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.
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
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.
Until I can figure out how to model a nice clean trim piece, this will have to do for the PC-9821 Ap2.
I made it in grey at the suggestion of my buddy @derekpascarella.bsky.social whom I also made a set for. It sort of matches the logo color.
I made it in grey at the suggestion of my buddy @derekpascarella.bsky.social whom I also made a set for. It sort of matches the logo color.
November 5, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Until I can figure out how to model a nice clean trim piece, this will have to do for the PC-9821 Ap2.
I made it in grey at the suggestion of my buddy @derekpascarella.bsky.social whom I also made a set for. It sort of matches the logo color.
I made it in grey at the suggestion of my buddy @derekpascarella.bsky.social whom I also made a set for. It sort of matches the logo color.
I got the updated dpads for the Double D controllers in today. They pass the button test. By that I mean everything works as it should, and you can pish the dpads straight down and not get errant presses. We're fully blacked out now too, which looks pretty cool.
October 30, 2025 at 5:35 AM
I got the updated dpads for the Double D controllers in today. They pass the button test. By that I mean everything works as it should, and you can pish the dpads straight down and not get errant presses. We're fully blacked out now too, which looks pretty cool.
I did some more controller work last night. I don't think I can find an off the shelf strain relief that would fit the controller/cable combo for the PC9821 controller, so I made one that seems to work well.
I also got updated dpads in for the Double D. I still need to test, but it feels good.
I also got updated dpads in for the Double D. I still need to test, but it feels good.
October 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I did some more controller work last night. I don't think I can find an off the shelf strain relief that would fit the controller/cable combo for the PC9821 controller, so I made one that seems to work well.
I also got updated dpads in for the Double D. I still need to test, but it feels good.
I also got updated dpads in for the Double D. I still need to test, but it feels good.
Hey @jeffsretrogaming.com here are some pics of the Marty mouse and keyboard. I will try to test tonight
October 27, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Hey @jeffsretrogaming.com here are some pics of the Marty mouse and keyboard. I will try to test tonight
Oops, posted the switches twice. Here's the CMT
October 27, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Oops, posted the switches twice. Here's the CMT
I won an auction for the oddball Casio FP-1100. I have one tape for the system I got in a previous listing. I've been curious about this one for a while. It'll be making the journey with some misc PC-98 goods.
October 27, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I won an auction for the oddball Casio FP-1100. I have one tape for the system I got in a previous listing. I've been curious about this one for a while. It'll be making the journey with some misc PC-98 goods.
Testing out a new BASIC controller. These can be configured to many systems via solder jumpers. I made this one for my PC98 Ap2 which uses a 9p miniDIN.
Metal Force uses FM Towns style Select and Run buttons, which is neat. Run pauses and Select does like a fast forward thing.
More to come.
Metal Force uses FM Towns style Select and Run buttons, which is neat. Run pauses and Select does like a fast forward thing.
More to come.
October 27, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Testing out a new BASIC controller. These can be configured to many systems via solder jumpers. I made this one for my PC98 Ap2 which uses a 9p miniDIN.
Metal Force uses FM Towns style Select and Run buttons, which is neat. Run pauses and Select does like a fast forward thing.
More to come.
Metal Force uses FM Towns style Select and Run buttons, which is neat. Run pauses and Select does like a fast forward thing.
More to come.
The PC9821 Ap2 is slowly coming together. It doesn't look like much, but everything is custom to fit. The Gotek cases especially took a bit of work designing.
The trim cover to neaten things up will be the most difficult though. A lot of curves.
The trim cover to neaten things up will be the most difficult though. A lot of curves.
October 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM
The PC9821 Ap2 is slowly coming together. It doesn't look like much, but everything is custom to fit. The Gotek cases especially took a bit of work designing.
The trim cover to neaten things up will be the most difficult though. A lot of curves.
The trim cover to neaten things up will be the most difficult though. A lot of curves.
Finally got a few minutes to create the 8mm one. So the family is complete, for now.
I'll test them out during this recap project to see if I want to make any changes.
I'll test them out during this recap project to see if I want to make any changes.
October 20, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Finally got a few minutes to create the 8mm one. So the family is complete, for now.
I'll test them out during this recap project to see if I want to make any changes.
I'll test them out during this recap project to see if I want to make any changes.
There are 3 levels of booze you can buy while chatting up the ladies. While your choice won't affect the ending or anything, it does 2 things:
1: Changes the outfit of your special lady
2: Adds a little sprinkling of flavor text. The most expensive option will add all flavor text.
1: Changes the outfit of your special lady
2: Adds a little sprinkling of flavor text. The most expensive option will add all flavor text.
October 20, 2025 at 12:01 AM
There are 3 levels of booze you can buy while chatting up the ladies. While your choice won't affect the ending or anything, it does 2 things:
1: Changes the outfit of your special lady
2: Adds a little sprinkling of flavor text. The most expensive option will add all flavor text.
1: Changes the outfit of your special lady
2: Adds a little sprinkling of flavor text. The most expensive option will add all flavor text.
The thought of having to form leads on 60+ capacitors for my PC9821 AP2 sounded terrible, so I made a simple tool. My first version spread the legs out to 5mm, but was a little finicky. Now you just load, squeeze, snip, and it's done. Now to make some for 4, 6, and 8mm wide caps.
October 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The thought of having to form leads on 60+ capacitors for my PC9821 AP2 sounded terrible, so I made a simple tool. My first version spread the legs out to 5mm, but was a little finicky. Now you just load, squeeze, snip, and it's done. Now to make some for 4, 6, and 8mm wide caps.
Sigh... I'm not sure how it cracked as it was just in a jewel case by my computer for a few days. It wasn't expensive at least, but it is on Redump's undumped games list. I'm so disappointed 😔
October 19, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Sigh... I'm not sure how it cracked as it was just in a jewel case by my computer for a few days. It wasn't expensive at least, but it is on Redump's undumped games list. I'm so disappointed 😔
Hey, the meme TV works! All knobs seem to do what they're supposed to, and audio is good. I didn't test composite in, or composite/s video/audio out yet.
I'll open it up at some point to refresh things, but at least I know it makes colors.
I'll open it up at some point to refresh things, but at least I know it makes colors.
October 18, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Hey, the meme TV works! All knobs seem to do what they're supposed to, and audio is good. I didn't test composite in, or composite/s video/audio out yet.
I'll open it up at some point to refresh things, but at least I know it makes colors.
I'll open it up at some point to refresh things, but at least I know it makes colors.
A quick and dirty mount for the IDE to CF adapter for the PC9821 AP2.
October 18, 2025 at 9:58 PM
A quick and dirty mount for the IDE to CF adapter for the PC9821 AP2.
New, old, tool day. For some reason none of my calipers are metric. I love these German spring loaded friction lock vernier calipers, so I had to get another with metric markings. 1/20 mm and 0.001" is more than enough resolution for me.
October 18, 2025 at 4:47 PM
New, old, tool day. For some reason none of my calipers are metric. I love these German spring loaded friction lock vernier calipers, so I had to get another with metric markings. 1/20 mm and 0.001" is more than enough resolution for me.