Andrew (Television Executive)Sep 20, 2018

Hey retroheads, I'm looking at getting a replica of one or more computers from the 1970s.

I'm specifically looking at replicas of the PDP-8, the PDP-11, and the Altair 8800.

Which of the above (if any) would you kit build? Which others should I consider?

Show threadDJ SundogSep 20, 2018
@ajroach42 I've long considered giving in to the urge to fab my own PDP-11 but the one that keeps bugging me is the possibility of my own Cray-1 which should be totally doable these days
Show threadDJ SundogSep 20, 2018

@ajroach42 also, a homebrew replica Heathkit HERO

http://www.theoldrobots.com/hero1.html

The Old Robot's Web Site - Heathkit Hero 1

Heathkit Hero Robots had about eight years of sales. The HERO 1 was the first and most popular robot models

Show threadAndrew (Television Executive)

@djsundog Is anyone making replica HEROs?

Now I gotta know.

Sep 20, 2018 at 2:16amWeb
Show threadDJ SundogSep 20, 2018

@ajroach42 there was actually a late model hero that was core 2 duo based and was a rebadged model 914 pc-bot from white box robotics, who unfortunately no longer exists, but I keep looking for one

https://youtu.be/t3bDcRnhMpc

914 PC Bot rotating and lifting head mod | James Bruton

YouTube
Show threadDJ SundogSep 20, 2018

@ajroach42 actually this video walks through it in enough detail we might be able to fab these ourselves

https://youtu.be/hoz8GwvhfbA

Mobile Robot Navigation Project #1 using the 914 PC-BOT and Kinect | James Bruton

YouTube
Show threadAndrew (Television Executive)Sep 20, 2018
@djsundog Oh man.
Show threadDJ SundogSep 20, 2018
@ajroach42 it's a pretty thorough overview of the setup and uses enough standard sized part to extrapolate out the other dimensions - maybe tomorrow I'll transcribe the parts he mentions and see what a BOM cost looks like here in the third millennium