6502.org

I'm pleased to see you've got wheels on it now, Brad

The first car I built was 2x1 and I think 3x2 for the main chassis legs.

Neil

What a great looking machine. Some serious talent shown there!

Interesting that your first build was about the journey and your second was about the result.
For me, this build is about the journey, and is probably going to take me as long as it did with your first racer!

I guess in a way, my Synth is not just an instrument but also a hot rod.
Those massive dual 600 square inch hand wired boards behind glass will be a sight to behold, much like a hand painted candy apple metal flake paint job on a show car.
I will rev up that engine by shredding out on the 88 keys while 12 other channels scream out with a combination of 80's 8 bit retro style and 70's analog thickness.

It is my hand built hot rod!
And when someone looks at me with that stunned look and proclaims... "I wish I could build something like that".
I will reply... "Then go home and get started, I built it without any tools but a soldering iron and junk from a hardware store"!

That for me is the journey and the reward.
If I had a garage, I probably would be building a hot rod too!

Cheers!
Radical Brad

Thanks!
That skeleton will be sitting next to my workstation all winter to keep motivation high!

Getting dangerously close to having to meet exhaust emissions regs...

Neil

I considered "portability" in the design this time. Since I may want to move it to a larger part of the house and setup some huge speakers, I have floor-safe pneumatic casters going on the stand. The stand will also detach and side handles will slide out for when I want to transport the unit. I still want to bring it to some kind of retro show one day, perhaps World of Commodore.

Did a bit more of the plate tonight, and still happy with how light the frame actually is.

For a device with over 1000 digital logic ICs, it will be as green as it gets..... all CMOS logic, including the dozen 6502 CPUs in the unit.
If this was all TTL, then it would need a dedicated 50 amp circuit!

Of which: Usagi Electric finally got his Bendix 15 to boot! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P48899B1WA

Neil

The original design actually had a tube amp, but I decided that a 1970's fender twin I gutter for parts was not era appropriate and it would have really upped the weight and size of this beast.
Went for a 100 watt transistor amp into some 6.5 inch mid range speakers instead.

Had a few more hours outside in the back 40 and managed to get the side plates installed.
These were the most difficult parts of the build due to the compound angles and fold in the center.
I am only using the 3D model as a reference, so I made a template from paper and cut it until it fit.
From there, I traced the template and hacked out the sheet with a grinder cutting disc.
The fold was made by running the cutting disc partway through the back along the fold line and then bending the plates.

Here is what I have now...
Since I am updating the 3D model AFTER I build something (strange, right?), here it is now...
Next will be the speaker grill inserts and then the brackets to hold the 12" CRT display.
If the weather holds off I might even get the legs done as well so it can roll around my indoor hacking lab this winter.
Final welding cleanup and body fill work will happen next year.

Later!
Radical Brad

And a chimney

Neil