OMPeaRetro
@ompearetro.com
I enjoy breaking and sometimes restoring Japanese retro video game consoles and computers. Currently on a mission to create new controllers for obscurities.
Some test boards are shipping out to me, so I'll be able to test the Zerosen dumps.
January 31, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Some test boards are shipping out to me, so I'll be able to test the Zerosen dumps.
I've finished verifying 8/16/32kb games work on my reproduction cart for the Bandai RX-78.
I need to finish working on the CMT portion for Basic use, as well as look at games with dual 8/16kb chips.
I need to finish working on the CMT portion for Basic use, as well as look at games with dual 8/16kb chips.
January 27, 2026 at 8:38 PM
I've finished verifying 8/16/32kb games work on my reproduction cart for the Bandai RX-78.
I need to finish working on the CMT portion for Basic use, as well as look at games with dual 8/16kb chips.
I need to finish working on the CMT portion for Basic use, as well as look at games with dual 8/16kb chips.
I'm working on a joystick expansion card for Hitachi's Basic Master Level 3.
I should probably see if the machine actually works 🤔
I should probably see if the machine actually works 🤔
January 27, 2026 at 8:29 PM
I'm working on a joystick expansion card for Hitachi's Basic Master Level 3.
I should probably see if the machine actually works 🤔
I should probably see if the machine actually works 🤔
I also received a Hitachi Basic Master Level 3 yesterday. It is loaded with expansion cards. 2 cards are for an external FDD unit, 1 for joysticks, and 1 expanded ram.
I recreated the joystick card, and will make one with DE9 connectors that are compatible with MSX style pads.
I recreated the joystick card, and will make one with DE9 connectors that are compatible with MSX style pads.
January 23, 2026 at 8:54 PM
I also received a Hitachi Basic Master Level 3 yesterday. It is loaded with expansion cards. 2 cards are for an external FDD unit, 1 for joysticks, and 1 expanded ram.
I recreated the joystick card, and will make one with DE9 connectors that are compatible with MSX style pads.
I recreated the joystick card, and will make one with DE9 connectors that are compatible with MSX style pads.
I got my e-waste PC-6601SR in yesterday. NEC was forward thinking and put the battery on the little led board in the front panel. Easy to get to for replacement, and away from important things if it leaks.
Speaking of, absolutely no leakage or corrosion on this one. Astounding
Speaking of, absolutely no leakage or corrosion on this one. Astounding
January 23, 2026 at 8:48 PM
I got my e-waste PC-6601SR in yesterday. NEC was forward thinking and put the battery on the little led board in the front panel. Easy to get to for replacement, and away from important things if it leaks.
Speaking of, absolutely no leakage or corrosion on this one. Astounding
Speaking of, absolutely no leakage or corrosion on this one. Astounding
I was looking up places to visit in Iceland for a future trip, and came across this picture someone took in a shop.
ネコジラ (nekojira) 😂
ネコジラ (nekojira) 😂
January 19, 2026 at 11:37 PM
I was looking up places to visit in Iceland for a future trip, and came across this picture someone took in a shop.
ネコジラ (nekojira) 😂
ネコジラ (nekojira) 😂
I just paid shipping on my last package from Japan for a while. I was able to check off a couple more computers of the 8 bit variety.
First up is an NEC PC-6601SR with no keyboard.
Second is a Hitachi Basic Master L3 MK2. It comes with a few expansion boards.
Pics to come when I get them.
First up is an NEC PC-6601SR with no keyboard.
Second is a Hitachi Basic Master L3 MK2. It comes with a few expansion boards.
Pics to come when I get them.
January 16, 2026 at 9:14 PM
I just paid shipping on my last package from Japan for a while. I was able to check off a couple more computers of the 8 bit variety.
First up is an NEC PC-6601SR with no keyboard.
Second is a Hitachi Basic Master L3 MK2. It comes with a few expansion boards.
Pics to come when I get them.
First up is an NEC PC-6601SR with no keyboard.
Second is a Hitachi Basic Master L3 MK2. It comes with a few expansion boards.
Pics to come when I get them.
It's been a while since I've bought new music. Going a little off brand for a classic
January 10, 2026 at 2:45 AM
It's been a while since I've bought new music. Going a little off brand for a classic
My last couple orders from JLC have been fulfilled super quickly. I submitted gerbers Monday morning, and received a shipping notification earlier tonight.
January 7, 2026 at 5:04 AM
My last couple orders from JLC have been fulfilled super quickly. I submitted gerbers Monday morning, and received a shipping notification earlier tonight.
I've been diving into the RX-78 some more. I recapped one of my machines, I got 8 and 16k roms working on my repro cart, and I mapped out the rest of the expansion/cartridge port. I'm not exactly sure what some lines are as this system uses a Z80 and the rest are customs.
January 2, 2026 at 9:03 PM
I've been diving into the RX-78 some more. I recapped one of my machines, I got 8 and 16k roms working on my repro cart, and I mapped out the rest of the expansion/cartridge port. I'm not exactly sure what some lines are as this system uses a Z80 and the rest are customs.
My last order from Japan for the year.
A programming book for the Sord M5.
An NEC data recorder.
Perfect Mahjong and Excite Baseball for the Bandai RX-78.
A pretty clean Family Basic set
A programming book for the Sord M5.
An NEC data recorder.
Perfect Mahjong and Excite Baseball for the Bandai RX-78.
A pretty clean Family Basic set
December 27, 2025 at 2:56 AM
My last order from Japan for the year.
A programming book for the Sord M5.
An NEC data recorder.
Perfect Mahjong and Excite Baseball for the Bandai RX-78.
A pretty clean Family Basic set
A programming book for the Sord M5.
An NEC data recorder.
Perfect Mahjong and Excite Baseball for the Bandai RX-78.
A pretty clean Family Basic set
I'm not a coder, but it's one of those things I've always wanted to learn. I'm easing myself into it in a way I'm sure a lot of old-timers did back in the before times, by copying type-in games.
These games can be loaded back into real hardware as well.
These games can be loaded back into real hardware as well.
December 7, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I'm not a coder, but it's one of those things I've always wanted to learn. I'm easing myself into it in a way I'm sure a lot of old-timers did back in the before times, by copying type-in games.
These games can be loaded back into real hardware as well.
These games can be loaded back into real hardware as well.
I opened up the new Casio FP-1100 I just received. Oh, that's why it's heavy
December 5, 2025 at 1:38 AM
I opened up the new Casio FP-1100 I just received. Oh, that's why it's heavy
I just got another misfit child in, a Casio FP-1100 in very nice shape. I'll tear into it at some point, and test the 1 cassette I have for it, but I'm focused on the RX-78 right now.
It's a simple, but very attractive design. Those blue keys 💙
It's a simple, but very attractive design. Those blue keys 💙
December 3, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I just got another misfit child in, a Casio FP-1100 in very nice shape. I'll tear into it at some point, and test the 1 cassette I have for it, but I'm focused on the RX-78 right now.
It's a simple, but very attractive design. Those blue keys 💙
It's a simple, but very attractive design. Those blue keys 💙
First bit of info on the Bandai RX-78 to correct some incorrect documentation.
The joysticks are full 8 way with 2 fire buttons, and everything is microswitched. It's quite nice.
The connector is a 7 pin miniDIN.
The joysticks are full 8 way with 2 fire buttons, and everything is microswitched. It's quite nice.
The connector is a 7 pin miniDIN.
November 23, 2025 at 6:53 PM
First bit of info on the Bandai RX-78 to correct some incorrect documentation.
The joysticks are full 8 way with 2 fire buttons, and everything is microswitched. It's quite nice.
The connector is a 7 pin miniDIN.
The joysticks are full 8 way with 2 fire buttons, and everything is microswitched. It's quite nice.
The connector is a 7 pin miniDIN.
I'm very excited to finally have a Bandai RX-78 in my possession. There is very little info about them floating around out there, and some of it is not exactly accurate.
@gamingalexandria.bsky.social has done a bunch of preservation work for the system. I'll be doing some as well.
@gamingalexandria.bsky.social has done a bunch of preservation work for the system. I'll be doing some as well.
November 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I'm very excited to finally have a Bandai RX-78 in my possession. There is very little info about them floating around out there, and some of it is not exactly accurate.
@gamingalexandria.bsky.social has done a bunch of preservation work for the system. I'll be doing some as well.
@gamingalexandria.bsky.social has done a bunch of preservation work for the system. I'll be doing some as well.
It was a busy weekend. I also used my laser to verify fitment of both short and tall reproduction pcbs for Bandai RX-78 cartridges.
November 18, 2025 at 1:28 AM
It was a busy weekend. I also used my laser to verify fitment of both short and tall reproduction pcbs for Bandai RX-78 cartridges.
I also received my new PC98 CD drive Gears. The drive in the BA3 now opens and closes.
I had to ream the post hole a bit as there's a small taper on the post. I just took my time until it spun freely.
I had to ream the post hole a bit as there's a small taper on the post. I just took my time until it spun freely.
November 18, 2025 at 1:23 AM
I also received my new PC98 CD drive Gears. The drive in the BA3 now opens and closes.
I had to ream the post hole a bit as there's a small taper on the post. I just took my time until it spun freely.
I had to ream the post hole a bit as there's a small taper on the post. I just took my time until it spun freely.
I put together a care package for my buddy's PC-9821 Ap2. Custom Gotek cases, adapter pcb with power and ribbon cables, front panel trim piece, and extended knobs for a dual Gotek install.
Then there's an adapter for popular CF/IDE and SD/IDE adapters, and a rear trim piece for single joystick card
Then there's an adapter for popular CF/IDE and SD/IDE adapters, and a rear trim piece for single joystick card
November 18, 2025 at 1:21 AM
I put together a care package for my buddy's PC-9821 Ap2. Custom Gotek cases, adapter pcb with power and ribbon cables, front panel trim piece, and extended knobs for a dual Gotek install.
Then there's an adapter for popular CF/IDE and SD/IDE adapters, and a rear trim piece for single joystick card
Then there's an adapter for popular CF/IDE and SD/IDE adapters, and a rear trim piece for single joystick card
I snagged an auction for something I've been after for the past 4 years or so. I even got a great price. Sometimes patience pays off. Now to wait...
November 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I snagged an auction for something I've been after for the past 4 years or so. I even got a great price. Sometimes patience pays off. Now to wait...
Now we're getting somewhere. The face and locking tabs are dialed in. Now I need to work on the opening.
November 9, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Now we're getting somewhere. The face and locking tabs are dialed in. Now I need to work on the opening.
In a surprise to nobody, the PC98 CD drive gear that fails all the time has failed. I had a few printed, but they haven't arrived yet.
The broken teeth were jamming the other gears, which made it quite tricky to release the tray.
The broken teeth were jamming the other gears, which made it quite tricky to release the tray.
November 9, 2025 at 3:05 AM
In a surprise to nobody, the PC98 CD drive gear that fails all the time has failed. I had a few printed, but they haven't arrived yet.
The broken teeth were jamming the other gears, which made it quite tricky to release the tray.
The broken teeth were jamming the other gears, which made it quite tricky to release the tray.
PC-9801BA3 package came in today. Everything mostly works as is, but the floppy drives and cd drive need love. It'll get a full resto at some point.
Now that I have a working keyboard and mouse, I could test some other fun on the Ap2
Now that I have a working keyboard and mouse, I could test some other fun on the Ap2
November 8, 2025 at 9:23 PM
PC-9801BA3 package came in today. Everything mostly works as is, but the floppy drives and cd drive need love. It'll get a full resto at some point.
Now that I have a working keyboard and mouse, I could test some other fun on the Ap2
Now that I have a working keyboard and mouse, I could test some other fun on the Ap2
With all the curvature I'll have to print vertically to get good walls, but I'm just printing in a faster orientation while I dial it in.
Nearly there. 1 or 2 more tweaks to get it spot on. Then I can work on the rest of the model.
I've also got some retro platinum petg coming in to test.
Nearly there. 1 or 2 more tweaks to get it spot on. Then I can work on the rest of the model.
I've also got some retro platinum petg coming in to test.
November 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
With all the curvature I'll have to print vertically to get good walls, but I'm just printing in a faster orientation while I dial it in.
Nearly there. 1 or 2 more tweaks to get it spot on. Then I can work on the rest of the model.
I've also got some retro platinum petg coming in to test.
Nearly there. 1 or 2 more tweaks to get it spot on. Then I can work on the rest of the model.
I've also got some retro platinum petg coming in to test.
Slowly fumbling through these more complicated models. I know it doesn't look like much, but there are a lot of weird curves in this. Test prints tonight to hone in on a more finished trim cover for the PC-9821 Ap2 Goteks.
November 6, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Slowly fumbling through these more complicated models. I know it doesn't look like much, but there are a lot of weird curves in this. Test prints tonight to hone in on a more finished trim cover for the PC-9821 Ap2 Goteks.