joeventura Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 why hasn't anyone designed a clear case for the Atari 800? I see clear cases for Mac SE's, Apple IIs Is it too difficult? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 um okay, sounds nice and all but you would only really see the side boards, I wouldn't change a thing about the cage the 800 main and sub boards are in. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peri Noid Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 Agreed. 400/800 have a massive internal case, that would block the view. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 600XL or XEGS I think might be best suited to a transparent case. You'd need to lose the shielding (top at least) to make it worthwhile. Keyboard would hide much of the internals so maybe XEGS would be the preferable one. 1200XL would probably be OK in terms of being able to see lots of the innards but it's probably the best looking of the later machines and best left alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+scorpio_ny Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 (edited) There is an acrylic clear case for the 800XL that can be ordered if one wants to go that route: https://www.plexilaser.de/shop/Acrylgehaeuse-fuer-ATARI-800XL-Teilesatz Edited April 17 by scorpio_ny 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peri Noid Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 And for 130XE as well. I have both, they are really well made. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeventura Posted April 17 Author Share Posted April 17 2 hours ago, _The Doctor__ said: um okay, sounds nice and all but you would only really see the side boards, I wouldn't change a thing about the cage the 800 main and sub boards are in. That cage is easily removed and tossed aside no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peri Noid Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 (edited) 30 minutes ago, joeventura said: That cage is easily removed and tossed aside no? Not quite. It is a part that holds some elements and keeps the whole computer together. For instance, the PSU board is screwed to it. So it is possible to make an acrylic case but it would need to play as a support as well, which makes it much more complex than just a simple casing for XL or XE machines. Edited April 17 by Peri Noid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THX-1138 Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 50 minutes ago, Peri Noid said: And for 130XE as well. I have both, they are really well made. What???? They make a 130XE case now? They didn't when I asked them before. My 130XE is on eBay to sell but I'd keep it if I could get a custom case for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeventura Posted April 17 Author Share Posted April 17 31 minutes ago, Peri Noid said: Not quite. It is a part that holds some elements and keeps the whole computer together. For instance, the PSU board is screwed to it. So it is possible to make an acrylic case but it would need to play as a support as well, which makes it much more complex than just a simple casing for XL or XE machines. I think a simple 3D printed piece of plastic would stand in for that connection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 Toss aside one of the best metal cages ever made. yeah I'm going to have to ignore this one, pulling the rip cord now. punching out. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peri Noid Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 2 hours ago, THX-1138 said: What???? They make a 130XE case now? They didn't when I asked them before. They've been doing it for some time already: https://www.plexilaser.de/shop/Atari-XE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeventura Posted April 17 Author Share Posted April 17 2 hours ago, _The Doctor__ said: Toss aside one of the best metal cages ever made. yeah I'm going to have to ignore this one, pulling the rip cord now. punching out. LOL Yes Bwahahaha release the radiation!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeventura Posted April 17 Author Share Posted April 17 (edited) I think its possible Edited April 17 by joeventura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geister Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 I'd like to see a plastic case for the new 1090XL expansion bus. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeventura Posted April 17 Author Share Posted April 17 11 minutes ago, Geister said: I'd like to see a plastic case for the new 1090XL expansion bus. Yes the 30-40 people who own one would love it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geister Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 Who cares what the other 29-39 people think...I'm the important one 😄 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeventura Posted April 17 Author Share Posted April 17 1 hour ago, Geister said: Who cares what the other 29-39 people think...I'm the important one 😄 RIGHT!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+slx Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 If the transparent case should resemble the original you’d need a number of curved parts which might not be that easy to recreate in acrylic glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMil2 Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 2 hours ago, slx said: If the transparent case should resemble the original you’d need a number of curved parts which might not be that easy to recreate in acrylic glass. While it wouldn't be easy to make an acrylic 1090XL case, it wouldn't be that hard either. You can buy acrylic rod that is concave/convex. You would just have to 'glue' the top piece and side pieces to them. All told, it would only require six large pieces for the top, sides, front, back, and bottom, and the two 'rolled' pieces for the top edges. You'd also need some smaller pieces for support and alignment. Plus a great deal of measuring and patience. While I do have an acrylic case for my 1088XEL, I don't think the 1090XL would look right without the brown front/top/sides and the big 'ATARI' written on the front. DavidMil2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geister Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 Plexiglass puzzle-piece cases will never "resemble" the original cases. Their point is to put a protective shell around the circuit boards and to allow the owner to ogle the said boards. If you want to recreate the 1090XL case, you'll need to spring for injection molded plastics. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 8 hours ago, Geister said: Plexiglass puzzle-piece cases will never "resemble" the original cases. Could they make a decent case for a 400, which has all flat sides? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+slx Posted April 20 Share Posted April 20 On 4/18/2024 at 9:42 AM, DavidMil2 said: While it wouldn't be easy to make an acrylic 1090XL case, it wouldn't be that hard either. You can buy acrylic rod that is concave/convex. You would just have to 'glue' the top piece and side pieces to them. All told, it would only require six large pieces for the top, sides, front, back, and bottom, and the two 'rolled' pieces for the top edges. You'd also need some smaller pieces for support and alignment. Plus a great deal of measuring and patience. While I do have an acrylic case for my 1088XEL, I don't think the 1090XL would look right without the brown front/top/sides and the big 'ATARI' written on the front. DavidMil2 I was referring to the initial question about an acrylic case for the 800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+x=usr(1536) Posted April 20 Share Posted April 20 On 4/18/2024 at 10:19 AM, Geister said: If you want to recreate the 1090XL case, you'll need to spring for injection molded plastics. Wait, wasn't the 1090 originally in a pressed-steel case, or am I thinking of something else (and I know I'm not confusing it with the 850 )? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMil2 Posted April 23 Share Posted April 23 On 4/20/2024 at 2:05 PM, x=usr(1536) said: Wait, wasn't the 1090 originally in a pressed-steel case, or am I thinking of something else (and I know I'm not confusing it with the 850 )? You are correct. It was a painted metal case with a large piece of plastic on the top half of the from that had the word. "ATARI" on it. It's been so long, I'm not sure about the word, "1090XL". But back to the 800; I'm just not sure what it would look like without that large cast aluminum shield. Or for that matter, what it would look like with the shield under the acrylic. To make it look good and stay looking good, you'd have to shine it up and then seal it to keep it from oxidizing again. DavidMil2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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