My BLACK 4160 ST

[DarkLord]

I completely missed that when I was looking for resources can you please drop me the link?

I'll update the thread with the pictures, close-ups soon. but first I have to make a nice dinner to my wife celebrating that we have the dining table back.

Sure thing!

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/82184-black-beauty/

And here is my STacy, all in black:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tSI20v2JLY

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/208925 ... t-the-lcd/

and I love the comment about the dining table - same scenario here. You can actually see it in some of the pictures, so I feel for ya.

[exxos]

Why not put together a webpage on this as things tend to get "lost" on the forum after a while. I would be happy to host the page. I do hope to put in a users section for other peoples guides on my site in due time as I think its worthwhile keeping things like what you have done as its not something people dare to do

That would be the next step. Btw thanks for your help with the booster I bought from you. I will give you the credit at that part too. I dont mind talking about some sort of cooperation, maybe crosslinks between pages once the website once it is up an running. Mine can come under your satisfied customers tab .
I will finish publishing the steps here as well.

Cool Ive got a links page on my site so no problems there. I'd like to host projects like yours. Or peoples upgrades they have done and experiences or problems fitting that would be useful for others to.

[Robson]

Part 2.

Stereo/Mono mod: Following this thread http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=74&t=1627&p=271965&hilit=stereo+mod#p271965
and other resources I came up with the circuit below. I used 8x8mm ON/OFF buttons with blue caps (design considerations again). This is the same button for the other 2 selectable options too (RAM and CPU boost). I set up all of my switches that the option I’d like to be the default is the “pushed in” state (4MB ram, 16MHz mode and stereo mode).

I built the circuit on a strip board and the one on the photo is perfect to accommodate the whole circuit as per drawing. The board has plenty of room under the floppy.

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stereo mod.jpg

Mounting the socket + switch: The place I picked has just enough room to fit the socket and the switch underneath and you still can put the metal shielding back (tricky but possible). It will not interfere with the keyboard. The socket has its own bolt to hold it in place but I used the glue gun here for the switch.

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8/16Mhz Boost: All the credits for this has to go to exxos who's not only designed and built the booster but also gave great support when I asked about the switch. My stupid questions also triggered the update of his site . The new CPU is installed in a socket. All other info about this is available on exxos’s website. Mine is V1, REV A.
http://www.exxoshost.co.uk/atari/last/v1booster/index.htm

Mounting the switch: I didn’t just want to glue the whole computer together and struggle when I have to take it apart again. That is why I used connectors on cables and why I wanted to use as less glue gun as possible. So I carefully cut the metal shielding to hold the switch. When you do an “H” shape cut, you can bend the top and bottom bits to hold the switch. I applied some glue afterwards but at least there is some other support than the glue.

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[Robson]

S-Video mod: This is another mod I found in the forum.
http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=15728
I decided to use the “Television” hole at the back for the S-video socket so after removing the components for the S-Video mod I also removed the modulator completely. I bought the socket below because this one has extra surface for mounting (screw or glue). Mine has one side fitted with a screw, which is strong enough to keep it in place. On the other side there is a cut-out in the metal shielding so it’s not possible to use a screw there but that is not a problem and I use that side for the RAM switch anyway.

svideo.JPG

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1/4MB RAM: This ST has a Marpet extension with 4MB Ram and I added the switch exactly the same way as in this video. The switch is mounted with the help of a little piece of metal and some glue. Thanks to GadgetUK164 for sharing this great vid.
https://youtu.be/NecW-gh6jKM?t=840

TOS 1.04 Upgrade: I had the 2 chip version 1.02 before so went for the 2 chip version of the 1.04 upgrade. At this point I also wanted to use one eprom sockets for the keyboard backlit controller so a 6 chip upgrade was not possible either. I bought the chips from ebay (I think the seller is also a member here) but then replaced them with the ones I burnt. I did it only because I always wanted to do this so I bought the eprom burner and the correct ICs. I will use it later to upgrade my other STs anyway.

Blitter: Socket came from a dead board and the chip from atarifreakz. Nice ‘n easy. Thanks atarifreakz.

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At this point looked something like this :

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[Robson]

and I love the comment about the dining table - same scenario here. You can actually see it in some of the pictures, so I feel for ya.

I left the salt and pepper on the table so what was the fuss about?

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[viking272]

WOW, it looks stunning great work. *bookmarked*

[DarkLord]

I left the salt and pepper on the table so what was the fuss about?

[Robson]

Let’s get Dark – the Paintjob.
To paint the case and keys I used Plasti-kote Matt Super black spray paint, I bought 2 cans just to be safe. I put the keys on half toothpicks so 1 toothpick for 2 keys. I suggest keeping the keys a little bit better organised than on the picture when painting (mark the back) to make your life easier when putting it back together. And the most important thing: Do not let your 2.5 years old to “Ihelpyou” because that means you’ll find F7 in the grass just after all the other keys dried.

paint.JPG

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The keyboard – and let there be (back)light:
I sorry for leaving this to the end, this is the thing I’m the most proud of. As it is partially revealed, the Atari badge is the button to control the backlight. Short presses increasing the brightness by 10% and a longer press switches it off. This is controlled by an Arduino Nano. I combined 2 projects basically, one is using a tactile switch to control an LED, the other one is controlling a 12V LED strip with Arduino.
These are the links to the projects and also the program for the Arduino. Thanks to those guys for their work.
LED control:
http://aaronvb.com/articles/arduino-led-control-with-button.html

LED strip control:.
http://blog.dcxn.com/2013/03/03/dimming-a-12v-led-strip-with-an-arduino/

On the Arduino, Pin 2 is getting the input pulses from the board below the Atari badge (this is where I used the +5V of the floppy power). Pin 9 is the PWM output to control the base current of a Tip 120 NPN transistor. This is basically converts the +5V range to the LED level. The Emitter is on GND, Collector goes to the Negative (GND) of the LED strip. The strip gets the +12V from the floppy power connector. I bought the 3528 type smd LED strip (SMD 5M 3528 300 Leds LED Strips DC 12V Flexible Lighting Cool White Ribbon Tape) which is wired in between the keys. You can cut the ribbon after every 3 LEDs and I was surprised how effective these sizes worked when put it down. Basically you can jump between the keys wherever it is convenient as long as all connected together. The LED height fits well for this, you still can press the all the keys down.

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As this picture shows, I wanted to put the Arduino to one of the eprom sockets and in theory this works (Arduino is getting only the Vcc from the socket, the other pins are only supporting the board, must have no connection between the Atari’s bus and Arduino Pins). This solution worked well on the table, but I experienced some problems during assembly so I moved the Arduino above the metal shielding (to be accessible if needed). It sits in a plastic case of a CF card with some cut-outs for the cables coming in and out of course. You must also isolate the Tip120, when it’s back touches the metal, your lights will start doing funny things.

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[exxos]

Fantastic stuff. I got some blue LED's for the power and floppy light on my new ST rebuild. Thats about as far as I am going though

[Robson]

On the keyboard I changed the power led to Blue but left the Floppy LED red. To replace the original red plastic with a clear one I just cut a plastic DVD jewel case apart and made a similar plastic piece.

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Keyboard stickers: I wanted to have a full black Atari keyboard but with the Atari ST flavour (not ALT - Alternate!), not just use a general available PC sticker set, so I made my own labels for this. Found the best matching character set and measured them. It is printed on white thin sticker sheet, suitable for inkjet. Once it was printed I used a spray to protect the surface, it is called inkjet protection spray or something similar (I did the printing at my workplace and used this spray from the self).

The badge: is a Domed sticker. I made the artwork and sent it to a company, they made it for me. There was a minimum order so I still have some available . The company is http://www.domed-stickers.co.uk/?gclid=COD1l5fmlcUCFarKtAodQBUAXA. The cost for this was around £37 including delivery. Gemma on the other end was very helpful.
PS: I know it says STfm and I removed the modulator but still good enough for me .

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Mouse: The body is painted black as well. The black cable is coming from a Mouse/joystick extension. Make sure the cable has all the pins you need, analog joystick cables don't have Pin 9 (right mouse button) connected!

Mouse mat: I used a company from ebay who makes these, so again sent my artwork, received the mouse mat.

[jamesfmackenzie]

Love this!

[Anima]

Great work!

[DarkLord]

If you don't care, I think a lot of people would be interested in that company
that did your badges.

Seems to be a very requested item that's sold out at most of the remaining
Atari vendors.

I know I'd love to do a "Super STacy" badge.

[Robson]

If you don't care, I think a lot of people would be interested in that company
that did your badges.

Seems to be a very requested item that's sold out at most of the remaining
Atari vendors.

I know I'd love to do a "Super STacy" badge.

Sure no problem and secret at all. I've updated that part.

[Robson]

I have now made a website for this and any old and further projects. Very much under construction at the moment.
http://tercsirobi.byethost14.com/index.php?p=1_6

[Zamuel_a]

How did you get the letters back on the keys after you painted them? Some kind of stickers?

[Robson]

How did you get the letters back on the keys after you painted them? Some kind of stickers?

It is in the description:
Keyboard stickers: I wanted to have a full black Atari keyboard but with the Atari ST flavour (not ALT - Alternate!), not just use a general available PC sticker set, so I made my own labels for this. Found the best matching character set and measured them. It is printed on white thin sticker sheet, suitable for inkjet. Once it was printed I used a spray to protect the surface, it is called inkjet protection spray or something similar (I did the printing at my workplace and used this spray from the self).

[Total Eclipse]

Fantastic job, that looks amazing.

Oddly, the one thing that stuck out for me was the fact that you left the floppy led as red. My ST has a green one, and I wondered when they changed the colour over, or if it varied randomly during the production of the ST?

Nice work on the keyboard too. On the original photo I actually thought you'd got the letters to illuminate as well, they look that vivid. I want!!!!!!

[Robson]

Fantastic job, that looks amazing.

Oddly, the one thing that stuck out for me was the fact that you left the floppy led as red. My ST has a green one, and I wondered when they changed the colour over, or if it varied randomly during the production of the ST?

Nice work on the keyboard too. On the original photo I actually thought you'd got the letters to illuminate as well, they look that vivid. I want!!!!!!

To be honest I don't know anymore: Somebody says it is related to the different motherboard revisions and generations like this:
- The RED led is the first motherboard generation with ROM under the PSU : 1986--1987
- The Orange led (and green for power) is the second generation mb with ROM under the left of the keyboard (and a BLITTER place : socket to be soldered !). 1987--1989

I don't think the theory above is 100% accurate. This particular ST was a version with Roms under the keyboard and red led. It is possible that the keyboard is not original, I can't remember where is this ST from. It's been in my house for long waiting to be pimped .

http://www.atari-wiki.com/index.php/Atari_ST_motherboard_revisions

[exxos]

Motherboard looks like its one of the later ones,, should have had a green power light. The ones right red power light are normally the early oddball revisions which I not like so much

[Robson]

Agree, this is the layout I like too, not the old one.
I don't mind the little red touch I have on this machine (board is REV B as seen on pics).