Replacing a Unique and Bespoke Charity ZX Spectrum Computer

The tragic tale of a poor "ZX Spectrum Special Bespoke Charity Edition" which was never delivered to its intended owner.
Also I build a cool Harlequin 128k on a very cool motherboard in a super cool translucent case. Its cool.
And the first news about this years Commodore based charity event!
www.justgiving...
With thanks the ‪@RMCRetro‬ for permission to use beautiful b-roll from the Befriending ZX Spectrums episode: • Building Brand New ZX ...
Thank you to ‪@PCBWay‬ for supplying the motherboards
And thanks to Chris for the correct revision board too!
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[@RMCRetro]

What a great story, I was convinced that was going to be a scammer with a cloned listing. Well done Lee

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

That thought crossed my mind more than once!

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

The auction will be on the 4th of May! I will edit this message with a link when it goes onto ebay... UPDATE2: The auctions are LIVE! Links can be found on my website here - www.morefunmakingit.co.uk/the-final-2023-charity-auctions-are-live/

[@DevilishDesign]

May the 4th be with the high bidders!

[@markpitts5194]

@@DevilishDesign Up voted with a groan!

[@RetroBytesUK]

Its a great story Lee, with a number of happy ends.

[@OrionCrazyCarl]

What a great story and outcome!what a lovely human you are lee. Your channel deserves to be a lot more popular,I hope it grows more this year!I guessed by your accent you were fairly local to me in suffolk and nice to see a local charity being supported. Maybe one day when your life has settled down , you could have a retro open day or pub meet, its always nice to meet like minded people !all the best and good luck 😊

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

I very much want to do this meetup thing! Reach out on email or discord or other and stay in touch for when this happens 😄

[@gagemasa]

A tale that's worthy of a Hollywood film. Delighted that the whole saga will soon come to it's rightful conclusion. Great video and a well told story.

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Thank you!

[@givolettorulez]

About the tape recorder: i remember that in the '80s and '90s a lot of tape recorders like that had a 110/220 switch, and even if there's no external switch, the transforme it could be rewired for both voltages.

[@sydmichel]

Tape deck... aren't they normally battery powered. in fact back in the day a noisy internal power supply would corrupt the audio enough to make it unreliable so we always preferred to use battery's anyway.

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

I believe it is!

[@Mark-zj3xu]

Wow absolutely great news that you got that special speccy back. You put a lot of time and effort into it hopefully someone more local will purchase it for more funds for the befriending scheme. Lee your just amazing for all you do for the scene and charity. 🎉

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Thank you Mark. That's very kind of you to say 😍

[@YogSothoth1969]

Wow, this is awesome!!!!! Fantastic 🙂

[@ownpj]

1. Don't send food items overseas. That guarantees it will get held up at every handover stage. 2. Don't bother sending SCART cables to across the pond either, there are next to no TVs over there that can use them.

[@mogwaay]

I can not believe that Speccy made it back to your workshop, crazy ride! Looking forward to the future charity event good luck with it, last year was awesome fun and anything like that would be tremendous 😀

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Can't wait to see what happens this time round!

[@weepingscorpion8739]

I remember reading about the Speccy being lost so to now get the whole story was really great. Here's to hoping for better luck at the next auction. - Also now I am really looking forward to the Commodore event being a Commodore guy myself. The 500++ is a great project and I had a C128 growing up. It is in serious need of some TLC though. So I hope to be there when that event is up. :)

[@kyorin6526]

I know you love a good story Lee, and this was definitely one of those. You're a good man 👍 Looking forward to seeing the Commodore event.

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Thank you!

[@ctrlaltrees]

That editing. That B-Roll. Oof. Oh right, cool Spectrum too!

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

something something speccy something something soldering EPIC B-ROLL!

[@YARC-1981]

Epic story, Lee. Really enjoyed the video and I'm sure it'll drum up lots of anticipation for the next charity event.

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Hope so!

[@zx85]

What a truly splendid outcome 🎉 You're the best, Lee!

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

No you are! 😁

[@TsiolkovskySportingLocks]

Hmm that sounds like a cursed computer to me... But awesome story.

[@JamiesHackShack]

What an emotional rollercoaster! I was super bummed when you'd announced it had been lost. Glad everything got sorted. Awesome video!

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Thanks Jamie!

[@marcusglassford5318]

So good to see that little beauty back in safe hands 👍

[@Daz555Daz]

Great story. What a journey that Speccy has been on!

[@johnrose5312]

I live in the US and the composite signal works fine on my Hisense 4K TV - most modern TV`s are designed to work around the world. I also purchased a center negative PSU from Amazon for a few dollars and I have a working spectrum 48K in the USA with no issues

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

That's useful to know. Thank you

[@tiemanowo]

What a roller-coaster of events. This suitcase has seen the world.

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

That must add value right?!!?!

[@leesmithsworkshop]

This video had so many twists and turns, all it needed is Pamela Barnes Ewing to awake and realise it was all a dream.

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

And then the Man From a Atlantis steps out of the shower and shoots JR

[@Mi-583]

Hi. I see you collecting a lot of spectrum builds. A more unique build is Dr Matt Reagan's, who used to design video sub systems at NVIDIA, and has designed a spectrum with ttl and no ULA, and done a lot of articles on how the sinclair computers and video circuits work (and Apple 2) and doing circuits. I hope you find it fun, and maybe another good build to do.

[@UniversalRetroBoss]

More Fun Milking It😂😂😂 , forgot to mention , the C128 manuals are here as well so I’ll send them over at some point

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

There's the name of my third channel!

[@TheFuzzy70]

Great video mate, glad the fume extractor was helpful :)

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Use it all the time! Hangs on the front of my workbench.

[@SebsPlaceYT]

Really enjoyed this Lee, great story telling!

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Cheers Seb! 😄

[@hellraiseruk1]

Now that's an epic story 😅 I don't suppose you compiled a BOM for the differences between the 2D and 4B Harlequin did you? Tempted to make one myself, but I've only seen kits for the 2B, and really have neither the time nor inclination to go over the boards looking for differences!

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Afraid not. I didn't get that far and ended up just sticking with the 2D

[@hellraiseruk1]

@@MoreFunMakingIt That's a shame, looks like I either stick with a 2D or man up and try to find out the differences, but the problem is there's very little info about the differences between the revisions out there :(

[@binarydinosaurs]

Oh yes, splendid! I shall share links and stuff.

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

That's because you're a gent and a scholar! 😍

[@RudysRetroIntel]

Excellent story!! What a ride!! Let me know if there is anything I can help with. Thanks for all your hard work

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Thank you! Will do!

[@RoyLake]

Glad it all worked out in the end.

[@stevec00ps]

Quite an elaborate ruse there Lee just to get to build another fancy pants Spectrum :D

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

MWAHAHAHAHAH

[@005AGIMA]

Wow that was one crazy roller coaster. I need a sit down after that. Even though I already am.

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Perhaps you should lay down first? 😁

[@005AGIMA]

@@MoreFunMakingIt 🤣

[@Phil-Sands]

Have I started a trend that with every parcel you now also get a pack of Stroopwafels? 😆😆

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

My doctor wants a word with you! 😅

[@TheImperial109]

Have you considered doing the Cbeebies bedtime story? You tell an epic tale!

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Maybe I'll do an AI generated retro bedtime story 😆

[@albert_vds]

Great that it worked out even better in the end, and it's always fun to make more stuff. Does the ZX case from ZX Renew come complete with rubbers keys, membrane, and keyboard cover? It must be me but the wording of (only) in the link just makes me wonder, because that's an extremely good price for a new case.

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Keys and faceplate are extra.

[@bobbus_74]

What a story. You couldn't make this stuff up. All's well that ends well, though!

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Love a happy ending! 😁

[@peterbrown4828]

That was a story and a half. Have you heard that Zilog are stopping making the Z80 processor? Don't know how will affect people making Spectrum clones.

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Yeah, it's sad news, but plenty around for now

[@SobieRobie]

What a story!

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Look out for the book tour and Disney series :D

[@sarahfawcett7158]

It looks gorgeous 👏🏻👏🏻

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

It's a lovely thing! 😄

[@jacktheripper6716]

Make this into a movie script we make millions

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

But who would play me? And could I then have a cameo? Maybe play the bad guy?

[@jacktheripper6716]

@@MoreFunMakingIt hmm i know who could product it James O'Grady hes a effects wizard

[@RetroJack]

What a trip! 😛

[@fl0wfr]

eBay Global Shipping program is a scam. Pitney Bowes handles the parcels, and there's always a problem (parcel not well packed, valuable items shipped without any insurance, ...)

[@3dhYT]

👍👍