me and my dad painted when I was a kid :D

I am curios to see if the paint will last, my acrylic spray paint was so "soft" it came of very quickly. I even applied primer and put a lot effort to prep it.. all for nothing. Next try is vinyl wrap, I hope I will keep my sanity while applying it.

User avatar
seebart
Offtopicthority Instigator

14 Jun 2017, 10:51

From what I've seen just_add_coffee is into unusual colors so all the power to him.

User avatar
just_add_coffee

16 Jun 2017, 15:31

seebart wrote: From what I've seen just_add_coffee is into unusual colors so all the power to him.
This time, my significant other picked the colors. So really I was just following orders. :lol:

The bronze and red together does look better than what these pics show. After I get it working with USB and TMK and tweak some things, I'll post the glamour shots.

Post Reply

Return to “Workshop”