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View Full Version : Project Interceptor. Police themed mod



TheGreatSatan
05-15-2007, 09:42 PM
I would like this project to be more interactive than ever before. Starting at the ground up. To start I have to pick a victim case, or should I say you have to pick. I have two OLD cases already and would rather mod one of them than buy a new one to mod. I will buy a new one if these are just too crappy to use. So let's get started....Case #1

Dell Demension M166a

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2350/1st1ec1.jpg

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3721/1st2bp8.jpg

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7623/1st3wf5.jpg

Case #2 . . . .HP Netserver 4/66

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2572/2nd1cp0.jpg

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2128/2nd2ij9.jpg

So #1 or #2?

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2043/2nd3nj3.jpg

TheGreatSatan
05-16-2007, 08:44 AM
I am posting this worklog in 8 different sites and the vote is:

#1 - 6 Votes

#2 - 26 Votes

Obviously there's a clear winner. The Netserver moves on.

Next the design. I like using black and white for the case, but which is dominant?

A. Mostly black with a little white or. . .

B. Mostly white with a little black?

You Choose.....

TheGreatSatan
05-16-2007, 09:57 PM
I took some more pics of the case so you can get a better look. It's old, dusty, and about 30lbs empty! Also, the side panel swings open and the front bays slide out! That's pretty cool. But oddly enough each bay is screwed in place.

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3016/server1sk6.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4719/server2ce0.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1885/server3uk1.jpg

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4719/server4aj0.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/5734/server5jb8.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8826/server6xh1.jpg

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7310/server7pk2.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/8938/server8en5.jpg

TheGreatSatan
05-17-2007, 09:51 PM
All votes are in.

A. Mostly black with a little white - 22 votes: WINNER!

B. Mostly white with a little black - 16 votes

50/50 - 3 votes

Now to determine what needs to be black and what needs to be white. Should I have the case be: blackwhiteblack like.....

http://www.modernracer.com/features/fordcrownvictoriacopfront1.jpg

Or should I maybe paint it black and add a white stripe or something? After this we'll discuss the cuts I'll have to make.

Like this:

http://imageigloo.com/images/2800police1.JPG

http://imageigloo.com/images/5049police2.JPG

TheGreatSatan
05-20-2007, 08:41 AM
Next to vote on. Larrs27 from TwistedForums recommended this different stiping instead. What do you think?

A. Mine
http://imageigloo.com/images/2800police1.JPG

B. Larrs27
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a337/larrs33/2800police1.jpg

Vote!

TheGreatSatan
05-21-2007, 11:09 AM
The results are in!

My deisgn of a straight line down the middle received 11 Votes....

Larrs27 design of a diagonal line from back to front received 13 Votes!:up:

So the next question before I start painting is: Do I stick with Larrs original idea or go a bit wider?

Larrs27 original?

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a337/larrs33/2800police1.jpg

Wider?

http://imageigloo.com/images/7486interceptor3.jpg

TheGreatSatan
05-21-2007, 03:40 PM
Oh, and do you guys like the idea of handcuffs on the front as above or not?

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/1412/1000235ax8.jpg

TheGreatSatan
05-22-2007, 01:43 PM
Wider Stripe with the Handcuffs wins by a longshot. I'm about to start painting, but first I need to know: What color do I paint the inside? I thought maybe white, but what do you think?

A. Black
B. White
C. Other (You say!)

TheGreatSatan
05-23-2007, 01:40 AM
7 Votes - Gray
7 Votes - White
2 Votes - Black

Now what? I think I'm gonna go gray...

TheGreatSatan
05-23-2007, 08:17 PM
I'll start painting tonight and you guys kick around the window idea. At first I thought of just using a plain square , but lately I've been thinking of having the window follow the side stripe like this:

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4163/windoweo7.jpg

Maybe I can go with a certain shape? Let me know.

TheGreatSatan
05-23-2007, 09:25 PM
I cut the two blowholes for the cuffs on the front.

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/5173/grills1qk9.jpg

And here's kinda what it'll look like later.

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/7744/grills2he2.jpg

How should I fill in the area around the holes?

TheGreatSatan
05-23-2007, 11:53 PM
Just so you see what's next...

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/3135/blow1rr7.jpg

What should I do to fill this up?

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/120/blow2fr1.jpg

Here's some more pics of the inside......The I/O is part of the frame so I guess I'll have to cut it out.

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/3355/prep1br0.jpg

I guess this was for the HD or something?

http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/6905/prep2jn4.jpg

That had to go.

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/4422/prep3vb2.jpg

The old motherboard was set in with built in standoffs. Obviously they never in a million years thought that it would be getting modded so I'll have to drill the new standoff holes myself.

http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/1439/prep4ta5.jpg

I checked my supplies because I thought I had gray paint. Turns out I just had a lot of SILVER. I'm going shopping tomorrow!

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5369/supplies1ad7.jpg

TheGreatSatan
05-24-2007, 01:47 PM
I cut the blow holes all the way through.

http://imageigloo.com/images/2007bezel1.jpg

http://imageigloo.com/images/7690bezel2.jpg

http://imageigloo.com/images/758bezel3.jpg

Then I used expanding foam for the front and back. After I shave it evenly, I'll cover up the top of it with either bondo or some type of fiberglass. We'll see.

http://imageigloo.com/images/9434bezel4.jpg

http://imageigloo.com/images/2574bezel5.jpg

TheGreatSatan
05-25-2007, 05:46 PM
I'm gonna try bondo over the foam because it turned out pretty crappy. Luckily I have tons of bondo.

TheGreatSatan
05-26-2007, 12:26 AM
The Bondo Begins!!

http://imageigloo.com/images/9729bondoed1.jpg

http://imageigloo.com/images/3447Bondoed2.jpg

http://imageigloo.com/images/5076bondoed3.jpg

Just thinking of the future.....

http://imageigloo.com/images/329bondoed4.jpg

I needed to clean the case so I let the rain do it for me.

http://imageigloo.com/images/8374cleanUp.jpg

jdbnsn
05-26-2007, 12:29 AM
Haha, love the cuffs man! Nice touch.

TheGreatSatan
05-26-2007, 09:46 AM
Next I have some small touch up to do. I have gloves on to keep that bondo smell off me.

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3807/bondoed5rr3.jpg

I also took the time to remove the old Netserver logos

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7097/bondoed6ii9.jpg

Here is where I'm at now. I still have a little more spot bondo'ing to do.

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4882/bondoed7ej9.jpg

TheGreatSatan
05-28-2007, 12:09 AM
I added a light coat of primer to the face to bring out the all the areas I still need to touch up with Bondo.

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1250/primer1yq4.jpg

TheGreatSatan
05-29-2007, 12:18 PM
I was thinking of adding a badge like this (maybe):

http://imageigloo.com/images/628182-0025a.jpg

To here:

http://imageigloo.com/images/6533Interceptor3.jpg

TheGreatSatan
05-30-2007, 11:17 AM
After the holes were fixed I re-primed it.

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/2552/primer2db1.jpg

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8920/primer3ou5.jpg

And the inside

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/1886/primer4ei5.jpg

After 2 coats of primer I began the 1st coat of black.

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/6519/1stcoat1vt3.jpg

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/463/1stcoat2aj5.jpg

I usually do 4 coats of color and at least 3 coats of clear after that.

TheGreatSatan
05-31-2007, 09:20 AM
Alright, I finished all color coats on the front

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/3564/3rdbezelrc5.jpg

The 3rd and last color coat on the top.

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/2726/3rdtop1re7.jpg
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/4012/3rdtop2hl5.jpg

And the 2nd coat on the right side.

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/3159/2ndsidepd1.jpg

Question: When I'm all done with the black.....

1. do I clear coat a few times, add the white stripe and clear coat again?

or

2. Finish black, add white then clear coat all?

TheGreatSatan
05-31-2007, 11:29 PM
So, I attached the panel to measure where I'm putting the window/stripe.

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/5579/left1ip6.jpg

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/7386/left2ay3.jpg

And here's where it gonna go.

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/3460/left3hd5.jpg

And now I've moved on to painting the stripe on the top and right side.

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/1659/stripe1kb3.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/160/stripe2yf5.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-01-2007, 01:10 AM
I've decided to go with Rivets and Epoxy. I will drill the bottom-side of the cuffs at the point where the two pieces come together (1). And I will drill a tiny hole in this area where there is already a pin (2).

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6378/1000319xe1.jpg

All holes will be under the cuffs and will be attached from the inside so that it won't be seen from the front.

Here's kinda what it'll look like

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/111/cuffed1no4.jpg

And here you can see the stripe drying

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2915/stripedoneqk1.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-01-2007, 10:04 PM
I moved on to the clear coats.

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/8978/clear1ge1.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5195/clear2kw4.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-02-2007, 12:37 AM
The stripe is pretty much done.

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/165/stripedone2un3.jpg

Now time to prep the left panel to cutting, sanding, painting, etc. Should I put anything here?

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/27/leftshieldkv9.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-02-2007, 09:49 PM
I've been trying to find a way to fill the void between the front and the case frame, so like many suggestions received I went with "bars". Let me know your honest opinion.

I used the grill top that came with R2-D2's head. The fans are for effect. I'm not sure what colors I'm actually using. Any ideas?

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/4633/bars1dy3.jpg

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/474/bars2ei7.jpg

I attached it with a zip tie.

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/623/bars3ng5.jpg

Well?

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/9779/bars4lv5.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-03-2007, 10:21 PM
More to do...

The left window is done and the panel is receiving the white coat first.

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/3529/leftwindowbg2.jpg

I also decided to paint three bay covers, because I was planning on adding a white DVD drive to the top

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6568/whitebaywo7.jpg

BUT! then I had a problem. I forgot that the drives are attached via this slide-in cage.

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3425/cage01fg5.jpg

The top corner (This is the inside) has a piece of metal at the top where the floppy drive was.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/1895/cage02wx3.jpg

this is the outside...

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/262/cage03nx8.jpg
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/7320/cage04gu5.jpg

I'm not using a floppy drive, especially on top of the CD/DVD drives so I cut it out. Then another problem popped up.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/8600/cage05ty7.jpg

The drive doesn't fit!! I guess it needs rails?

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/100/cage06nv1.jpg

If I even get the drive in, what can fit in this slightly thinner 5.25 bay?

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/1410/cage07mr6.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-04-2007, 08:59 PM
Alright, I've decided to use an Interceptor emblem for the small top bay above the DVD/CD.

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/3622/firstcb8.jpg

Next on the voting block. What to put here?

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/6703/secondsy8.jpg

I don't want a specific department or city, but I do like a general police emblem. Which do you like best?

1.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3060/badge1uq1.jpg

2.
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5125/badge2rv6.jpg

3.
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3932/badge3jo2.jpg

4.
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/8416/badge4yr4.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-04-2007, 11:18 PM
Meanwhile....

I'm done on the left side.

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3090/leftdone1pw0.jpg

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/8123/leftdone2jh3.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-05-2007, 10:05 AM
It's really coming together....

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3778/nearly1jn2.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/9854/nearly2cb1.jpg
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1842/nearly3gs6.jpg
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/2562/nearly4ca9.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8936/nearly5mi4.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-06-2007, 05:16 PM
The winner is...

1. - 14 Votes
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3060/badge1uq1.jpg

2. - 4 votes
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5125/badge2rv6.jpg

3. - 4 votes
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3932/badge3jo2.jpg

4. - 4 votes
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/8416/badge4yr4.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-11-2007, 10:13 PM
Anywho....

I got the badge in

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/6350/badge1uf3.jpg

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/734/badge2ct1.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-14-2007, 08:31 PM
I had hoped to get it to blink one at a time :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Vj0V9xSmg

TheGreatSatan
06-15-2007, 09:38 PM
I got the lights!! I'll put a red lens over the amber and a blue lens over the white. The measurements are: 1.5" tall X 7" wide X 2.5" deep. The top of the case is 9 inches wide. They draw 70mA total, so I'm not sure how I'm gonna connect them to the PSU. Any ideas??

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/1578/wigwagpd6.gif

TheGreatSatan
06-17-2007, 03:58 PM
The emblem arived

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6955/emblemvu5.jpg

and it's been mounted to the case

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/1623/withemblemvs0.jpg

TheGreatSatan
06-21-2007, 12:24 AM
Nothing huge to report, but....I added HD rails to the DVD drive and slid it in.

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/133/policecd1tt1.jpg

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/6100/policecd2sv8.jpg

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/7015/policecd3yn3.jpg

Two mods at once, this is soooo damn fun.:banana:

And believe it or not, I'm buying the parts and planning the next.:D

Hints available on my site

TheGreatSatan
06-24-2007, 12:37 AM
The lightbar has arrived!!

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/9636/lightbar1xv2.jpg

The LED's inside the clear lens are Amber and White. I am painting the Amber side of the lens Red and the White side blue.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8057/lightbar2hy8.jpg

The yellow wire on a 4-Pin Molex is enough for the lights. I'm blanking on how much voltage the yellow one has....

TheGreatSatan
06-25-2007, 06:55 PM
I painted the lights and recorded a video of it. Turn up your sound and you can hear my daughter begging for a drink.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcHuEHs42E8

slytherock
06-25-2007, 11:14 PM
That's sick :up: annoying, but sick :p I don't know what I have today, I feel like bitching... Even on great mods like this one... +rep

TheGreatSatan
06-25-2007, 11:16 PM
I thought about adding pushbars to the front of the [plain] white drive bays, but I'm still boucing the idea around a bit. It's time for another poll.

What do you all think?

1. Yes to pushbars on drive bays

2. Yes to pushbars somewhere else

3. No to pushbars

TheGreatSatan
06-26-2007, 05:36 PM
In where? I'm still considering it. And as of right now, most people are against the idea.

TheGreatSatan
07-05-2007, 12:25 AM
You thought I forgot about this mod didn't you?

I scoured some sheet metal

http://imageigloo.com/images/1843box1.jpg

Then bent it into a box.

http://imageigloo.com/images/7015box2.jpg

It forms to the lightbar

http://imageigloo.com/images/7136box3.jpg

I cut a hole in the top of the case for the wiring.

http://imageigloo.com/images/5737box4.jpg

Then fed in the wires.

http://imageigloo.com/images/8936box5.jpg

And placed the box on top for show.

http://imageigloo.com/images/9070box6.jpg

http://imageigloo.com/images/8018box7.jpg

The box is now in the paint booth.

http://imageigloo.com/images/7975box8.jpg

TheGreatSatan
07-07-2007, 12:43 AM
I made an adapter for the lightbar, but I really need to wire it into a switch and have it mounted to the back.

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/4964/lightbarwirejy5.jpg

The lightbar "red" is just plain old ugly so it's in repaint...

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/4637/rered1pm0.jpg

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6217/rered2od6.jpg

TheGreatSatan
07-07-2007, 11:33 PM
Here's the reason the lightbar is being repainted.
6-zUfvUsq_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-zUfvUsq_o

But the bigger problem is that I've repainted it again and it still looks like crap. The actual color under the red is orange. I thought a light coat of red would make the orange side look good, but no matter what I do it doesn't improve. Suggestions?

TheGreatSatan
07-08-2007, 12:32 AM
The lightbar is vaccuum sealed. I'd have to pry it open then change out the LED's. I'm afraid of breaking it.

TheGreatSatan
07-08-2007, 01:05 AM
Big decision! Thank you Larrs27 from TwistedForums! I'm getting rid of the box I made and then I'm cutting the top of the case here:

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/5725/newway1fl0.jpg

Then setting the lightbar into the case (like a real cop car (duh?!))

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6774/newway2hs2.jpg

Bucko
07-08-2007, 02:33 PM
I thought the same thing on how the light should be mounted. I still think the light needs some finishing work though. Some black between the red and the blue and maybe some black around the bottom of the lens, a bit like this crappy MS Paint work:

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/66/1111111ql5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

TheGreatSatan
07-08-2007, 03:28 PM
I'm gonna have a thin piece of aluminum between the two colors.

TheGreatSatan
07-08-2007, 05:31 PM
As I said, I'm gonna mount the lightbar within the top of the case. Here's the 1st cut

http://imageigloo.com/images/639deepen1.jpg

I had to cut through the drive cage too.

http://imageigloo.com/images/3189deepen2.jpg

That was some pretty thick steel.

http://imageigloo.com/images/632deepen3.jpg

And here it is. More coming.

http://imageigloo.com/images/2944deepen4.jpg

http://imageigloo.com/images/5656deepen5.jpg

TheGreatSatan
07-08-2007, 11:38 PM
I removed the cover from the lightbar

http://imageigloo.com/images/7778bulbs1.jpg

And here's the situation inside.

http://imageigloo.com/images/251bulbs2.jpg

All the black stuff around the bulbs is silicon. I think it would do a lot of damage to remove the amber bulbs and replace them with red ones. I will, however, try with one of the corner bulbs to see exactly what I could be getting into.

http://imageigloo.com/images/9452bulbs3.jpg

TheGreatSatan
07-21-2007, 01:06 AM
I went with a plastic drying paint called Fire Engine Red and while it dries....

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/8554/newpaintrg2.jpg

I added a switch to the lightbar that will attach in the back.

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/9205/addswitch1tz3.jpg

Check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3K9O3n8WTE

TheGreatSatan
07-28-2007, 10:21 PM
It's been a week since I've updated you because I've been working 40 hour weeks and doing finals for school, but I will be back to it next week.

TheGreatSatan
08-08-2007, 11:07 PM
Finally a little bit more done.

I attached the lightbar wires to a molex and added a switch to the back.

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/320/switchplateah5.jpg

Then I put in a 400 Watt Antec. Any idea on what to do with the wiring mess?

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/6548/messje0.jpg

TheGreatSatan
08-16-2007, 01:15 AM
O.K. I really need to complete this real soon as I am starting another project. Here's the top with black electric tape (Just for show), I think I may use silver instead.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9574/black1os4.jpg

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/8184/black2nu7.jpg

TheGreatSatan
09-01-2007, 06:51 PM
Here's the finished product

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/5525/end2dy7.jpg

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/9701/end5df7.jpg

The nine was oversprayed and it's kind of dirty looking

Link to Original Thread (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8356)