Custom-Shell on Pimp my retro handheld

Ultimate Amiga 1200: PiStorm, CD32 Mode and Full Hardware Expansion

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:15:04 +0000

Some time ago, I had the opportunity to get both an Amiga 500 and an Amiga 1200. While the Amiga 500 was restored as a fairly traditional machine, I had a more ambitious project in mind for the Amiga 1200.

My goal was to build three different machines into a single computer:

A high-end Amiga with a powerful CPU, graphics card, networking capabilities and all the modern conveniences normally associated with an upgraded Amiga 4000.
A more traditional Amiga 1200 with Fast RAM and a hard drive for maximum software compatibility.
A CD32-compatible system able to run games specifically enhanced for Commodore’s console, without requiring dedicated CD32 hardware such as the Akiko chip.

To achieve this, I combined several solutions:

Pimped Amiga 500

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 20:22:23 +0000

Back in the early ’90s, I had an Amiga 2000 with just one expansion card: a SCSI controller paired with a massive 290 MB hard drive. Getting software and games to run from the hard drive—with only 1 MB of chip RAM—required a lot of tricks. But it was fun, and it taught me a lot about computers.

A few months ago, I stumbled upon a cheap Amiga 500, and I couldn’t resist. I decided to restore it from the ground up and add a GottaGoFast RAM + IDE controller to finally build what would have been my dream machine in 1990: an Amiga running OS 1.3 with fast RAM!

Wonderswan color : IPS display and new shell

Sat, 13 May 2023 17:40:05 +0000

The Wonderswan color is an upgrade of the Wonderswan which had a black & white display… Well an upgrade regarding the colors of the display, but not its quality. The original screen is even worth than the one of the GameBoy Advance : very dark but also very blurry (ghosting) because of its cheap technology, a passive matrix LCD (FSTN). Fortunately, an IPS display upgrade exists !

The Wonderswan crystal, which is an upgrade over the Wonderswan color, has a better screen. But it is also more expansive and still has no backlight. An IPS display upgrade also exists, but it requires to modify the shell.

Homemade consolized Neo Geo MVS

Thu, 19 May 2022 21:34:31 +0000

A home-built consolized Neo Geo MVS project: arcade hardware adapted for use as a home console.

Revive the colors of an original Famicom

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 21:10:20 +0000

Restoring the original white and red appearance of a yellowed Famicom with a practical paint-based finish.

Modded Game Boy Pocket : IPS + backlit buttons + Lipo

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 22:19:40 +0000

The Game Boy Pocket is my favourite model. I already modded one with backlight and bivert. This considerably enhance the display and the gaming experience. However it is still a passive dot matrix screen which makes fast action game difficult to play (eg. Donkey kong land, Super Mario land). Fortunately there is a nice solution : IPS display ! So I deciced to use such a screen on another game Boy Pocket and as the model I took was an ugly green one, I also decided to enhance it futher more : new shell, translucent backlit buttons and lipo battery.

Game Boy Color : IPS display and new shell

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:37:08 +0000

The Game Boy Color is a pretty good portable console with some funny games (e.g. Wario land 3, Motoross maniac 2). Unlike others handhelds, the screen has not a big ghosting effect like the Sega Game Gear or the Atari Lynx. But even if the Game Boy Color’s display is brighter than the one found on the Game Boy Advance, it is not always easy to see as it is not backlit. In addition, over the time the console may have been scratched and often lacks its battery cover. Chance is that we can easily find custom replacement shell and backlit IPS display.

Mega Drive 2 Cartridge Slot Modification for Japanese Games

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 18:10:39 +0000

Widening a European or US Mega Drive 2 cartridge slot so Japanese cartridges fit without changing the console’s electronics.

Game gear : from trashed console to brand new with TFT display

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:06:47 +0000

A Sega Game Gear restoration covering repair work, a TFT display upgrade, and a replacement shell.

2 X Game Boy advance IPS + new shell

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 20:39:57 +0000

Two Game Boy Advance projects combining IPS screen upgrades with replacement shells, including the fitting work needed for each console.