First mod: Fallout server...

[odog87]

I actually started this "thing" almost 2 years ago. I bought an old 1945 gas pump (The kind with a glass "fish bowl" on top, with a logo on it) for $50
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/picture-001.jpg
As you can tell it was worth every penny...
At the time I just liked the streamlined look of the thing, and wasn't sure what I was going to do to it. I finally decided I was going to build a media center out of the old pump. But I decided that I was going to to turn the pump into a retro 50's sci-fi computer. When done I hope it will look like a super computer form black and white sci-fi movies. Hence the reason I will be calling it the fallout server, it will look like a computer out of the video game.

I started to take things apart:
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/picture-005.jpg

[odog87]

The things I threw away:
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/picture-007.jpg

The damage I have to repair:
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/picture-021.jpg
I actually have to build a new support frame and find a new stand.

Of the original gas pump, here is what I kept:
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/picture-010.jpg
Basically all of the remaining outer shell, and the support frames. I am also keeping the original pipes that pumped gas. I will use them to hide the wires of the computer system.

A test fit to make sure the new shelf was made correctly (the computer parts are junk, an old pentium II):
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/picture-012.jpg

[odog87]

Here are the first parts back from the paint and body guy!
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/picture-034.jpg
You cant even tell that the bottom 6 inches on the right panel was cut away and replaced.

and the top of the pump:
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/picture-035.jpg

I just got the rest of the frame back today and I will post pictures tomorrow.

[OvRiDe]

WELCOME to TBCS!!

Very COOL idea!! Looks like your off to a great start too! I can't wait to see how this turns out!

[tinker]

Very unique.
Looks like a lot o' work.

Good luck and nice job so far.

[BerticusPryme]

cant wait to see it finished. this is going to be awesome..

[odog87]

Very unique.
Looks like a lot o' work.

Good luck and nice job so far.

The first year I had this I tried to do a lot of the work myself, but I was going so slow that rust would eat away the progress I made. So now it's not a lot of work... just costs money:D...

[IndyRacer27]

I see a lot of potential here, and love the idea. +rep I'll be watching this.

[Drum Thumper]

DaveW's gonna love this one!

Fallout FTMFW!!!

[odog87]

Here is the frame, back from the painters:
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/picture-036.jpg

And With the Shell on it:
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/picture-038.jpg

I would also like to thank Widefault. His work with radiation meters has inspired my control panel!
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/picture-041.jpg

For those that want to see more on this project, I have my own site with more images:http://projects.shadedviews.com/?cat=4

[odog87]

I will have the front door in a few weeks

[BigJohnson]

Welcome to TBCS. This looks pretty inspired. I'll keep my eye on it.

[jdbnsn]

This is a great idea for a mod, Fallout is awesome! If this mod isn't finished, it should probably be in the works in progress thread. You want me to move it for you?

Jon

[odog87]

This is a great idea for a mod, Fallout is awesome! If this mod isn't finished, it should probably be in the works in progress thread. You want me to move it for you?

Jon

I realized after I had posted that it was the wrong one. If you don't mind moving it, that would great.

And thanks for all the support

[Ichbin]

This is a great idea for a mod!

Kudos for this!

[jiggiwiddit]

Really cool idea- its got a kinda 'Flash Gordon' retro style to it, this is gonna look great I'll be watching for sure.

DUCK AND COVER (found this when researching my own project hehe)
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj67/jiggiwiddit/fallout.jpg



I would also like to thank Widefault. His work with radiation meters has inspired my control panel!

I agree, Widefault's Geiger counters are very cool.

[blueonblack]

Excellent concept, I also loved those games. In fact, you've inspired me to play them again. :) +REP for the vision, my friend.
________
Oxycontin rehab advice (http://www.rehab-forum.com/oxycontin-rehab/)

[odog87]

Sorry to say it but I have been bussy with my job for the past several months, but I am back now and will have some new updates in the weeks to come, I have all the parts for the outer shell (mainly the missing doors), and now I am on to getting the insides.

but my question for the time being is, does any one no where I can get some broken but visually intact nixie tubes?

I have an idea for a clock to go on top of the case but I need some nixie tubes to do it.

I am asking for broken ones because I am going to try to replace the filaments with fiber-optic wires... (it may come to nothing but I want to try...)

[SXRguyinMA]

no idea on the tubes, but this mod rocks so far :up:

[crazybillybob]

Here's a link (http://www.tubedevices.com/alek/pwl/pwl_e.htm)
This guy custom makes Nixe tubes, He may have some bad ones or beable to help you out.

Good luck!

Nice work thus far!

[DaveW]

Great mod man! Looking forward to this, I'm watching it.

-Dave

[Kumo]

By $Deity, i remeber the origins of this mod, months ago... It's alive! About nixies, recently i've read about some kits (for clocks with numbers inside. If i can... Take a look on Hack a day, i think i saw them there.

[odog87]

By $Deity, i remeber the origins of this mod, months ago... It's alive! About nixies, recently i've read about some kits (for clocks with numbers inside. If i can... Take a look on Hack a day, i think i saw them there.

Yep... It's alive, I had to move to a new job that has been keeping me very busy, but it's winding down and now I am starting up my projects again...

[Kumo]

I've found it! http://hackaday.com/?s=nixie, I hope you'll find it useful.

[Mach]

Great Mod! Check this site for nixie supplies that can be driven off of a PSU.

http://www.ogilumen.com/index.php

[OvRiDe]

I am so glad to see this mod back in action!!! I was afraid it had either been abandoned or finished and never updated.

Looking forward to its progress.

[odog87]

ok, I got two back door skins they are actually new, restoration pieces from a place called "gas pump heaven." I got two back door skins because the front already had a window cut into it, I need to be able to design my own front window to show off the insides (when I can safely clean the 60 year old brass pipes...).
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/dscn0656.JPG

Also I had an idea for using touch sensors for the on/off button and reset button. I did a little research here (http://case-mods.linear1.org/case-mod-101-the-atx-power-switch-demystified/) and here (http://www.phidgets.com/products.php?product_id=1110) I believe that this simple setup will work but I would appreciate it if some one with an electrical background could look at it and tell me if I am on the right track or way off. I am also not sure what type of transistor to use if some one could sujest a model number that would be suited for this that would be great!
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/touch-switch-schematic.jpg

The wires from the touch sensor (from left to right) are ground, analog input, and power (+5Volts).

[DonT-FeaR]

kool looks sweet nice work

[odog87]

ok, so after actually looking at the schematic I made up, I saw it was doomed to to fail (seeing as how the touch sensor bridged the circuit the computer would have turned on immediately... If I was lucky...).

http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/touch-switch-schematic-corrected.jpg
this plan should work but it is still helpfull if some one with electrical experience could look at it.
I have the parts showing up next week, so I will know one way or the other by Thursday...

[YeeHa]

Nice looking mod, I will be watching its progress.

[THRASHER2]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/THRASHER2/FlameSweeet.jpg

[crazybillybob]

Your going to want to put some debounce on those switches. Simplest way would be a capacitor/resistor combo.... Do a google search for examples.



CrazyBillyBob

[odog87]

Your going to want to put some debounce on those switches. Simplest way would be a capacitor/resistor combo.... Do a google search for examples.



CrazyBillyBob

Thanks I did some looking and also found out I had selected the wrong transistor, I needed a PnP type the one in the schematic is a NPN type.

[odog87]

I looked up debouncing, Do I really need to consider that? This circuit is designed to replace a mechanical switch that surely has some electrical bounce when it is closed. Or is it to protect the transistor that is actually doing the switching?

I'm not questioning your judgment, I just simply don't know a lot about electronics and I am just trying to learn as much as I can so if I do something else later I would actually understand the concept rather than merely copy the work of others

Thanks.

In any case I think I came up with what you were talking about, the plans I found included a diode, to ensure that the signal is 0.

Did I get it right?
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/touch-switch-schematic3.jpg

[mtekk]

I think what he is getting at about the debouncing is that your capacitive touch sensor may "bounce" more than a normal switch if its sensitivity is too high. The motherboard will only have to ability to ignore a certain amount of bounciness.

Also, look on your motherboard header where you plug in the power/hdd LEDs and the switches, there may be a +5VDC standby pin in that block (I know most motherboards that are built by intel have this, and some other manufactures include this as well), may make life easier than directly connecting to the purple +5VDC standby wire.

[odog87]

Ok here it is, a working on/off touch sensor switch. I know it doesn't look good, but it functions

http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/img_0048.jpg

If any one knows where I can actually get a PCB made for this that would be great. I even have designs for the board, using eagle (which will no doubt need some editing).

I have one problem left and that is because of the normal "on" state for the sensor input, and the capacitor's delay, the machine turns on when the power plug is first plugged in, but then you can turn it off and on at will afterward. So if you loose power with it, it will turn on automatically...

Test computer...
http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/img_0041.jpg

All you have to do is puta finger within a 1/8th inch from the surface of the sensor to work (the four circles at the bottom of the image is the sensor).

[odog87]

Well it certainly has been a while...

I am sorry about the delay in updates, unemployment tends to get in the way of projects :facepalm:

At any rate, I went with out a job for a few months, traveled to California, worked for a while, traveled to Texas, didn't work for a while, and now I am in Alabama... working for a while...

But at least this job has allowed me to put money back into my projects. The body of the case is done! I still have to do the electronics but at least it looks like a 'classic' super computer now.

The three holes in the front are for the dials I have talked about in previous posts, and the hole in the side panel is for the controls (power, usb ports, lid controls...). You may not be able to tell but the lid has actuators installed under it so I can raise and lower the lid at will (I want to put a record player in it).

http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/front_cut_out.jpg

http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/photo1.jpg

http://projects.shadedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/photo.jpg

[SXRguyinMA]

cool! glad to see you're back at this!