G labs

01/07/2026

Yes, sometimes true… and we’re not talking about the Cadbury’s confectionery version that used to get made right here in Dunedin.

20/06/2026

Making progress today recapping my Commodore test bench monitor. They sure did love them capacitors. 14 of 54 completed. Just the main board to go now once I’ve reflowed the headers. Can you spot the dry solder joint I’ll be resolving on the audio board?

04/04/2026

The path to cleanliness begins… getting sufficient clean water to 70deg… the poor old jug is working overtime tonight!!

04/04/2026

Six to go. CR1 SCSI power mod for these old boards, then they’re off to the ultrasonic cleaner :)

06/10/2024

Bellisimo!! Thankfully it was just a pressure switch needing reset! Good excuse to give everything a seriously good clean too :)

24/07/2024

Ok CHCH people, I’m in your house all next week!! Mon - Sun.

Who a, would like a catchup coffee; and b, needs a recharge of their Grenfell whisky?

I’ll be driving past the Ōamaru storage locker at The New Zealand Whisky Collection this weekend on my way up and will be in the CHCH CBD from late Monday arvo.

Mostly hanging out at the NZIPP Iris Awards at the Majestic on Durham (except for Tuesday arvo and evening where BP respectfully requires my attendance close by for tea and biscuits)…
I’ve been told the ‘tea’ includes post-dinner karaoke…. Hmm. What exactly did I sign up for… Probably best to hit me up later in the week… lol. I might also have a slight headache Wednesday morning.. but nothing a good coffee wouldn’t fix I’m sure!

30/06/2024

Today’s fun…

For those that know their OS’s, I installed Sys 7.6.1 on a fully pimped out and restored LC475 today. I’m now going through disk dup’ing my floppies whilst swivel chairing my iMac which is doing end of month gst.

“Hours of fun”, they said. They lied. I have Aussie Shiraz though. It’s helping :)

07/06/2024

15/05/2024

Back in the lab this week. Enjoying it for sure with a Classic II and two Classic’s now restored. A third on the way but it likely needs a new ROM which I’ll make tomorrow.
And I can promise you I do NOT like the smell of capacitor leakage on logic boards. Even after they’ve been through the ultrasonic cleaner…. Crazy how much damage ‘cap juice’ makes, that then requires components being stripped off the motherboard just to clean them…

But, they can still be resurrected and the cleaner filter fan does help…. although I’m at home now and I swear I can still smell the fluid being sizzled under my soldering iron. Yuk!

Small wins. Big gains.

31/03/2024

This sucker has 1.5hrs still to go… It’s the left leg of a mutant Dalek transformer… 61 parts in total… this is part #8. I have to stay awake until it finishes so I can kickoff the right leg overnight. Then that’s all the large parts done I think.

My poor nephew is exhibiting such patience, whilst getting excited each morning he wakes up to two new pieces. I think the end beast will be ~10” high, and to be fair I’m not sure if he or I are more excited about it.

I’m not too keen on following the 20pg assembly instructions though…. OTT much!!
That’s a lot of work under a magnifier with a scalpel. I think his Dad will have to step in here and assume some responsibility. I’m not giving scalpels to a nearly six year old.. even if it will result in a mutant dalek to play with.

Shoutout to Wondershop NZ for all the overnight shipping that has made this possible. You guys are great!

Several other parts images also uploaded as they were in my camera roll.