Photo album and video from VCF West

[Adrian Stoness]

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:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 10/08/2016 00:37, jim stephens wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Hi
>     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
>
>
>
>
>