Smiggy's Media Gallery

New: Amiga Machine Hub — A500, A600 & A1200 Workbench Reference (Gallery)

13 Oct 2026 • image

New Bench Tool: Retro Logic & RAM Substitution Guide (Gallery)

7 Oct 2026 • image

C64C Ukraine Blue and Yellow edition

An image of a custom Commodore 64C (C64C) 8-bit home computer. The computer is housed in a distinct bright blue wedge-style case with horizontal top ventilation slats, featuring classic beige PETSCII keycaps and its original metallic "commodore C64 PERSONAL COMPUTER" badge intact. This specific unit was acquired via an eBay charity auction held in support of Ukraine.

7 Oct 2026 • image

Soldering 101 — Smiggy's Guide to Electronics Repair Basics (Gallery)

4 Oct 2026 • image

The BBC Micro — Britain's Greatest Computer? Smiggy Investigates (Gallery)

4 Oct 2026 • image

Neon Dreams: Classic Sega Arcade Motion Cabinets at PLAY Expo

This photograph showcases two iconic 1980s Sega arcade cabinets bathed in atmospheric purple and pink neon lighting. On the left is the full moving deluxe edition of Yu Suzuki’s OutRun (1986), featuring its signature red convertible-style rear housing complete with tail lights and exhaust pipes. Right beside it stands the rotating motion cockpit version of After Burner (1987), giving players an immersive flight-sim experience with its enclosed canopy and fighter-jet livery. Together, they highlight the golden age of hydraulic "Taikan" arcade design, bringing the sights and sounds of classic retro gaming floor spaces directly to life

4 Oct 2026 • image

Glow of the Arcade: Classic Uprights in Red Neon at PLAY Expo

Bask in pure retro nostalgia as a line of classic late-80s arcade upright cabinets sits illuminated under intense red venue lighting. The standout machines featured in this lineup include Atari’s humorous police driving game A.P.B. (All Points Bulletin, 1987) with its distinct steering wheel setup, and Atari’s futuristic split-screen shooter Xybots (1987). Surrounded by players engrossed in gameplay, the vivid ambient glow and retro silhouettes perfectly capture the authentic, electric atmosphere of an 80s arcade hall brought back to life.

4 Oct 2026 • image

Play Expo Blackpool 2026: Arcades, Retro Nostalgia, and My Annual Tradition with Robbo (Gallery)

4 Oct 2026 • image

8-Bit Martial Arts: Atari 800XL Running Bruce Lee at PLAY Expo

This photo captures a classic 8-bit home computer setup featuring an Atari 800XL computer hooked up to a vintage Panasonic CRT television, bathed in moody purple venue lighting. Plugged into the top cartridge slot is a game labelled Bruce Lee—the iconic 1984 platform/action game by Datasoft—with the game's distinctive levels, platforms, and characters clearly visible on the CRT display. Next to the computer sits a classic Atari-style joystick, complete with its red fire buttons, offering a perfectly authentic slice of early 1980s computer gaming nostalgia.

4 Oct 2026 • image

How to be a Complete Bastard for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum (48K/128K)

The game was an official tie-in based on the comedic parody book How to be a Complete Bastard written by comedian Adrian Edmondson (famous for The Young Ones and Bottom). In the game, you control "Ade the Bastard" (a caricature of Edmondson himself) who crashes a lavish party hosted by wealthy yuppies. The objective is to ruin the party for all the guests, spell out the phrase COMPLETE-BASTARD, and score as many "Bastard Points" as possible by executing childish, absurd, and obnoxious pranks—such as spiking drinks, setting off stink bombs, placing itching powder, and causing general chaos around the house. Spotted at the Blackpool Play Expo 2026

4 Oct 2026 • image

Analogue Treasures: Retro Gaming & VHS Nostalgia at PLAY Expo Blackpool

Captured at the PLAY Expo Blackpool 2026, these photos showcase a treasure trove of physical retro media, from rare software releases to walls of vintage home video tapes. Featured prominently is the original boxed ZX Spectrum release of Virgin's How to be a Complete Bastard (1987) based on Adrian Edmondson's comedy book, sitting alongside classic Code Masters multi-packs like Quattro Arcade. The broader display offers a warm wave of analogue nostalgia, where stacks of chunky clamshell VHS cases—ranging from 1980s cult classics like Octopussy and Where Eagles Dare to 1990s rental staples like The Krays—evoke memories of Friday night trips to the video shop. The tactile charm of physical box art, tracking lines, and the satisfying clunk of sliding a tape into a VCR serves as a vivid time capsule of a bygone era in home entertainment.

4 Oct 2026 • image

Play Expo Blackpool 2026: Lunar Patrol: Classic Moon Patrol Arcade Cabinet

This image captures an original Williams upright arcade cabinet for the seminal side-scrolling shooter Moon Patrol (1982, licensed from Irem). Bathed in vivid blue and purple lighting, the marquee and control panel feature the iconic moon buggy artwork, while the CRT screen clearly displays the title card above the distinctive three-layered parallax scrolling terrain. Widely celebrated for introducing parallax scrolling to video games, this classic machine remains a true cornerstone of early 1980s arcade history.

4 Oct 2026 • image

Play Expo Blackpool 2026: Heavy Metal Pinball: Stern's Metallica Machine

This image shows a player lined up at Stern Pinball's classic Metallica pinball machine (2013), designed by John Borg with artwork by Dirty Donny. The striking backglass artwork depicts stylized cartoon caricatures of the heavy metal band's members set against a wall of speaker cabs. Below it, the LED matrix display shows a score of 2,213,310 above a playfield packed with iconic Metallica-themed features, including the electric chair, grave markers, and snake ramps. To the right, Stern's popular Godzilla pinball machine is also partially visible on the floor.

4 Oct 2026 • image

Play Expo Blackpool 2026: Cosmic Action: Stern's Guardians of the Galaxy Pinball Machine

This image captures a player step up to Stern Pinball's Guardians of the Galaxy machine (2017), designed by John Borg. The vibrant backbox artwork showcases Marvel's iconic lineup, including Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Drax, above a high-definition LCD display running game clips and animations. The brightly lit playfield features detailed physical toys, ramps, and custom artwork, including the prominent "WE ARE GROOT" feature directly below the backbox. Partially visible to the left is a classic Bally pinball cabinet, rounding out a great mix of modern and retro silverball action.

4 Oct 2026 • image

Lock and Load: Operation Wolf on the Sega Master System

This atmospheric shot showcases Taito's classic light-gun shooter Operation Wolf (1988) running on a Sega Master System system connected to a Panasonic CRT television set. Placed directly in the foreground is the iconic Sega Light Phaser light gun, angled toward the screen which invites the player to "PUSH START BUTTON OR PULL THE TRIGGER". Framed by the deep ambient lighting of the event venue, this setup perfectly captures the nostalgic appeal of 8-bit home console light-gun gaming.

4 Oct 2026 • image

Play Expo Blackpool 2026: Arcades, Retro Nostalgia, and My Annual Tradition with Robbo (Gallery)

4 Oct 2026 • image

Smiggy's World Newsletter — Stay in the Loop with New Posts, Projects & Updates (Gallery)

4 Oct 2026 • image

The IC Pinout Finder Just Doubled: 26 to 56 Chips (Gallery)

1 Oct 2026 • image

Building srpetsitting.co.uk: Designing a Clean, Fast Website for Local Pet Care (Gallery)

27 Sep 2026 • image

Retro Spotlight: The QuickJoy SV-129 Foot Pedal (Huge Thanks to Dylan!) (Gallery)

26 Sep 2026 • image

Retro Spotlight: The QuickJoy SV-129 Foot Pedal (Huge Thanks to Dylan!) (Gallery)

26 Sep 2026 • image

Retro Spotlight: The QuickJoy SV-129 Foot Pedal (Huge Thanks to Dylan!) (Gallery)

26 Sep 2026 • image

New Bench Tool: Interactive IC Pinout & Datasheet Finder (Gallery)

24 Sep 2026 • image

New on the Bench: Verified Recap Guides for Ten Classic Boards (Gallery)

16 Sep 2026 • image

Latest Acquisition - Osborne one (Gallery)

13 Feb 2026 • image

Latest Acquisition - Osborne one (Gallery)

13 Feb 2026 • image

Feldman's Folly

Ballad of Fledman

6 Feb 2026 • audio