Can You Build A Brand New ZX Spectrum From 100% New Parts?
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- Can You Build A Brand New ZX Spectrum From 100% New Parts?
In this Quicksnap I want to show you what I did during the holiday break - I built my very own brand new ZX Spectrum - and I'm so happy about it!
If you want to build one of these machines, head to:
www.bytedelight.com to grab hold of the Harlequin 128k kit. Ben at Bytedelight sometimes has stock of Sinclair Roms - one isn't included in the kit for legal reasons. ( I had a spare one lying around ).
www.zxrenew.co.uk to grab hold of the case, keyboard, membrane and cover plate.
www.thefuturewas8bit.com to grab a DIVMMC Future :)
If you do end up at any of these places, please let them know I sent you :)
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
04:00 The finished and fully soldered board.
05:06 Ready for testing
Thanks for watching! - Hry
The color scheme of the case is incredibly beautiful.
Thanks very much - I agonised over colours for hours before landing on this :)
Just wow! Much respect to you. I grew up with these machines and watching you make a new one was awesome.
Glad you enjoyed it! More new builds of other retro machines coming up this year too :)
Love the shiny silver look. Well done.
Thank you! Cheers!
Just one word...Incredible :)
Thank you very much!
Australian here who never had one of these (as they werent released here as far as I know) and no particular nostalgia... but I really love the case design and the fact you can make one essentially 'from scratch' like this makes me really want one even if at the very least it sits in a display cabinet!
They are a thing of beauty aren’t they? :)
Australian here too. My nostalgia for the Speccy comes from reading reviewers trash it in Zzap! lol. All in good fun. I always wanted one though, just to see what it's like. I do sometimes play Speccy games on emulator. Might get a Speccy Next at some point. Incidentally, you can almost build a C64 entirely from scratch these days too.
I moved to Oz in 1984 and was shocked to discover the speccy was almost unheard of here. I actually have a boxed 16k model in the next room with a Myer sticker on (reduced from $249 to $199!)
Myer was also one of the few places selling the Atari ST back in the day, the other machine I chose even though the Amiga was everywhere here.
Completely amazing! Great build.
Thank you! Cheers!
Amazing, well done Sir !
Very cool. I think I’ll have to give this a go!!!
Seem to have lost my previous thank you as a result of the channel moving home - so, a re-stated and belated thank you :)
As an American, I didn't grow up with this system. However, I have emulated it, and I'm very interested in doing this project.
Can definitely recommend it - it was great fun to do :)
As a Swede, I didn't exactly grew up with Sinclair either. But the ZX80, ZX81 and Spectrum were parts of my youth. I wrote a simulator in 1993-94. My PC was a 12 MHz 286, so I bough this new and crasy fast 25 MHz 486 board, for this purpose only :D Wanted a simulator in 100% high level language. Though that was a cool thing at the time. I only had a 16-bit compiler though, so I still had to fiddle with those ugly 8086-segments in order to fit my code as well as Spectrums ROM & RAM in memory.
I've seen that many people nowdays think in terms of FPS (frames per second) even for simulators or emulators. I used a different and much simpler and synchronous approach: Whenever Spectrum's video RAM (attribute or pixels) were adressed by the Z80 program running on the simulator, the simulator would write to the video card of the PC. Otherwise no video data was written.
The ROM was sent over to the PC via a basic program on the Spectrum and a similar program on the PC, using D0 on the printer port as input. (Yes, it took almost a night :D) My simulator loaded games from tape the same way, via the printer port. It actually worked well without the filters in the Spectum. It was just a simple wire from analog tape signal to digital input, belive it or not :D
How did you do it?
@@herrbonk3635 I was just using Speccy on a laptop from 15 years ago running Linux Mint; I didn't get as in-depth as you did, so kudos.
I did grow up with the Spectrum, but I find the Altair 8800 amazing. I guess it's all about similar systems from different markets. That's what makes Retrocomputing so fascinating.
I loved building my Harlequin 128. It was such a joy and, like you said, the instruction could'nt be better. I installed it in my original 1983 48K case.
Well done that was fab. I remember having the 80, 81, then the 16 & 48k back then. Thanks for the video 👍
You’re very welcome - glad you enjoyed it :)
Followed here from the Facebook group - thanks for posting a short video on your recent build!
@@TheRetroShack I'll say, as an American, the clones have been an excellent entry point for me to get into the world of the ZX Spectrum. The Harlequin kit was a blast to put together, and if you have a multi-ROM the world is your oyster!
Nice video shot, keep it up, thanks for sharing it with us :)
How amazing is that!
Great Job & Happy New Year
Thanks! You too!
A mighty job you did! Great video indeed. Cheers, M
Thank you! Cheers!
Amazed at the graphics you guys had in 1982!! Sheesh I was on monochrome till 1992 at least!
More than two colours is overrated :)
@@TheRetroShack lol
AWESOME!! :) Thank you!
Please let me know if you build one :)
You made that soldering look easy!! Wow!! Nice job👍
Thanks 👍
That's because soldering a PCB is easy. Try building a point to point board. They can be difficult. With a wave solder machine you can do a whole board like this in a few seconds.
@@1pcfred Now *that* would be something!!!!
@@TheRetroShack I always thought wave solder machines were something myself. I worked at a place that had one. So I've seen them in person. There's something about a waterfall of molten solder that inspires awe. I wonder if there's a video here showing one running? This is a tiny one and not as much fun as ours was. Ours the bubbler was fully exposed. About twice as big too. We had a 13" wave. czcams.com/video/VWH58QrprVc/video.html
@@1pcfred What is a "point to point board"? Do you perhaps mean soldering components together without a board? Like in the old radios or tvs of the 1940s/50s.
The Spectrum was my first computer too. It was the first stepping stone to a career in AutoCad and Computer Programming.
I'm so so tempted to buy one of these kits.
Go for it - you. won't regret it, they're ace!
Excellent video. I'm going to give this a go.
Have fun!
Never had a Speccy but i'd totally love to put together that doorstopper :) Especially with such a case. Love the shiny silverish keyboard-space layer. It must be soooo fulfilling to put together an actual computer and seeing it work at the end. I only discovered the Spectrum very late, like somewhere in 1999 and almost got one back in 2003. Had no idea there were new kits with S-video on the board.
Can't recommend it enough :)
Nice! I wish there was something like this for the Amstrad CPC - I'd seriously consider doing it.
Got me thinking now... :)
Don't know if you've seen it, but RMC recently posted a review of the CPC4ATX board. That might be what you're looking for.
@@vroommoorv1540 Thanks for that. It's exactly what I was looking for.
@@vroommoorv1540 ATX sized? that's huge for such a simple machine.
That is so awesome
Thanks very much! :)
Nice job! :)
Thanks! 😄
I have an original spectrum but this just makes me want to go build a new one!
Brilliant :)
Go for it, you won’t regret it :)
whaaaaat this is amazing. i still have my 48K but to make your own is such a cool idea
Thanks! You should definitely do it if you get the chance - it's great fun and very rewarding :)
Really enjoyed this. Subbed! The Spectrum looks fantastic. I'm thinking of building a "new" A1200 myself but REALLY need to improve my soldering skills first.
If you're thinking of a 'new' A1200, you're going to LOVE this channel ;)
Very well done, thanks for posting. Incredible you can build a brand new Spectrum in the 21st Century :)
Glad you like it!
Now thats a dedicated fanbase. Really cool.
Yep - great isn't it :)
Thanx for linking me to this viddie. Will have a shufty at it!
No problem at all - it's a great kit and I've had nothing but fun with it since I built it. Use it more than my Next :)
Awesome. Subscribed.
Thanks Paul! Glad you enjoyed it :)
Just came to YT looking for advice on fixing a somewhat special prob with my second "reserve" C64. And accidentally found this gem here. Nicely done, looking for more creative content in the future!
Thanks very much! And yes, lots in store for the future :)
If you are looking for c64 repair tips, I suggest you check out Adrian's digital basement on you tube, does a lot of c64 repairs
@@neilnewman5935 Yup, Adrian is a great resource. Already fixed my prob btw, faulty power supply… could‘ve gotten there earlier ;-)
thank you for this!!! oh my word!!! this brought back happy memories. only wish it was black
You’re welcome :) Thinking of building another one - it’s addictive :)
This is great. I plan on getting a kit to add to my collection. Own 5 Speccys. I didn't grow up with the Speccy since I am American but I found the game JetPac and I was hooked.
That's the game that'll do it! Welcome to the channel and look after those Speccys :)
wow, this is really a cool idea and again the genius of Sir Clive, off the shelf parts, even when long dead fans can make his baby live again. Uncle Jack ,Custom Chips, Fragile ones, and don't ever let anyone make more of them.
Yep, and I’d definitely recommend building one of these - great fun!
I’d like to but it’s probably out of my price range atm, I had a second hand zx80 as a kid never could get the tape drive to work but it was such a cool little device
Our first computer at home was a speccy 48k with the rubber keys, I do love the keys they used.
Yep, never agreed with the ‘dead flesh’ comments really - I quite like how they feel :)
Nice work getting it to work first try! I wish somebody would do something similar for 8 bit Atari!
If they do - I’ll definitely build one (Hoping for an 800) :)
Thanks for posting this video. I did not know you could buy and build a new ZX Spectrum. 👍
I still have many in my Loft as i loved them so much when i was younger and i liked writing my own games and doing my own graphics. I uploaded my sprite designer and someone spotted it and uploaded it to their site for all to use. I can not remember the site though. 😢
Anyway thanks`s for posting i could go on all night long.
You’re very welcome Stephen! Glad you enjoyed it :)
Thanks for an interesting build and the links. If you add 00:00 Intro before the 04:00 in the timestamps list, the timestamps will appear in the position bar along the bottom of the video.
And here was me - hadn't even noticed it wasn't working! Fixed - and thanks!
There is no “super like” on CZcams, so I had to just “like” the video… 😊
Well, I’ll send a ‘Super Thank You’ back anyway :) :)
Chimera!
:)
I just refurbed a TS1000 and it rocks.
Bravo !!
Thanks!
Great!!!
Thanks very much!
I used to enjoy doing user-defined graphics on the Specky, too!
Yay!!!!!
When I saw @TheRetroShack's grid and the numbers at the end of each row, I was 12 again! So nostalgic.
I really need to treat myself to one of these!
Go for it - you won’t regret it! :)
I did the same drawing 8x8 graphics for homemade games - got to be the best computer ever.
Fun isn't it? :)
Great channel! What's that surface you're working on? Looks absolutely amazing for storing all those little bits and pieces during builds and repairs.
Thanks - glad you’re enjoying it! The mat I use is this : Preciva Soldering Mat, 500℃ Heat Resistant Silicone Work Mat, Multi-purpose Magnetic Electronics Repair Pad for Welding and Soldering Station With Ruler and Screw Notches, 450*300mm www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075D9R8PZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_D421ANVTTB7M9G2W4CZZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I had, and still have in storage, the original 48K Spectrum, and when I saw you soldering all those sockets in I thought "that is way more ICs than the original had", because I thought (by the case dimensions) that this was just the original. Well, by the end I see that it is something like a Speccy Plus 2 or 3 maybe.
The original Spectrum had a custom ULA by Ferranti - This has since been reverse-engineered down to individual IC's - hence the larger number of chips :)
@@TheRetroShack Oh, that's interesting! I did know the ULA quite well, I did research the hardware back then and also did some assembly (machine code) level software. I still have the "Spectrum Hardware Manual" and "The Complete Spectrum ROM Disassembly" books in my bookshelf :) I even half-made an expansion card that had four selectable ROM chips, just never quite had the will-power to complete it.
Wow, now look at that! I love the sleek design it has, with the mirror-like plate (?). Great job, I'm really envious I don't know how to put together anything like that.
Thanks! It’s very straightforward if you’ve done a spot of soldering before :) You should give it a go!
1:16 I want to do something like that. it's so relaxing.
It's been too long since I soldered anything.
It was a harmonious day for sure - you should do it :)
I got one for Christmas 1983 as well.
Did you have to fight for the one tv in the house too? I remember not being able to use it for most of the evening because of Christmas telly!
Really enjoyed that thanks! I still have my original 48k in a box, languishing without a faceplate, so it's great to learn I can get a replacement! Do you think the black version is the closest to the original unit?
I would think so but can’t guarantee it as I don’t have that colour :( I’m probably going to be building another of these at some point so let me know if you get one :)
@@TheRetroShack will do! I'd really like to bring mine back to looking as close to the original as possible. But right now with a bare membrane keyboard, any front panel would look better! Luckily I still have an old TV I can use with the RF output, but I really need to look into some video mods...!
@@cameralabs Good luck and don't forget to send in some pictures when you're done :)
@@TheRetroShack sure thing! I've actually been doing a few retro projects of my own, so am planning on starting a separate channel to post them, as they'll conflict with my camera channel. CZcams doesn't like variety on a channel!
@@cameralabs Good luck and hope all goes well!
just finished a build; did it work first time? nah, i put the sound chip in the wrong way round lol. luckily no damage done and once i realised my mistake, it wasnt long before i was playing some classic games on this unit
Great job! Hope you have loads of fun with it!
Bloody hell man, it’s perfect.
How much in total is all this gear to create this bundle of fun.
Thanks, and a great video👍🏻
My perfect game station would be the Speccy and BBCmicro get those together in one unit I would buy one.
Cheers :) Glad you like it! All in it was £140 which is a lot but the satisfaction level is off the chart :)
Are you able to make Zx Spectrum and BBCmicro all in one possibly with 2 SD card slots????
Know one has done this, and yes I would but it👍🏻
I was never a fan of spring IC sockets. You should have splurged and gotten machined turret pin sockets. They're so sexy.
They're just what came in the kit - I'm currently building another one (in my increasingly rare spare time :) ) for a friend - and that's got lovely turned pin sockets :) :) - Should I just swap the boards over when I'm done? Is that bad of me? :) :)
@@TheRetroShack one advantage to building kits is upgrading parts. Quite frankly I think that kit has sockets because they don't expect the most skilled people to be assembling it. So the producer opted for using sockets as a bit of a safety net. Other than the one socket with the IC inside it you could probably just solder chips to the board. But hand soldering ICs is a little bit of a risk. You have to follow the time heat rule. I do a few leads on each IC then solder another chip. Jump around. Making people understand why that is important can be difficult. They know when they've roasted a socket though. heh
Building your own ZX is fun, isn't it? While I have to admit that I mostly care about non-british clones with their extensions and quirks I probably would have never gotten where I am starting with assembling my Pentagon 1024SL 2.2 in 2006. While I declined to repair a Commodore C65 (yes, the prototype that goes for $20.000) due to a lack of interest, I've gotten a number of once in a lifetime chances. Friend of mine even got me a TK90X from .br when he was on vacation there :)
I’m envious!!!
The ZX Spectrum was my first computer, I got it as Christmas gift in 1984. 5:15 What's on the monitor end of the S-Video connector? 5:20 What's that black adapter?
Very cool indeed. Are you telling us that in that kit of components there wasn’t even one tiny capacitor missing? I’m impressed! In the world of retro computers, does my 1980’s M6809 home-brew count?
@@TheRetroShack I bought a Speccy Breadboard from Ben about a year ago, and judging by that, i daresay the quality of his products are top class. He's also a super nice fellow; i've viewed a few of his live streams, and chatted a bit with him in between his solderings.
If anything in kits I've more often run into a few extra parts. But if they're common passives you're short they're easy to make up anyways. Kitting is a whole thing. The process of assembling groups of components for a build. There's actually more work involved than if they'd just assembled the board. Every part bagged and labeled is pretty nuts.
Byte Delight do a fab job on these kits :)
Does it load the games instantly, or do you still have to use the tape! Wonderful, by the way!
This version of the board (rev 2d) doesn’t have an inbuilt SD card solution but the creator (Don Superfo) also sells the ZX Nuvo which has an SD Card on board. Thinking of building one myself :)
I was finding even the very speeded up version of preparing the board hard going. There's no way I would have the patience to do this myself.
Lol - I guess it depends on if you enjoy soldering :) If not, this isn’t a project for you :) :)
I don't have a lot of patience either generally, but I find soldering projects like this therapeutic to do and watch. I put an audio book on, get the tools ready, and just zone out for hours with the (probably carcinogenic) smell of solder wafting up my nose.
That silver-grey case with the glossy silver faceplate looks absolutely fantastic!
One question: how compatible is the Harlequin with the original Spectrum? Both 48K and 128K modes.
@@TheRetroShack Perhaps i will consider one, then, because original "Toasty McToastrack" 128Ks are way too expensive for me on ebay.
I saw one go for £75 the other day and I missed it! Aaaargh! :)
@@TheRetroShack Damn! That's practically a steal.
@@BertGrink Tell me about it! :) I would have felt guilty buying it! ...briefly :)
Cool. I build only my PC... from parts ;)
If you enjoyed this build - there are some interesting ones coming up too :) :) Thanks for watching!
This just goes to show how much logic is pushed into the ULA.
Yep - still boggles my mind almost as must as trying to understand FPGA! :)
How do they get round the ULA though, I thought pretty much all the old systems had at least one "difficult" part - is it a FPGA remake?
@@matthewday7565 This guy reverse engineered it down to individual transistors - hence the higher chip count on the Harlequin board :). books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_ZX_Spectrum_ULA.html?id=IMPTcQAACAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y
Wow so that's how many logic chips the Ferranti PLA replaced I often wondered
Pretty incredible eh? :)
Minus six though. (There are 6 TTL ICs in the original Spectrum.)
@@herrbonk3635 True enough, there's six glue logic chips between the ULA and CPU that were also later consolidated into a second semi custom chip.
Still, the Harlequin design is rather neat because of what it does. It consolidates all the RAM back into a single space-saving IC, and uses the space saved to break the ULA back out into generic logic, both of which make infinitely more sense in this day and age.
It's a fantastic learning experience being able to build and follow the logic of how the system works with relatively few "black box" elements in the design. (I mean, the IC's themselves are black boxes, I suppose, but one step at a time :) )
@@TheTurnipKing Not only in "this day". Dense memories such as 6264 or 62256 were affordable in the 1980s too. I often say that TTL and MOS memory ICs (whether dynamic or static) were the real key to the personal computer "revolution". Compared to that, the microprocessor wasn't as important as it's usually portrayed for making computers cheap enough for the masses.
Early personal computers like Datapoint 2200 or Xerox Alto of the early 1970s did not use any microprocessor, they were built entirely in TTL (and similar). The first personal scientific calculators (like Olivetti Programa and HP 9100) did not even use ICs, but relied on discrete transistors, diodes and passive components. Their memories were in the form diode matrixes, magnetic core memory, and/or capacitive memory in the printed circuit board itself!
@@herrbonk3635 The original design made more sense back then in terms of cost.
In the same way that economies of scale make using an ARM chip an extremely convenient go-to for all kinds of electronic devices now.
The PCB would have needed to have been much bigger to accomodate a generic logic ULA AND the many RAM chips used in the design.
Ive been collecting parts to do this using new motherboards (using a freely available pcb design that copied the original issue 3B). Bit more to go yet before can build one.
You won't regret it - I'm on my third now :) - Got a BIG 'new' build of an old system coming up later in the year :)
I like the blue bench top organiser thing where did you get that? Thanks 😃
Thanks - it’s this: KKmoon 450 * 300mm Magnetic Heat Insulation Silicone Pad with Magnetic Section Ruler Screw Notches for BGA Soldering Repair Solder Station Mat High Temperature Maintenance Platform (Type 1) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0771QKXCN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_6NVHV5P4QDDMCJ56VQVS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
@@TheRetroShack ooh thanks I've ordered one 😃 I would never have found it from that name 🤣
How did you stick the faceplate on? I got a new case and faceplate but it's not very well fitting. If I push the curved sides in, the centre lifts up. If I dont push curved ends down they just dont fit very well. I think I'll get a kit after building my Amiga 500++ PCB.
I had a similar problem and in the end I completely covered the entire underside of the faceplate in 3m double sided tape, and then cut out each key hole with a craft knife. Then when I put it on I made sure there were several heavy books on it for about twenty minutes - and it hasn't moved since :) Good luck with the A500++ :)
@@TheRetroShack Ah ok. I'm considering to using that thin double sided foam tape instead of the thin membrane tape.
The 500++ is almost done. I have a reAmiga 1200 to build but that might have to wait a while.
Just found your channel and will sub. 👍
Cool video! I kinda wondered myself. I picked up some Z80 CPUs recently and the manufacturing dates are only a few years ago, they apparently still make these things! The ones I got also according to the data sheet can be clocked at over 20 MHz. I wonder if it would be possible to build a version that can actually make use of a higher clock speed? Not really a computer engineer so I'm not sure how difficult something like that would be.
The Crystal decides the frequency of the pulse cycle to the cpu so theoretically you drive a higher cpu speed, however the ram timings are also set in the rom so you’d need higher refresh ram and a custom rom and ULA. It’s a lock of work but theoretically possible. The Spectrum Next for example can drive the FPGA versions of the hardware at up to 28Mhz so.... :). Much cleverer people than me should weigh in on this one! :)
In theory, but like Retroshack said, you'd have to make sure everything else was up to it.
Also, it'd be great for business apps, but unlike modern gaming where a faster machine gives more FPS and smoother graphics, you'd probably find a LOT of old games would just run faster, frequently to the point of becoming unplayable.
This was an issue when IBM and clone-makers first started soming out with faster but compatible computers to the original PC... Even something like an 8-10MHz 286 was enough to render some games designed for the 4.77Mhz 8088 unplayably fast. This was the origin of the "turbo" switch on that generation of machines - you'd turn it off to purposely drop the clock speed of the CPU.
Thanks for the video! How was the ULA chip solved? Was it one of the vLA82 jobbies or something else?
The ULA was reverse engineered into individual off the shelf chips. I’ll be doing an episode all about it as it’s a fascinating story :)
@@TheRetroShack Ah, I see! Thanks for replying. Looking forward to the video!
A question,
How many little parts in total, so this is a 128k in a 48k body is that right??
Thanks for the video, how long did it take you from scratch??
Thanks
Now we need an rf modulator emulator so modern people can enjoy the same migraines we used to get off the crt television
You know, I was surprised to find ( a few years ago now ) that people writing emulators etc, were putting in options FOR scan lines on modern TV's. I would have done anything for a crystal clear image all those years ago :)
Are the ic's still being made or were the components new-old stock or harvested from old gear like the c64?
All of the IC’s are brand new :) Including the EEPROM containing the Sinclair Roms ( I feel justified in doing that as I do own the original rom chips in my other Spectrums ) It’s a great kit :)
That's the neat thing about the Harlequin design: In broad terms the 48k Spectrum had exactly one (semi-)custom chip. The Harlequin is a reverse engineered design that turns that semi-custom chip back into a bunch of entirely generic logic chips, so there's no need for anything to be taken from an original board (though, it will support using an original ROM chip if you like, in place of an EEPROM).
haha I used to make animation on grid paper in flip book form and then make it on the computer. I spent so long making sprites. I had no idea what to do with these sprites, no coding knowledge and back then there was no internet to look up how to do anything.
Not just me then :)
ha ha - I did exactly the same thing... animated an 8x8 bit man walking, or designed my own snazzy fonts
I have one from 1982,but ,it does not work :( ..I Akkways deamed to get my heands on working spectrum. I am amaized how you did this assembly job,great man
I sold my zx spectrum 128k with a bag of games for £140 late 80's. That seemed like a lot of money to me at the time !
Yep, I go to retro fairs and see things I literally ruined as a kid, going for silly money... Very annoying :(
Shiny!
Indeedy :)
nice, was it all through hole or was there any surface mount (the work of the devil) ?
Only one SMD component and the rest through hole :) Not too scary at all :)
@@TheRetroShack i do need to conquer my fear of surface mount .. very tempted by those issue 3B replica motherboards as well that are for sale on that well known auction site ..
Spectrum ROMs are freeware now. GPL type rules.
Mods allowed, no commercial sales unless bundled with emulators. emulators+ROMs are allowed to be commercial.
hi i love that set!! congrats!! THIS FACE PLATE IS JUST A SILVER ONE? ty!!!
Thanks !
These would sell very well in the UK as we only have the crappy, small knock of versions of it in gadget shops. This is like what nintendo kind of did with the new mini, but then you had the raspberry pi knock offs 😅
hi, my divmmc future loader doesn't work with my Harlequin 128 k 2D board. How do you succeed ? What's your ESXDOS version ? regards...
brilliant.. are there any differences to the original?
@@TheRetroShack yeah you've made me go on ebay and drool at the old spectrums again.. although I know if i got one it would be stored away under my bed never to be used.
I've got a MiSTer at the moment so can play all the old games and get the same feelings from it.. cept without the same form factor..
Just FYI - Probably going to be doing an update video to this showing all the capabilities of the machine - there's been so much interest!
@@TheRetroShack great! i'll defo be watching.. congrats on the success you're having with the channel.
@@bazza5699 Thank you so much! Appreciate the support :)
IIRC there are some VERY subtle differences, but the entire point of the Harlequin was to be damn near spot on. It handles some of the most difficult demos without complaint.
How much was the kit. Strong work.
I think all in it cost just over £140 including the case, keyboard and membrane :)
Hey friend, what is the brand,name or where can i find this blue repair "mate"? Thanks
KKmoon 450 * 300mm Magnetic Heat Insulation Silicone Pad with Magnetic Section Ruler Screw Notches for BGA Soldering Repair Solder Station Mat High Temperature Maintenance Platform (Type 1) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0771QKXCN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_Q2W5VVTWV3VYX46YNTD2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
@@TheRetroShack thank you 👏👏👏😊
Time to buy a dremel.
Not sure how I feel about the 128K version in a rubber keyed box.
That's the beauty of the Harlequin boards (and Sinclair's thriftyness...) Harlequin has multi rom support, and it fits in both the original case, and also the Spectrum+ case :) So you COULD build a Harlequin 128k, put it in a Spectrum+ case, and then 3d print a toastrack for the side and have a lovely clone of a 128k with all new parts... You know what - I'm going to do it! Thanks!
I put my Harlequin 128 in a Spectrum 48+ case. It's nice, but I'd prefer a sawn-off +2 painted black or red, with the +2A/+2B/+3 keyboard.
Hi, where to get the 3d case? Thanks
+TheRetroShack Great video! *What is the name of this lovely tune?*
There's a growing number of these self-build retro machines, like ZX MAX48, COMIX-35, Omega MSX2 to name a few..
Google them for details...
That’s a dangerous game for me :) I’ll end up buying them all! Oh, ok then - you’ve convinced me. Googling now :)
@@TheRetroShack I Think it's COMIX-35 there's also a Ti(ny) 99/4A Version 3..
@@Harry62811-ue1en Stop it now - you’re killing me! :) :) :)
@@TheRetroShack The ZX MAX48 PCB £10
The COMIX-35 not sure ...???
The Omega MSX2 PCBs ( Motherboard & Keyboard) £42
The Ti(ny) 99/4a (Ti 994A Clone) only available pre-built.
I would happily pay someone to put one of these together for me. I just don't have the equipment/skill/time to do it myself. I would love to have something like that.
How much are you offering? I’ll do it for £20,000,000 ;) No? OK - £10,000,000 and that’s my final offer ;)
@@TheRetroShack
I am tempted.. But no, the wife would kill me!
i have 3 spectrum's in my loft plus loads of games.
Time for a trip to the loft then? :)
A colleague had 2 of those computers at work. My boss threw them both in the skip.
Aaaargh!
@@TheRetroShack A complete set of accessories too, including RAM expansion and printer!
@@bobingabout Stop! You’re hurting me :)
What does it do for the ULA?
It completely breaks the ULA down into separate logic circuits based on the work of Chris Smith :)
@@TheRetroShack Wow! I think some of the Eastern Bloc clones did it that way too.
@@andrewdunbar828 Some, yes, though most of them had reverse-engineered ULAs (of varying compatibility) and there were even some clones with genuine Ferranti ULAs. I like this idea by the way, it helps preserve the original machines and the experience is still quite authentic.
Brother, you don’t put the ic under a socket when you can flip the legs and put it on the underside! Lol!
:) Nice idea - but wouldn't fit in the case then! :) :)
very nice, but if its a 128k I'd rather have the toastrack style keyboard, does anyone make them? surely there's a market even for a USB version for those of us who struggle with our regular keyboards in emulators!
Perhaps just build this, get a Spectrum+ cheap off ebay, and then stick this on the side: www.thingiverse.com/thing:3906171 :)
I was kinda hoping that you'd discus what was in it and how that compares to an original spectrum rather than just a time-lapse of building a kit. :(
It was my Boxing Day treat and just decided to time-lapse it - there have been a few comments asking for more details so I think a full episode on it needs to be done ;)
You can really see how Sinclair cut costs with the ULA and it'd be terrific to get the low-down on the 74 series chip count needed to re-do it.
@@edgeeffect consider it on the official episode list! :)
How many words per minute can you type with that keyboard?
Depends - made up words randomly bashing the keyboard, 100's... Real, actual words.. not many at all. The tokenized entry made it actually quite quick to program on when you were used to it, so it wasn't all bad :)
@@TheRetroShack oh OK. I guess this was mostly used for games then?
There was a big games market for the Spectrum for sure - but there were also a few decent serious apps. Have a look on World Of Spectrum and you'll get an idea of the library. I certainly used mine for programming as much if not more than gaming :)
I went for the SixtyClone instead. That is because in my 45 years of life, I have never seen any Sinclair product in person. Not even that electric transportation.
Got my eye on one of those SixtyClones - satisfying build?
@@TheRetroShack Still not finished. Been down prioritised, because life and all that jazz. It might get on my channel when done. 🙂
Where can I get ULA ?
If you're building one of these kits, you don't need one! :) Otherwise there are sellers online - Google is your friend :)