State of Play - Some Good News
Added 2024-09-29 18:31:14 +0000 UTCI've written much over the last year or so about all the things that have gone wrong with the process. Most boiled down to one or two things that were completely unforeseen and almost undetectable. Every time we fixed an issue, something else went wrong and then we fixed that and the original thing went wrong again.
It was like the universe was against us and unless you were there, there's just no way you would believe it. I can barely believe it myself to be honest.
But to give you an example, this happened just last week...
We've rebuilt the mill twice and upgraded the controllers and power supplies after they failed - you might remember the mains power issue that precipitated those failures - and we've had no issues since then. The centre gauge is made up of no less than five levels and there's some intricate milling to make up what looks exactly like the standard mini fuel/water temp gauge. It's quite the thing...
Anyway, with all the prototyping done except for one piece - for which the gcode had been finalised - the hard drive failed on the PC. Operating system, Mach 3 programme and every single piece of gcode for every single piece of milling we've ever done or was about to do - gone. Just like that, vanished.
If we'd had a pram, or indeed some toys, well, you can imagine... If we'd had any emotion left, well there would have been tears.
The plan was sound - you'd have been watching episode 39 today. As it happens, we just had to drown our sorrows and come up with another plan. So, a slightly different video than envisioned if coming week after next probably and we're going to split the madness of the last eighteen months into probably three videos now.
We're too bloody minded to quit, we're too mentally exhausted to do anything other than just keep plodding on now. The universe and its myriad roadblocks can do one, we're not to be beaten.
See you in a couple of weeks, thanks for your patience as always, you're amazing.
Cheers,
Nik and Richard.
Comments
Going on a couple weeks now just quietly
Trev
2024-10-15 02:23:31 +0000 UTCCan I recommend a live stream for your Patreon? It's a very low effort way to give significant engagement with your supporters, the frustrated people can blow off a bit of steam in the comments and there can be a much more personal connection to the progress and the challenges preventing it. It will also prove that you guys are both alive and this account hasn't been hijacked for the subscription revenue 😂
Alex Abroad
2024-10-14 09:22:25 +0000 UTCThanks for the update, gents. Glad to hear the setbacks are not of a different kind, however cumbersome they are. I agree with those who say that, for instance a wrap-up of what has happened the past week would be nice to watch and would give all supporters and viewers an opportunity to express their support, which would undoubtedly be very gratifying to receive and motivate you even further. Having said that I understand when you say that rough, quick 'n dirty is not how you do things. I admire that and it makes all that you do very special even though the YT algorithm promotes the opposite. As such I will continue to support you and wish you good health to continue this endeavour.
Bernard
2024-10-11 10:03:53 +0000 UTCAdding to that, whatever you do don't try to recover the data yourself! Sure it *might' work, but there's a greater risk you're simply going to kill any chance of a professional recovery by messing with it.
David Lundin
2024-10-10 10:49:29 +0000 UTCInvoiced
Trev
2024-10-04 20:10:15 +0000 UTCSo all that data is hugely valuable and important; but not sufficiently important to back it up. Hmmm.
Alan Charlton
2024-10-04 19:03:53 +0000 UTCI keep thinking I'm excessively paranoid, backing up myfiles to cloud providers and then synchronising with a NAS device. And then something like this happens, and I realise that it's not paranoid at all.
Guy Chapman, the Solutions Archaeologist
2024-10-01 10:11:01 +0000 UTCI’m sick to my stomach thinking of losing those files. Any chance there’s an online backup? Your CAD files are OK right?
Lee Gibson
2024-10-01 09:12:54 +0000 UTCIf I had that mill I’d have run it over with the Escargot.
Lee Gibson
2024-10-01 09:12:04 +0000 UTCYou are definitely not alone :-D
Ben Holland
2024-09-30 16:12:53 +0000 UTCA BOM Howie Did It on setting up the mill is a video I’d watch
Simon Ludborzs
2024-09-30 11:01:40 +0000 UTCWow, And here I was, thinking that I was a 💩🧲. Thanks for the entertaining videos and getting the funk out. PS, What ever happened to the MG shell?
Andrew Maddock
2024-09-30 10:51:10 +0000 UTCOr 'unlimited' at Jottacloud O:) You would still have some files that you forgot to back up though :P
Anne Krijger
2024-09-30 09:11:31 +0000 UTCThat's okay. We're now at 3 more episodes! That's something more to look forward to
Lawrence Selly
2024-09-30 08:59:24 +0000 UTCCan't you just play some Funk and make a bracket?
Campbell Hicks
2024-09-30 08:29:24 +0000 UTC❤️
Matthew Imel
2024-09-30 05:38:14 +0000 UTCTbh I’m just happy that I’m funding two blokes trying their best somewhere across the pond, and at some point I’ll see one of the coolest projects finished. Binky existing has made me happy for years and got me into a bunch of other car YT, so keep on keeping on!
Karl Shea
2024-09-30 03:34:18 +0000 UTCSeconding the Backblaze rec—I’ve been exactly in the position where I’ve lost everything once, and after that was super diligent about backups. $5ish a month per computer.
Karl Shea
2024-09-30 03:29:49 +0000 UTCI know talking about backups doesn't bring back the things that are lost, but... I've used Backblaze for probably a decade now and fingers crossed I never need to use it it's been excellent piece of mind. Looking forward to Binky 39 <3
Patrick Kennedy
2024-09-30 02:44:03 +0000 UTCAnybody else read one of these updates and then excitedly rewatch the entire series? No? Just me? Oh well…off to episode one!! I have faith that Binky will be worth the wait. Excited to see you all again soon!
Colin Wetz
2024-09-30 01:48:37 +0000 UTCThings sometimes go haywire, we've been here this long, we ain't going anywhere
Bruce Gorney
2024-09-30 00:26:15 +0000 UTCWatchthrough #50 or so for me......
Keith Hache
2024-09-29 23:59:23 +0000 UTCOuch, definitely feel your pain on that one, everyone says you should do a back up... I worked in IT, I still lose shit once in a while. As others probably have said, drives can often be salvaged. Its definitely worth looking into. Stay Stuck In!
Carlin Comm
2024-09-29 23:46:50 +0000 UTCThe drive is likely recoverable. Talk to East Anglian Data Recovery. Anyway, I'm glad you're alive! I'd like to thank you for the inspiration over the years. Binky taught me that everything is possible (except gauges, I'll buy those) with a grinder, a welder and enough caffeine, and that's why it's your fault that I'm now LS swapping a Rover P5. Cheers!
Lewis Collard
2024-09-29 23:13:34 +0000 UTCI look forward to the new video lads, to be honest, I've just been happy re watching the old episodes. Keep your chins up, and remember, you've survived 100% of your worst days so far. 😀👍
Frank Hall
2024-09-29 22:01:22 +0000 UTCLove from Texas. Your channel has brought 100x more entertainment, humor, inspiration and actual knowledge than 99.9% of the YouTube channels out there. You're in MythBusters territory in my book. I look forward to your Binky wrap-up and our post-Binky lives.
Lorenzo
2024-09-29 21:44:51 +0000 UTCSo glad you are ok, I was beginning to think that something horrible had happened to you both, like you had become trapped under something heavy. Anyway, ignore the naysayers, the reason we watch is because of what you do. If it takes two years, then that is what it takes. Downer about the pc. Keep digging, daylight WILL appear.
Charmandize
2024-09-29 20:38:31 +0000 UTCDrive loss especially on the old gear you need for Mach 3 is a sad reality... sorry it happened to you lads.
Carcenomy
2024-09-29 20:37:49 +0000 UTCI sympathise I'm trying to sort my Land Rover, rewiring it to a mad level but everything is in my head no manuals, sorting problems as I go along. And trying to look after everything else at the same time.
iain leake
2024-09-29 20:25:54 +0000 UTCEven an April fools like welding a ceramic mug back together would've been good 👍
Paul Hopkins
2024-09-29 20:18:49 +0000 UTCNope, reading isn't one of my strong points. Nor is posting on message boards
Paul Hopkins
2024-09-29 20:17:38 +0000 UTCGood on you for persevering! I've had the same feeling on a smaller-scale car resto project where I felt like I was just pouring time and money into it and finding nothing but more requirements for time and money. But I got it on the road, it still punishes me whenever it can because it's an old Audi, but it's worth it for the joy of actually eventually driving it!
Rob Clubley
2024-09-29 20:16:43 +0000 UTCKeep Calm and Carry On :D Cheers from Italy!!!
Mattia Tartaglia
2024-09-29 20:16:29 +0000 UTCI am not giving up. I am that stubborn/stupid. but if you lads can bear it, then so can I. stiff upper lip & all that. stay calm & carry on. there has to be something that applies here.
Ed Walters
2024-09-29 20:11:43 +0000 UTCIgnore all these impatient ****** keep doing what you're doing lads and don't let things bring you down. Sit back, have a cup of tea and do some thinking! And maybe a choccy hobnob
kezzaa
2024-09-29 20:00:42 +0000 UTCClearly you haven't just read the post you commented on...
kezzaa
2024-09-29 19:59:16 +0000 UTCI've been there lads. The creative process just takes that much time. I'm here for it and appreciate the little updates. Also it seems that my membership has increased a bit, funny that.
Matthew Wilson
2024-09-29 19:58:25 +0000 UTCWinston Churchill once said “When you're going through hell, keep going,” Keep up the good work, lads.
Matt Friend
2024-09-29 19:55:54 +0000 UTCMe too.
Bad Obsession Motorsport
2024-09-29 19:37:42 +0000 UTCBut I am a little upset with the seeming lack of updates, progress reports, or frankly, anything on YouTube for what has felt like aeons
Paul Hopkins
2024-09-29 19:35:03 +0000 UTCWell, I can't be mad at an update on progress.
Paul Hopkins
2024-09-29 19:33:45 +0000 UTCsorry i am a bit dyslexic
Oliver Larsen
2024-09-29 19:30:07 +0000 UTCThat is rough to hear. Keeping the faith though. Might be worth reaching out to DriveSavers to see if that code can be recovered - usually there's no charge if they can't do it. Pricey to recover, but cheaper than recreating hundreds of hours of work.
Adam Stadnick
2024-09-29 19:29:52 +0000 UTCi have been a long time supporter of yours and i feal your pain and espsly with getting episodes out. i myself am invold in building Spica at Copenhagen Suborbital. our bpm25 enging developent has hade simuler issues to yours and have had put a stopper for making engine content. i am extremely happy that you two are okay and still at it after all the hart ship that you have putting your selves thrue. and cant wait to hear the tail of the gauge cluster :) ps if you ever fined your self's in Copenhagen com by an see our rocket factory run by volunteers :)
Oliver Larsen
2024-09-29 19:29:12 +0000 UTCCrashed hard drives and years of data lost... Been there, done that, then bought a NAS running 2 mirrored disks. Anyway I feel your pain. Would love a behind the scenes look at BOM, the things that keep you busy and whatever else goes on in and around the shed. Take care and hope to see more updates soon.
Niek Hoogendoorn
2024-09-29 19:22:15 +0000 UTCThat's fair enough, but we do want it to be a polished, coherent video up to the standards we set ourselves. We do everything wrong for YouTube and we've known that from the start. Appreciate your support up until now and I hope you enjoy the future videos.
Bad Obsession Motorsport
2024-09-29 19:21:05 +0000 UTCIf you didn't have bad luck, you'd have no luck at all! I'm going nowhere, I'm in until the bitter end. Anyone complaining can get bent, off you fuck, we don't want any quitters here!
Pete Black
2024-09-29 19:20:35 +0000 UTCVery true, well again glad to hear you're still at it, comments, angry pixies and gcode gremlins be damned
James Guppy
2024-09-29 19:20:06 +0000 UTCI give in, I'm canceling my membership. I still love you guys but this is getting silly now. We're not that bothered about it being an amazing polished perfect video. Just any update would have been fine. The other YouTubers I subscribe to put out almost daily vids that they've quickly edited and uploaded that evening. You guys have taken the other extreme. You can bring out a finished, perfectly edited complete build video once the damn car is finished and it will be on YouTube for eternity. You can even delete the rough update vids once the polished one is done. Anyway, what do I know
Chris Layton
2024-09-29 19:16:31 +0000 UTCFunny. My computing days started and stopped somewhere around a 486dx CPU, ms dos7, and Windows 3.1, isn't it funny how computers where supposed to make our lives easier/better but everyone seems to have a story about how miserable a computer has made them? Good luck, anxiously awaiting the next update.
Jim Rohrer
2024-09-29 19:15:29 +0000 UTCBummer, I’ve have plc gear shit the bed but there were backups. Theses days we keep loaded plc’s on the shelf along with gearbox’s, motors, boards. The cobbled together kit always fails worst tbh. Muddle on, will be worth it 👍👍
Louis
2024-09-29 19:13:25 +0000 UTCThe PC controlling the mill has one job and one job only - control the mill. It has a parallel printer port because that what Mach 3 needs natively so the PC is older than gods dog anyway. No mod cons...
Bad Obsession Motorsport
2024-09-29 19:10:22 +0000 UTCYou guys! The aim is content, how to fail, how to recover, genius puns, how to learn, how to make tea, Nick is crazy, Minis are rusty, 90s Toyota’s are over engineered, italian cars are better and so on and so forth. It is not really important if the mill fails or not, just show what is going on… OR ELSE!
Peter Kirkeby
2024-09-29 19:10:14 +0000 UTCFair comment.
Bad Obsession Motorsport
2024-09-29 19:06:18 +0000 UTCI can't deny that. I'm embarrassed about it.
Bad Obsession Motorsport
2024-09-29 19:05:50 +0000 UTCNGL, I'm just happy to hear everyone is ok.
UnambiguousHandle
2024-09-29 19:05:41 +0000 UTCFool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I'll believe it when I see it. Same story last 2 or 3 or 4 updates.
Chris Krieg
2024-09-29 19:04:41 +0000 UTCTbh guys, it's taking pi55 a bit. There are thousand of paying subscribers that, whilst it's a great way to support you guys, people are getting a once in a grey while update, ie nothing. How much have you guys made off patreon subscribers, all the while posting nothing. Not really cricket is it lads? I've supported you for a long time, yt subscriber, bought a number of items from your Web shop and was a subscriber on here, all to help support. Yes I could cry more, but I'm all cried out 😤
Deano
2024-09-29 19:01:12 +0000 UTCPlease forgive my ignorance but aren't all things stored on a magical device some refer to as "THE cloud"? Also I thought solid state hard drives eliminated hard drive failure? I mean, my hard drive has become a soft drive waiting for the completion of Binky but hey, stuff happens I suppose....
Jim Rohrer
2024-09-29 19:00:19 +0000 UTCNothing with minis ever go to plan! It's still a mini even tho you've replaced most of it with toyota!!! I've a b16a in my mini clubman and the mini bits keep attacking the honda bits! But! It works 99% of the time haha 😀 we appreciate the time you're taking to perfect everything for our eye ball pleasure🙏 look forward to seeing the updates and the crazy bonkers fixes and fails 😉 well done lads! Keep up the awesome work and hopefully the end is in sight now 😉 #keeperlit 😉 Jamie from Ireland 🇮🇪
jamie rafferty
2024-09-29 18:56:53 +0000 UTCIf creators took stuff in the YT comments to heart, there'd be no YT creators.
Bad Obsession Motorsport
2024-09-29 18:55:28 +0000 UTCThis is the equivalent of putting on a jacket and finding a tenner in the pocket
Mark Kane
2024-09-29 18:54:39 +0000 UTCNice to see you're still at it, despite it all, I'll admit I was getting concerned, especially with the ever-growing hostility in the youtube comments, keep it up chaps!
James Guppy
2024-09-29 18:53:19 +0000 UTCGood advice!
MacG
2024-09-29 18:51:48 +0000 UTCMy dad once said "Any progress is still progress". Look, life happens and it's filled with wibbliness. Don't loose track of why you're doing this - it's not for the fame, it's not for the glory, it's so you can look at a Mini with pride in your eyes that you _did_ this. I back you because I love your content & it reminds me of watching my da machine stuff on his lathe as a kid. That doesn't give me any right to demand HOW you provide said content. Which is a long winded way of saying "Chill. You got this".
Cyrus McEnnis
2024-09-29 18:51:28 +0000 UTC'We've rebuilt the mill twice and upgraded the controllers and power supplies after they failed' is that Binky's engine or the Milling machine?
Rachael Baron
2024-09-29 18:51:11 +0000 UTCSorry, who is this ????? lol FFS Post some video soon guys
Ant Harrold
2024-09-29 18:50:48 +0000 UTCGreat to hear you are still on it, the temptation to just set everything on fire must be a frequent visitor. I recently recalled the ambitious claim (from Episode 2) of taking Binky on the track in summer 2014.
Graham Dallas
2024-09-29 18:50:13 +0000 UTCI'll keep waiting
Ian Berg
2024-09-29 18:49:18 +0000 UTCGet that HDD over to an IT guru they can probably recover at least some of the files through Linux or something
Trev
2024-09-29 18:48:27 +0000 UTCYou could add a few drives and run them in raid so you can survive a drive loss like that and still not be connected to the Internet, but I'm sure you already know about that now. I feel your pain though. At my last job we lost a drive over the weekend and spent the next week working nonstop to hit our deadlines. It was the opposite of fun and I don't recommend it to anyone.
Spoons
2024-09-29 18:44:49 +0000 UTC😂🤣😂
Farlig69
2024-09-29 18:42:07 +0000 UTCAt times we wondered about it TBH...
Bad Obsession Motorsport
2024-09-29 18:41:16 +0000 UTCScant though it is.
Bad Obsession Motorsport
2024-09-29 18:40:51 +0000 UTCWe've asked ourselves that numerous times.
Bad Obsession Motorsport
2024-09-29 18:40:31 +0000 UTCBolocks! Time to set up a raid one with off site back ups for the mill!
Chino Chang
2024-09-29 18:40:01 +0000 UTCOne of those moments where there's simply nothing else to do but get the extended vocabulary online and up to operating temperature for some really choice words.
Michel
2024-09-29 18:40:00 +0000 UTCPC is not connected to the internet so it can't do a random unnecessary update for no reason. But yes...
Bad Obsession Motorsport
2024-09-29 18:36:30 +0000 UTCI'm happy that you are still on it!
Sebastian Martin
2024-09-29 18:36:16 +0000 UTCBackups! Off-site backups! Someone get Linus Tech Tips over to y'all's shop!
Spoons
2024-09-29 18:35:01 +0000 UTCWho are you guys?
Farlig69
2024-09-29 18:34:49 +0000 UTCKeep up The good work, love to see what you have in store
Pontus Andreasson
2024-09-29 18:34:49 +0000 UTCThis is turning into Schrodinger's ep39 😂 Keep up the good work, keep going, it'll be epic and worth it when it arrives!
Roy & Yvette Cope
2024-09-29 18:34:44 +0000 UTCYay! Progress!
Cyrus McEnnis
2024-09-29 18:33:37 +0000 UTCI’m glad you’re all alive!
Andy Dangerfield
2024-09-29 18:32:00 +0000 UTC
