The Baddest Modded Case Contest!

[TheGreatSatan]

So we begin the Next Contest. The contest is about creating the biggest baddest modded case on the planet.

Except, all you have to do is draw it!!

Entries can be submitted in MS Paint, CAD, SketchUp, etc. It can be a Modded case or a scratch built that looks nothing like a case. One Entry per member. Any member can participate (except Me). There is no limit on how outrageous the Mod may seem. I don't care about system specs, just the modded case. In fact, if you tell me system specs I may just disqualify you. The contest ends on 28 March.

Submit your entries in this thread. Limit 4 pics per member. I want you to tell me about Lights, windows, fan grills, case handles, etc. Be specific! There's a prize on the line!!

The winner will receive an empty Apple Power Mac G4 (with Mirrored Drive Doors). I will ship to it to anywhere in the world for FREE.

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3522/mac1er0.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7082/mac3ds7.jpg

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3817/mac4nv1.jpg

[Enigma]

This sound cool, i might just enter :)

[BigJohnson]

You should have them use that case as a base model. While I'd love to enter if I get any less sleep Im going to turn into a zombie. So good luck everyone.

[TheGreatSatan]

Everyone please enter. I would love to have to choose from a pile of entries!

[Braveheart]

can i get another prize?

[TheGreatSatan]

Uh, no. But I am working on getting a cool 2nd prize.:up:

[Lord Ned]

Man. If only I had an idea. I think I could win this from presentation alone.

[Braveheart]

Uh, no. But I am working on getting a cool 2nd prize.:up:

what is it?

[TheGreatSatan]

Builders copy of Microsoft Office!

[Katosen]

I want that case! O_O

Definately going to enter...i've been wanting one of those >:3

Edit: Heck, even the 2nd prize sounds good to work for ^^

[TheGreatSatan]

I hope you're not the only participant.....

[p0Pe]

count me in:) ill do EVERYTHING i can to rock your socks off:D

gl to everybody! now lets have all 5000 members throw in a entry! (lol that would be nice for you to have to go through 5000 entrys xD)

[Katosen]

I hope you're not the only participant.....

haha, well, i hope not either. I'd like some competition.

[rendermandan]

So what happens if the baddest modded Case has already been built? -not implying anything here, Paul :)

[TheGreatSatan]

It has to be new.

[Lord Ned]

I have to get an idea... Gahh.

[p0Pe]

haha, well, i hope not either. I'd like some competition.

you will have:P... (and if it turns out that you makes a cooler mod then mine a cruise misil could esially remove the evidences :twisted:)

[Katosen]

I have to get an idea... Gahh.

In the same boat...but I have a couple of idea's...now to flesh them out somehow...

[Lord Ned]

I had an idea floating around in my head on the way to school, i'll have to test some ideas out.

[TheGreatSatan]

More the merrier!!!

[Katosen]

finally, got an idea. Now to flesh 'er out

[tinker]

Ohhh!!!
I'm definitely in.

I think I have an idea but I'm gonna brainstorm for a bit before I start anything.

Great contest.

[TheGreatSatan]

Just In! The Winner will receive the Apple Tower as stated originally and a Volume Licensed Copy of Microsoft Office XP (Runs on Vista too!!).

Secong place will get just the Volume Licensed Copy of Microsoft Office XP.:banana:

[FuzzyPlushroom]

Man, wish I could come up with something... some great prizes there. :D

[ShadowNyfe]

Hey when you say "as outrageous as you want it", does that mean it has to be feasibly buildable or can it weight 60 lbs and stand on 1 square centimeter?

Another thing, are you judging on quality of the picture itself, i.e. intricate details or just the general concept and layout? I understand we should have like all the major components such as the windows, grills, etc. with their locations well defined, but I was more referring to say if we wanted "rustic paint" and I just fail miserably at it so I color it blue and write a note that says "rustic blue with aged paint". I'm asking because I just started out with google sketchup and my skills aren't nearly up to par with what some people can produce with it and photoshop. I have an idea on all the functions and layout, just not the visual presentation that some other people may produce. I understand that it'll weigh in subconsciously no matter what, but will it be a big factor in deciding a winner?

[TheGreatSatan]

It's general concept. I understand that some will have better software/ability than others. Color is NICE, but not necessary. How you get a case to stand on a centimeter with that kind of weight is beyond me, but if I can tell it's a computer than that's good enough.

[bentleya]

just a little taster on what i'm doing, so far this is an hours work :rolleyes:

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/skiaaron/tbcscasecomp.jpg

hope you like

[ShadowNyfe]

not quite sure if i understand what it is hahaha

Looks pretty awesome so far. Quick question, did you import those wheels premade or did you make them yourself?

[bentleya]

not quite sure if i understand what it is hahaha

Looks pretty awesome so far. Quick question, did you import those wheels premade or did you make them yourself?

i got them off the 3d warhouse :up:

[bentleya]

just thought i wound put up another tease


http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/skiaaron/tbcscasecompspare1.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/skiaaron/tbcscasecompspare2.jpg

i'll shound finish it tomoz

[Katosen]

Holy hell.....God, i wish my drawing skills were as impressive! XD

[bentleya]

My Design Entry
Lean Mean Folding Machine


Heres The Four Pictures

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/skiaaron/PictureOne.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/skiaaron/PictureTwo.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/skiaaron/PictureThree.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/skiaaron/PictureFour.jpg


About The Design

well i wanted to make a big case that wound hold a folding farm, a computer to monitor the folding machines and a high end gaming machine, and i wanted it to be able to move, thats where the wheels come in :D

it has 8 mother board trays taken from the sketchup components collection, and is a SilverStone Temjin SST-TJ07SW, every computer accept one is water cooled and each has it's own tripe rad, the holes for the rad are on one side of the case and the res's are on top, the computer that isn't water cooled is the monitoring pc which is just used to control the fans, and the power and settings of the other machines. :D

there is 3 massive 250mm fan intakes in the front of the case (thats what them big pipes are), the medium size cables are tubing for the water cooling setups, and the little ones are for power. :D

every part of the case is spilt into different section for thermal control which is monitored by the control pc.

the 8 tubes which are together on the top of the case are fans at each end that suck the air out of the case

at the back of the case the is room for 8 psu, which go into a junction box at the end of the psu, where the power get routed to the computers

where the rads are there is a rad grill which has got the words "lean mean folding machine" written diagonally along them, with black mesh behind it. the case has a total of 6,000 white leds in it and everything is light up from the tubing to the cables and the motherboard trays to the psu's.

the case has 3 windows 2 by the 5.12 bays and one at the back of the case, with the case having clear and plexi in the windows and other parts of the case.


let me now if you wound like any more information, good luck guys, but i really want this case, i am a true mac fan and have a macbook and a ibook at home ;);)

[ShadowNyfe]

whoa... that is... pretty awesome hahaha. I was looking at it for the longest time, and I really couldn't wrap my mind around it so I decided to ask. =P

First and foremost, I'm not criticizing your work in any way; it's very creative and different, definitely different from what mine looks like hahaha.

That being said, I think there might be some scale issues here... Going off what your description said as the front 3 tubes being 250mm fans, this case is about the size of a good 2.5 meter cabinet on it's side :eek: That would make those the PSU the largest I've ever seen made, as standard ones are around 14 x 15 x 8 cm.

I looked it over and decided that with regards to the 5 1/2 bays in comparison to the PSU, the fan size is probably the thing that is off. Then I noticed if that were the case [haha pun], then there's no way to fit 8 mobos in there....Then the whole back panel with the triple rads... with double rads being 240 mm in length, triples I would stand to assume would be 360mm in length. Guestimating that you could fit about 1.5 radiators over each wheel width, that makes it... 1.8 meters in the back :eek:

Again, definitely not bashing you or anything because I like the idea of the folding machine, but there's some size issues i think need to be slightly revised and worked out.

P.S. If this posts offends anybody, let me know or delete it please. I purely meant it as constructive commenting.

[bentleya]

yer the front fans our out the rest is to scale

[Tomos]

Hi,
Thought I'd try this. Started doing some freehand sketches and will try and set my scanner up tomorrow so I can post something final when I'm ready. Just wondering, can I post my early concepts or do those count towards my four picture limit and are we judged on drawing quality? I'm doing all my stuff in rough freehand because I prefer to draw that way and just hope it won't affect my chance of winning (like I would anyway :p).

As a side note, is it just me or does the introductions forum not exist?

[bentleya]

Hi,
Thought I'd try this. Started doing some freehand sketches and will try and set my scanner up tomorrow so I can post something final when I'm ready. Just wondering, can I post my early concepts or do those count towards my four picture limit and are we judged on drawing quality? I'm doing all my stuff in rough freehand because I prefer to draw that way and just hope it won't affect my chance of winning (like I would anyway :p).

As a side note, is it just me or does the introductions forum not exist?

sounds good, i put a few tease shots up will i was making it so i thnk you are alound :D:D,

and i'm looking forward to seeing to see what i'm up agasit, i was'nt going to enter but i really want that case big time want that case mega big time want that case :D:D:up::up::banana::banana:

good luck

[Tomos]

Yeah, the case makes me want to actually complete this (I don't finish a lot of what I start) and the easter break means I've got time to do this. I'm design a sort of water cooled sentinel from the Matrix, reference pictures I'm using:

Image One (http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/img/creaturespic2.jpg)
Image Two (http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/img/creaturespic3.jpg)

By the way, what program are you doing your work in? Sorry if this has already been asked, I've only skimmed through the thread.

[bentleya]

i'm using sketup, 3, 4, 5, 6

the reason i use old ones aswell because of some of the tools, and stuff

but you can get sketchup here for free http://sketchup.google.com/download.html

[Tomos]

Yeah, I've used sketch up before, didnt know you could do that kind of stuff in it though. I'm downloading my scanner drivers now (lost the CD) so I should have my drawings up pretty soon.

Update
Okay, here are my current drawings. They're not in any particular order but Image 01 is probably the closest to what I want to finish with.

Image 01 (http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii96/tomosl/Drawing01.jpg)
Image 02 (http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii96/tomosl/Drawing02.jpg)
Image 03 (http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii96/tomosl/Drawing03.jpg)
Image 04 (http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii96/tomosl/Drawing04.jpg)
Image 05 (http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii96/tomosl/Drawing05.jpg)
Image 06 (http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii96/tomosl/Drawing06.jpg)
Image 07 (http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii96/tomosl/Drawing07.jpg)

I don't know much about water cooling (not yet anyways) so I'm probably missing some things and needing some things for it to actually work. Also, Image 01 probably couldn't support itself (you'll know what I mean when I draw the other views) so I'll need some kind of supports for the head/body).

[J-Roc]

Update
Okay, here are my current drawings. They're not in any particular order but Image 01 is probably the closest to what I want to finish with.

...
I don't know much about water cooling (not yet anyways) so I'm probably missing some things and needing some things for it to actually work. Also, Image 01 probably couldn't support itself (you'll know what I mean when I draw the other views) so I'll need some kind of supports for the head/body).

pic 01 almost looks like an older cash register to me.

oh, W/C is easy. block, pump, rad, reservoir for the basics :)

I understand what your getting at, is it the mobo thats suspened in the orb by waterpipes or a monitor? Also, is the base attached to the head?

Some sharper diagrams would help :)

[Tomos]

I'm still not sure how I'd suspend the orb (which is essentially the case) but in its current state it would just collapse. I found this article on Tom's Hardware about water cooling so that should help (only read one or two of the eleven pages). The "water cooling box" in my diagrams is the reservoir (I think).

Tomorrow I might be able to get some better drawings down. Rough ones like I've posted helped me get a good idea of the form. For anyone whose used UnrealEd they might know about the tool that blurs everything so you can see the flow of colours in the map, it's a bit like that.

The base is attached to the head through the pipes, which are mainly metal pipes (like those in the ORAC case mod (http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/2004/06/09/orac3_part5/1), don't know what they're actual name is) and a few water cooling pipes. The water cooling pipes would need to be extended somehow to reach from the base to the body. If you look at those pictures of sentinels I posted before, it might better explain my design.

Update
I've done a couple of cleaner drawings, which I'll try and upload tomorrow, along with some more if I can.

[TheGreatSatan]

Contest due date pushed back to April 4th

[Tomos]

Hey, thanks for pushing it back. Not too sure I'd be able to get it by 28th, gotta catch up on my homework :(

[bentleya]

Contest due date pushed back to April 4th


noooooooooooooooo :( i go on hoilday on the 3rd so i won't be able ti see if i won :(:( i was fine with finishing it tomorrow

[ShadowNyfe]

if you win you'll see it when you come back =P

I actually like this date push-back cuz I'm currently on an inferior computer at home with a 6600 that just can't handle anything beyond a rectangle in google sketchup. I go back to my gaming desktop this sunday, which gives me a fighting chance =D sweet.

[bentleya]

if you win you'll see it when you come back =P

I actually like this date push-back cuz I'm currently on an inferior computer at home with a 6600 that just can't handle anything beyond a rectangle in google sketchup. I go back to my gaming desktop this sunday, which gives me a fighting chance =D sweet.

i hope i win :banana: i real bad want that case, ans soz to hear you comp run sketchup :mad:

i might acutely have some compatiton on my hands :lick::lick:

[TheGreatSatan]

Everyone loves competition.

[bentleya]

Everyone loves competition.

yer i do but i really want that case :)

[Xtrykr]

is it too late to enter? :S

http://a.imagehost.org/0183/1_4.png
http://a.imagehost.org/0183/2.png
http://a.imagehost.org/0183/3.png
http://a.imagehost.org/0183/4.png

2x120mm Intake Fans on the bottom (not shown in picture)
2xRadiators with fans pushing are out of case at the top rear.
Case is roughly 40cm x 60cm in dimensions.
The center cirlce will light up, and its brightness intensity will increase as the computer uses more power.
When it hits the max, it will blink repeatedly indicating that the pc is completely stressed out. (at least thats the idea). The insides will illuminate to a dim blue.

Unique thing about the case design is that it resembles that of a car, with the exterior that can come apart from the mobo tray base. So all you have to do is lift up the shell and then you can work with the insides with relative ease, as opposed to working with side panels.

Design is inspired by many things, including Batman, Gundam, amongst other techno stuff.

The above was actually one of my concepts for a case I was going to work on, but due to my limited hands-on experience with modding, this is a concept that probably will never materialize just because of the complexity in geometries.

[bentleya]

yer you are..... only joking, and WOW batman style

[Xtrykr]

lol, yeah, big fan of Batman which is where I got some inspiration for the above unnamed sketch, Dark Knight comes out on my birthday too, lolz.

[silverdemon]

OK, so here's my entry (I can still enter right?)

I decided to build a rocket!, nah, really a space shuttle attached to an external fuel tank on a launch tower. I know the model I built is not finished yet, but I don't think I'll be able to update before the competition ends. Anyways, here are some pictures first, I'll say something about it later:

Overview picture: http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/rstakelbeek/overview-1.png

Side-view picture: http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/rstakelbeek/sideview_parts.png

Front-view picture: http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/rstakelbeek/frontview_parts.png

Not finished
So, like I said, the thing is not finished. Obviously the tower and external fuel tank will be connected. The connection will be the same kind of design as the main tower. there will be a connection at the top of the tower and one near the bottom of the external fuel tank (about the height of the HDD)

Size
As you can see I had to make quite a big rocket to fit all the goodies inside. The external fuel tank (EFT) is 168mm in diameter (scale 1:50) which makes a total height of about 1.2 meters! (4ft)

MoBo
The motherboard fitted inside this 'case' will be a miniITX board. Because those board are quite small and are also able to be fitted with a reasonable processor.

Power supply
I was thinking about where to put the power supply for this thing and I thought it would be difficult to place somewhere in the case. So I decided to put in a PicoPSU (linky (http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/it.A/id.417/.f)) so I wouldn't have to worry about a bog size PSU. The PicoPSU does need a 12V feed though, so a 220-12V (or 110-12) power adapter will be needed. This will fit in the top section of the external fuel tank (EFT).

Airflow
Components need cooling, we all know that. I tried to figure out a way to get airflow through the system, yet I didn't want to compromise on the looks. There will be a 120mm intake fan at the bottom of the EFT. Off course the air needs to go somewhere, so there will be a smaller 80mm exhaust-fan just above the I/O-panel of the mobo. I think this will be enough airflow, because the ITX-system will probably not produce a lot of heat anyway.

Optical drive
Now I needed an optical drive. actually this was the first thing I thought about. You know the space shuttles have the doors on top, for the satelites... well, they open up and behind them you'll find a slim-line slot-in optical drive. This drive will sit just above the motherboard. It will be a bit cramped, but I think it'll work. Behind the doors is also room for usb and sound things.

HDD
The hard drive will sit in the bottom part of the EFT and shuttle. It'll sit near/in the airflow of the intake fan, so heat won't be a problem.

Wires
The wires coming from the I/O-panel of the motherboard will run through the launch tower to the bottom. From there on the will run behind desks and all sorts of stuff to hide the wires going to the wall-socket (power) and monitor etc.

Lights
I want this thing to look a lot like a real launch tower thing, so there won't be a lot of lights. BUT there will be lights in the nozzles of the solid-fuel rocket boosters and the space shuttle (nozzles not on picture). I was thinking about yellow/orange/red LEDs to symbolize the fire coming from the nozzles.

power/reset buttons
the power button and reset button will be placed on a 'launch-panel' at the bottom of the 'case'. they will look like launch-buttons.

[edit]:
back of the case:
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/rstakelbeek/backpanel.png (the tower is hidden on this picture)

The backpanel will be at the back :P. there will be a cut-out on the back and the mobo will sit a few cm from the back. This way the connectors (plugs) of the wires will be a bit hidden inside the EFT. I also added a fan just above the I/O-panel. Keep in mind that the EFT is 168mm in diameter and the motherboard is 170mm. So when the motherboard is placed a fair bit in the shuttle (about 100mm high) there is room enough to make the I/O-panel sunk into the EFT.


I think I explained about everything, but if someone has any questions of any kind, please let me know and I'll try to explain it some more.

- silverdemon -

[TheGreatSatan]

Thank you for your entry. Where's the I/O port going to stick out at?

Anyone need an extension? We can push it back if need be. I'd rather not cut off any potential entries.

[Tomos]

I'm not sure if I need one. An extension would be nice but I'm *so* bad at making myself do things. My designs are done, just gotta draw up my good ones and scan in the current ones to show what's changed. I'll probably do it tomorrow night when I'm on my comp a lot being lazy (4 hours of maths does that to you :P).

[silverdemon]

I added a picture of the back of my case in my post (#52). If something is still not clear please let me know.

[TheGreatSatan]

Thanks.

Contest pushed back again. I'm sorry I work waaay too many days and don't have the time to officiate. New date (and last) is April 8th

[ShadowNyfe]

yay, still working on making mine look pretty <_<

I guess I have another question on the judgin criteria.. do they have to be feasible, functioning cases? As in, when judging are you going to include function or just go for straight artistic form? My design will probably change depending on what you're looking for.

[chaksq]

Xtrykr: Really cool design. My first thought was a T-47 Airspeeder (snow speeder) from Star Wars.

silverdemon: Cool concept. I wonder how the engine lights would look if you connected them to the activity LED.

[chaksq]

Xtrykr: Really digging the design, my first impression was it kinda looks like a T-47 Airspeeder (snowspeeder) from star wars.

silverdemon: Like the design, I was wondering how it would look if you hooked up the engine lights to act as the activity LED.

[silverdemon]

...silverdemon: Cool concept. I wonder how the engine lights would look if you connected them to the activity LED.


...silverdemon: Like the design, I was wondering how it would look if you hooked up the engine lights to act as the activity LED.

Thanks, actually the activity-thing would be quite nice! except I would than like it to work the other way around: LED's on at no activity and blinking at activity (so the LEDs will be on most of the time...)

Why did you post twice? :S :P

[chaksq]

Oh whoops, I think my browser did something weird and I thought I lost what I had posted so I retyped it, apparently it submitted both times.

Anyways I like the idea of having an inverse indicator. Maybe if you setup some kind of relay that turns off the lights when it is signaled.

[TheGreatSatan]

Ends in two days! Get your submissions ready!!

[rendermandan]

Two days... where did the time go?

[TheGreatSatan]

Last day. You have till midnight tonight! That's 23 hours

[tinker]

UGH!!!
Too bad I have a paper due...

[TheGreatSatan]

Ends in a little over 2 hours...
.
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
....I guess I'll just have to give the case to Silverdemon.

[ShadowNyfe]

Pmed you a question.

[TheGreatSatan]

Sorry, I extended the contest twice.....

it's over. Once again, a real pathetic amount of entries. I may stop holding contests at TBCS all together.

Here's our three participants..

Bentleya

Xtrykr

Silverdemon

Also,

Tomos, your entries are real unspecific, but since you did enter something I will let you PM me with specific entries

I make my decision on Friday

[silverdemon]

...it's over. Once again, a real pathetic amount of entries...

This actually surprises me a bit too. When someone announces a competition everybody wants to enter and has a good idea, but when the competition starts everyone seems to be gone... even though you can find some nice ideas in the idea section of this same forum...

[p0Pe]

my excuse - time:( theese competitions take away loads of time, brainstorming, and drawings:/... a big part of theese competitions is that you can make a nice drawing of the thing... its not all but it helps alot!

i dont say that i have a solution, and i most CERTANLY dont say that that case there aint worth the efford... if only there were 48 hours in a day:/

[TheGreatSatan]

And the winner is...

xtrykr with his cool Batman-esque type of mod!

http://a.imagehost.org/0183/1_4.png
http://a.imagehost.org/0183/2.png
http://a.imagehost.org/0183/3.png
http://a.imagehost.org/0183/4.png

The Apple Case and the builder's copy of Microsoft Office is yours!


2nd Place goes to bentleya and you win a builder's copy of Microsoft Office!

PM's on the way.

TGS

[Xtrykr]

woah cools! thanks GreatSatan, was a quick, and fun contest to enter! :) and gz to bentleya too!

[silverdemon]

Congrats to you both! I hope you enjoy your prizes. But really, this forum has only one winner, who should be appreciated a lot more:

TheGreatSatan

Thank you so much for organizing this competition on The Best Case Scenario! Even though I didn't win I did like to enter and I do like to see other people's ideas.

So one huge Thank you and +rep for TheGreatSatan! I hope you change your mind and will organize more competitions on this board. And on the other hand I also hope that more people will enter those competitions.

Thanks,
silverdemon

[bentleya]

well done on winning Xtrykr, you are lucking taking a case like that from a mac geek like me :p, only jking, woop woop sencond place and pm sent to you oo great one :P

[Xtrykr]

well done on winning Xtrykr, you are lucking taking a case like that from a mac geek like me :p, only jking, woop woop sencond place and pm sent to you oo great one :P

lol, just wait till i give that mac case a pc makeover! xD