Issue 50: Dec 2004
Features
- | Foreword
- | Tip of the day
- | CT60 - A Heated Question?
- | Printing Envelopes
- | Merry Mosh 2004 At Cheshunt Computer Club
- | Computer Valeting
M@ilbox
| Computer Valeting Shiuming Lai looks at one way to keep that classic in top condition The 1980s was a great decade for computer aesthetic design, especially those produced for the consumer market. Where the business PC clone boom era spawned monolithic, utilitarian beige boxes, many non-Intel based home computers boasted distinct case designs comprised of mainly ABS plastic, so they weren't as tough as those hulking metal PC dinosaurs but they certainly looked at least more interesting if not prettier. Only in recent years has the PC world caught up and placed styling high up the list of design criteria, with curvaceous ABS mouldings, trim pieces or even entire panels made of brushed aluminium, and at the very high end of the market we see some with automotive quality paint finishes. I always thought Atari had a great flair for design that looked contemporary and also aged well, take a proper look at your collection (assuming you've kept it clean!) and you'll see what I mean. The XE Games System and TT030 are in my mind two of the most beautiful computers ever created. In the latter stages of Atari's computer line, with the 16/32 systems, many people were using Ataris professionally and the standard casings, attractive as they were, did not offer scope for expansion, or the ruggedness demanded by some applications. It didn't take long for third party manufacturers to launch replacement cases in larger formats, often aping those ugly boxes in the PC world of the time, ironically. Of course there were exceptions, the two most notable in my experience being the SoundPool 2U 19" rack case for the Falcon, finished in a striking, glossy green paint like all of SoundPool's own-branded hardware products, and the C-LAB MKX case, which is the subject of this article. Although aimed at musicians, with provision for an internal 3.5" hard disk and digital audio interface board among other things, the MKX was not a rack-mountable case. Instead, it was a sleek, low-profile mild steel construction with a top cover sprayed gun metal grey and featuring port markings in C-LAB's signature turqoise, a classy combination indeed. The seams of the sheet metal were welded to a standard reminiscent of high quality German domestic appliances of the time, when most others were content with visible panel gaps or covering them with plastic trim. Many discerning Falcon owners bought these stylish MKX cases, whether they were musicians or not. Nowadays, like with classic cars, it's becoming increasingly difficult to source parts for our computers that are in new or nearly-new condition. Plastics age, and while painted metal can be resprayed, anything in original condition is much more satisfying to own, and it would be difficult to repair or recreate the delicate silk-screened logos and markings on the MKX. So what options are available? First of all, the MKX finish is bare paint, not clear coat on top like most of today's car finishes. We could lacquer it, and it would look really stunning, but if you've read my article on painting an Atari Jaguar you'll know my opinion is to leave this to the professionals, don't even think of trying it with a spray can! The problem is that the spray system of an aerosol can does not atomize the paint or lacquer as finely as a professional spray gun, and neither does it offer the level of precise pressure control. You can do a reasonable job with spray cans, but if it's something as rare as a MKX case, I wouldn't risk it! Regular readers will know of Mark Branson of Cheshunt Computer Club, a man with more Mega STs and Atari kit than Tramiel himself, probably. Mark's CT60 tower project is, would you believe, still on-going, so meanwhile he decided to purchase a spare Falcon, and with it, quite possibly the last brand new MKX case left in the country. At one of the club meetings, I not only reminded Mark to sort out the 120 mm cooling fan on his CT60 tower (it's still facing the wrong way and is still not connected), but strongly recommended that he take precautions to ensure the longevity of that MKX case. "I know just the thing you need..." Paint sealant One day I was trawling the internet looking for products that could make my car shinier, and came across paint sealants. In principle what they do is permanently seal the microscopic pores in all cured paint surfaces, protecting them from soaking in contaminants and reducing the amount of maintenance required to keep them clean. The particular web site I was looking at was that of one Clean Image, a car valeting centre based in Chelmsford. The Autoglym LifeShine package appealed to me, as it was advertised as having the longest life and best shine, and the pages of informative articles with case studies, not to mention the offer of a complimentary steak lunch for customers travelling from outside Essex, sealed the deal (no pun intended). Danny Argent at Clean Image explained it would be no problem to treat Mark's MKX case with the remaining sealant after my car was done. They had done golf clubs, baby pushchairs and countless other things with a painted finish, but never before a computer case! We turned up early morning to meet the valeter, also called Mark, who explained the components of the treatment to us. I dropped off my key and Mark Branson and I went for lunch at the local pub - the steak and chips was very tasty and generous, and then around the town centre.
Mark at Clean Image applying the LifeShine sealant.
Finishing touches.
Mark Branson, full of steak and chips and well chuffed with his pride and joy! "It feels much smoother..."
Applying a coat of Super Resin Polish in a car park while waiting for a group of Atari scene friends to turn up for dinner at an Indian restaurant.
Four hours of walking around was enough for us, so we headed back to Clean Image, popping in to Tesco on the way to pick up a four-pack of Red Bull to make sure I stayed awake on the M11 back from dinner later on. Why is paint used at all? To make consumer products appealing, their colours are chosen carefully to suit the specific design, and the easiest way to make something a certain colour is to paint it! Plastics can be made in a variety of colours but cannot match modern paints for a lustrous finish or metallic effects, and real metal is whatever colour the raw material happens to be. However, while paint looks better, it's less durable than coloured plastic. Do you own a first-generation Atari Lynx, one of the ones made in Japan? Those were actually painted plastic, you can tell by opening the battery cover and looking at the colour inside, if some of the exterior paint hasn't already chipped or worn off. Later models were moulded in grey plastic: WYSIWYG. Overall this was a very nice day out in Chelmsford, we found the locals to be friendly and welcoming, and we both left more than happy with the standard of work and service. If any readers have handy tips on care and maintenance for plastic computer parts and casings we'd love to hear from you. shiuming@myatari.net
Useful links
Cheshunt Computer Club http://www.cix.co.uk/~derryck Clean Image http://www.clean-image.co.uk
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