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
