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.
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.
The data recorder uses a small, maybe 4mm, barrel connector and asks for a 1 watt 6V psu. Somewhat odd, but nothing crazy.
It just so happens that I have a pile of brand new psus that match perfectly.
It just so happens that I have a pile of brand new psus that match perfectly.
December 27, 2025 at 2:56 AM
The data recorder uses a small, maybe 4mm, barrel connector and asks for a 1 watt 6V psu. Somewhat odd, but nothing crazy.
It just so happens that I have a pile of brand new psus that match perfectly.
It just so happens that I have a pile of brand new psus that match perfectly.
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
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.