Andy Toone
@lockfarm.bsky.social
Petabytes in my day job, kilobytes in my spare time.
Maker of Beasts - https://feersumbeasts.com/ 8-bit Z80 kit
Technologist, cynical optimist, occasional CTO, regular tinkerer.
Rural hideout in UK
Maker of Beasts - https://feersumbeasts.com/ 8-bit Z80 kit
Technologist, cynical optimist, occasional CTO, regular tinkerer.
Rural hideout in UK
This seems to be giving off Mad Emperor Nero vibes.
November 23, 2025 at 11:40 AM
This seems to be giving off Mad Emperor Nero vibes.
I remembered to take a photo of my own exhibit, but spent most of the weekend having great chats with visitors and other exhibitors and completely forgot to take any other photos.
A really excellent weekend at @computinghistory.org.uk thanks to @heredragons.be
Boing Ball on a ZXSpectrum!
A really excellent weekend at @computinghistory.org.uk thanks to @heredragons.be
Boing Ball on a ZXSpectrum!
November 16, 2025 at 10:31 PM
I remembered to take a photo of my own exhibit, but spent most of the weekend having great chats with visitors and other exhibitors and completely forgot to take any other photos.
A really excellent weekend at @computinghistory.org.uk thanks to @heredragons.be
Boing Ball on a ZXSpectrum!
A really excellent weekend at @computinghistory.org.uk thanks to @heredragons.be
Boing Ball on a ZXSpectrum!
Adverts should be representative of traditional British families
October 27, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Adverts should be representative of traditional British families
Who hasn't accidentally demolished the East Wing of their house? (I'd give that a moment...)
October 22, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Who hasn't accidentally demolished the East Wing of their house? (I'd give that a moment...)
Printing another set of PCB mounts for MicroBeast. Credit to the original @elegoo.bsky.social Mars printer that has been the backbone of parts and prototyping for Beasts.
I'd hoped to be able to get a Saturn this year, but we all know how hard hit retro and hobby projects have been...
I'd hoped to be able to get a Saturn this year, but we all know how hard hit retro and hobby projects have been...
October 8, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Printing another set of PCB mounts for MicroBeast. Credit to the original @elegoo.bsky.social Mars printer that has been the backbone of parts and prototyping for Beasts.
I'd hoped to be able to get a Saturn this year, but we all know how hard hit retro and hobby projects have been...
I'd hoped to be able to get a Saturn this year, but we all know how hard hit retro and hobby projects have been...
VideoBeast and the 'universal' host board that plugs into the ZX Spectrum, RC2014 and MicroBeast. The next job is checking the SD Card interface works, then there will hopefully be a second revision of both host and video interface to send out to devs.
848x480 pixels on a Spectrum!? Of course!
848x480 pixels on a Spectrum!? Of course!
October 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM
VideoBeast and the 'universal' host board that plugs into the ZX Spectrum, RC2014 and MicroBeast. The next job is checking the SD Card interface works, then there will hopefully be a second revision of both host and video interface to send out to devs.
848x480 pixels on a Spectrum!? Of course!
848x480 pixels on a Spectrum!? Of course!
Here's an example. Is this trash or treasure? A Sharp MT770 Minidisk player/recorder from the height of precision portable mechatronics.
October 4, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Here's an example. Is this trash or treasure? A Sharp MT770 Minidisk player/recorder from the height of precision portable mechatronics.
Packing MicroBeast component bags whilst listening to the 500th episode of the RetroHour Podcast (well done, @theretrohour.com!!). Great to hear them shouting out to @martinpiper.bsky.social for the MegaWang 2000 as well.
Could I BE more retro?
Could I BE more retro?
October 4, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Packing MicroBeast component bags whilst listening to the 500th episode of the RetroHour Podcast (well done, @theretrohour.com!!). Great to hear them shouting out to @martinpiper.bsky.social for the MegaWang 2000 as well.
Could I BE more retro?
Could I BE more retro?
October should see a return to more regular retro posting on here. I appreciate there's a lot of *stuff* going on at the moment, but let's focus on the important things.
8-bit CPUs, low resolution graphics, freaky sprite hardware and computers that don't need to run Linux to work.
8-bit CPUs, low resolution graphics, freaky sprite hardware and computers that don't need to run Linux to work.
October 3, 2025 at 9:37 PM
October should see a return to more regular retro posting on here. I appreciate there's a lot of *stuff* going on at the moment, but let's focus on the important things.
8-bit CPUs, low resolution graphics, freaky sprite hardware and computers that don't need to run Linux to work.
8-bit CPUs, low resolution graphics, freaky sprite hardware and computers that don't need to run Linux to work.
Phew, components have arrived for the next batch of MicroBeasts... just need to count and pack them over the next couple of days.
October 1, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Phew, components have arrived for the next batch of MicroBeasts... just need to count and pack them over the next couple of days.
In looking for the interface card, this is possible the rarest find yet. These are the source disks for (early parts of) the unreleased Sega CD Last Action Hero game. It was going to be a 3D(ish) beat-em-up with the backgrounds streamed off CD.
September 23, 2025 at 4:04 PM
In looking for the interface card, this is possible the rarest find yet. These are the source disks for (early parts of) the unreleased Sega CD Last Action Hero game. It was going to be a 3D(ish) beat-em-up with the backgrounds streamed off CD.
Here's the thing in use... it plugs into the Mega Drive, and Sonic plugs into the back... then a cable goes off to the (yellow!) interface card that I cannot find anywhere..
I think @kevedwardsretro.bsky.social might recognise it, and certainly a few Psygnosis people.
I think @kevedwardsretro.bsky.social might recognise it, and certainly a few Psygnosis people.
September 23, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Here's the thing in use... it plugs into the Mega Drive, and Sonic plugs into the back... then a cable goes off to the (yellow!) interface card that I cannot find anywhere..
I think @kevedwardsretro.bsky.social might recognise it, and certainly a few Psygnosis people.
I think @kevedwardsretro.bsky.social might recognise it, and certainly a few Psygnosis people.
Yup, under the console, there is this mystery item...
Can you tell what it is yet? What could that have to do with a Sega Mega Drive?
Can you tell what it is yet? What could that have to do with a Sega Mega Drive?
September 23, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Yup, under the console, there is this mystery item...
Can you tell what it is yet? What could that have to do with a Sega Mega Drive?
Can you tell what it is yet? What could that have to do with a Sega Mega Drive?
I mean, obviously there's a Sega Mega Drive in there, but there's something else along with it...
(I am currently digging through boxes trying to find the other vital parts of this thing. So far I've found a ZX80, a Creative Zen Micro and a Pace 56K modem. My filing system is... complex).
(I am currently digging through boxes trying to find the other vital parts of this thing. So far I've found a ZX80, a Creative Zen Micro and a Pace 56K modem. My filing system is... complex).
September 22, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I mean, obviously there's a Sega Mega Drive in there, but there's something else along with it...
(I am currently digging through boxes trying to find the other vital parts of this thing. So far I've found a ZX80, a Creative Zen Micro and a Pace 56K modem. My filing system is... complex).
(I am currently digging through boxes trying to find the other vital parts of this thing. So far I've found a ZX80, a Creative Zen Micro and a Pace 56K modem. My filing system is... complex).
There's something slightly special in this box... can you guess?
(Hint... I'm going to need a few more bits and pieces to get this working..)
(Hint... I'm going to need a few more bits and pieces to get this working..)
September 22, 2025 at 7:34 PM
There's something slightly special in this box... can you guess?
(Hint... I'm going to need a few more bits and pieces to get this working..)
(Hint... I'm going to need a few more bits and pieces to get this working..)
Why is the Health Secretary apparently in charge of policing in the UK now? Oh yes, he's the one who appears to not like trans people.
This whole story seems to be one big dog whistle.
This whole story seems to be one big dog whistle.
September 3, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Why is the Health Secretary apparently in charge of policing in the UK now? Oh yes, he's the one who appears to not like trans people.
This whole story seems to be one big dog whistle.
This whole story seems to be one big dog whistle.
I *really* hope that by the end of the week there is some clarity on shipping to the USA.
By this stage, I had hoped MicroBeast would put me in a position of being able to develop more cool projects for excited engineers of all ages.
Unfortunately I can't make the investment I want just yet.
By this stage, I had hoped MicroBeast would put me in a position of being able to develop more cool projects for excited engineers of all ages.
Unfortunately I can't make the investment I want just yet.
September 1, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I *really* hope that by the end of the week there is some clarity on shipping to the USA.
By this stage, I had hoped MicroBeast would put me in a position of being able to develop more cool projects for excited engineers of all ages.
Unfortunately I can't make the investment I want just yet.
By this stage, I had hoped MicroBeast would put me in a position of being able to develop more cool projects for excited engineers of all ages.
Unfortunately I can't make the investment I want just yet.
Yup... it's going to be a while before we reach 250,000 in our truck.
August 30, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Yup... it's going to be a while before we reach 250,000 in our truck.
Post something from your camera roll that comes up when you search yellow car.
The Lotus Evora crash test mule.
The Lotus Evora crash test mule.
August 23, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Post something from your camera roll that comes up when you search yellow car.
The Lotus Evora crash test mule.
The Lotus Evora crash test mule.
One careful owner from new....
...and 53 rather careless owners.
...and 53 rather careless owners.
August 14, 2025 at 7:18 PM
One careful owner from new....
...and 53 rather careless owners.
...and 53 rather careless owners.
"What flavour is that?"
"Blue. It's blue flavour"
"Blue. It's blue flavour"
August 14, 2025 at 5:13 PM
"What flavour is that?"
"Blue. It's blue flavour"
"Blue. It's blue flavour"
Holiday photos incoming.
Also, a bunch of news to come, but there's work to be done first.
Also, a bunch of news to come, but there's work to be done first.
August 14, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Holiday photos incoming.
Also, a bunch of news to come, but there's work to be done first.
Also, a bunch of news to come, but there's work to be done first.
Cash flow for preparing MicroBeast orders is turning into a bit of a logistics challenge in the current economic and political climate...
..not impossible, just a challenge.
..not impossible, just a challenge.
August 8, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Cash flow for preparing MicroBeast orders is turning into a bit of a logistics challenge in the current economic and political climate...
..not impossible, just a challenge.
..not impossible, just a challenge.
Don't lie. How messy is your desk?
July 26, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Don't lie. How messy is your desk?
A quick picture from RetroFest 2025 - Showing off MicroBeast and VideoBeast. Going from a 24 character 14 segment LED display to a 848x480 video expansion for the ZX Spectrum.
(and, hi to the recent influx of followers - here be Z80's and unique custom hardware!)
(and, hi to the recent influx of followers - here be Z80's and unique custom hardware!)
July 25, 2025 at 8:50 PM
A quick picture from RetroFest 2025 - Showing off MicroBeast and VideoBeast. Going from a 24 character 14 segment LED display to a 848x480 video expansion for the ZX Spectrum.
(and, hi to the recent influx of followers - here be Z80's and unique custom hardware!)
(and, hi to the recent influx of followers - here be Z80's and unique custom hardware!)