PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

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rubber_jonnie
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Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

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PhilC wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 9:50 am This is the C64C all back together after it's clean.

It needs a good dose of retrobrite, especially the two tone yellow keys. Then the rear case clips will need fixing as all of them are broken.

I actually have no idea what I plan to do with this C64 as I bought it on a bit of a whim and already have two others.
The differences between machines is quite surprising to me, I have a similar C64 and it's definitely paler and less yellowed than yours. Similarly, I have an Atari 65XE that is as fresh as the day I bought it, yet I have seen others that are super yellow and it's clearly a different plastic to the STs, which also vary wildly in their yellowing.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

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rubber_jonnie wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:47 am
The differences between machines is quite surprising to me, I have a similar C64 and it's definitely paler and less yellowed than yours. Similarly, I have an Atari 65XE that is as fresh as the day I bought it, yet I have seen others that are super yellow and it's clearly a different plastic to the STs, which also vary wildly in their yellowing.
I guess it's down to storage conditions? my other C64C as posted before is a lovely new looking shade of beige and I've also got a couple of XE cases that look like new, in fact Im not sure I've ever seen an XE case yellowed. So as you say, probably down to the different plastics used?
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Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

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Doh, make that 4 C64s that I own. The number of retro computers I own is meant to be decreasing not increasing.
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

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PhilC wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:53 am
rubber_jonnie wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:47 am
The differences between machines is quite surprising to me, I have a similar C64 and it's definitely paler and less yellowed than yours. Similarly, I have an Atari 65XE that is as fresh as the day I bought it, yet I have seen others that are super yellow and it's clearly a different plastic to the STs, which also vary wildly in their yellowing.
I guess it's down to storage conditions? my other C64C as posted before is a lovely new looking shade of beige and I've also got a couple of XE cases that look like new, in fact Im not sure I've ever seen an XE case yellowed. So as you say, probably down to the different plastics used?
Possibly, this is a conversation I think has popped up on here a few times. I have a Dreamcast which was always stored inside, and not exposed to direct sunlight, but it has still yellowed. Inside it's still the original colour, even where the PSU is and it's extra warm. I have a SNES that has gone yellow despite being stored in a box, so that's another one I can't figure. I can only surmise it's due to the original plastics ingredients.

I think maybe Sinclair got it right by going with black!
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

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PhilC wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 11:03 am Doh, make that 4 C64s that I own. The number of retro computers I own is meant to be decreasing not increasing.
It's ok, I have over 50 machines including about 15 STs of various types. It's normal, you'll be fine.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

Post by mrbombermillzy »

Yeah, Ive got like 5 C-64 'type' machines knocking around the house in a cupboard or other storage, so don't sweat it! :D

('Type' machines: regular breadbin, 3xC64DTVs and a C128D).

Edit:

Anyway, heres a highly recommended c64 synth: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=207214

Also, its still in alpha, but heres a SID mixer: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=201357

That mixer alone must be a good reason to own more than 1 c64 right? :D
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Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

Post by stephen_usher »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 11:05 am
PhilC wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:53 am

I guess it's down to storage conditions? my other C64C as posted before is a lovely new looking shade of beige and I've also got a couple of XE cases that look like new, in fact Im not sure I've ever seen an XE case yellowed. So as you say, probably down to the different plastics used?
Possibly, this is a conversation I think has popped up on here a few times. I have a Dreamcast which was always stored inside, and not exposed to direct sunlight, but it has still yellowed. Inside it's still the original colour, even where the PSU is and it's extra warm. I have a SNES that has gone yellow despite being stored in a box, so that's another one I can't figure. I can only surmise it's due to the original plastics ingredients.

I think maybe Sinclair got it right by going with black!
Fluorescent lights also produce UV.

I have a "Portal 2" turret which has been in my office for about 5 years and it's yellowing in the direction of the lights and not the window.

Also, once the plastic has been exposed then it can develop later in the dark. Some plastics will bleach back to white if brought back out into the light. It very much depends upon the chemistry of the additives.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
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Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 12:56 pm
Fluorescent lights also produce UV.

I have a "Portal 2" turret which has been in my office for about 5 years and it's yellowing in the direction of the lights and not the window.

Also, once the plastic has been exposed then it can develop later in the dark. Some plastics will bleach back to white if brought back out into the light. It very much depends upon the chemistry of the additives.
My Dreamcast was new, and I don't have any fluorescent lighting, though I suppose it may have been exposed in the factory and then exposed later as you suggest.

I think it's a much more complex scenario though, with a lot more factors involved.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

Post by mrbombermillzy »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 1:13 pm I think it's a much more complex scenario though, with a lot more factors involved.
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Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

Post by bigbloke »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 1:13 pm My Dreamcast was new, and I don't have any fluorescent lighting, though I suppose it may have been exposed in the factory and then exposed later as you suggest.

I think it's a much more complex scenario though, with a lot more factors involved.
My Dreamcast is exactly the same. It looks worse than most of the youtube before and after ones, yet I have treated the thing with kid gloves as they say.

As I understand it the yellowing is caused by bromides in the plastic - used to make it more fire retardant IIRC - and I remember a bromine test at school (far too many years ago!) which showed it as quite an "active" chemical. So I guess it is coming out of the plastic, and not being "burnt off" by sunlight/UV as well as being more mobile when in sunlight. So lose-lose both ways. Leave it in sunlight and it speeds up the action of yellowing, but it will happen anyway through time. My list of items that need "retro-briting" is now longer than we have sunny days for!
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