Those of you who follow the handheld modding world closely will know all about the work of Natalie the Nerd. She's a self-taught modder who has made some incredible pieces over the years, though perhaps none as awe-inspiring to 90s kids like me than this completely transparent GBC complete with see-through PCB.
Tech design peaked with crystal shells, in my opinion, at any rate. I always loved seeing the inner workings of my devices and felt a little like some sort of computer scientist, especially when I could see rumble motors or fans going. This handheld takes that to a whole new level, however, with the clear PCB allowing us to see all the copper circuit traces and other internal gubbins fully. And the best part is that it all works!
Natalie created the schematic herself, removing the ground zone in the PCB to make it clear and using a material with acrylic-esque properties that had a low boiling point of 200 degrees Celsius... which can't have been easy to solder! The Game Boy Color is such a simplistic device that Natalie realised that the removal of the ground zone (the copper layer that acts as a return path), wasn't necessary.
Complete with a clear cart slot found by fellow modder @captainz_gb and see-through buttons, it's more of a work of art than a handheld! Natalie knows this, citing that she's going to frame it as an achievement that showcases her skills rather than sell it. It's a beautiful piece and one that I hope she's very proud of!
