I’ve not got much done recently - but I have finished the etching on the side panel. I wanted to come up with something computery-sounding but not computery to put on the side. Lack of imagination produced TIP-3000. So I guess that’s this computers name, when it’s done: The TIP. Great…

Anyway. After some experimentation with plexi, I discovered 3 interesting things.

1. Prior to my previous beliefs, Plexi can take the force of a rivet without cracking, warping, or otherwise deforming.
2. I’m not much good at etching.
3. Writing backwards is really hard!

Here’s my practice piece.

I printed out the GIMP-modified logo and stuck it on with some spray-tack. Then, I used a scalpel to outline the lines I wanted to etch. Then, I went into the cellar and used the dremel with a flexishaft to etch in the logo.

Finally, I peeled off the backing, and viola. Overall, I’m happy enough with the outcome. It’s my first real etch, after all, so it came out pretty well considering.

Anyway, I’m hoping now to simply assemble things and that’s me. As you can see above, I’ve mostly finished the feature on the side panel; everything’s glued into place. For the RAM slots I eventually stripped some copper wires and put them through some hollow perspex tubing, which I glued into place.

Vacuum tubes with lights would be sweet, but I doubt there’s room for them in there, and anyway, that’s going to come later with any luck ;).

On a side note, I’m worried about the weight of the case-everything is over to the right hand side, and there’s nothing on the left hand side to counteract it. I realised it was right-heavy when the case fell over when I was trying to position it. (Here’s a hint. When you wax your desk, wait a while before you put your computer up there. It’s slippier than it looks.) I just hope that with everything installed it’s not an issue, because if it is, there’s not really all that much I can so about it apart from putting weights on the left hand side.

Any suggestions about countering the weight would be appreciated, and I’ll get some better photos up when I can find the missing latch for my tripod. Can’t take photos of plexi etchings without long exposures, and I’m not touching that without some support from a tripod.