10 Aug
2016
10 Aug
'16
8:10 a.m.
Wow wish u had more videos could keep watching g all day as I terminate
cat5 cables fascinating wish I was there
On Aug 10, 2016 2:57 AM, "Rod Smallwood" <rodsmallwood52 at
btinternet.com>
wrote:
On 10/08/2016 03:37, jim stephens wrote:
We had a discussion about your great work. One
comment mentioned more
than once was that they can scratch because you did an exact job of how the
originals were made. And there may not be a coating today that doesn't
crinkle or shrink on other plastics. You would have to match pretty
closely the clear overcoat, and basic clear panel to stop that, so they
didn't react or shrink at different rates with age, and perhaps do some
sort of processing with the stencil material to stop it from flaking off as
well. But they are still great from what everyone said.
I emailed you offline about one for Sherman as well
thanks
Jim
On 8/9/2016 6:30 PM, Rod Smallwood wrote:
Thanks for the comments. Yes in an effort to mimic the old
production
methods I did manage to reproduce some of the old problems as well.
Good news! The worst problem was scratches to the black layer on the back.
We managed to find a coating that was unobtrusive but resistant to
abrasion and all currently shipping panels have this layer on the back.
The front is a different matter. Although the front looks like its matte
black it isn't (nor were the originals)
Its an illusion due to (I think) the refractive properties of the plastic.
I use a front satin finish perspex. The originals used a satin finish
coating. Why do I not use a coating?
Because you can get satin finish perspex, they don't make the coating any
more.
Having achieved the right look and feel putting a protective coating on
the front is something I have to think about.
Regards Rod (Panelman) Smallwood
On 10/08/2016 00:37, jim stephens wrote:
Hi
https://goo.gl/photos/KdnDMBHeryMZqctV9
Youtube Channel playlist of videos.
Some walking around Saturday morning before the show, Charles Anthony's
exhibit.
Also a fellow who dropped by after my buying a PDP 11/34 and was one of
the engineers.
I recorded an impromptu interview with him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtmVGeVhr7A&list=PL5NK70kdq3
-JGwb_8GXFN5SqDtbTKtLi7
Sherman Foy and I had a great time attending and participating in the
event this year.
Thanks to the organizers, staff and volunteers that were there to put
it on.
Thanks
Jim
Hi Guys
Now that is a very interesting set of Photos. Loads of
what appear to be real front panels complete with bezels.
As you know I produce reproduction panels and seeing all of those was
most interesting.
I have the process to make the actual panels just about right.
So to bezels. I have made one prototype resin cast PDP-8 bezel. There
are a few things to fix but essentially its OK.
The next example should good enough to paint. Attach it to the panel and
we have something like a full size front.
Next up is a Key and Lamp board. I have a sample for an 8/i lamp board.
Its new and not wanting to reinvent the wheel I'll use it with the 8/i
now in production
Lever and butterfly toggle switches are the main difficulty at this
point. But sooner or later somebody will figure out how to
make toggle switches at reasonable cost.
Having just about done all of the popular PDP-8's Its PDP-11's next..
Rod (Panelman) Smallwood