Another project I won't finish...

... but what the hell, I enjoy messing about with stuff. Keeps me off the streets and out of trouble (although with high voltages in this one, for how long is another matter.)

I've been donated this 1960s TV set. It's going to be stripped out and refitted with a PC monitor and a computer of some description (probably one of my favourite Mini-ITX boards, but bought from Industrial Computer Products because they're cheaper and very nice). The computer will have a TV card in it, making it a TV again - but probably a digital terrestrial one. Hopefully I can run the whole shooting match through MythTV or something, and keep away from nasty stinky Windows altogether.

Just so you can soak up the vintage, there's a switch on it to swap between 405 lines and 625 lines. Ace! Many thanks to the evil genius Dr Christopher Tubb, his girlfriend Rebecca and her grandfather who needed the space in his attic.

More photos (including Elite)

The first of my light-box frames is now complete, and has the original Elite logo in it:

Ignore the weird scratchy look above the one wing - that's actually the reflection of a lamp being reflected off a white painted beam - the transparency's in perfect condition. There were slight gaps around the edge of the frame where the cardboard couldn't quite fill the glass, and when you switched on the light the light would leak out. After a little head-scratching I realised I had a roll of black insulation tape in my tool box, and after application along the seams the gaps had disappeared.

I've also done a bit of a bar area for my 30th, which looks better with no flash but needs illumination to see all my k3wl bits and bobs:


At the back there's a lava lamp next to a bottle of absinthe and a bottle of sake. A nice retro phone, fake fish and a waterfall complement a couple of photos. On the back wall, a selection of Ikea pictures.

Finally, the shops have their Back To School ranges out now, and I was tickled to find that Tesco are including Superglue in their promotion, which shouldn't be sold to kids of school age. Maybe they're hoping kids will give up modern thrills like Ecstasy and Bacardi Breezers so that they can see a resurgence in the classic council-estate passtime of glue-sniffing!

Work in progress: Elite Lightbox

I dunno about you, but I happen to have the original transparencies used for the Elite packagaging. If you've been in 'the industry' you're sure to have seen the term 'camera-ready artwork' used; this is what comes out of the camera. Anyway, I'm making lightboxes to display them ready for my 30th from readily available bits and pieces (most of it's from Ikea). Full build details coming soon, together with the background story, but here's a couple of pics from me testing that it worked sufficiently well...


The first box will be finished today, now that I've got access to some nice thin paper for difusing the light that bit better. (We have an animator at work, and animation paper is perfect for the job.) The card cutout frame will be holding the transparency with the paper behind, and I may line the inside with shiny inkjet photo paper to throw out a little more light along the way if I think it a) needs it; and b) does actually make a difference.

Finally, thanks CuteButWrong!