My Atari 800CX : An homage to the IBM 'ATARI' PC

[Gunstar]

Introducing my ATARI 800CX (Custom eXtended line), it needed body work and a paint job after failed retro-brite attempts, so I decided to do an homage to the mock-up IBM 'ATARI' PC that I fell in love with the look of the very first time I saw it. I have re-written my Atari 800 blog and there are more pictures there and more to come once I have it all hooked up and powered.

 

 

[+cjherr]

That is very, very cool.

[+Stephen]

Not my aesthetic, but I can clearly see the time and effort you put into this.  Top work!

[SlidellMan]

Wow, the effort that went into that is just amazing.

[+x=usr(1536)]

Nicely done.  That's absolutely fantastic

 

I'd honestly never noticed how much resemblance there was between an Atari 800 and an IBM Selectric typewriter before seeing that shot of the 800 case in white at that specific angle - and that was with having grown up with both in the house at the same time.

 

Superb ?

[funkydmunky]

Atari Aquarius is what my eyes see ?

[gilsaluki]

Wow~ U even painted the CX-85 to match.  I agree, not my style, but you have done a quality paint job.  I am an original-ist at heart, like the paperbag-colored 800.  Looks like your busy season is over.  Do you have a lawn service?

[Atari8guy]

I love your monitor stand... I only have half of it.

[Gunstar]

1 hour ago, gilsaluki said:

Wow~ U even painted the CX-85 to match.  I agree, not my style, but you have done a quality paint job.  I am an original-ist at heart, like the paperbag-colored 800.  Looks like your busy season is over.  Do you have a lawn service?

I only paint stuff that desperately needs it (except to keep peripherals matching). If my 800 (and peripherals) was in good condition without the cracks and terrible returned yellowing after trying retro-bright twice, I'd have kept it original. But when you have a badly discolored computer system with cracks and broken bits defacing it further, there that need repair or they only get worse, there only one way to save it and make it look good again. But then I asked myself; "why paint it to look original, like thousands of other 800's out there, when I have the opportunity for something truly unique", especially when it's already truly unique with all it's upgrades, some one of a kind, on the inside. 

 

I'm an originalist at heart too, and have gone to great lengths with my 1200XL system to keep it looking original in it's restoration and modifications. And I attempted the same with my 800 over the few years I've had it, the last two undergoing restorations upgrades and mods, but the restorations did not last and cracks started appearing just from normal use due to the brittle old plastics. I'm hoping the repairs and paint will help from further cracking occurring and hoping the paint also helps protect the plastic from further light and air damage.

 

Of course I would have rather have an 800 system in perfect mint condition instead (though including my mods and upgrades still), but that being said, now that it is done and the time and effort I put into it all, I would turn down an off to trade for everything I have, but in original mint condition. 

 

I have a contracting business, lawn care is our mainstay, but we do all kinds of maintenance from the ground to the roof. So things slow down, but I still have plenty of other work. But yes, late fall and winter I have much more time for my own personal projects...and a list a mile long...

Edited December 9, 2021 by Gunstar

[rocketmonkey101]

I totally dig this. I think it looks great. While I can understand some people wanting to keep it original, this makes it "yours" and there is something to be said for that.

 

[Gunstar]

Thanks. As I stated above, this computer and 810 disk drive were in bad physical condition and attempts to restore it to original condition were made, but when that failed in the short term I knew I had to come up with a long term alternative, and decided to "make it mine" as you say. I'm also a perfectionist at heart and everything has to look it's best and match and I even need to address the smallest details, like highlighting raised text in the plastic so it looks more "complete" as well as easy to see.

 

I also fell in love  with the mock-up picture of Atari's Colleen that was done during talks with IBM, imagining owning an IBM branded Colleen like that. Not because it would have been an IBM, but purely for the color and design the designers came up with. I had at least the opportunity to make their color design vision my reality, with a bit of my own influence thrown in.

Edited December 9, 2021 by Gunstar

[Gunstar]

Of course I am already well aware of one downside to the color scheme I chose, that being how easily dirt and dust show up against the white. I ordered a box of nylon gloves after seeing all the smudges and finger prints I left behind (with hands I thought were clean) while handling during re-assembly. I don't intend to use the system without wearing gloves from here on out. And dust covers will be needed asap. That is also one of the reasons why I've created a mirrored surface for the system; to remind me sooner rather than later when it is time to dust and clean.

 

Edited December 9, 2021 by Gunstar

[Gunstar]

2 hours ago, Atari8guy said:

I love your monitor stand... I only have half of it.

How is half a monitor stand working out for you? I need to see a picture of that...

Edited December 9, 2021 by Gunstar

[mozzwald]

I see a matching FujiNet to top it off. The whole package deal looks great!

[Caterpiggle]

Hello Gunstar,

 

Did you also replaced worn out rubber belts for your Atari 410 ?

[Gunstar]

2 hours ago, Caterpiggle said:

Hello Gunstar,

 

Did you also replaced worn out rubber belts for your Atari 410 ?

As a matter of fact, I did! I had them already, just waiting for me to get around to replacing them and this was my opportunity.

[Gunstar]

3 hours ago, mozzwald said:

I see a matching FujiNet to top it off. The whole package deal looks great!

Yep! I also have a Turbo Freezer connected to the custom PBI I made for it, but I left the clear shell it is in clear, but I did ad decals to in like the Fujinet. But here is a shot of both.

 

Edited December 10, 2021 by Gunstar

[Caterpiggle]

Hello Gunstar once again,

 

Where did you got your replacement rubber belts for your 410 ? And how much did you paid for it ? Separated shipping cost , how much ? Thank you once again , Gunstar !

[Gunstar]

8 hours ago, Caterpiggle said:

Hello Gunstar once again,

 

Where did you got your replacement rubber belts for your 410 ? And how much did you paid for it ? Separated shipping cost , how much ? Thank you once again , Gunstar !

I purchased a belt "kit" off of eBay a year or two ago, but it included about 10 belts with sizes that fit the 410, 1010, possibly the XE cassette drive too, and a couple other brands of tape drives. I just did a search for 410 replacement belts. I just did another one, and there are some available, however there are three belts total in the 410 and this is for only two of them: https://www.ebay.com/itm/114582907856?hash=item1aadac6bd0:g:J8wAAOSw44BYHpxn

[Gunstar]

12 hours ago, Gunstar said:

Yep! I also have a Turbo Freezer connected to the custom PBI I made for it, but I left the clear shell it is in clear, but I did ad decals to in like the Fujinet. But here is a shot of both.

 

 

16 hours ago, mozzwald said:

I see a matching FujiNet to top it off. The whole package deal looks great!

I haven't taken a picture of the Turbo Freezer connected to the 800 yet because I still have to 3D print a case for the PBI adapter board that the "cart" plugs into. That case will also house the 4 extra controller ports from my dual PIA upgrade (see blog-cables hidden underneath will plug into it). I will post more pictures to my blog soon, with different angles on the computer showing the underside and all the video connector mods, etc. Of course I've shown it all here before in different threads, showing off my mods, but that was before the paint job.

Edited December 10, 2021 by Gunstar

[THX-1138]

I wish it was possible to buy new Atari cases and keyboards, those colours work so well - nicely done.

[ldelsarte]

On 12/9/2021 at 12:33 AM, Gunstar said:

I decided to do an homage to the mock-up IBM 'ATARI' PC that I fell in love with the look of the very first time I saw it. I have re-written my Atari 800 blog and there are more pictures there and more to come once I have it all hooked up and powered.

It's amazing! Thank you for sharing this, @Gunstar
I had never seen this white mockup for IBM.
Can I ask where this picture comes from (which book is pictured)?
And above all, sorry if I don't know it, but what is the URL of your blog?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Gunstar]

The blog is in the blog section of my profile if you just click on my avatar on the left here. Thanks for your kind words. The picture was originally posted on AA somewhere, I lifted it off of here a few years back.

Edited May 28, 2022 by Gunstar

[Gunstar]

Hello all, I apologize for bumping this topic, it's not my intention to force further attention of my 800 in this thread, My blog is for that.

 

It's just that I never properly named the photos I uploaded in this thread, so my 800's images don't show up in search engine image searches. I tried reposting them in my 800 blog and in my own status update with proper names but those apparently aren't searched for images with any search engine I've tried.

 

So I am merely reposting a couple images with proper 'Atari 800 etc.' names in this thread so that they are seen among the hundreds of other 800 images on the net. Thank you for understanding.

 

 

 

 

[gilsaluki]

You did a bang up job there.  Not my choice, but quality to the max.  Keep up the great work.