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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.
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Mark
at Clean Image applying the
LifeShine sealant.
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Finishing
touches.
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Mark
Branson, full of steak and chips
and well chuffed with his pride
and joy! "It feels much
smoother..."
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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.
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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
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