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Macintosh (Not Quite) Classic

redphantom

Member
Hello Again!

After my successful installation of a RaSCSI (now PiSCSI) in a Powerbook Duo 280c, I took on a slightly different project which would allow me to tackle multiple challenges. This time, I took the case of an old Macintosh Classic, which I used some Retr0brighting to restore, and installed some new hardware in it.

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Before anyone frets, please know that when I found the Macintosh Classic, it was already dead. And being the responsible retro enthuaist I am these days, I did my best to part any of the internals that seemed like that may be working out on eBay. As many components that could be re-homed were. From that point, and using several guides where people built Hackintoshes inside these cases, I was able to install a 4:3 9.7 inch LCD screen that works at full HD, as well as a Raspberry Pi 4 with 2 GB of RAM. I had a custom metal bracket fabricated to mount the Pi in such a way to give me enough space to run, and plug cables into.

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Booting into Raspberry Pi OS Lite, I was able to install Basilisk using cebix's version, and without using a desktop interface, set the OS to boot straight into System 7. (I managed to save the speaker from the analog board, and re-wire it into the Raspberry Pi, so that the machine plays the Macintosh Classic Chime once it clears its Linux Boot, and before it loads System 7). It will also play normal system alerts, and I was able to play an MP3 using a System 7 MP3 decoder.

I was able to find an internal Sony Disk Drive that I could convert to USB and the Pi would recognize. Installing some libraries even let me read Macintosh Floppy Disks and their file structures in the Pi OS. However, despite my best efforts I was unable to point Basilik at it. While the drive is present in the machine, and works it will not mount floppy disks in the emulator. Perhaps one day I will be able figure this one out.

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I was able to save parts from the analog board, and was able to hardwire the power switch, and the power plug straight to a mini power strip which now lives inside the case. The Pi, and the Display both power off of the Power Strip, which switches on when I turn the power switch on in the Classic Case.

The final hard part involved replacing the back ports with more modern ports that the Pi could use. I turned to some options on Thingiverse to 3D print two large holders for both USB 2.0, and USB 3.0 ports which would replace the floppy and the SCSI ports respectively. Using USB extension cables, the female ends go into the 3D print which holds them, and allows the clips on the end to grab the shell and not go anywhere when you plug, or unplug cables.

I then purchased some of tinkerBOY's converters to USB for both ADB and the original Mac Extended Keyboard (the RJ-11 Connector). A USB hub for the 2.0 ports allowed me to run the extender, the keyboard and mouse ports, and the Disk drive off of the two 2.0 ports, while I merely used extenders for the 3.0 ports. I then 3D printed brackets that would hold the tinkerBoy cables in place inside the case. Lastly, I also managed to make a washer that would slim down the modem port for use with an Ethernet cable (even though the Wi-Fi works fine on the Pi).

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It was a fun little project to work on, and allowed me to put my different skills to work. There's a few odds and ends that I still need to figure out, such as extending the audio port, which I would need to split with the speaker, and of course getting the disk drive to work as well. The screen may need a little adjustment as well. :)

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imactheknife

Well-known member
Cool beans!! Neat idea, and why not! I did the same thing with a busted up duo 230. Put it in a iici case with mini dock, works perfectly now.. now lcd screen though, just external monitor but color;)
 

Forrest

Well-known member
Great job. Last I checked, Basilisk II was not running on the Pi 4. Did you need to compile it yourself, or can you download the executable from somewhere? Where?
 

pizzigri

Well-known member
It would be REALLY NEAT if you could post sources for the parts you used. Which LCD panel? Sources and versions of the software? accessories and additional parts to tie everything together? Would be VERY interested!
 

redphantom

Member
Great job. Last I checked, Basilisk II was not running on the Pi 4. Did you need to compile it yourself, or can you download the executable from somewhere? Where?
The cebix version worked fine on Pi 4. I know that the jaromaz fork does not currently support the Pi 4, is that the one you are referring to?
 

redphantom

Member
It would be REALLY NEAT if you could post sources for the parts you used. Which LCD panel? Sources and versions of the software? accessories and additional parts to tie everything together? Would be VERY interested!
I am happy to supply that information:

Hardware

Case
: Macintosh Classic
LCD Panel: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803545844164.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US
Disk Drive: Dell Sony MPF920-F 3.5" 1.44MB Internal Floppy Disk Drive
Floppy USB Adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WCRF9H3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
MoBo: Raspberry Pi 4 - 2GB RAM
Audio Amplifier for Pi to Speaker: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FZYTSYG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Raspberry Pi Power Adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W8XHMJZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s04?ie=UTF8&th=1
USB 3.0 Extensions: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B9FYR1Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
USB 2.0 Extensions: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NCVLCDG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
USB 2.0 Hub (mounted on the underside of chassis): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L2442H0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
ADB to USB: https://www.tinkerboy.xyz/product/tinkerboy-adb-to-usb-keyboard-mouse-converter/
RJ-11 Keyboard to USB: https://www.tinkerboy.xyz/product/t...-the-apple-macintosh-128k-512k-plus-keyboard/
Speaker: From Macintosh Classic Analog Board. The corners need to be modified if you want to be able to secure where the old fan was for the system.

The connections for the switch and the power adapter require custom wiring, and are best done by those who have the experience and knowledge to do them. It would be unwise for me to share those details, given the nature of electrical wiring. I will only say, that both the power connector, and the switch are from the Macintosh Classic.

A lot of this hardware would also work for a Hackintosh.

Software

Basilisk II Emulator: https://basilisk.cebix.net/

This emulator was installed, and then the startup files for Raspberry Pi OS Lite were modified to boot right into the emulator on power on. I also used a Mac Classic chime sound file that I included in the startup too. I believe to run the Basilisk II without a desktop environment, a version of XWindows needs to be installed.

It may also be possible to use mini VMac, and QEMU as well. I plan to conduct trials with alternate SD cards at some point, but have not doubled back to it yet, since it works.

3D Prints

Display Bezel Adapter
: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3551263
USB Ports for Rear of Case: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5968258
LCD Bracket: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5968264
Adapter Plate for tinkerBOY RJ-11 to USB: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5968275
Adapter Plate for tinkerBOY ADB to USB: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5968282

The Adapter Plates are meant to be epoxyed to the back of the case, but the tinkerBOY mods sit flush, and are secure in the adapters and do NOT need to be glued or epoxy. This allows for modification or changing/updating in the future.

Everything else is dealer's choice. The bracket that the Pi sits on is custom made from aluminum, and I do not have a design for it, since i mocked it up with cardboard.
 

bakkus

Well-known member
Oh, hey! Is this the one I saw on a blog about half a year ago? You posted a picture of that one on a wooden table in a garden?
 
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