Used an IBM System 36 when I first started in IT and an ICL 1900 G3 system with exchangeable disks the size of small filing cabinet.
Always promised myself one one of the big scale Tamiya kits (the Katana) if I smashed myself up. No lockdown for me unfortunately.
Honeywell H125 and H200 in 1969 - operator. As operators we had to be able to read, punch and correct 8 channel paper tape and punched cards (80 column?). Fun times!
That binary ticker tape was what we used too (20 odd year later) My son (who likes a bit of programming) was agog when I was describing the splicing and dicing fun we’d have with it
As I started in IT in 1990, there was some punched card cartons still laying in the storage. By chance never had to use those. The guy at the time were allowed to compile a program only once a day
Aaahh .... so you're also familiar with the 'unipunch' and the sticky silver correction tape? The manual card punch machine was even more fun requiring some manual dexterity for three finger combinations! There was, though, some half decent 'totty' in the punch room - and miniskirts were still popular especially from the pov of the hairy-arsed, rebellious and raucous operations staff!
Ah punched cards, lovely, not. And when you made a mistake you could wet your finger, pick up a tiny piece of "punched out card" and place it back in a hole. Just slightly wet with saliva, it would stay back in the hole and go through the card reader. Edit: I remember my boss sending messages on punched cards to the married woman he was having an affair with while she was in hospital. All clandestine stuff.
The NC500 is on my list for 2021 as well. Got friends up there who've done part of it already so hopefully a road trip beckons.
My Spitfire model should arrive today. Funny how things sort of develop from nowhere though-I've been watching Youtube and got really interested in the history and background of these aircraft. I look like ending up being an aviation enthusiast if I'm not careful! Ordered a couple more kits too, then of course it's paints etc, all the little side orders.........a ride out to see the Lancaster at Spilsby looks a must do when things come right again.
If you pick the right day the Lanc does a taxi run down the runway. Missed it in 2019 so I will be keeping an eye on when it’s on again. Some interesting stuff at Newark Air museum too, Vulcan being among the highlights and I particularly like the engine shed, some of those twin row radial engines have to be seen close up to be believed.
Yeah Newark is no more than 20 miles from me. The Lancaster taxi events are advertised and will be a must see for me this year, fingers crossed. What I didn't know is that you can actually ride in the Lanc while it does it's little tour. Only £380.00 Apparently they also have one of my favourite ever aircraft-a Mosquito. As beautiful as they were deadly. Deffo ride out there.
I have an Airfix kit of the Hurricane tucked away in a cupboard, it comes complete with the necessary paints. Perhaps I'll get bored enough to make it soon.
I’ve a Tamiya Ducati 916 waiting for me to start but in the mean time I find tying these very relaxing, allied with the thoughts of better weather and the end of lockdown. Oldfart
