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.

The BBC Microcomputer was a staple of computer literacy for kids growing up in the 80’s in the UK.

BBC Microcomputer - Papercraft Design

June 17, 2020

The download to the BBC Microcomputer model is available at the bottom of this article.

I grew in Canada in the 80s and spent my elementary school years surrounded by Apple II computers. While not an official government scheme, I suspect many North American school kids my age will have seen the Apple’s as the school computer, often having cheaper 8-bits at home.

In the UK, the push towards computer literacy was a deliberate government effort. Computers were seen as the future and that every child should know how to use one. As a way to help realize this, a call to action was issued to all the major electronics manufacturers to help create a BBC branded microcomputer that would be distributed to school’s across the country.

Sinclair Research were seen as the obvious choice for the job but through a series of mishaps, the award was ultimately given to former partner turned rival Acorn Computers. Anyone who is interested in learning more about this whole fiasco, I suggest checking out the endlessly entertaining movie, Micro Men.

To accompany the release of Acorn’s new BBC Microcomputer a BBC television program aptly called The Computer Programme, helped lead kids through the inner working’s of the BBC Micro or Beeb for short.

The Beeb was produced by new kid, Acorn Computers.

I surveyed a few online communities to find out which computer model I should design next and the BBC Micro was a standout winner. Without access to the online resources, I might have neglected to recognize this computer for the powerhouse it was. Not only was it powerful in its day, it also helped to foster a spirit of digital exploration that can still be felt today. The ARM processor, which is still an essential part for the computer landscape descends directly from the chips Acorn design for the BBC.

Today, the UK born Raspberry Pi exists to help educate students both all over the world and is a permanent fixture in my living room. While I may miss some of the retro goodness of the machines of the 80’s, it is nice to know that similar experiences can still be had by current generations through cheap home computers and ever improving emulation.

While the BBC Micro was known as the education computer, it had plenty of games like Frak seen above.

Watch out for Granny in Granny’s Garden.

My personal experience with the Beeb is largely relegated to YouTube videos, the aforementioned Micro Men movie and the excellent talk, The History of the British Home Computer by Author and Tech Historian Tom Lean.

If similar efforts had been made in Canada to educate the youth back in my school days, perhaps my passion for retro computers would be more widely shared inside my country. As it stands, I am glad that there is a reverence for these machines in other parts of the world and that with easy access to a global community, these passions can be shared anywhere.

Promo materials and companion manuals were a popular source of information.

I hope you enjoy building this model as much as I enjoyed making it. In many ways this might be the closest I ever get to touching a real BBC Microcomputer. Please consider dropping a like and sharing your personal experiences with this machine in comments below. I am always looking to learn something new!

You can download the BBC Microcomputer model here.

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.

Papercraft computers on display in their new home.

Covid-19 Fundraiser in Spain - Tiny Paper Computers Auctioned Off for 500L of Milk

May 23, 2020

I teamed up with non-profit in Spain, Fundación Proconsi to help raise funds for people who have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. As you may know, Spain was a country that has been hit pretty hard by this illness. The retro papercraft designs were auctioned off and the organization received a food donation of 500L of milk in exchange for the models.

Special thanks go out to Martinez Cancelo who hand assembled the models. None of this would have been possible without his tireless contribution.

If you would like to assemble these papercraft projects for yourself they can all be found for free at my Papercraft Models page. They are a great way to spend some time during the lock-downs that are still a big part of people’s lives right now.

IBM 5100 Portable Computer and Commodore VIC-20

I am very pleased with the results and am honoured to have worked with the folks at Fundación Proconsi. If your organization would be interested in doing something similar, feel free to contact me and let’s see what we can do together.

My girlfriend requested a VIC-20. I didn’t know but in the early days she grew up programming on one.

Commodore VIC-20 - Papercraft Design

May 2, 2020

This Commodore VIC-20 pattern can be downloaded at the bottom of this post.

I wanted to send out a tremendous thank you to all the new followers and visitors to the site. I know many people might be looking for: 1. unique things to do 2. at home 3. on a limited budget 4. using available supplies. I feel these models are a great way to spend an evening and learn a thing or two about retro computers. Possibly even build your own retro museum. I try to stay as close to the source materials as I can using images that I usually source from the internet.

Due to the current global health crisis, I am working from home and don’t have access to the tools I use to test build and photograph these models. An extra special thanks to the always amazing George Blanc for doing a test assembly and providing me with the excellent photos for this post. If you are ever looking for a great product photographer (or paper folder), he is one of the best.

I created a Commodore 64 papercraft model as one of my first models and based this VIC-20 model off of that design so all the accessories shown should work with the C64 design as well.

The accessories with this model are size compatible with my earlier C64 design.

When my girlfriend told me she used to have a VIC-20 I did an image search for the different breadbins and asked her which one she had. There were at least three possible candidates but she was probably 10 when she last saw the computer so I decided to make all three (George folded and glued them all - you rule). Apologies to my German fans, I have not made the VC-20.. yet.

Three variations of the Commodore VIC-20 breadbin to suit your personal nostalgia.

Designing early 8-bit home computers can be an interesting experience. Many of today’s standard components like monitors were considered nice-to-have’s in the early 80s. A branded monitor wasn’t marketed to consumers at first so I did my best to replicate the television shown on many of the VIC-20 boxes that graced store shelves. Anyone care to guess what the specific brand/model of television in being used?

It’s always a challenge to say when enough is enough as far as the level of detail is concerned. I love doing little accessories like disks, cassettes and in the case of this VIC, some cartridges. The cartridge bay on the back of the pattern is not by default able to accept these cartridges. I try to consider the scale of the models and a general audience when making these designs and I think even George may have balked at the idea of making three keyboards with working cartridge slots. That being said, plenty of people have taken my patterns and pushed them further by making all sorts of working drive bays and ports. It is possible to adapt my designs with some extra imagination. If I had more time, I would release variations of each of these patterns to cater to different skill-levels. As you can see, the papercraft collection keeps growing so given enough time, I feel anything is possible!

Commodore VIC-20 rear with 16K RAM Expander cartridge.

Hopefully I can get my girlfriend a real VIC-20 someday soon but in the meantime I hope she will accept my (erm, and Geroge’s) gift of the papercraft VIC.

Thanks again to the community for your many suggestions of computers to do next. I have assembled a list of the “Top 5 most-requested computers” and was surprised and excited by what I saw. Do you want to know what the next five designs are going to be? Let me know in the comments below. I am willing to share but can keep it a surprise if that’s what you’d prefer. ;)

You can download the Commodore VIC-20 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.

I endeavored to make this image as period correct as Canadian could.

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Papercraft Design

September 5, 2019

The ZX Spectrum was all but absent from the Canadian market in its heyday but that didn’t mean I wasn’t interested in the system. I have watched enough hours of gameplay on YouTube to get that many of the games developed in the UK were merciless usually requiring pixel perfect precision under cruel time constraints. While “Nintendo Hard" may be an honoured title amonthst many North American gamers, “ZX Spectrum Hard” appears to be on another level entirely.

When I design a new papercraft pattern I create the computer itself, any key peripherals and a monitor. The ZX Spectrum release pitch was that a family could save money by using a household television and portable cassette player over expensive proprietary devices.

Needing to think outside the box, I consulted the 1982 Dixons Summer Catologue and it recommended bundling “your new ZX Spectrum with the Contec KTN-3732 Portable Color TV and the Dixons TR12 Cassette Recorder”.

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Computer and Dixon's Cassette Player

Contec televisions - Light and dark grey

Ant Attack is a cool looking game. Talented artists worked magic with the system.

To help keep you fueled while making this papercraft, I have also included a period-correct tin of Crosse & Blackwell Baked Beans.

If you like this post please consider sharing or leaving a like below.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for new papercraft design announcements.

You can download the Sinclair ZX Spectrum papercraft design here.

I don’t know if it gets much more 90s than this!

Amiga 500 - NEW ART - Papercraft Design

August 8, 2019

The Amiga 500 NEW ART designs can be downloaded at the bottom of this post.

Thank you Germany for being such steadfast fans of the site! As a way of giving back to the community I have reproduced some very limited designs for the German market. This edition was designed in 1989 by a well-know television and radio presenter, Stefanie Tücking.

Readers with exceptional vision may have noticed that I have also adjusted the keyboard to the German layout. For those of you who prefer your German Amigas unadorned, I have also included a plain Jane Amiga 500 with this adjusted keyboard configuration in the pattern link below.

My ultimate dream is to visit Germany and show my papercrafts at a (few) retro computing event. I always tell my girlfriend that’s when I will have made the “big time”. I live in Canada but my heart is in Germany. I would love to immerse myself in the German culture if only for a while.

Detail of the Grid design, please observe the German keyboard layout.

Detail of the Leopard Print design. I can’t decide which crazy design I like more!

Limited editions were certainly less prevalent in 90s which made them extra special. Nowadays, limited editions are released every week which seems less special to me.

If you like these papercrafts please consider leaving a like. I find the hearts very encouraging. Also consider following @rockasoo on both Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with my papercraft projects.

You can download the Amiga 500 NEW ART papercraft here.
You can download the Amiga monitor and additional accessories here.

This was the first computer I used in high school. I was never impressed by the graphics and found it hard to believe this was ever going to overtake the almighty Amiga.

IBM 5150 - Papercraft Design

July 16, 2019

The link to the IBM 5150 pattern can be found at the end of this post.

I was so excited to get to high school because it was my first exposure to a real computer science class. My computer science teacher was the best kind of nerd who had an office full of exotica. Highlights included interrupting regular classes to show us how to communicate with nearby orbiting satellites, showing us VideoToaster vids, bringing out a chicklet-keyboard PET complete with 8” drives, and even comparing real Rolex’s from fakes. I don’t know if he ever realized the life-long impact these experiences would have on me but I hold them all dear to my heart.

Truthfully, I wasn’t very impressed with the IBMs. We had some XTs and a a few ATs. None of which had much for graphic capabilities. After cutting my teeth on the C64 and seeing what Amiga’s could do out-of the-box, it was pretty disappointing. Add to that the fact that I was not much of a programmer, and I knew that I might need to look elsewhere to find my bliss. Luckily, a year later we got our first Windows machine, a 286 and I discovered Desktop Publishing and I found my true passion.

All of my papercraft designs include changeable screens, so you can choose from a number of productivity programs including DOS and Wordstar!

Even though I never was satisfied with my early IBM exposure, I always wanted to learn as much as I could. I knew these machines were highly regarded and I had read about the troubles at Commodore so the writing was “on the screen”, the IBM series of computers were the likely future of personal computing.

I love making mini-accessories nearly as much as I love making mini-computers.

Many years on and I still have a strong connection to the 5150’s industrial form factor. The machine was built like a tank and the simplicity and utility of the design transcends the 80’s. I have no doubt that if IBM wanted to get back into the consumer hardware game that they could seriously take some cues from the original.

I hope you have as much fun assembling this papercraft as I had making it. I received a shout out from YouTube legend Clint, at Lazy Game Reviews today so it seemed like an appropriate time to make this post.

Thanks as always for all the love. If you’d like to see some more IBM stuff, be sure to slap that like button silly. I have something special for the German Amiga fans (any guesses?) coming soon.

You can download the IBM 5150 papercraft model here.

Akumajou Dracula (Castlevania) for the Sharp X68000 was significant step up from what was possible from the Famicom - This version of the game was later released on the Playstation as Castlevania Chronicles.

Sharp X68000 - Papercraft Design

May 25, 2019

The pattern for the Sharp X68000 can be found at the bottom of this article.

I lived in Osaka, Japan roughly from 2000 - 2005 and I loved to visit Den Den Town, Osaka’s amazing electrics district. Thankfully for my pocketbook, I wasn’t a hardcore collector of video games at the time. I would usually visit the district to hunt for film photography gear (35mm and medium format, lomo), old Japanese pop mini CD-singles (Chara, UA, Spitz to name a few), and “collectable” Pepsiman bottletops. If you were in the market for Maid Cafe’s, Anime Shops, or 8 floors of pornography, it was all to be found in Den Den Town.

Even though vintage tech was not the mission, it did not prevent me from window shopping and drooling over the vintage tech. Den Den Town is the only place I have ever played a Vectrex or the Atari Jaguar. In the shops of Den Den Town, I was easily able to survey all the vintages of PC Engine, Nintendo’s Pong consoles, Wonderswans, and NEO GEOs, oh my!

Near perfect arcade ports were a mainstay of the X68000 - Here’s Bubble Bobble.

It was only once I got back to Canada and through YouTube, learned about the Sharp X68000. This machine is a real arcade powerhouse with it’s many arcade perfect ports. For years, I was relegated to listening to my favorite X68000 soundtracks like Overtake, Akumajo Dracula, Phalanx, Asuka120% Burning Fest, Genocide 2 and Magical Blocks Carat. Most of what I knew about the system was shrouded in mystery until I set up my RetroPie system. Now that I can play many of these games myself, I can agree that this machine would have been an amazing thing to behold back in that late 80’s when it was first released. Both my girlfriend and I love playing Bukame Death, an obscure X68000 exclusive.

Some of the best console ports came to the X68000 as well.

Speakers can be detached and placed beside the system.

A papercraft version of this machine is sufficient to scratch my itch to buy a machine of my own. Honestly, the logistics of running such exotic hardware outside of Japan is well beyond the scope of my time or money reserves.

Sound was another area where the X68000 excelled and Overtake is one of my favorite soundtracks to any racing game.

I don’t know if this model will have the ability to “Make Your Dream Come True” as advertised on the side of the case, but it’s a pretty fun activity and a great way to learn a little more about this standout system. This papercraft features interchangeable screens and detachable speakers so you can further customize your X68000 experience.

Download the Sharp X68000 papercraft HERE.

If you like this model and would like to see more papercraft models on my site, please consider leaving a like. It really helps me out!r

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.

The Atari ST was something I only saw a couple of times while shopping in the “big city”.

Atari 520 ST - Papercraft Design

February 9, 2019

I am happy to present a new papercraft design, the Atari 520 ST. This design is free to download and build, a link can be found at the bottom of this post. It is the perfect way to start a miniature computer museum in your home.

I have also created many other retro computers papercraft models, to see them all click here.

I chose to create an early Atari ST design, this machine does not have a built-in disk drive.

The left side of the computer had a cartridge slot.

I have created seven retro machines and I thought it was time to build an Atari. I have always been a big fan of the Atari 2600 and the many arcade tiles released by the company. I also purchased a pristine Atari 800XL at a local flea market for the bargain price of $20.

But my experience with the ST line is largely limited to a few remote school yard conversations about which was better the Amiga or the PC. The Atari might have been mentioned for its superior MIDI capabilities but in grade 9 in 1991, this had no real life application to our lives.

It’s only much later in my life through YouTube that I have been reintroduced to the ST and it’s many hidden gems.

Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters has some amazing graphics.

Many manufacturers produced Atari’s SC1224 monitors. This is the Goldstar version.

Atari SC1224 rear view. My papercraft monitors are becoming more true to the original designs.

Whenever I add extra geometry into the models I design, I always try to maintain an degree of simplicity. Typically these extra folds provide more strength, are more true to form, and do not add much extra difficulty. Be patient, these monitors look great when complete.

Atari 520ST - Rear. Atari’s were known for their superior MIDI capabilities out the box.

While less familar with the Atari ST than some of the other computers I have rendered in paper, I am very pleased with how this design turned out. Typically my favorite design is the last one I completed and the Atari ST came together amazingly. I am proud to share it with the Atari ST and greater retrocomputing community.

While the computer may lack an internal hard drive, it has a much smaller footprint than it’s Amiga 500 counterpart.

As with all of my retrocompter designs, the monitor has eight interchangeable screenplates, so you can further customize your desktop experience.

Atari SF354 - Floppy Drive. This is my first time to make time 3 1/4” disks.

The pattern includes a “functional” drive bay door.

If you like these designs and would like to see more papercraft computers in the future please feel leave a like below or free to leave a comment below. I read them all.

The Atari ST 520 papercraft pattern can be found here.

IBM 5100 Portable Computer

December 19, 2018

The IBM 5100 Portable Computer papercraft is available for download at the bottom of this post.

Since I started making these papercraft models, several folks have offered suggestions of computers I should make next. Most of them are the typical nostalgic subjects (all of which I want to make) but when I received a request for a IBM 5100, I needed to Google it.

This computer debuted in 1975, and cost as much as $20,000 1975 USD (64k). This 55 lb. monster was considered a portable because it had a self-contained 5” monitor, tape drive and came with an optional carrying case.

This machine was released 6 years before IBM’s more well-known IBM PC series and was considered to be among the earliest personal computers, bested only by MITS Altair 8800. To my eyes, the IBM 5100 is the first personal computer to be commonly recognizable as a computer.

The model comes complete with DC300 cartridge.

Cartridge can be inserted into the drive bay.

This might have been enough to convince me to make this design but as I continued to read the request, I began to learn about the connections of this computer to both the John Titor time travel urban myth (2000) and the manga Steins;Gate (2009). Now I needed to Google those things too!

In 2000, a user who identified as John Titor started posting in various online forums claiming to be a time traveller sent from 2036 to find a IBM 5100 which somehow would lead to saving humanity. The specifics of Titor’s many claims and predictions are the subject of many meandering YouTube videos so be sure rabbit holes abound.

Steins;Gate is a manga from 2009 has a number spinoffs and anime series. It weaves the John Titor myth into it’s storyline going so far as to include a IBN 5100. Steins';Gate inserts many real-life references into the plot and fan’s documenting and collecting these items is not uncommon. Given the incredible cost of an IMB 5100, a papercraft version suddenly made a lot of sense.

The “screenplates” include recreated artwork from screen crawl demo seen at the VCF West XI.

If you are a fan of very old luggables, time travel, or the Steins;Gate series, this papercraft pattern aims to please. I adore the computers of my youth but I also love to learn about machines too exotic to practically own.

If you liked this write-up, please consider smashing that like button, it helps me gauge what I should make next (Apple fans, I hear you). Download the IBM 5100 papercraft pattern here.

Chase H.Q. was a very popular title for the Amstrad.

Amstrad CPC 464 Papercraft 2.0

November 30, 2018

I am happy to present an new updated edition of the Amstrad CPC 464 papercraft I created a few months back. As this was my first attempt at a papercraft, I was still figuring out things. This update includes improved rendering of the computer and monitor, more accurate monitor proportions, and a series of ten interchangeable screenplates to further customize you CPC experience. The download link is located at the end of this post.

The monitor now has some added dimensionality in the back.

Growing up in Canada, I never had an opportunity to mess around with one of these systems. Through the magic of emulation, I have recently begun to explore this system and continue to be impressed by its colourful selection of amazing ports and original games.

You can download this Amstrad CPC papercraft pattern HERE.

Oregon Trail was my first exposure to the Apple II on our classroom computer back in the 80s.

Apple II - Papercraft Design

November 27, 2018

I am happy to present my latest papercraft project, the Apple II. This pattern is free for you to download from the link at the bottom of this post.

I have often spoken fondly of my time with the Commodore 64, but I also grew up with the Apple II in my school. I always thought of these systems as school computers and while fun to play with, I always saw these as serious machines.

Karateka - Great graphics, difficult to master

As a young Commodore 64 user, I was shocked to discover that school’s Apple II did not have BASIC in memory.

Growing up, the only game I ever played on the Apple II is Oregon Trail because that was the only game our school had. I was already pretty obsessed with computers and always hungry for more exposure. Thankfully the Internet happened and now I can experience this machine in a multitude of ways, which happens to include creating and sharing this papercraft pattern (link at end of post).

The Apple’s wedge shape, makes it ideal for a papercraft interpretation.

Handsome profile.

Please click HERE to download the Apple II papercaft pattern. I think this is the perfect project to occupy the family over the holiday season.

If the Commodore 64 is more you jam, you can download that pattern HERE!

If you would like to see more retro papercraft consider leaving a like below, it helps me gauge what I might want to do next!

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet King Conion!!

Conion C-100F Papercraft

August 11, 2018

My first encounter with the Conion C-100F was at my local flea markets. I went back dozens of times just to see it's majesty. I could never justify the purchase price so the best way for me to get hands-on with one of these beasts was to make a papercraft version of it.

Enjoy the free pattern at the end of the article.

There are so many dials and switches on this thing - it's begging to be used.

This is a device from another time where the design language was clearly more is more. And it is a sight to behold. From the analogue VU meters with that flashy blue and motif, the huge tuner for fine adjustments, those crazy old-school LEDs that light up to the beat, it has a freaking burglar alarm! The thing that really stuck with me was how the folks at Conion decided to use two design languages when implementing the dual-cassette system. A traditional front-loading design typical for portable stereos, and a deck that would be more at home in an automobile. I am sure this is a space-saving measure but it's pretty fun as well.

This boombox uses 8 D-Cell batteries which I imagine don't last too long in the wild.

If you like this project please consider leaving a like, this lets me know if there is interest in seeing more of these in the future. I would like to do more boomboxes and really want to do an Pioneer Urushi component stereo.

Download the pattern here.

PS. This is not the first time I have riffed off the mighty King Conion. A few months back, I designed a Conion patch.

Nintendo GameCube Papercraft

July 21, 2018

I was inspired to make my own GameCube Mini after hearing rumors about such a project being planned by Nintendo. While I remain skeptical that such a project is on Nintendo's short list, my new papercraft is free and available for download here.

As much as I like drawing computers from the 80's, the GameCube represented a welcomed departure for all that beige.

Indigo was the most common GameCube colour and the one I own.

Black and Indigo were the base-level GameCube models.

The Platinum GameCube was the system's premium configuration.

I think Nintendo knocked it out of the park with the simple and colourful design!

The Spice-coloured GameCube was exclusive to Japan.

GameCube Development Kits came in many colours including Emerald Blue.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end of the post. I make pixel art and other tech-related papercraft projects. Please check out a few posts just below for more.

If you would like to see more posts like this, consider leaving a like on this post it really encourages me to keep creating!

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.

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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!