There is something especially pleasing about seeing an Amstrad CPC recreated in miniature, and even more so when it is not just a display piece but a proper working build. Simon recently 3D printed the CPC Mini based on Archer’s Amstrad CPC464 Mini design, a functional mini recreation of the classic machine that uses the CPCESP emulator.
From the outside, it has all the charm you would hope for:
- It is instantly recognisable as a CPC
- It has that distinctive shape and keyboard-first design
- It will still make Amstrad fans smile!
But, as ever with projects like this, the real story is in the build. One of the biggest jobs was the keyboard. Simon said it took a lot of detailed soldering to connect all the keyboard wires, which gives you a good idea of how much patience went into getting this little machine working properly. Mini builds have a way of making every task feel fiddlier, and this one was no exception.
Of course, no hands-on retro project is complete without at least one moment of mild chaos! In this case, Simon managed to put the S on the keyboard the wrong way up. Thankfully, it did not escape notice for long. His partner Jo, also a founding member of UKAG, an Amstrad Action writer and journalist, spotted it. So the build now has one of those brilliant little stories that every good project deserves: the kind where everything is nearly perfect, apart from one rebellious keycap trying to start its own alphabet.
That is part of what makes builds like this so enjoyable. They are not just about the finished object. They are about the process, the problem-solving, the tiny details, and the moments that make you laugh afterwards.
A project like this is a tribute not only to the original Amstrad CPC464, but also to the creativity and enthusiasm that still surround the machine today. The MakerWorld model itself is described as a tribute to the 1984 original, recreated in a compact but functional format.
Simon’s finished CPC Mini is exactly the sort of thing UKAG exists to celebrate: a mix of technical skill, retro affection and the occasional upside-down letter.
You can see the CPC mini, plus more that Simon has done on this project, at our meetup in June! The tickets are selling fast, and with projects like this on display, it’s no wonder!