Arduwatch Design - Orange vs Green — Arduwatch - Naturals Line - Orange and Green

Bergen - Arduwatch Design

March 5, 2022

I am a fan of tiny portable handhelds, and one if the coolest and smallest, is the Arduboy, a 1-bit miniature game system. It’s the size of a credit card and features this impossibly crisp display. I bought a Arduboy a long time ago and still enjoy playing around with it today. I have also been making mock Arduboy game graphics for a years and I guess I saw this project as a chance to combine a number of new skills and interests with some legacy designs and assets to see what would come of it.

The Arduwatch is an imagined “fantasy” product design that combines the screen and internals of an Arduboy with the form factor of a wristwatch. The Arduboy’s form factor and further reduced by eliminating all but the systems directional buttons. I imagined different games and applications that could work with this reduced control set.

As an aspiring watch designer, my hope is this design would resonate both with vintage tech and a watch enthusiasts alike.

Arduwatch Design - Slime vs. Pink — Arduwatch - Brights Line - Slime and Pink

Arduwatch Design - Black vs. White — Arduwatch - Black (Brights), White (Naturals)

When the design was complete, I started to play around with different colourways. The Naturals Line features muted Autumn and Winter tones inspired by nature. The Brights Line is about 90’s toys and youthful energy. Each palette combo pairs beautifully with the super sharp high contrast Arduboy display.

Arduwatch - Green Detail - BC’s Quest for Tires.

This design was modelled using a combination of Fusion 360 and Cinema4D. These images were rendered using Adobe Substance Stager. I prefer Fusion’s geometry for building solid surfaces but I am more familiar with Cinema’s interface and toolkit for any finessing that may need to be done. Cinema also seemed to be the logical choice when it came to creating a flexible strap (one can only avoid the beginner’s modelling traps for so long). My computer is not really powerful enough to handle Substance’s requirements and “too much” model geometry causes some very glitchy behaviour. This is not the end of the world, I can still concentrate on building better, more viable models, though the output quality may need to be adjusted.

Arduwatch - Orange Detail — Orange Detail - Casio Homage LCD

Arduwatch - Pink Detail — Pink Detail - Tamawatchi

I hope you enjoyed having a look at this Arduwatch design. I had a great time with this concept and I might even revisit it again another time. Do you have an Arduboy? Would you wear an Arduwatch? Do you recognize any of the games on the watches? What games would you add? Any colour combos? Let me know in the comments below!

Cat in a Cat Pod in a loft — Cat in a pod in a loft

Cat Pod - Cat Shelter Design

February 12, 2022

I love cats, so every few months I try to think of a project for them. I have designed a couple of different play structures and a cat bed so far. Today, I introduce Cat Pods, made from 4mm thick paperboard in a variety of different colourways.

Learning 3D is helping me to design objects that would have been practically impossible to illustrate or fully conceive using only 2D tools. Building out the cross-sections that make up the shape of this pod enclosure involved several back and forths between my 2D and 3D tools.

Cat Pod with ears — Optional cat ears can be added for charm.

Mouth of the Cat Pod — The shelter keeps your kitty safe from attackers.

Plenty of room at the front of the pod for an easy escape.

One of the benefits to building the pod out of heavy paperboard is how much stronger the pod is compared to a regular cardboard box. The pod maintains much of the smell and feel of a cardboard box while being more secure. If your cat is a loafer than this pod might be exactly what they need. While keeping you cat secure, the entrance to the pod is still large enough so an escape path is available if another kitty decides it is their turn to get in.

Another benefit to paperboard is the number of colours that can used to give the pods some exceptional flair. Below please consider the Allsorts and Goochee variants.

Cat Pod - Allsorts — Get psychedelic with the Allsorts colourway.

Cat Pod with cat inside — Extra comfy kitty in the Goochee colourway.

The top of the pods can be removed if the pod needs cleaning or you kitty doesn’t like to be so snug. Other top shapes and complimentary colours could be developed to further increase the look and flexibility of these units.

Cat Pod open for cleaning — Top of the pod can be removed for easy cleaning and variety.

If you have a cat, do you think they would use and enjoy a Cat Pod? What colours would you like to see next? Any other ideas as to how I might enhance this design? I am always exploring designs and will eventually return to older ones when I have new skills or information to consider.

Thanks for joining me and feel free to leave a comment below!

Commodore 65 - Laptop Design - 65-LT

February 5, 2022

I was approached by a company back in 2010 to help develop a portable computer in the spirit of the Commodore 65. While I wish the experience had been more positive, I ultimately left the team and took my design with me. Now, over 10 years later, I finally have the 3D modelling skills to more fully flush out some of my old designs. The 65-LT is a love letter to the Commodore 64C design era.

As this is a design from over 10 years ago some of the modern port standards are a little out of date.

I always loved my Commodore 64C. I grew up with the breadbin like most kids, but I liked the refresh even if it wasn’t much of a value proposition. Ultimately for me, it was a last hurrah for the mighty machine. The design sensibilities also lent themselves to a cool laptop aesthetic.

Commodore 65 Laptop Keyboard — Keyboard is the hybrid of all the Commodore keyboards of the era and beyond.

I looked at all the keyboards Commodore developed from the C64-C era onward, including the PC laptops Commodore released. I feel the layout represents the best balance between legacy and function.

Commodore 65 - Right side ports — Right side ports.

Commodore 65 - Laptop - Left Ports — Left side ports.

Commodore 65 Laptop - Case Closed — 65-LT - Case closed.

I would love to continue to develop this one. Nowadays it would be pretty easy to create an authentic yet modern C64/65 experience with a Raspberry Pi or a MiSTer board. Plastic injection molds are not exactly cheap but it sure would be cool to have a modern and fully portable machine dedicated to the experience.

Commodore 65 - Laptop in the office — Gaming in the home office.

Would you be interested in one of these machines? If there is anyone out there in a position to discuss further development on this machine I am interested in hearing from you. In any case, I am very excited that I was finally able to show of the design in full. Please let me know what you think in the comments below!

Commodore PET Keyboard top — Get your fingers ready…

Commodore PET Keyboard Design

February 5, 2022

I mentioned in a previous post, that my high school Computer Science teacher lugged his old PET machine to out school back in 1992 and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It’s easy to forget that without the ubiquity of the internet, the world was full of secret wonders. Even though I have grown up with a Commodore 64, I had never laid eyes on the psychedelic wonder that was the PET.

Commodore PET keyboard side view — Emulating the worst of all worlds.

I always loved the colours of the PETs original chicklet keyboard and thought it would be interesting to recreate the typing experience for a modern audience. I made a 2D design back in 2012 but have only recently gained the 3D chops to be able to render out the idea more fully. I posted these to a PET Facebook group a while back and two factions quickly rose up. One faction telling me this must be made, the other telling me this must NOT be made. In any case, I get the impression that a nice 3D render is good at eliciting an emotional response.

Commodore PET keyboard - Power button — Probably best as a render.

Now that I have a basic grasp of 3D, I am looking forward to transforming some of my old 2D designs into the 3D space. While I mostly view this keyboard as a joke, part of me wishes it could be real. Imagine firing up VICE and reliving that finger strain or putting a Pi Zero in the case and using it as a stand-alone computer. Let me know what you think. Would you rock one of these?

The New Vintage Chronograph blends modern styling with plenty of vintage cues.

Bergen Watches - New Vintage Chronograph Design WIP

June 20, 2021

I am pleased to present my latest New Vintage Chronograph watch design. I am very happy how this design turned out. This is also the first example of a design that I have brought into the third dimension with Cinema4D. I am new to C4D and basically 3D in general, but the individual elements of watches are made up of basic enough shapes which allowed me to learn the software and produce these renders in 5 days of spare time. These 3D renders allow the viewer a better representation of the overall shape and feel of the design.

The Bergen NV Chrono features the following:
- 316L Stainless Steel case construction
- 40mm diameter case (42mm with crown)
- Seagull ST19 movement
- Double-domed Sapphire
- 20mm strap size
- 46mm lug-to-lug
- 11.5mm thickness (hopefully)

Great proportions and overall legibility.

Display case showing off the ST19 movement.

Everything on this watch including all fonts and styling is completely scratch built. I find it a bit annoying when I see very expensive watches using off-the -shelf type-styles. The hope is that with each successive design I will begin to further hone in on my brand’s DNA.

Below you can see the design roadmap. Before I started learning C4D, this would have had to be considered a complete design. Now that I am beginning to gain my own 3D skills, I will be in a better position to show concepts more fully, both to the general audience and to myself. I look forward to have more time to play around with different materials and finishes and ultimate really “sell the design”. This first attempt has been an amazing growth experience for me personally.

If you like what you see, please consider leaving a like and a comment below. I am open to hearing any thoughts you may have.

I was first introduced to the blue Commodore PET with the colourful chicklet keys by my Computer Science teacher back in 1990 and the form factor has been an influence ever since.

Commodore PET/CBM 2001 - Papercraft Design

February 14, 2021

The link to the PET papercraft can be found at the end of this post.

The Commodore PET has consistently been one of the most requested models but I have held off on making one as there already was a pretty great one on the internet. About a half year or so ago, I noticed the link to that model had broken and I took that as a sign to make my own.

I grew up with a Commodore 64 and I had seen a few VIC-20s but when my Computer Science teacher brought in his Commodore PET, released in 1977, I went bananas for the thing. The styling of this machine was so striking, even in its day, there weren’t many computers that could rival the presence of this machine. The first thing that struck me was the size of this beast, a footprint rivaling the PC XTs we were using at the time, and topped with the funkiest blue trapezoid you’ve every laid eyes upon. Following that, my eyes were drawn to that amazing/awful calculator keyboard. I am typing on a Apple chicklet-style keyboard today, but it doesn’t begin to reflect the sponge and springs experience that was the PET. The fact that all the keys were in a perfect grid pretty much made touch typing impossible. The keys on my teacher’s computer had received a generous coating of clear nail polish. He told us that this helped to keep the printing on the keys from rubbing off. I only used it for about a minute but if this isn’t the worst keyboard in the history of computers, I’d be curious what could be worse.

Commodore’s Floppy Drives were almost as large as the actual PET.

Our teacher had also brought in a disk drive and also brought in a few 8” floppy disks for us gaze at in disbelief. All in, my time with the PET measures in mere minutes, but the impression can still be seen today. I don’t know if I would ever have developed an appreciation for vintage computers had it not been for my time with that computer. I wonder if I would have ever made a single paper model if I had not been in that class thirty some years ago.

The PET ecosystem is quite large, so there are plenty of accessories included in this design.

Once again, I need to give an extra special warm shout out to my good buddy George, who selflessly took time out of his life to help me test fit, assemble and photograph all the completed models in today’s post. He’s a testament to how clean my models can look. :)

Also, as I continued to research the design of the PET, I came to realize that when including the CBM line there are at least a dozen slight variations on this machine, with different badging, cassette players, colours, etc. While only two PET designs are shown in these photos, there are a total of four variations included in this pattern, including a CBM machine with a full-sized keyboard.

Even though this was the early days at Commodore, I can see how this setup will have inspired many pioneers in the industry with it’s 2001 good looks and Pet Rock charms. The number of games that were produced for a machine with such a limited display is also impressive. I have also included a series of swappable screen plates so that you can have your model play all of your favorite games.

Please tell me about your experiences with the PET by commenting below. What other systems should I turn into a papercraft? Please leave a like if you like.

See all of my retro computer models here.

Thank you to my Computer Science teacher and George for inspiring and helping brings these surreal tiny experiences to life. The link to the Commodore PET/CBM 2001 can be found here.

Watch Design Progress

July 30, 2020

I have been trying to build my watch design skills for for several years now. My goal is to design easy to read, design-forward pieces that will stand out in a crowd for both their looks and build quality. I part of my design process I have begun to exploit my papercrafting skills to create true-to-scale paper representations. I am also beginning to swap out textures as you can see in the images below. These are not meant to be final colourways as much as to test the design against different colours and contrasts.

This is the 84th version of my pseudo-octagonal watch design. I would not be surprised if it continues to evolve for a while. It is currently sized at 38mm with 20mm bracelet or strap. What do you think of this watch? Would you wear something like this? Let me know in the comments below!

Apple Macintosh 128K - The computer that “started it all”, complete with bundled software.

Apple Macintosh 128K - Papercraft Design

May 24, 2020

The free Apple Macintosh papercraft pattern can be found at the end of this post.

The Macintosh came out in January of 1984, just one year after Apple launched the ill-fated Lisa computer. While Lisa introduced early adopters to modern computing, the Macintosh brought these concepts to the masses. Using a graphical interface with a mouse and keyboard is something we take for granted today but in 1984 it was bleeding edge.

The side of the Mac is interesting. I have been informed there is a programmer interrupt switch which can be clipped through the vents. This monitors machine code and is useful in programming. I thought it was a power switch but the community has spoken! :)

I can’t pretend I have a lot of experience with these early Macs. We had Apple II’s in my elementary school and when I was in high school we learnt on XTs and later on 386s. The first time I saw a 128K Mac with my own eyes was in 1996 at my university in one of the computer labs.

Despite have no hands on experience, there is no denying the appeal of this Mac’s form factor. Many of the innovations that appeared in the Lisa a year earlier are back - refined and ready for prime time. It is easy to see how this machine would help usher in a new era in modern computing.

The Mac 128K came with Macwrite and Macpaint. Neither of these are around these days but they served as inspiration for software we commonly use today.

Apple’s packaging also received a more modern look when compared to the Lisa materials. Brand standards were tightened up some to provide a more consistent look and feel throughout. The time-honoured tradition Apple of including Apple stickers with their products seems to have been born with the Mac 128K release. Also, Apple was happy to help you finance your new Mac purchase with their very own Apple credit card (Apple Pay was not the first).

Possibly the most interesting items, were the cassette tapes that Apple provided as a quick start guide for the Mac OS, and the included MacWrite and MacPaint. A multi-media experience was much more literal in 1984 and so creativity (and a cassette player) was required.

The Mac mouse will have been the first mouse many people will have ever used.

Once again, special thanks goes to my buddy George. He assembled and photographed all the items in this post. With the pandemic keeping me at home, I don’t have access to all the things I need to make these posts. George is both a professional photographer and master paper folder which makes him a valuable and highly skilled ally. You’re the best!

I did my best to limit the game selection to ones that ran on a 128K machine.

I hope you enjoy building this Macintosh 128K. The Apple community has always been super-supportive of my efforts so I am always happy when I can give something back.

For my next papercraft projects, I am working on a highly-requested British computer, and then a highly-requested US computer, followed by another non-computer (but retro) papercraft just to mix things up a bit!

You can download the Apple Macintosh 128K papercraft model here.

My Hero is the only Sega Card game I own, but it’s a good one.

Sega Master System - Papercraft Design

November 25, 2019

The Sega Master System papercraft pattern can be downloaded at the end of this post.

I was probably 11 when I first saw the Sega Master System on display at our local Home Hardware store. It was the Christmas Holiday season and on display was the system kiosk running Hang-on. I had already seen the NES in action by then and I could tell the Master System's palette was more vibrant and featured more simultaneous on-screen colours. The controller felt a little less confident in my hands, but I went back to that display several times over the holidays so I could play the display title over and over. I knew that Safari Hunt must be superior to Duck Hunt due to the extended menu of exotic animals on offer. I landed up getting an NES that year and it wouldn't until my high school years that I would get another chance to play the Master System.

Nintendo would go on to dominate the 8-bit era in North America so all my friends and I played and shared Nintendo games between ourselves. We mostly grew up Nintendo fanboys by default. Many years later while in high school I randomly discovered that one of my classmates had grown up owning a Master System and still played it. So I demanded that we head over to his place to check it out. I must have played Fantasy Zone for several hours that night.

So this is what a SMS Christmas feels like. — So *this* is what a SMS Christmas feels like.

It wasn't until I was in my late 30's that I decided to buy a Master System and grab a few games to try it out myself. If Sega had marketed and distributed their 8-bit product more aggressively it may have performed better because many of the games are pretty amazing and the experience in very qualitatively unique from many of Nintendo's offerings at the time. This was the system of choice to many of the European and South American consumers.

Remember when systems came with TWO controllers.

I would be lying if I said I would have preferred growing up with the Master System, but that may have been mostly due to my community of friends sharing and talking about Nintendo games all day. I don't know what it would have been like being a silent Master System fan in the group. Maybe if on that fateful Christmas my parents had bought me a Sega Master System instead of an Nintendo Entertainment System I would have fallen in love with Alex Kidd and Phantasy Star, I know that as an adult I have.

Alex Kidd was one of Sega’s early mascot attempts, second to Opa Opa.

Sometimes I have little connection to the model I am designing and other times it part of a lifelong fascination. Whether it is something close to my heart or something “new” and exciting I am always happy to explore a different design language and share this experience with others in this unique way.

Happy holidays to everyone and if you like this article please consider sharing with a friend or leaving a comment! What should I design next?

The Sega Master System papercraft model can be downloaded here.

The IMSAI 8080 was part of the PCS-80 System and various modules and cards could be added to expand functionality.

IMSAI 8080 (PCS-80 System) - Papercraft Design

March 29, 2019

I must admit I don’t have any personal history with any computers of this vintage. I was born in 1976, a few months after the IMSAI came out. I did not become interested in computers until the early 80s and the home market had changed drastically. The days of flashing lights and paddles were replaced by smaller practical systems that could hook up to your televisions.

A terminal can be added but I love the tiny monitor option against the dual 8” floppy drives.

The IMSAI 8080 used custom boards extensively and were generous with their expansion bays.

The IMSAI 8080, released in 1975 was a clone of the first personal computer, the MITS Altair 8800. This made the IMSAI the first personal computer clone. I know these systems were often used as CP/M machines but who beyond the well-to-do and die-hard enthusiasts would have found a use for one of these systems in these early days is unclear to me.

I really don’t know what I would do with this box but I would adore the vintage led lights.

These machines are undeniably unique and were a please to craft in paper. Please give it a try if you would like to hold a tiny piece of computing history in you own hands. Please leave a like and plenty more vintage computer goodness is on the way!

Download the IMSAI 8080 papercraft pattern here.

The AVS was Nintendo’s first concept for a western 8-bit console based off of the Famicom.

Nintendo AVS (1985 Prototype) - Papercraft Design

March 4, 2019

It's hard to imagine a time when Nintendo was not a household name but in 1985 the company was widely unknown to western audiences. The Nintendo Famicom had released in Japan almost two years earlier and took the country by storm. Looking to expand their successes in other markets Nintendo was looking to partner with a company to develop a Famicom for the west.

Nintendo had initially teamed up with gaming-giant Atari in 1984 to help develop and market the Nintendo’s console. Atari was not convinced that Nintendo could succeed and used this agreement to stall Nintendo's 8-bit development in North America while secretrly developing their own "next-generation" 8-bit console, the 7800.

Nintendo, desperate to find distribution partners, took their prototype to the 1985 Consumer’s Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. This prototype was called the Nintendo Advanced Video System or AVS.

You can assemble your own free paper Nintendo AVS model which can be found at the end of this post.

*“The evolution of a species is now complete.”*

Nintendo marketed the AVS as an evolution in the gaming industry making reference to the law's of survival in the animal kingdom in their promotional materials. The AVS promised graphics that would appear three-dimensional, challenging gameplay and a system designed to fit in with existing hi-fi equipment. This system was no mere plaything - this was serious business.

“Introducing the Nintendo® Advanced Video System™.” — *“Introducing the Nintendo*® *Advanced Video System*™.”

While internally not much different from the Japanese Famicom or the NES that would eventually be released, the AVS featured many accessories meant to make it feel more like a home computer than a games console. The game crash of 1983 had killed consumer confidence in game consoles and western hardware developers were looking for ways to revive the industry. Home computers were a rapidly growing market in the mid-80's, so it was common for computer companies at the time to boast the additional benefits of educational and productivity titles as an incentives to purchase a computer over a game console.

*“It’s the only system you can buy with no strings attached.”*

The AVS was intended to be a completely wireless device. One of the common complaints of games consoles in the 80's was the mess of wires that invaded living room. The joysticks, light gun, data recorder and keyboards were all connected to the system via an infrared connection. The only wires involved would be one to power the system and one to connect to the television. The idea being, by creating a completely wireless setup, the AVS would be easier for parents to clean around.

While not naming any names, Nintendo slyly compares their competition’s graphics to primitive cave paintings. The marketing of the AVS relies heavily on the idea that games would appear more dimensional through the use of colour, perspective and shadow. While these claims may seem a little grandiose in 2019, it was hard to argue that the graphics this new machine were a cut above what had been previously seen on any home console.

The AVS light gun could be converted into a wand or pointing device similar to a Wii controller. This was the first time consumers were able to interact with their home televisions in this way. By converting from a gun to a wand, the controller’s functionality could be extended to a pointer, sword or wand-like device.

The idea of going beyond a passive gaming experience was key to Nintendo’s marketing strategies for the AVS. For the first time ever on a home console you would be able to build you own courses in Excitebike and save them to your data recorder to play another day. Nintendo had recently released Famicom BASIC (and keyboard) in Japan and planned to bring it to the AVS with the promise of teaching you step-by-step how to code your own BASIC games for the system.

The Famicom’s sound chip allowed for a wider range of audio than the competition at the time. By contrast to the AVS’s multi-channel audio, the new Atari 7800 system was still using the same tired sound chips Atari used in the 2600 back in 1977.

The Nintendo keyboard was playable without a connection the the AVS with its own built-in speaker and integrated sound chips. When connected to the AVS, the system could visualize the notes played and provide music lessons. The data recorder could be used to record and playback these sessions.

*“Which is why 90% of the Japanese market won’t play anything else.”*

Nintendo had a clear lead over Sega’s aging SG series. The Sega Mark III which came out later 1985 did little to interrupt Nintendo’s early 8-bit console dominance in Japan. Nintendo promised to take everything that had made the Famicom a success in Japan and make it even better for the western release. Nintendo had gone a bit crazy with accessories for the Famicom so they already had developed a keyboard, data recorder and Famicom BASIC, all of which would be enhanced for the west.

The AVS, the system we could have known.

When Nintendo released the Nintendo Entertainment System later that same year, most of the next-geneation bells and whistles were simplified or removed from the AVS prototype to focus on Nintendo’s core strength, its games. Instead of becoming an early multi-media catch-all, Nintendo went in the complete opposite direction and adopted a model of quality and simplicity. Nintendo chose to ignore the buzz that consumers wanted home computers and decided to create a console experience people would want.

At the end of the day it is hard to argue the success the NES had in North America and many parts of the world (UK gamers, I know, I know..) but I have to wonder what the market might look like today if the AVS had come to out as first envisioned. The biggest difference between a home computer and a home console in 1985 was its marketing. By limiting the user experience to playing games on the NES, Nintendo was able to build partnerships with many excellent developers and focus on creating high-quality, exclusive titles. It was the NES’s simplicity of use and selection of games that ultimately won back old consumers and helped grow the industry we know today.

Keyboard, Data Recorder, and Console - stacked with cover (front)

Keyboard, Data Recorder, and Console - stacked with cover (rear)

The AVS was stackable in order to save space in an entertainment system when not in use. A keyboard cover would sit on the top of the stack creating a clean appearance. Note the lack of external connections on the rear of the unit as all the connections would be made via RF. Both the keyboard and data recorder were battery powered.

While Nintendo BASIC did not appear in Nintendo’s promotional materials, I mocked-up a few additional support items to help further imagine what AVS carts might have looked like.

Famicom carts mocked to match the NES cart colours and artwork seen on early releases.

The AVS zapper could be converted to a pointing device.

I think my paper models do a good job of connecting people with their personal nostalgia for computers in their past. I also feel that though the filter of paper, all of these fantastic machines becomes equally possible. Even though this machine only exists as a single prototype on display at Nintendo of America’s New York headquarters, you can now print out and exhibit your very own AVS.

If you liked this post please consider leaving a like (it makes me very happy) and follow me at @rockasoo on everything.

You can download the Nintendo AVS pattern here.

I remember flipping through old computer magazines and seeing ads like these.

Commodore 64 Papercraft V3

June 28, 2018

This is the third update of my Commodore 64 papercraft series. This project consists of everything you will need to recreate the iconic image pictured above:

Commodore 64 Computer - Update, original light-coloured function keys
Commodore 1541 Hard Drive - Update, "active" power light
Commodore MPS 801 Printer - New!
Commodore VIC Modem - New!
"Net Sales" Screenplate - New!

Download Link

Continuous feed paper with MPS print test

I am enjoying this series. I have received a lot of words of encouragement as well as some great feedback.

Stay tuned for more cool stuff!

The Commodore 1541 disk drive proudly joins the Commodore 64 papercraft series.

Commodore 1541 Disk Drive Papercraft

June 14, 2018

I was about 10 when I first saw Hover Bovver on my friend's C-64. He had a disk drive and fists fulls of games. I had a 64 for a while at that point but had been limited by the few cartridge games I could find in my small town and a very slow Datasette.

The iconic 1541 drive I pined for as a kid.

This drive would make my C64 a killer games machine.

I begged my mom for a disk drive for years before finally getting one towards the end of the Commodore's run. I bought a shiny new 1541-C (don't worry, the papercraft is a period correct 1541). Even though the scene in town had dwindled to about three kids, I quickly "amassed" hundreds of games. I was often more interested in the "cracktos" featured at the beginning of the games than the games themselves.

This papercraft is dedicated to the times I spent experiencing exotic greetings from overseas in a time before the internet made such worldwide shout-outs commonplace.

The download is here. The papercraft model includes:

New Commodore 1541 disk drive
Two 5.25" floppy diskettes
Swappable screen faceplates
Improved Commodore 64 pattern
Updated Commodore 1701 monitor pattern

A couple of 5.25" floppy diskettes with a few games I owned back in the day.

Thanks so much for all the recent attention. I am glad these projects are providing enjoyment for others as well. Anticipate more updates in this Commodore papercraft series on this site. There are a LOT of accessories and I am also very nostalgic for these times.

Now you can represent your favorite Demoscene with four interchangeable faceplates.

Commodore 64 Paper Craft

April 5, 2018

I love technical illustration and work as a package designer so a paper craft seemed like a good challenge. Share in the fun and download the Commodore 64 paper craft

Flower Bandanas

January 6, 2018

I eventually always return to my monogram bandana designs. I love repeats and patterns. Can anyone guess the source of the flowers petal geometry?

New Bandana Designs

September 17, 2016

New bandana designs are being produced. The Commodore logo and the system's iconic colour palette join in a confetti-like celebration of geek culture and high fashion.

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A collection of illustrations, designs, other art, and the occasional meandering. If you are interested in working with me please have a look at my portfolio and feel free to drop me a line!