Another batch of faceplates

rwap · November 2012

I have now received a quote from a new company for making replacement faceplates for the rubber key speccy.

They have recommended a different approach - instead of using silk screen printing to apply the keywords and rainbow stripe, they have suggested using an adhesive overlay.

Sale price would then be around ?12.50 each.

What do people think about this approach - or is it a case of something is better than nothing?

Macc · November 2012

Anythings better than nothing!

ZheXer · November 2012

Agreed ;-)

guesser · November 2012

Do you mean the whole thing would be done by a sticker, or that the lettering would be on a transparent sticker over the black paint?

Not that it matters to me, since I don't have a rubber-key machine ;)

rwap · November 2012

I need to clarify whether the faceplate would be black to begin with - but I guess it doesn't matter too much - it does mean that if you scratch a plate in the future, you could possibly acquire a new sticker to go over the top !

Zorn · November 2012

I bought a couple of the previous ones some time ago and was pleased that they are almost identical to the originals.

If the look and feel of the sticker based ones can be made almost exactly the same then it seems like a good idea, otherwise I'd prefer more accurate ones made by some other process, even if it means they cost slightly more.

I may well need a few more as, as some of you may have worked out from my posts on this forum, I acquired a whole stack of (almost all broken) Spectrums and have been working through them repairing and refurbishing them. I plan to keep some good examples of each issue and sell others. I'm going to need a lot of new keyboard membranes too (is a bulk discount available?!).

BCH · November 2012

Could I get just the stickers?

Macc · November 2012

Would you or the factory be applying the stickers or would we have to do that (with shaking hands!)

RetroTechie · November 2012

Indeed, something is better than nothing.

But given a choice, I think silkscreen-printed faceplates would be more durable than stickers, and I wouldn't mind paying a bit more if needed.

Also: I doubt that loose stickers wouldn't be very useful. Most faceplates with paint chipped off are dented as well, so result wouldn't look that good anyway. Better replace as a whole.

rwap · November 2012

Zorn wrote: »

I may well need a few more as, as some of you may have worked out from my posts on this forum, I acquired a whole stack of (almost all broken) Spectrums and have been working through them repairing and refurbishing them. I plan to keep some good examples of each issue and sell others. I'm going to need a lot of new keyboard membranes too (is a bulk discount available?!).

Yes we do offer some discount on keyboard membranes if you buy 20 or more - although the price on sellmyretro.com is pretty keen already (?7.50 each) !

rinconete · November 2012

I am needing one face plate.

It's difficult to say what option is better if there's no previous comparison between them. Rwap, if you could get a sample from the company we could run some tests on it, take some pictures, see if it's as thick as the original, check for durability, etc

Otherwise I would go for the silk screen printing.

Macc · November 2012

rinconete wrote: »

Rwap, if you could get a sample from the company we could run some tests on it, take some pictures, see if it's as thick as the original, check for durability, etc

+1 to that

rwap · November 2012

It's very difficult to get one made, as obviously there are quite high set up costs - around ?450 to get one run off - it's a big investment if the production run then does not proceed!

I have asked them for a generic sample, but that's about all I can get

Jonb_uk · January 2013

Any update to report, will there be any faceplates made?

rwap · January 2013

No update at the moment - the company I am dealing with are dragging their feet a little.

rwap · April 2013

I have now received a quote and samples of the faceplates for the ZX Spectrum which are looking really good :)

The faceplates themselves are just finished in plain aluminium. The overlay can be any colour and matt or silk finish - obviously for the Spectrum, this will be black, with a semi-matt finish and appropriate lettering etc. The overlay is stuck to the faceplate by the factory, and we can get different designs made up as required.

I will be selling the faceplates for the ZX Spectrum at around ?15 each.

It makes sense to look to get other overlays made for a short run to cover other machines which use the original ZX Spectrum case - however, I need some guidance as to what machines we need to cover (and samples).

I know there is the TS1500 (a ZX81 computer) and think I have one of these.

Are there any other machines which might benefit from these?

rwap · April 2013

Actually a quick look on Google the following look to use the same faceplate (although clarification required)

TS1500 - Grey overlay and ZX81 commands
CZ2000 - Same overlay as ZX Spectrum
Microdigital TK85 - Black overlay with ZX81 commands - Microdigital logo in bottom right corner
Microdigital TK90X - Black overlay with ZX Spectrum commands - Microdigital logo in bottom right corner and some other differences

Is there a market for these though - ie does anyone need one - maybe just a handful of each are required (10 ?). I would need to borrow a case top or existing faceplate to ensure the finish is right

Are there any others?

jamorski · April 2013

Maybe a series of 'custom' 30th Anniversary ones (or 31st now, which has less of ring to it!).:smile:

ZnorXman · April 2013

rwap wrote: »

I have now received a quote and samples of the faceplates for the ZX Spectrum which are looking really good :)

Cool! Any chance you could snap some pics and post here?
(or even scan it for cleaner view)

rwap · April 2013

jamorski wrote: »

Maybe a series of 'custom' 30th Anniversary ones (or 31st now, which has less of ring to it!).:smile:

Anyone fancy suggesting how we could change the design for a 30th Anniversary one - suggested pictures please

rwap · April 2013

ZnorXman wrote: »

Cool! Any chance you could snap some pics and post here?
(or even scan it for cleaner view)

I will do once I get a finished overlay - they have just sent me samples of the different finishes at the moment, I have asked them to send me a completed one with all artwork (and some minor adjustments I need) before production starts!

opless · April 2013

rwap wrote: »

Anyone fancy suggesting how we could change the design for a 30th Anniversary one - suggested pictures please

No picture, but perhaps a tasteful

30 Year
Anniversary

Tagline in/over the rainbow

ZnorXman · April 2013

Here's another suggestion.
Instead of using words, make it more "universal" with something like:

1982 -> ∞

rwap wrote: »

I will do once I get a finished overlay - they have just sent me samples of the different finishes at the moment, I have asked them to send me a completed one with all artwork (and some minor adjustments I need) before production starts!

Cool, thanks! :-)

jamorski · April 2013

How about these;

Need a Hi-Res faceplate image really for better results.

jamorski · April 2013

Got a better. proper Illustrator file now.

Pluto63 · April 2013

I was just looking for a template like that, can you attach the illustrator file somewhere. Thank you

jamorski · April 2013

Yep,

The Illustrator file, here.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/28052510/Spec/zxspectrum-kb.ai

rwap · April 2013

Excellent illustrator file - I think that we could look at a limited production run of 30th anniversary faceplates - but I think that the costs may be too high, unless we do 200 or so - how many people would be interested?

I think it could maybe just say:

30th Anniversary 1982 - 2012

jamorski · April 2013

Like this then, though not sure what the best font is, this one is just Arial Regular.

jamorski · April 2013

How are the faceplates printed? Are they just Aluminium with a printed adhesive part overlaid?

Pluto63 · April 2013

Thank you, now i can print an HD color sticker strip to attach to my pc keyboard i use with Ben's interface.

ps. Rich, i for sure will take at least 2 of them

Another batch of faceplates

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