Scratch Build – In Progress Project Facit, almost finished! 6th July 2013

I know it's been a while since the last update, but a big step was taken today.
I finally got the case in "painting" condition and handed it over to the painter.
I'll get it back before next week-end. Pics will follow.

 

This have the potential to be a very nice build. Very nostalgic
Looking forward to se what the painter did.
Hvorfor har jeg dog ikke set din log foer nu

 

Thanks! I hope this will turn out good.

Me too... I decided on a very dark grey with a sandy texture, very close to the original colour.
I'm a bit worried that it will be some trouble with putting the case together again with the thickness of the paint added. But that should be easy to solve.

It's easy to miss logs in the abundance of them.

 

This looks great, what an original idea! Thought about a screen to match the look of the typewriter?

 

Thanks! It surprises me that this kind of mod haven't been more practised, it's not that far fetched.

Yeah, I have. The case "roof" is strong enough to mount a custom made vesa arm on it and painting the monitor frame in the same colour as the case wouldn't be that hard. For the moment I only have one 15" crt screen to rely on so I will complete the case, get a new monitor and then worry about getting it to match.

According to a sticker I found on the case (this piece will be used in the finished case) the last time the typewriter was serviced was the 11th March 1988. With this in mind I'll make everything I can to get the case ready to the 22 year anniversary of that last service.
It looks like a possible deadline to meet so far. I'm still working on the hardware part and I'll hope I soon can reveal some specs. But I'm not very optimistic about this part.

 

Not true it turned out, problems with delivery of special ordered paint.
I'll get it next week any how.

I have painted the internals (mobo tray , etc.) with a "chrome effect" spray paint and it came out very well. The left over aluminium I have used refused to look nice with just sanding and some bigger defects had anyway to be mended with epoxy. But now all parts have a beutiful silky chrome tone.
Apart from this I still awaits the hex screws and stainless steel mesh I ordered months ago.

The keyboard will be held in place with four bolts and a backing plate. I have made a temporary one out of hard board and a piece of aluminium but I'm working on getting materials to an all aluminium one.

 

I finally got back the case from the painter. The first thing I did was to re-install the case badge.


USB ports and hole for power switch.


HDD and DVD in place.


PSU holder and vents.


Installation continues...


Backside.

And finally:



More details soon.

 

http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/01/portable-printer-doesnt-use-ink/
I still think a printer in that would be the bomb.. this could work but seriously doesn't matter.

Honestly though, Facit looks good. The paint job looks like it came directly from a factory.

 

Thanks! I'm very pleased with how the painting showed up.
I'm still waiting for black hex screws for exterior mounting and stainless hex screws and shims for the interior. Along with those I have some stainless steel mesh on order for the venting slots.
Other than that I'm trying to decide whether I should by some replacement key caps, I.E. grey caps for all function keys. I think this would lighten up the apparence of the quite massive plethora of black caps.
As you can see in the first post the original KB had quite a few red keys. It would be possible to rit dye greys into red, but keeping them grey would be fine too.
Apart from this I'm still trying to scramble some hardware.

 

Everything seems to come together without too much trouble.
Now I'm trying too figure out what to put in the case.
Suggestions and comments are most welcome.

What I do have:
A Plextor slot-in DVD burner.
Samsung 150GB HDD.

What I must acquire:
PSU (My first choice is the Corsair HX650)
Socket 1156 mATX mobo
i5 processor
memory

What I will try to get:
SSD drive to use as system disk.
Good low profile cpu-cooler.

 

I've had some very promising, yet fruitless talks with potential sponsors from retail.
I'm now stepping up pace in order to get everything complete until the show in Madrid.
Ideas, suggestions and criticism are welcome.

 

Teaser:
Today I spoke with a very well renowned company and I believe that everything is settled.
My typwriter will be equipped with state of the art processor and mobo.
I'll tell you more when everything is ready.

 

Very cool....

 

Yes it is, only problem is that I have to raise the standard of the other components. The mobo don't have integrated graphics so I'll need a decent videocard. And to do the CPU justice I'll need at least 8gb of 1600 ram and a ssd as systemdisk.
Anyhow, I'm so excited I barely can sit still, and tomorrow I'll get some electronics not directly related to this project but somehow connected. I'll let you now tomorrow...
There's much happening right now. Mostly for good.

 

Sponsor update.
Intel have contributed with mobo and processor.

Intel Core i7-870


DP55SB Extreme

I will run the computer with Windows 7 that Microsoft will provide as another valuable contribution to the build.

As I mentioned before I've got another non-Facit related piece of electronics, i.e. a Xbox 360 Elite.
I got this as a price when I was awarded the title "Geek of the year" by Microsoft Sweden.

As you can imagine I'm very gracious for these very helpful contributions and humbled by the award.
All screws I've ordered are on their way along with the metal mesh for the venting slots, I expect them any day now.

 

Since my new mobo, DP55SB, doesn't have any PS2 ports nor have any IDE ports I have ordered a ps2 to usb convertor. I have also bought a ide to sata transformer so I can use my Plextor HFX DVD burner.
Here's a link to the i7-870 processor I will use.

I will try to get everything as ready as possible until the Madrid exhibition.

 

Today I recived a small package from Microsoft. A new copy of Windows 7 Ultimate. Can't wait until the Facit is ready to get this installed.
A big appaluse for the nice people in Redmond and Kista.

I have also started to change all screws in the build. 400 hex/socket head screws in different sizes finally made their way over the Atlantic.

Stainless M4's for the interior and black chromed M3's for the exterior.

 

hot cpu and mobo man! should be good with the new screws. its the little things that makes the final detail!

 

I agree, poor detail work can mess up the impression of an otherwise excellent mod. Albeit, too much attention to details are even more likely to ruin the final work.

Speaking of "hot" cpu, the heat part have been solved. Noctua will send me a NH-C12P SE14 cpu cooler. That ought to do the trick.
I obviously can't use a fan of standard height on it since i only have 122mm clearance from mobo tray to the case ceiling. The coolers height in itself is 90mm and I suppose that the height of mobo+stands+cpu is something between 10-15mm.
Since the cpu is located just next to the psu I will try to run it passivly first. If temps gets to high I'll mount a Scythe slim (12mm) 120mm fan on the cooler or arrange a fan that blows directly on the cooler sideways towards the psu.



Thanks once again to Noctua!

 

Well, I couldn't get a camera today so a cell-phone pic will have to do.

I have finished the power on button.
The switch did I harvest from an old Apple comp, very thin but clicky. The button is from a HP printer.
The metal mesh is in place behind the venting slots, no use in posting any pics though, you won't see anything in the grainy pics I managed to shoot.