Okay, let’s spill the beans – we didn’t stumble upon a hidden treasure trove of original molds like Dallas did. Nope, we took the road less traveled, embarking on a meticulous journey to recreate the iconic breadbin case from the ground up. And let me tell you, it has been an adventure filled with passion, precision, and a relentless pursuit of perfection! But a little more on that later…..

The Journey of Your Funding: Transparent, Secure, and Value-Driven 

 1. A Commitment to Affordability and Security:
Our foremost priority is delivering exceptional value while ensuring the absolute safety of your investment. We’ve meticulously structured this campaign to offer the replacement cases at a competitive price point, yet without compromising the security of your backing. Every penny of your support is safeguarded, set aside exclusively for the very end stages of this project, ensuring that in any unforeseen event, your contribution is secure and refundable in full.
 

 2. The Magic Number: 500 Cases for Minimum Viability:

This project has been in the works for a long time, and with the molds now perfected, we’re thrilled to offer these replacement Commodore 64 cases to the world. Thanks to upfront investment in tooling and molds, we can produce a minimum of 500 cases, covering just the basic production costs.
 

3. The Road to Victory: Our Triumphs and Next Steps

We did it! The molds are forged, the tooling is perfected, and we’re on the brink of producing the first run of new breadbin cases. This is not just a project – it’s a revival, a triumph of passion and precision. We’ve journeyed through the intricate path of design, tackled challenges head-on, and emerged victorious with tooling that’s now fully refined.

The meticulous journey has brought us to this exciting juncture, where the cases are ready to hit the production line. Thanks to our upfront investment in tooling and molds, the groundwork has been laid. Every step of the way, we’ve tackled challenges with unwavering confidence and the belief that this project will breathe new life into our beloved Commodore 64.

We’re not stopping here. If we blow past our goals, the surplus will help us fund future projects that will excite and inspire you just as much as this one. The possibilities are endless, and with the community’s support, we’re poised to achieve even greater things.

So here’s to us, to you, and to the success of a dream now within reach. Together, we’re bringing the iconic breadbin case back in style. Let’s march forward and make this vision a reality!

                                                      
Diving Deep into Case Selection: Unraveling the Layers of the C64 Breadbin

Over the tapestry of time, the legendary C64 breadbin has graced us with its presence in various avatars, each with its own unique quirks and features. Now, let’s embark on a journey to decipher these subtleties and uncover the magic behind the case selection for our campaign.

A Spectrum of Colors: Behold the glorious hues of the C64 breadbin! From the quintessential breadbin brown to the elusive C64G colors, we’re rolling out the red carpet for these iconic shades, ensuring you find your perfect match.

Profiles in History: The C64 breadbin is a masterpiece, showcasing diversity in its profiles. Some stand tall with a higher side view, while others exude grace with a slightly lower stance. Each profile, a story in itself, may come adorned with a legendary imprint on the back, or choose to remain sleek and unmarked.

After much deliberation and invaluable insights from our vibrant community, the verdict is in! The crowd favorite? The majestic lower profile design, complete with the legendary imprint, ready to take center stage.

Texture’s Symphony: But wait, there’s more! We’ve left no stone unturned in our quest for perfection. The C64 breadbin, a symphony of textures, flaunts two distinct patterns – one gracefully enveloping the body, the other encircling the keyboard section like a halo. Our mission? To replicate these textures with an unwavering commitment to detail, ensuring that whether you’re on a quest for a replacement or itching to add a mod twist, your case resonates with the authenticity and charm of the original.

So, here we are, having navigated the intricate tapestry of the C64 breadbin’s legacy. With a heart full of passion and a dash of nostalgia, we present to you a case selection that’s not just a choice, but a tribute to the golden era of computing.

                              The 2 distinct textures on the breadbin which we are replicating

Sculpting Excellence: The Art of Modeling, Conversion, and Cleanup 

Welcome to the heart of our creation process, where precision meets passion and dreams transform into reality! We’re on a mission, not just to recreate, but to redefine the iconic C64 breadbin case with an unwavering commitment to perfection. 

From Pixels to Perfection: Sure, the digital realm is teeming with 3D models of the C64 case. But hey, we’re not here to follow the crowd! We decided to embark on an audacious journey, crafting our very own masterpiece from the ground up. Why? Because when it comes to bringing your dreams to life, we settle for nothing but the best! 

Zooming In: Our odyssey begins with high-resolution 3D scans, capturing every curve, every nuance of the beloved breadbin. But we didn’t stop there! We transformed these scans into a dynamic mesh, setting the stage for the magic to unfold.

CAD: The Alchemist’s Touch: Next, we wielded the power of CAD, converting our mesh into a workable file, ready to be molded and perfected. Like master sculptors, we delved into the details, refining and revising until every pixel, every line, sang in harmony.

 Attention to Detail: Our journey was peppered with challenges, but our resolve was unwavering. We navigated through intricate details, smoothing out the rough edges, ensuring that no stone was left unturned. The result? A design that stands tall, ready to face the world and ready for the spotlight.

                                                  An early version of one of our first CAD models

Ready, Set, Prototype!: With a design as sharp as a razor and as refined as a sonnet, we are thrilled to announce that we have crossed the Rubicon. The stage is set, the tools are ready, and we are on the brink of bringing our vision to life through prototyping and tool creation.

So, dear backers, brace yourselves! The journey has been exhilarating, the challenges monumental, but the reward? Oh, it’s going to be legendary! 

Embarking on a Colorful Journey: Prototyping and Picking the Perfect Palette 

Welcome to the heartbeat of our project, where imagination meets reality and the dreams of every Commodore 64 enthusiast are about to come true! 

Prototyping Perfection: Before we dived into the depths of production, we took a step back, rolled up our sleeves, and embarked on the crucial phase of prototyping. Why? Because we’re obsessed with perfection! We wanted to ensure every detail was spot on, every screw hole in the right place, and that our case would be a sanctuary for any C64 model or variant. And guess what? After rigorous testing and sleepless nights, we’ve nailed it! Our case isn’t just good; it’s a masterpiece! ✨

                                                               One of our first 3D prototypes

The Art of Color Selection: Now, let’s talk color. We know, we know, an infinite palette sounds like a dream. But here’s the deal: more colors mean more complexity, more costs, and more time. But fret not! We’ve navigated these tricky waters and emerged with a color palette that’s nothing short of spectacular. 

From the rich reds and regal blues to vibrant greens, we’ve got it all! Craving for a nostalgic trip with breadbin brown or 64G grey? We’ve got you covered. Feeling bold? Dive into the deep black of the Plus/4 or the original SX64’s silver and grey. And for the purists, there’s classic white. But wait, there’s more! For those who love to live on the wild side, our translucent option is your ticket to showcasing the inner beauty of your 64 or creating mesmerizing effects with LED light mods. 

So, dear backers, get ready to unleash your creativity and make your C64 uniquely yours! The possibilities are endless, and the choice is yours. Let’s color the world of Commodore 64 like never before! 

Mastering the Mold: A Symphony of Precision and Expertise

Embarking on the intricate dance of mold production and tooling is no small feat—it’s a substantial investment, both financially and in the painstaking attention to detail it demands. But here’s the deal: we’re on a mission to create something extraordinary, and that means diving headfirst into the complexities of plastic injection molding—a craft that’s equal parts science and art.

Now, let’s get real: perfection is the name of the game when it comes to crafting these molds. Why? Because the precision of the mold dictates the consistency and the uncompromised quality of every single unit that comes out of it. This is where we draw the line between mediocre and exceptional, and folks, we are all in for exceptional.

So, what have we done? We’ve pulled out all the stops and brought in the big guns. We’re talking about a virtuoso in mold production, paired with a powerhouse injection molding plastic company. This dream team is on board to ensure that every intricate detail, every curve and contour of our design is translated into a mold that’s nothing short of perfection.

We’re setting the stage for a product that’s poised to blow your mind and exceed every expectation. This is where artistry meets engineering, where precision meets passion. We’re not just making molds; we’re crafting a legacy of quality, consistency, and unrivaled excellence.

                                            A small snipet of some of the ‘behind the scenes’ work

So, brace yourselves. We’re not just making a statement; we’re setting a new industry standard. Welcome to a journey of innovation, precision, and unparalleled quality. Welcome to the future of C64 cases, reimagined and redefined.

Where are we now & the next steps forward…..

To simplify and summarise, at the time of writing, we have completed tooling and prototypes for the side bracket which appears to have gone ahead flawlessly. 

The mold has been forged and had produced it’s first cases back in February. There were a series of very small detail issues we had found with our very first cases off the mold, some small issues with the brass inserts and some other fine tuning adjustments that were needed to get everything absolutely perfect.  On May 1, all refinements to the molds and tooling had been completed and the next round of prototypes produced. All of the fine tuning and adjustments appear to have been successful so we are currently awaiting the next samples to make some last minute checks before we are ready to give our full tick of approval and get everything set in stone so to speak.

The next step is to add a highly polished surface finish to the molds which will allow us to achieve a high clarity transparent case which will be a very limited production run. Achieving a high degree of clarity requires that the mold undergo a set of processes to ensure that the cases come out crystal clear and without the somewhat cloudy effect we would see with the original textures added to the mold. 

Once we have the final transparent case numbers confirmed from this campaign, we are ready to refinish the mold and replicate the original textures for the breadbin so that for all of the colored cases, we have an authentic feel and look to the finished product. NOTE THAT ONCE THE TEXTURES ARE ADDED TO THE CASE, PERFECTLY CLEAR CASES WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO BE PRODUCED AGAIN.

Once we have the textures added, final numbers confirmed for each of the color variants, its full steam ahead with production. 

Once production is complete, all orders are shipped directly to our warehouse here in Australia so that we have the opportunity to complete the last round of QC and orders then dispatch to you. 

At the conclusion of this campaign, all backers will be contacted via email to confirm final color selections and to arrange postage costs. Note that while we do have very favourable corporate postage rates available at present, our ability to negotiate better rates will be dependent on the volume of orders we have for this campaign so we do not want to set the rates in stone until we can get the absolute best rates possible for you all.

What this also means is that for backers of multiple cases, there will be significant price breaks in the postage cost dependent on volume. 

Factoring in the time for the campaign to run and the complexity of manufacture, order assembly and shipping, allowing some additional time as a margin for error, we fully expect that we will have all cases ready to ship by December 1 so that all backers can have their new cases in time for Christmas this year. In reality, if everything runs smoothly and goes to plan, it is entirely possible that we will be shipping much sooner than this.

What next…..

We thank you for being a part of this journey, for helping us to bring the breadbin back to life with brand new case sets, not only for the backers in this campaign, but also for those who may be lucky enough to own one in the future. For us it has been a labour of love stretching over the past year and a half (and still counting) but it has been worth every moment! Helping to fund this project not only means that we each get a cool new home for our beloved C64 but it also means that the tooling is available so that cases can actually be made again in the future. As the original breadbins continue to age, discolor, become brittle and break, this is as important now as ever.

While we do not have any immediate plans to produce any more cases after this campaign concludes, we are certain that we can get the numbers together to run another batch, or perhaps many other batches in the future.

Beyond this campaign, we do have other large projects in the works which we know you will all love as much as this one so stay tuned. 

So help get the word out, tell a friend, show a fellow enthusiast and together lets make new breadbin cases for our favorite C64 setups more than just a pipe dream!