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Case Mod - In Progress Felix: Old Soviet computer

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by BootSector, 20 Jan 2015.

  1. BootSector

    BootSector What's a Dremel?

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    Greetings to all!

    This is my first post here, and I want to start a worklog of my case mod. First of all, please excuse me for poor English. I'll try to do my best, but I really have a big lack of practice.

    I came here after my friend aio (maybe you've seen his Streamliner casemod ;)). I also was related to that project, but now I want to tell you about my own one (of course, not so impressive and loaded with options).

    My case mod is named Felix. It will pay tribute to the Soviet electronics of 1940s–60s, with a little touch of fiction. I attempted to imagine how Soviet personal computers could look like if they were built in 50s instead of late 80s.

    Original “Felix” was a very famous and widespread mechanical calculator produced in the USSR from 20s to late 70s. So my case mod would be its imaginary “younger brother” which uses electricity instead of mechanics for computing.

    As a source case I chose an old Ascot 6AR6.

    [​IMG]

    I examined lots of old soviet devices looking for design ideas. One of the main sources of inspiration was this 50s tube oscilloscope SI-1 which I've bought as a junk and then restored to working condition.

    [​IMG]

    For a long time I collected different gauges, tubes, switches and so on. Most of them were found while wandering around junkyards of National Nuclear Research University where I studied earlier.

    [​IMG]

    I have my own way how to develop a design of a front panel. I choose suitable parts, take photos of them on black background with the same lighting, and then manipulate their images in a graphic editor.

    [​IMG]

    But please let me not to place all the cards on a table. For now I'll demonstrate you a rough copy of a drawing showing the front panel and a frame around it. The whole design will be revealed a bit later :).

    [​IMG]

    Thanks for attention!
     
    Last edited: 21 Jan 2015
  2. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    Dieselpunk... Hmmm...

    [​IMG]
     
  3. BootSector

    BootSector What's a Dremel?

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    Well, it's not exactly dieselpunk, but I don't know another -punk that will suit better.

    As you can see, I'm going to use original retro parts in my front panel. Most of them are more than 40 years old and need restoration. In some cases it's enough to do the paintwork:

    [​IMG]

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    In some you only need to unsolder the trash:

    [​IMG]

    But in some you need to do a very delicate work. For example, in these small meters I had to restore very narrow flexible conductors holding the magnetic coil.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

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    In the bigger device I replaced the spiral spring.

    [​IMG]

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    It also had a broken frame, so I repaired it with epoxy.

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    Some metal parts were treated in the acid, brushed and polished, like this switch. On the right there is another one in its initial state.

    [​IMG]

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    For now, I presume, it looks more like repair work than like modding, but it is a necessary stage, without which it is impossible to go further.
     
  4. Shirty

    Shirty W*nker! Super Moderator

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    I'm loving the look and concept of this.

    Perhaps if you're ever in the UK you can come and fix the speedometer in my car, which occasionally decides to add 40-120 miles an hour to my actual road speed :lol:
     
  5. David

    David μoʍ ɼouმ qᴉq λon ƨbԍuq ϝʁλᴉuმ ϝo ʁԍɑq ϝμᴉƨ

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    A proper old school case mod - I'm in!

    Subbed!
     
  6. Mockingbird

    Mockingbird What's a Dremel?

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    SUBBED - I like where this has come from, where it's at, and where I suspect it's going.
     
  7. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

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    Lets see...
    -Russian, (Seriously, has anyone seen a bad Russian modder yet?)
    -Worked on Streamliner,
    -rebuilding and restoring gauges, implying they will work somehow,
    -hints of another billet faceplate,
    :rock:

    @Nexxo - Cold war punk?
     
  8. Arboreal

    Arboreal Keeper of the Electric Currants

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    Looking good, this is interesting.
    Bring it on!
     
  9. BootSector

    BootSector What's a Dremel?

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    Thank you for your interest!

    @Cheapskate
    Of course I'll try to make all the gauges and switches work. Even in modern PC there are many parameters that can be measured and displayed in analog way, and many functions that can be switched manually. What I'm going to implement:
    – CPU, GPU and RAM load measurement;
    – Voltage measurement (well, it's not very useful, but let it be :))
    – Fan speed control and measurement;
    – Temperature monitoring (CPU, GPU, HDD).

    P. S. Concerning bad Russian modders, of course there are plenty of them (and I hope you'll not rank me among them after you see my work finished :D). The only reason why you have not seen them yet is “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas ;)
     
  10. Bartacus

    Bartacus Minimodder

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    SUBBED, for reasons everyone else has already stated!
     
  11. onevoicewild

    onevoicewild What's a Dremel?

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    Hey we go again!
     
  12. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    That could work. :D

    That restored oscilloscope is a thing of beauty, BTW.
     
  13. phinix

    phinix RIP Waynio...

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    Oh, this is going to be good one:) Fellow russian-kamrat modder project:)
     
  14. BootSector

    BootSector What's a Dremel?

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    I'm absolutely not experienced in using vector graphic editors, so instead of them I'll use CAD. “We can rebuild it, we have the technology!”

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    There even are some advantages in my barbarian method: the model I get can be used for CNC engraving. Although I have no idea where I can find it in my outskirts.

    For further editing I had to create a drawing, print it out in XML format on the virtual printer, convert XML to PNG and then load it into Photoshop. In Russia we have an idiom “It's like travelling from Moscow to St. Petersburg through Vladivostok”. (There are over 9000 kilometers of distance, literally).

    And now curtain up! Front panel will look like this:

    [​IMG]
     
  15. storm-83

    storm-83 Minimodder

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    off to a very good start
    you have my full and undivided attention
     
  16. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 22 Jan 2015
  17. iggy

    iggy Minimodder

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    Punknost
     
  18. Zoyadog

    Zoyadog What's a Dremel?

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    Im soo going to follow this. I love the concept!
     
  19. Hzza

    Hzza Minimodder

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    This is going to be a cracker, subbed.
     
  20. Vetalar

    Vetalar *learning english*

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    Nice mod! Subbed for sure.
    Кхм... Это типа реинкарнация мода победителя король моддинга 09? Знакомые моменты сам в свое время хотел сделать ПК в стиле пульта запуска МБР... ваш проект запомнился


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