New Rememberance Day postbox topper has been installed outside Bletchley Park / @tnmoc.bsky.social if you're visiting either. You can even press the drum to hear the noise!! I love this, remembering all the WRNS who served running the Bombe machines. Superb work Clare Reeves & Amanda Vines

The end is in sight for Virtual SG41! I've started into the paper feed block which I've been saving until last. This is the final big section to do and includes the mounting for the upper rollers, the ink cartridge, release button, paper tape reels and of course the paper itself.

JePu Machines have released a video in English & German on cracking an Enigma message using my Virtual Bombe and Enigma! It goes into huge amount of detail from encrypted message to solution. Nice work! Enigma Codebreaking with the Turing-Welchman Bombe! youtu.be/eHzsAoKXmZM?...

Virtual Schlüsselgerät 41 (SG-41). Another week and yet another mess of levers in the CT scans that do something .. but what? One of those cases where I'm just going to have to model & animate them in @blender.org & @threejs.org to find out. @tnmoc.bsky.social @cryptomuseum.bsky.social

@microsiervos.bsky.social have posted a brief review of my Virtual Enigma. So glad they found it interesting. They did say "using the mouse and pressing buttons and switches isn't very intuitive". Any thoughts on how to make it easier or clearer what you need to do?

It's time to fill out some of the metalwork that holds everything together. It's no wonder the SG-41 weighed in at around 13kg especially as Germany were running out of lighter metals by the end of the war. @cryptomuseum.bsky.social @threejs.org @tnmoc.bsky.social

One of the final external controls completed, the F/L knob. This switches the SG-41 between Funktion (Operate) and Löschen (Clear). Clear mode releases the mechanism from the cipher wheels so they can be moved to a new position or reset. @tnmoc.bsky.social @threejs.org @cryptomuseum.bsky.social

Last month, I was thrilled to be invited to GCHQ in Cheltenham to see their rare SG-41 cipher machine for real! It has answered many questions about this amazing WW2 machine. I can now move on & complete my latest sim which will be released (hopefully later this yr) on my site virtualcolossus.co.uk

That is SO cute! Look, it's a little knitted Colossus I WANT ONE!

A new and very informative posting by the Sigint Historian, which sets Sigint history in perspective and generally offers reflections for historians. siginthistorian.blogspot.com/2025/08/reco...

I've been continuing work on the paper feed mechanism after a very exciting visit which has helped a huge amount (more on that soon). The paper feed lever allows you to extract your printed cipher/plain text from the SG-41. @tnmoc.bsky.social @cryptomuseum.bsky.social

Yesterday we unveiled a new mural honouring Tommy Flowers, He was the brilliant engineer behind the Colossus computer. A truly fitting tribute to his genius and legacy.Thanks @HeritageFundUK & @TommyFlowersFdn #TommyFlowers #Colossus #VJDay #DigitalLegacy Photo credit: Andy Taylor & Dave Wild

Jim Sanborn is to auction off the solution to K4 of the Kryptos Key, the outdoor sculpture that sits at CIA headquarters. Would you keep this to yourself and guard the secret to allow the game to continue or release for the world to know the answer? www.wired.com/story/jim-sa...

Celebrate the legacy of Tommy Flowers! Join us at The National Museum of Computing on Friday, 15th August to unveil the new Flowers Mural. Secure your place here: bit.ly/4ljjOuJ @fitzroviaNoir @tommy_flowers_aberfeldy #TommyFlowers #Colossus #TNMOC #ComputingHistory

As well as working on modelling & animating the complex paper feed mechanism, I've been having a play adding a few extra visuals. Some useful (hiding specific parts of the mechanism to see how it works) and some just eye candy! @tnmoc.bsky.social @threejs.org @cryptomuseum.bsky.social

Just when I thought I'd got past the most complex bits for Virtual SG-41, I find the paper feed mechanism. It's buried in deep on the left-hand side and includes a cam, 3 levers & 2 ratchet/pawls all which need to be modelled & animated! @tnmoc.bsky.social @cryptomuseum.bsky.social

I've added the letter counter to the SG-41 this week so take a look at how that works. Also, I've animated the folding handle so the machine can be packed away for travelling. @tnmoc.bsky.social

What an incredible visit to The National Museum of Computing (@tnmoc.bsky.social) yesterday! Seriously, it's one of the most brilliant museums I've ever had the pleasure of exploring It’s not just about seeing how tech progressed; the passionate staff weave incredible stories around the exhibits 🤩

I broke more than fixed this week! I'd placed a few items in the machine out of line so last few bits didn't fit. I re-checked the scan so all fixed now! The question to answer today - "What happens if you run out of paper?" @bletchleypark.bsky.social @tnmoc.bsky.social @cryptomuseum.bsky.social

MK Dons pay tribute to Bletchley Park Codebreakers with new away shirt! It features Enigma key tops on the fabric as a tribute to the Bletchley Park codebreakers. www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/footba...

Lots to show you today for Virtual Schlüsselgerät 41. Working out the print mechanism meant going back to uncover the cage drive works in detail! New drive mechanism, the print wheels working and switching between encipher/decipher. Phew! @tnmoc.bsky.social

OTD: 23rd June 1912, Alan Turing was born. Best known for his work on Enigma & the Bombe, he also wrote a paper in 1936 "On Computable Numbers" outlining a computing machine. After WW2, he designed one of the first computers, the ACE - run it for yourself; pilotace.virtualcolossus.co.uk

Today marked a fantastic opening performance of ‪‬ "Hush Hush! A Bletchley Story" it's everything we hoped for and more. This amazing group captivated audiences with their unique take on the Bletchley Park story. So much positive feedback! Don't miss your chance to see it @mikrontheatre.bsky.social

Time to start on the next part of Virtual Schlüsselgerät 41. Now we have the actual PRNG (pseudo-random number generator) working, the next part is to print! Unlike the M-209, the SG-41 has 2 tapes; one plaintext & one encrypted. Wish me luck! @tnmoc.bsky.social @cryptomuseum.bsky.social

Can I maybe ask a favour? This Friday, I'm walking in the Milton Keynes "Midnight Moo" to help raise for Willen Hospice who provide free care & support for local people with a life-limiting illness. Even a small amount (if you can) would be amazing! donate.willen-hospice.org.uk/pf/martin-gi...

Adding in a few shadows make all the difference to a simulation. This is made very easy with Three.js which is the JavaScript library I'm using for 3D. The encrypted output is not from a coded sim, it's from the mechanics alone! @tnmoc.bsky.social @threejs.org

Lincoln City's new football kit features a coded message to celebrate George Boole who invented Boolean logic & was born in the city. The binary code spells out "We Are Imps" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Massive thanks to our phenomenal team! 🙌 They've worked tirelessly and are now completely set up for the Econet LAN Party 2025. Get ready for an incredible weekend of connecting, sharing, and creating 2025's biggest Econet network! #EconetLANParty #AcornComputers #RetroComputing #LANParty

Now we finally get to see how all the messing about in Virtual SG-41 with cogs & cams starts to encipher our letter. A lot of work done in past couple of weeks to get here, this is a fiendishly clever device! @tnmoc.bsky.social @threejs.org @cryptomuseum.bsky.social

Our Virtual Schlüsselgerät 41 was looking a little naked, so this week, I've been modelling it something to cover it up. This really adds so much to the look of the machine, looking awesome. Still lots to do, so keep following along. @tnmoc.bsky.social

Now we've got the Pilot ACE completed, it's time to get back to our build of the SG-41 (Schlüsselgerät 41). Here's a very brief recap of where we'd got to and a quick additional set of levers hidden away behind the rotors to work out. @tnmoc.bsky.social @cryptomuseum.bsky.social

Thanks to ITV Anglia News for this awesome interview which was on TV this evening! Taken on site at The National Museum of Computing @tnmoc.bsky.social, it was exciting to talk about the Pilot ACE, Alan Turing & his work & to show off some of mine! pilotace.virtualcolossus.co.uk 3D c/o @threejs.org

Setting up Pilot ACE right in front of EDSAC, they are old friends these two! EDSAC was working the year before ACE but both used mercury delay line technology. Many thanks to @tnmoc.bsky.social for helping me get setup for todays demonstration.

Just arriving at Block H, TNMOC for interview about my latest simulation, Alan Turing's Pilot ACE computer! @tnmoc.bsky.social

Today, we're highlighting Dina St Johnston, a pioneering woman in #Computing whose company, VPS, once owned our Elliott 803! Learn more about Dina from Simon Lavington, TNMOC's Honorary Fellow from 2024 👉 buff.ly/kkHEChO #RetroComputing #Museum #RetroTech

The Pilot ACE was one of the 1st computers to be built in the United Kingdom. Designed by Alan Turing & built at the National Physical Laboratory On 10th May 1950, it ran it's 1st program & 75 years later, Virtual Pilot ACE is released! pilotace.virtualcolossus.co.uk @tnmoc.bsky.social @threejs.org

Huge thanks to @bucksarchives.bsky.social for lending us these insightful pull-up banners for #VEDay80 🇬🇧 We're learning so much about how Bucks celebrated 80 years ago, like the fact that even on #VEDay, street lights weren't fully on due to fuel and labour shortages #BucksHistory #BletchleyPark

One of #BletchleyPark's finest is being honoured🎉 Bill Tutte, whose #Codebreaking work on the Lorenz cipher was vital in WWII, is featured on a #VEDay80 stamp! His genius helped pave the way for #Colossus, now residing at TNMOC. Bill is pictured with our founder, Tony Sale.

In just a few days time, it'll be 75 years since the Pilot ACE computer ran it's first program in 1950. My latest simulation, Virtual Pilot ACE will be released on 10th May 2025 allowing you to use one of the first general-purpose, stored-program computers. @tnmoc.bsky.social

Have you booked your ticket for our #Engineering event on Monday? ⚡ FREE hands-on activities and the chance to engage with female #Engineers, plus theatre performances from Angel Exit 🎭 Book ➡️ buff.ly/1JBAOQT

Power up your #BankHoliday weekend⚡️ On May 5th we're hosting a #FamilyFun day all about energy in the home! Discover the #History, meet female #Engineers, enjoy live theatre performances, and get hands-on with #STEM activities. Museum entry included! 🎟️ buff.ly/KZfLeQw

The Pilot ACE (Automatic Computing Engine) designed by Alan Turing was one of the 1st computers to be built in the UK. One of the earliest general-purpose, stored-program computers. It's 1st program ran 10th May 1950 - 75 years later, you can try it yourself! Countdown ticking...

Good news for your Bank Holiday plans🎉 #TNMOC will be OPEN on Monday, 5th May! Come and explore the fascinating world of #Computing #History with us. Book tickets now ➡️ buff.ly/mMt9Sto #BankHoliday #DayOut #RetroTech

Excellent news that Bill Tutte is being commemorated on a VE-80 stamp. What a pity, however, that the Post Office doesn't seem to know that 'codebreak' isn't a verb and that codes and ciphers are different. If only there was a national agency that they could have approached for advice ... errr ...

I'm really excited to hear that Royal Mail are releasing a set of stamps called "Valour and Victory" to celebrate VE Day 80. And who is one of the celebrated heroes? Only the incredible William "Bill" Tutte, you can even see the Lorenz SZ42 behind him! 😍 www.eadt.co.uk/news/2511216...

Can a 75 year old computer work out the right date for Easter Sunday 2025? Let's see if our Virtual Pilot ACE, designed by Alan Turing, can do just that with a program written in 1955 for it's successor & converted back to work on the ACE. @tnmoc.bsky.social @threejs.org Release: 10th May 2025

Did you know we have Pong?! 🤩 Get your #Retro #Gaming fix in our #PC Gallery and experience the simple brilliance that kickstarted an entire industry🕹️ What's your ultimate Pong boast? Longest win streak? Epic tactics? Tell us 👇 #TNMOC #Museum #RetroGaming #RetroTech

On the 10th May 1950, the Pilot ACE computer designed by Alan Turing ran its first program. To celebrate, I am excited to tell you that my simulation Virtual Pilot ACE will be released 75 years later on that same day so you can try it for yourselves. @tnmoc.bsky.social

Secret notebooks regarding the Delilah project written by Alan Turing during WWII saved for the nation uk.news.yahoo.com/rare-alan-tu...