(Model MF) Remodeling the Model M (aka.. the Mara)

lot_lizard · 09 Nov 2016, 17:41

I am still waiting on the powder coat color samples for the top and bottom plates from our friends, but these were the colors that were presented to them as what the goals should be... I meant to put this out here before. Apologize. Keep in mind that color codes on your screen from the Pantone site are just your browsers representation of HTML hex, and not the actual color. The swatches in the spoilers are the actual colors

Yellow hot-dipped Chromate
Black
Blue (to match the Industrial SSK Mopar keys): https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/16 ... toll_1.jpg[/img][/spoiler]
Green: https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/17 ... 175641.jpg[/img][/spoiler]
Red: https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/19 ... 191557.jpg[/img][/spoiler]

The red (chili pepper) was the Pantone 2007 color of the year, and the green (emerald) was the 2013 color of the year

POTV · 09 Nov 2016, 17:56

Love them

alh84001 · 09 Nov 2016, 18:02

Can we have RGB plate?

J/K. I'll probably opt for chromate.

Techno Trousers · 09 Nov 2016, 19:34

Chromate for the bottom, color for the top, where it counts!

Are you still planning to do any kind of "limited" versions in stainless, or did that prove too expensive/impractical?

lot_lizard · 09 Nov 2016, 19:46

Techno Trousers wrote: Are you still planning to do any kind of "limited" versions in stainless, or did that prove too expensive/impractical?

That is still happening... but don't tell anyone

There will be 10 total with mirror polished tops. Haven't decided yet on the bottoms. They will be laser etched noting the limited edition, and offered to a select few based on a pre-defined order. That person will pick the layout they want (could all be SSKs, could have 5 of each, no idea... their choice). If for some reason they would prefer a standard edition or not to participate, the remaining will be made available to club members first. It is unlikely they would make it past that stage (if so... we aren't having the turn out we need in general).

Techno Trousers · 09 Nov 2016, 19:50

Uh oh, beans have been spilled ALL OVER!

Khers · 09 Nov 2016, 20:09

Mmm, black top and chromate bottom – I'm boring like that

lot_lizard · 09 Nov 2016, 20:19

For those thinking about the yellow zinc coated (Chromate) plate, I am not sure just yet what the finish will be. If I see a good deal of tool marks, I might hit them all myself with the sandblaster using a fine media to make them cleaner. That would result is a slight satin finish. We will have to see. The current plan is they are just bare unprocessed metal based on earlier polling, but we want them to look nice. Polishing is cost prohibitive in the volumes we are talking about (the 10 limited edition stainless is small enough to handle myself).

Hypersphere · 09 Nov 2016, 20:21

So many choices ... can't cope ...

Spoiler:

Techno Trousers · 09 Nov 2016, 20:26

Roll a 4-sided die!

lot_lizard · 09 Nov 2016, 20:35

Reminder... The red top and black bottom will be dubbed the "XTant Tribute Edition". It is the only one that will automatically receive the following sticker. I didn't have the stickers on the original beta order form spreadsheet, but plan on them being 1-2 dollars a piece (I have to track down the quote for an exact number)

alh84001 · 09 Nov 2016, 20:55

Khers wrote: Mmm, black top and chromate bottom – I'm boring like that

And you're not the only one

lot_lizard wrote: Reminder... The red top and black bottom will be dubbed the "XTant Tribute Edition".

XTant was never about swagger

lot_lizard wrote:

Pardon me for sounding like a schoolgirl but - ZOMFG! Simply awesome!

lot_lizard · 09 Nov 2016, 21:08

alh84001 wrote: XTant was never about swagger

I agree... "she" is the fetching brunette that doesn't know how beautiful she actually is. Just a way to recognize that work, and remind everyone that is why we are where we are (along with a combination of other events and contributions).

These are the other stickers to honor the contributions and community at large...

ohaimark · 09 Nov 2016, 21:12

I made it on the sticker?

lot_lizard · 09 Nov 2016, 21:17

ohaimark wrote: I made it on the sticker?

If wondering... it was made using the number of posts on the site club members with avatars had made since inception at the time the sticker was created (a few months ago). Those with the most posts were in the interior, with less as you move towards the rim. A couple of swaps here and there for visual and personal reasons, but very close to that. Not a complex formula, but in the end it closely reflected join dates as well.

E TwentyNine · 09 Nov 2016, 21:19

Is anyone aware of the current status of Soarer?

Wodan · 09 Nov 2016, 21:43

E TwentyNine wrote: Is anyone aware of the current status of Soarer?

MIA

Techno Trousers · 10 Nov 2016, 03:04

Yeah.. I think I'll probably get the Soarer one. His converter was the beginning of my Quixotic quest that's finally being completed with the Model MF!

fohat · 10 Nov 2016, 03:28

E TwentyNine wrote:
Is anyone aware of the current status of Soarer?

Well over 2 years since he was heard from, if I remember correctly.

I never got his address, although some of the old-timers have it. Central England, approximately?

Ir0n · 10 Nov 2016, 07:58

So can we get unpainted plates? I kind of wanted to put it together and paint it myself.
I'm weird like that..

andrewjoy · 10 Nov 2016, 11:01

lot_lizard wrote:
[*]Yellow hot-dipped Chromate

For the top plate ? I want this !

lot_lizard · 10 Nov 2016, 12:51

Ir0n wrote: So can we get unpainted plates? I kind of wanted to put it together and paint It myself

sure... When the time comes, just pick the Chromate option and then add some comments at the base of the form. Be prepared though for some surface rust when it shows up at your door if the metal is unprocessed.

lot_lizard · 11 Nov 2016, 18:47

I am going to kick off the group buy this weekend (not sure the exact day or time). There will be a new Marketplace thread added, and I might see if the keepers of the site can help us out with a banner similar to 7bit's.

The dual thread makes things a little different than normal, but I would ask that we keep a majority of the back and forth dialogue here (I will CALL THAT OUT in the other thread), and I will use the other thread for updates (double posting here as well) so the Marketplace thread remains a crisp spot for people to come up to speed quickly and more about configuration Q&A. I might try to see if webwit and company could even make that thread a "sticky" so it stays at the top of the marketplace since we are going to be short lived compared to most of these projects, and this is our only real means of advertising (which hopefully encourages not having to bump just to keep the thread visible). I am hoping we can wrap everything up here as quickly as possible (apologize we are getting a later start than anticipated... blame the suits I work for/with

)

The only other thing I want to call out. I am going to have a couple of disclaimers in this order form spreadsheet. I don't want anyone to be alarmed, but I am going to reserve the right to make changes along the way from the original order if needed. I hope everyone realizes this would be a very democratic process with voting if the need arises... but I am not going to be held accountable to refunds once production is underway. An example, we are going to try to use the new WCass revisions to both the xWhatsit and i$'s PCB. These things will be tested midstream while orders are being taken (and potentially even after we close). If for some reason that doesn't work out as expected, we are going to vote to see whether we agree to solidify the new design and delay, or fall back to the previous working models of those parts. Another example would be if powder coating proves to throw tolerances out of proportion with our gauge of metal and fitting in the outer shells (in which case we would zinc etch/prime and paint). I am not anticipating any issues, but our project has less tolerance than others since we have constraints on the cases we are fitting inside of. I just want to be up front so everyone is comfortable from the get go. This will be fun, and I know in the end we should be pleased. Sorry for the long windedness

Techno Trousers · 11 Nov 2016, 20:21

All of that sounds reasonable to me. Bring on the marketplace thread when ready!

dokyun · 11 Nov 2016, 20:31

My body is ready.

Khers · 11 Nov 2016, 20:53

Sounds very reasonable!

Ready when you are

Hypersphere · 11 Nov 2016, 21:06

@lot_lizard: I trust you and your judgment, and I appreciate the fact that you have been up front with us every step of the way. I just hope I will have sufficient funds when it comes time to place orders!

When it is time to order, will you be posting an updated summary to remind us of what we are getting for each option and what will be required to install it?

Thanks again for your excellent coordination of this monumental project!

POTV · 11 Nov 2016, 22:29

This is a silly question - but I have some new old stock IBM coiled cables. It would not be possible to use them instead of the newer USB alternatives listed? They kind of match the old IBM cases...

tentator · 11 Nov 2016, 22:33

glad to see this will happen guys! (even if shipping to Europe seems quite steep and not varying on the weight)

about the usb I never tried and also would wonder if the old coiled cables do work if used for USB.. I mean maybe they're to long and the USB signal gets deteriorated or did somebody already try and they work if changing the connectors on either end?

tent:wq

lot_lizard · 11 Nov 2016, 22:45

POTV wrote: This is a silly question - but I have some new old stock IBM coiled cables. It would not be possible to use them instead of the newer USB alternatives listed? They kind of match the old IBM cases...

well isn't that interesting... If they are SDL, they are 6 pin... In the current arrangement of options, you would be able to turn them into USB with two male ends since you have enough wires, and guage to carry signal. You might have issues with the interference, and wires not twisting enough as a group along the way (someone smarter than me would have to say) with knowledge of how the two protocols travel the lines, but a guess is that is a doubtful issue. I have never cut open an SDL. We will be leaving the keyboard in USB protocol though (through one of several female port options). So currently, you would need to modify both ends of the stock cable