Nice comments about Albert and Norbreck Castle. I was the treasurer and main Amiga guy of a computer club on the Wirral. We had Amiga and older pc members one of which was a guy called Peter Denton who was one of the organisers of the Norbreck Castle show. Peter was a amateur radio guy as well as a computer guy who gave us discount access to the event each year. Norbreck was a great generational event where people of different age groups all came together to meet up, source new equipment and also buy some old tat, some of which appeared to be good value at the time. 😊 The Alberts and Peters of these shows are probably the guys most of us are destined to be albeit with a technical and generational leap but I think fondly, with the same outlook and aspirations as they had based on their knowledge at the time. Its a nice feeling if not a fleeting one that your Albert and my Peter are still getting a mention in the genre they loved . Keep up the inspiring videos buddy👍🏻
Thanks for sharing that - It's amazing the impact these people had on so many. Happy times of my life thinking back, going to all the computer shows and radio rallies with friends. Much appreciated! =D
Nice clean up job. I had a friend like that in the mid 80's called Walter, I was in my early 20's, he was in his mid 60's. I can't remember how we met, but he would come to my house and we exchanged Speccy software and hardware. He gave me a Wafadrive I gave him a few spare Microdrives. He was working on a switchable 2Mhz/4Mhz and 8Mhz Z80 clone for a Speccy/ZX81 hybrid. He got quite far with the project. He got me to help with the ROM. :). I moved away in 92, but we wrote letters to each other. Untill in 1997 I got a letter from his wife saying he had passed away. :( I had several drinks to his memory. RIP Walter. A dear friend indeed.
Thanks for sharing that! A lot of the nostalgia is not just the systems we used, but the people we interacted with when using them. Sorry to hear about Walter =(
To avoid messing up the screw heads, pick up a set of JIS screwdrivers. They don't have the taper in the heads that regular Phillips screwdrivers do, that taper is what causes them to cam out and eat the screw heads.
Thanks! LOL, I knew someone would say that - every time I mention its the word for friend, someone always points out its the femanine word for friend =D I would rather have a female Amiga I think =D
I have an A4000 here that came from somebody who was serious into tv, media and music production. He lives on the coast, in a beach bungalow. All his amiga stuff ended up chucked in a dark storage room in the back of the building and then the mice came! I ended up with pretty much everything he amassed over the years and there was some serious kit in all of that lot! but the mice had done their work, I ended up having to chuck quite a bit of stuff in the bin. The 4000 is not bad, just needs a dam goog strip down, refurbish. But you can never mistake the signs of mice and rats :(
Got one cheap in the UK with some upgrades inside from a video production mate who did stuff at home. Was sold a little while later as used my A1200 aa much and assumed this was coming to an end
Nice video Chris, lovely tribute to Albert. Some serious scrubbing went into that case and it all paid off. Loved the clickbait thumbnails... BUT Poo to Pristine is most definitely a keeper! 🤣🤣
Thanks Vince! It put a bit of a depressing spin on the video, but I had to include it as he was well and trully in my head all the while I worked on the 4000! I just wish I hadn't lost touch!
@@GadgetUK164 Not depressing at all. Sad to hear of Albert's passing but lovely to hear of your friendship. There are too many out there that need reminding not to be cynical, life is too short.
The prices have gone so out of control i think i just missed the boat for grabbing one of these.. oh well, Anyways, I'm glad to know i'm not the only one who has age mismatched friends ahah, sounded like Albert was quite the lad to hang around with, Superb vid Chris.
Looks awesome Totally jealous now, unfortunately the A4000 is a very rare beast in Australia, the few I have found I need to sell my first born to afford, I only need the A2000,A4000 and a 1000 and my collection will be complete for what I personally want to own. Awesome vid as always
Chris look on RS for: FCT from Molex, 172704 Dust Cap Size 2 Female D-sub Water cooling UK used to sell them too but there out of stock 🖖👍 They did sell the rubber Molex dust cap covers on Amazon but they've been out of stock for a long time. You could always get 3D printed covers.
Nice video on the 4000, nice tribute to Albert as well! You mention an ICL 386 - I have one of those sitting no more than a few feet from me! It's an ICL Classicl 316S. Can't remember how long i've had it or where I got it from, but it worked when I got it, although now it won't go past the boot screen as the battery in the Dallas clock chip has failed. I think the riser card has a problem also as it doesn't boot with it in. HDD is a bit noisy now as well! It does have one of those Cyrix 386 to 486 upgrade chips in it which is nice. I do want to restore it to 100% working at some point soon. Be nice to get a period correct ICL monitor (there was one on eBay a month or two ago with vertical collapse which I could've fixed but it was collect only and was several hundred miles from me), keyboard and mouse for it but chances of that are probably a bit slim!
I remember seeing someone use an A4000 tower that had a Video Toaster/Flyer card setup with multiple hard drives. It must have been cutting edge at the time, being able to handle video in real time like that. I had also messed around with .MOD and .IT files before MP3's came along, and hadn't known that they originated on Amiga until years later. I had only been familiar with PC and Apple II stuff.
Those grey spots you were scrubbing from the lid, that is mold. Hope you are healthy enough for all that mold interaction. Vinegar is ok, bleach is better. Yes, that price is insane. On the other hand there are zero A4000 on ebay below $1000, you can list that spare A4000 motherboard at 800 pounds and it will eventually sell.
Do you recommend replacing the resistors on the Zorro riser/daughterboard? I'm just curious as to whether they're something that's likely to go bad after 20+ years? Also, if I may ask, what source did you use to buy the #121 key switch keys? (I haven't had any luck searching online so far)? Thanks!
I am not aware of any that should be replaced - but I have seen the resistor packs swapped out on the Zorro bridge board. So maybe its a worthwhile thing to investigate? The #121 key I had (and the blank) were just some spares I have from old PC cases. I imagine they are hard to find these days =/
I quick search on Amazon found these "Akust Molex 4-Pin Connector Anti Dust Cap Protector Cover". I'm thinking there are probably others out there prob for less. EDIT: Actually that products page has a bunch of recommendations for others.
Just buy a can of plasti dip, dip the connector in a tiny bit. When it dries it can be removed or put back on. For sticker removal I've always used Zippo lighter fluid, I have yet to find anything that it will discolor but who knows... I can imagine that wd40 prob works a tad better though, it doesn't dry quickly like lighter fluid does.
Regarding the rust on the case, I think that's caused by the zinc coating being dissolved. Ignoring painting, what is a good way to permanently prevent additional corrosion in those spots that have been cleaned. WD40 really is not a good corrosion preventative. It wears off fairly quickly. Will spray on zinc plating work?
Yes, spray on zinc plating is better. Or electrolysis - but I would never do that again (after doing that MVS shell) as it's a lot of work and my health has never been the same since doing that... (could be coincidence of course)
Anyone know why they wrapped the front wires around that metal ring? When I found that in mine, I figured the previous owner did it. The 4000 is already heavy enough..
Thanks, I never got an email mate =/ Maybe you had an old address or something? You can get me on Twitter or Patreon messaging! I should be looking at that Acorn device soon =D
People are actually paying 800EUR just FOR THE CASES? (which arguably one of the worst designed PC cases on the planet) I'd like to know where all this funny money is coming from these days......
CUT OUT THE AUDIO WHEN SCRATCHING RUST AND SIMILAR STUFF I'M HAVING INVOLUNTARY HAIR RAISING RESPONSE TO THAT! FIBER GLASS ON METAL, BAD BAD BAD (Unless I'm going it myself... then somehow I don't feel it or have that reaction on my hairs or muscles) Worse than chalk on the black board in fact!
Links related to the video:-
Amiga FDD Repair - ruclips.net/video/BGJp4_Unhqs/видео.html
A4000 / A1200 Repairs - ruclips.net/p/PLMjdUTC-GcRORUqaYrbvrbym3fzi16E0N
Cathers A4000 Part 1 - ruclips.net/video/CohL_kduhYg/видео.html
TerribleFire A4000s Part 1 - ruclips.net/video/n1RTb4bUy4c/видео.html
A3660 PCB Build - ruclips.net/video/8DWoxEHalAA/видео.html
Andys A3640 Repair (040 Donation) - ruclips.net/video/aSO7GyCxIcI/видео.html
Nice comments about Albert and Norbreck Castle.
I was the treasurer and main Amiga guy of a computer club on the Wirral.
We had Amiga and older pc members one of which was a guy called Peter Denton who was one of the organisers of the Norbreck Castle show.
Peter was a amateur radio guy as well as a computer guy who gave us discount access to the event each year.
Norbreck was a great generational event where people of different age groups all came together to meet up, source new equipment and also buy some old tat, some of which appeared to be good value at the time. 😊
The Alberts and Peters of these shows are probably the guys most of us are destined to be albeit with a technical and generational leap but I think fondly, with the same outlook and aspirations as they had based on their knowledge at the time.
Its a nice feeling if not a fleeting one that your Albert and my Peter are still getting a mention in the genre they loved .
Keep up the inspiring videos buddy👍🏻
Thanks for sharing that - It's amazing the impact these people had on so many. Happy times of my life thinking back, going to all the computer shows and radio rallies with friends. Much appreciated! =D
Your very welcome.
Nice clean up job. I had a friend like that in the mid 80's called Walter, I was in my early 20's, he was in his mid 60's. I can't remember how we met, but he would come to my house and we exchanged Speccy software and hardware. He gave me a Wafadrive I gave him a few spare Microdrives. He was working on a switchable 2Mhz/4Mhz and 8Mhz Z80 clone for a Speccy/ZX81 hybrid. He got quite far with the project. He got me to help with the ROM. :).
I moved away in 92, but we wrote letters to each other. Untill in 1997 I got a letter from his wife saying he had passed away. :( I had several drinks to his memory.
RIP Walter. A dear friend indeed.
Thanks for sharing that! A lot of the nostalgia is not just the systems we used, but the people we interacted with when using them. Sorry to hear about Walter =(
@@GadgetUK164 Yes, that is very true. Cheers mate.
So you had a Amiga Amigo… ;-) Good memory’s keep us going.
To avoid messing up the screw heads, pick up a set of JIS screwdrivers. They don't have the taper in the heads that regular Phillips screwdrivers do, that taper is what causes them to cam out and eat the screw heads.
AMIGA is a friend indeed in Spanish and Portuguese. But a female friend, specifically.
If we're talking about a male friend that would be an "AMIGO".
Thanks! LOL, I knew someone would say that - every time I mention its the word for friend, someone always points out its the femanine word for friend =D I would rather have a female Amiga I think =D
I have an A4000 here that came from somebody who was serious into tv, media and music production. He lives on the coast, in a beach bungalow. All his amiga stuff ended up chucked in a dark storage room in the back of the building and then the mice came! I ended up with pretty much everything he amassed over the years and there was some serious kit in all of that lot! but the mice had done their work, I ended up having to chuck quite a bit of stuff in the bin. The 4000 is not bad, just needs a dam goog strip down, refurbish. But you can never mistake the signs of mice and rats :(
Looks superb Chris, Albert sounds like he was true gent
Cheers mate =D Yes, Albert will be missed!
Got one cheap in the UK with some upgrades inside from a video production mate who did stuff at home. Was sold a little while later as used my A1200 aa much and assumed this was coming to an end
Nice video Chris, lovely tribute to Albert. Some serious scrubbing went into that case and it all paid off. Loved the clickbait thumbnails... BUT Poo to Pristine is most definitely a keeper! 🤣🤣
Thanks Vince! It put a bit of a depressing spin on the video, but I had to include it as he was well and trully in my head all the while I worked on the 4000! I just wish I hadn't lost touch!
Suburban version of RMC's trash to treasure lol
@@GadgetUK164 Not depressing at all. Sad to hear of Albert's passing but lovely to hear of your friendship. There are too many out there that need reminding not to be cynical, life is too short.
Best title ever. Still watching but great work Chris so far
Thanks Jamie =D
1:29, yes, the pokeage device!!! I’m going to love this one ❤️
Haha =D
The prices have gone so out of control i think i just missed the boat for grabbing one of these.. oh well, Anyways, I'm glad to know i'm not the only one who has age mismatched friends ahah, sounded like Albert was quite the lad to hang around with, Superb vid Chris.
Looks awesome
Totally jealous now, unfortunately the A4000 is a very rare beast in Australia, the few I have found I need to sell my first born to afford, I only need the A2000,A4000 and a 1000 and my collection will be complete for what I personally want to own.
Awesome vid as always
Fantastic content as always dude. Great tribute to you old pal Albert!
A nice 'Noctua' fan in the PSU will work wonders.
Great video, looking forward to the PSU restoration.
Chris look on RS for: FCT from Molex, 172704 Dust Cap Size 2 Female D-sub Water cooling UK used to sell them too but there out of stock 🖖👍
They did sell the rubber Molex dust cap covers on Amazon but they've been out of stock for a long time. You could always get 3D printed covers.
Cheers =D
Nice video on the 4000, nice tribute to Albert as well! You mention an ICL 386 - I have one of those sitting no more than a few feet from me! It's an ICL Classicl 316S. Can't remember how long i've had it or where I got it from, but it worked when I got it, although now it won't go past the boot screen as the battery in the Dallas clock chip has failed. I think the riser card has a problem also as it doesn't boot with it in. HDD is a bit noisy now as well! It does have one of those Cyrix 386 to 486 upgrade chips in it which is nice. I do want to restore it to 100% working at some point soon. Be nice to get a period correct ICL monitor (there was one on eBay a month or two ago with vertical collapse which I could've fixed but it was collect only and was several hundred miles from me), keyboard and mouse for it but chances of that are probably a bit slim!
Great video as always looking forward to seeing you fix the PSU
I remember seeing someone use an A4000 tower that had a Video Toaster/Flyer card setup with multiple hard drives. It must have been cutting edge at the time, being able to handle video in real time like that. I had also messed around with .MOD and .IT files before MP3's came along, and hadn't known that they originated on Amiga until years later. I had only been familiar with PC and Apple II stuff.
Yeah, the Amiga was ahead of its time! It's such a shame Commodore couldn't continue =(
I would happily take that motherboard off your hands, 300 doesn't sound like a bad price and it would make a nice long term sort of project...
Another great system saved :)
have the lid sandblasted and powder coated for a nice hardwearing finiah
Great restore, the case looks great!
Yep I both remember ICL and indeed had an ICL 386. Can't remember if it was branded DRS still or not, I know some of the ones at school were.
They were used a lot by the UK gov too. I worked at ITSA for a while and they had tonnes of ICL machines.
Those grey spots you were scrubbing from the lid, that is mold. Hope you are healthy enough for all that mold interaction. Vinegar is ok, bleach is better.
Yes, that price is insane. On the other hand there are zero A4000 on ebay below $1000, you can list that spare A4000 motherboard at 800 pounds and it will eventually sell.
Do you recommend replacing the resistors on the Zorro riser/daughterboard? I'm just curious as to whether they're something that's likely to go bad after 20+ years? Also, if I may ask, what source did you use to buy the #121 key switch keys? (I haven't had any luck searching online so far)? Thanks!
I am not aware of any that should be replaced - but I have seen the resistor packs swapped out on the Zorro bridge board. So maybe its a worthwhile thing to investigate? The #121 key I had (and the blank) were just some spares I have from old PC cases. I imagine they are hard to find these days =/
@@GadgetUK164 Many thanks!
Well I've found some covers, including the ones for Molex plugs. If you would like them then they are yours! 😀
Awesome - thanks =D I don't want to trouble you having to post these!
I quick search on Amazon found these "Akust Molex 4-Pin Connector Anti Dust Cap Protector Cover". I'm thinking there are probably others out there prob for less. EDIT: Actually that products page has a bunch of recommendations for others.
Love the title man.
=D
Just buy a can of plasti dip, dip the connector in a tiny bit. When it dries it can be removed or put back on. For sticker removal I've always used Zippo lighter fluid, I have yet to find anything that it will discolor but who knows... I can imagine that wd40 prob works a tad better though, it doesn't dry quickly like lighter fluid does.
That's a beautiful machine. So, what does a pristine™ A4000 loaded to the gills go for anyway? :D
I think a basic working 4000 goes for £1000 to £1500 atm. Upgraded, more probably!
Regarding the rust on the case, I think that's caused by the zinc coating being dissolved. Ignoring painting, what is a good way to permanently prevent additional corrosion in those spots that have been cleaned. WD40 really is not a good corrosion preventative. It wears off fairly quickly. Will spray on zinc plating work?
Yes, spray on zinc plating is better. Or electrolysis - but I would never do that again (after doing that MVS shell) as it's a lot of work and my health has never been the same since doing that... (could be coincidence of course)
No tick signal in A4000. There is /FAIL (active low) signal which is the same as PG (active high) signal in ATX.
44:13 Same here. I don't care how fast it is, I don't want it if it's not Motorola 68k architecture.
Nice video, very clean & shiny, & sorry about your friend.
I would have gone with A4000 mouse click bait😉.
Thanks 👍
Anyone know why they wrapped the front wires around that metal ring? When I found that in mine, I figured the previous owner did it. The 4000 is already heavy enough..
That "metal ring" is a ferrite ring, it will reduce EMF noise going to the motherboard.
@@GadgetUK164 guess I better put it back in..
actually mish moneypenny
sweet baby jesus why not buy a checkmate case instead
Yeah, I looked into that first - you cannot fit an A4000 motherboard into a checkmate case =(
Amiga is Spanish for girlfriend!!
Email sent about dust caps
Thanks, I never got an email mate =/ Maybe you had an old address or something? You can get me on Twitter or Patreon messaging! I should be looking at that Acorn device soon =D
People are actually paying 800EUR just FOR THE CASES? (which arguably one of the worst designed PC cases on the planet) I'd like to know where all this funny money is coming from these days......
It's crazy, it almost pushed it out of the range of something I could likely afford.
CUT OUT THE AUDIO WHEN SCRATCHING RUST AND SIMILAR STUFF I'M HAVING INVOLUNTARY HAIR RAISING RESPONSE TO THAT! FIBER GLASS ON METAL, BAD BAD BAD (Unless I'm going it myself... then somehow I don't feel it or have that reaction on my hairs or muscles)
Worse than chalk on the black board in fact!