ZX Spectrum 48 Case – TRANSPARENT

The same ZX Spectrum 48 case, moulded in transparent plastic. Everything that was hidden for forty years — the board, the chips, the edge connector, the wiring to the membrane — is on show. It is a very high-quality replica, made to the same shape and tolerances as the black one, and it changes the machine from an object into a diagram.

That is not only a matter of looks. If you are teaching anybody anything on a Spectrum, a case you can see through is worth a great deal: you can point at the processor while you talk about the processor, watch which board you have selected, and check the card slot without turning the machine over. It also suits people building a clone who would rather show the work than bury it.

What you get — read this bit carefully

• plastic case, top and bottom

That is genuinely all. This is the shell alone: no keyboard membrane, no rubber key mat, no faceplate, no screws and no feet. If you need those as well, the black case kit is the complete set and includes every one of them. Buy this one when you already have the keyboard parts, or when you are moving them across from a case that has seen better days.

What it fits, and what you will have to cut

The openings are cut for the original ZX Spectrum 48 electronics. A modern clone such as a Sizif-512 has sockets in places Sinclair never used, so you will need to make a few additional openings yourself. There is a printable template and a set of instructions showing precisely where each one goes. Take your time with a transparent shell — a clean cut shows more than it would in black, and a rough one shows a great deal more.

Questions people ask

Is the keyboard included?

No. This is the plastic shell only, top and bottom. The membrane, the rubber key mat, the aluminium faceplate, the screws and the feet are not part of it.

What is the difference between this and the black case kit?

Two things: the material, and how much is in the box. The black one is a complete kit — shell, membrane, key mat, faceplate, screws and feet — in the original historical colours. This one is the transparent shell on its own.

Will a Sizif-512 fit?

Yes, once you have cut the additional openings for its sockets. The case ships with the original ZX Spectrum 48 cut-outs; we publish a template and instructions for the extra ones.

Can you really see the board through it?

That is the entire idea. The chips, the edge connector and the internal wiring are all visible with the machine assembled and running, which is why these tend to end up on desks where somebody is explaining something.

Does it fit an original ZX Spectrum 48 board?

It does, without modification — the openings are cut for the original electronics.