First Mod: Project Blitz

[GameMakerThomas]

**UPDATE** 11-5

My aluminum got here. Time to do some preliminary work. I taped graph paper together in the exact dimensions for each face, then laid components such as fans and windows where they would be on the actual material and drew slots for like the drive bays and stuff.

Waiting for the jigsaw batteries to charge so I can get cutting. I need to go to the hardware store and get brackets to hold the faces together and also the panels comprising each face, sticky stuff to hold on one of the windows (as I dont have molding for it) and spray paint.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4227/wl11ox6.th.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wl11ox6.jpg)

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8803/wl12ot9.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wl12ot9.jpg)

The final design is changed a bit. The side window is moved to the back, the intakes moved to the front for better airflow.

I dunno what I'm going to do with the top.

My friend is bringing me an old motherboard tray hopefully so that I don't have to hop on one foot and do a backflip through a flaming donut to get the back cut correctly XD

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Hi community -
This is my first mod I plan to go through with. It's a standard ATX case (made from wood cause I'm cheap and don't have tools) with a lot of airflow. It's going to be painted so that it doesn't look wood. Unfortunately I have more ideas than cash so I will probably be only able to create the case and I won't be able to actually put any parts in it. :( I'll have to wait about 2 years after I get out of high school. Anyways, on to the 3d modelling I did (first time in Sketchup, lol)

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/2417/wood5nd4.th.jpg (http://img267.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wood5nd4.jpg)
Material Model

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/646/woodfinalcp7.th.jpg (http://img267.imageshack.us/my.php?image=woodfinalcp7.jpg)
Actual Texture Model (note: the paint will be a little different as my main texture job did not transfer over well to 3d... the lightning will be much thicker, more lightning looking, and spread over the case in a better way)

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9128/woodfinal2nm9.th.jpg (http://img267.imageshack.us/my.php?image=woodfinal2nm9.jpg)
Front view (the cd drive textures are mirrored :rolleyes:)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7430/woodfinal3xe8.th.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=woodfinal3xe8.jpg)
Here's the back

Before I go out and buy wood, do you guys recommend going through with this? Any info/comments/tips?

[GameMakerThomas]

Haha so I just realized that there are tons of actual 3d models for computer parts in Google's 3d Warehouse XD

[p0Pe]

wouldnt it be better to make it out of a standard atx case?... think it would be easyier and its hard to make a god and useful pc of wood, so a metal frame would work better IMO.
otherwise a nice design, if you are used to work with wood then go for it:P

[GameMakerThomas]

I dont have any money so I cant base it off an ATX case, since I cant buy one. I have barely enough money to buy some wood and paint.

[liquid_fire]

heh..game maker, we're pulling for ya and all, but if you can't afford a $30 ATX case, how are you going to afford materials for your mod? hardware isn't cheap, as i'm learning in my mod. I don't mean to **** on your birthday cake, but I wish you the best.

[GameMakerThomas]

Hm, I thought wood was cheap. I'll make a decision after I go to the hardware store.

[elbarto241]

if your really strapped on money, go to your local computer shop for a old computer case that they don't want anymore. if you can cruise craig's list and pull a minty :D

the only what you can build it out of wood and keep it under $30 is if you use the cheapest plywood crap they sell, which cracks easily and doesn't paint well :(

[NightrainSrt4]

Ya wood isn't really all that cheap. If your building the case completely from scratch, your going to go through more wood than you would think. I had some cheap wood lying around for my case that I got from Lowes that was originally like wooden garden spikes. It works well for what I am using it for, but it really wouldn't be useful if you wanted to have a really nice wood look. The rustic look works for me, and its painted.

The whole bundle only cost like $8 or something, but like 1/3 of the wood wasn't usable for what I needed. It looked fine, but you could take it and tap it on the ground and hear that it was split all on the inside.


I will tell you though, pretty much agreeing with everyone else, that making/modding case takes a lot of money. I am no where near done and with the money I spent I could have bought a hi end Lian-Li case. Just my .02

[GameMakerThomas]

Hey guys, this deal looks VERY interesting.
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=237&products_id=3367

Think I should order some?

[liquid_fire]

hey, great find. JB weld is probably a cheaper route if you don't have a rivet gun. If you double layer those scraps (overlap them of course) and bondo, I think you could get a pretty nice finish. Lots of finishing work ahead for you though buddy...

[GameMakerThomas]

New update. It's no longer "vaporware" XD

[GameMakerThomas]

Went to the hardware store and loaded up. Got new power tools among other things.
I got:

- Mesh
- Tape
- Paint
- Brackets (L and straight)
- Screws
- Two handles
- Four wheels
- Two hinges
- Magnets (keep away from the computer stuff though)
- Rocker switch