YouTuber builds a mini Commodore 1084 monitor with 3D printing for the Amiga A500 Mini and C64 Mini
Retro enthusiasts are constantly finding new ways to refresh the nostalgia of classic systems. One such example is the case of “Press any Key to Continue” on YouTube, which recently showcased a mini Commodore 1084 monitor, scaled down to complement the Amiga A500 Mini and the Commodore 64 Mini.
The YouTuber created the entire project using 3D printing to shrink down the iconic design of the original 1980s monitor and added some quality-of-life tech improvements to make the setup more modern.
The idea took life from the YouTuber’s desire to complement today's mini retro consoles. Back during Commodore’s heyday, the company manufactured multiple monitors. However, the modder and creator zeroed in on the 1081 and 1084 variants because they were highlights of the C64 and Amiga eras.
The modder explained the whole process in his YouTube video. At the center of the build is an inexpensive 8-inch LCD screen the YouTuber pulled from a camera monitor, which, for reference, costs around $70 on Amazon and offers basic HDMI input, analog connections, a built-in speaker, and a remote control.
He disassembled the camera monitor and repurposed the remote by embedding it in the mini monitor's bezel. However, he went through a series of LCD options before settling on his final choice.
The YouTuber used Fusion 360 and a Bambu Lab A1 printer to design and 3D-print a simplified housing comprising a gray frame, a sliding chassis, a rear cover with speaker mounts, and a connector cover.
After removing the chassis support pieces, the parts snapped together seamlessly. The YouTuber used the LCD’s original mounting brackets and finished off the project by glittering the housing with stickers featuring the Commodore Logo and model numbers.
While the modded monitor doesn’t give the cathode-ray glow of old CRTs, the YouTuber was happy with the sharp 8-inch LCD and the small but functional speakers.
While he didn’t share the exact STL files for the 3D prints, he did, however, walk viewers through the entire creative process, from modeling tips and printing settings to assembly. You can still find ready-to-download 3D-printing files for mini Commodore monitors, such as the Commodore 1701 Mini Monitor for the C64 Mini, on sites like Thingiverse.
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