Project: Samuari Champloo

[Wag]

Alright folks, this one is (relatively) short and sweet. My cousin is heading off to college next week so a month ago he asked if we could do a Samuari Champloo computer case for his "off to school" rig.


Just a shameless plug before we start. Here are links to my first two projects:
Monster: Khaos
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13445
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15571

DewCase:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9060


Ok, so this is a Samuari Champloo mod. Samuari Champloo is an anime series that my cousin really likes. Originally the design called for a fancy paint job and more bells and whistles, but ultimately we realized that we didn't have enough time before he leaves for school so it ended up being just a short and sweet project. So, without further adieu....

The original case was an old antec case I had lying around. I'm dumb and forgot to take an original picture but it was just the mid tower version of this classic.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/OriginalAntecCase_.jpg

Anyway, here is the real front panel of the case.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_1892.jpg

And here is the side panel with the design sketched on using carbon paper.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_1890.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_1891.jpg

Next stop, cutting. My methods are roughing out the design with a drill and jigsaw, then refining the cutout with a dremel. I even got my cousin to do a bunch of the cutting himself.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_1895.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_1896.jpg

And using a 4" round hole saw proceeded to cut the hole for the fan in the front.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2010.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2011.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2013.jpg

The hole is for this fan duct from MNPCTech.
http://www.mnpctech.com/FanDuct.html

After getting it lined up on the front bezel, it was on to cementing it into place with Bondo.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2014.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2015.jpg

And after removing the tape, it was firmly affixed to the front of the case.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2020.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2021.jpg

Then on to more bondo...

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2022.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2023.jpg

And a whole lot of sanding between layers of Bondo...

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2026.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2027.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2034.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2035.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2028.jpg

And in preparation for paint, sanded and strung up the metal pieces.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2029.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2030.jpg

Due to time constraints *cough*hedding to school*cough* everything went "gloss black."

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2036.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2037.jpg

That's all I've got for now. Have to resize more pictures and upload.
More to come!

[aintnothang]

subscribed.

[nailz]

I like the way the cut turned out for your side panel. That's pretty awesome!

[Zephik]

Very cool looking side panel! I love Samurai Champloo!

*Subscribed as well.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Very nice work on the side window cut, it looks fantastic. A very good start. I will be watching this.

[The Great Destroyer]

great show, awesome case!

[DonT-FeaR]

setting up a tent this stould be really good...


nice window cuz:)

[Wag]

Alright, and for the next installment we have the front of the case.

First.... Primer on the plastic

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2040.jpg

Then a coat or two of paint on the back.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2042.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2043.jpg

Then a few more coats on the front. Again... Gloss black

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2046.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2052.jpg

Three days later everything was "mostly" dry. I don't have a kiln to dry stuff out in and plastic would melt under too much heat anyway.

Next i needed to install the plexi onto the side panel.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2076.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2077.jpg

Fitted in with some double stick scotch "industrial strength" tape

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2079.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2080.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2081.jpg

A newegg order later, the guts arrive. Nothing too fancy:

CPU INTEL|C2D E4600 2.4G 65N 2M R
CASE FAN|ROSEWILL RFA-80RL R
FAN ROSEWILL RFA120L-R RED 120mm RE
CASE MOD|COLD CATHODE KIT CLK12RD
MB ASUS P5K SE EPU P35 775 RT
VGA PNY 9600GT RT
MEM 1Gx2|KST DII800 KVR800D2K2/2GR
HD 250G|WD 7K 8M SATA2 WD2500AAJS %
PSU COOLER MASTER|RS-550-ACAA-A1 R
CASE FAN|ROSEWILL RFA-120-K R
DVD BURN LITE-ON|iHAS120-04 20X %

Came to less than $570. Not too shabby.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2082.jpg

And assembly begins...

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2083.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2084.jpg

For the front of the case, we opted for the double 120mm fan method. It allows for a larger wind tunnel and a very interesting effect. Especially when adding fan controllers. Sadly we aren't doing fan controllers this round. Might get added later... anyway.... You can get the fans connected with normal fan screws and a very small screwdriver.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2085.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2086.jpg

And then installed into the front of the case.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2088.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2089.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2091.jpg

And finally it starts to shape up and I can attact the bottom part of the front bezel.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2092.jpg

I'll continue in the next post.

[Wag]

Next up I've got a little more assembly.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2094.jpg

And the internal assembly. Forgot to take pictures.... But here we are assembled.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2099.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2098.jpg


http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2097.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2100.jpg

And finally. Powered on.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2101.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2102.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2103.jpg

Finally, my cousin brings over his monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse for a final setup and to make sure everything is working. He used his graduation money to buy a nice Samsung 22" Television at the begining of the summer. The TV is rated for 720p, but the actual resolution of the panel is 1680 x 1050 which makes it very well suited for PC use. The rest of the stuff he picked up at wal-mart and other various places. Hes not a "hardcore" gamer, so I just told him to pick up whatever made him happy.

All in all, hes got a pretty sweet setup for a kid going to school.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2105.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2108.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2109.jpg


http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2124.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2115.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2117.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2120.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2118.jpg


And there you have it. He's off to school on Friday and couldn't be happier. With a little luck, we'll have the time to give the side panels a proper paint job next summer and spruce it up a bit and maybe add a stand for a display sword on top... But when everything is said and done, this short and sweet mod turned out pretty good.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/SamuariChamplooCase/IMG_2119.jpg

Thanks everyone!

[Acey]

Slick. Love the front intake. +rep

[985323]

Very nice, love Samuari Champloo, great job on the side panel +rep

[The boy 4rm oz]

That turned out pretty well. I would have re-sprayed the interior though, you missed a lot.

[Wag]

Actually, because of the glossy finish and use of flash coupled with my poor camera skills, the interior is actually pretty well covered. We didn't drill out the rivits as originally intended to get the best coverage, but that was due to time constraints. In all seriousness tho, the inside is covered but you just can't see that very will in the pictures.

We are planning a fancy paint job next summer and the addition of a sword stand for the top of the case. But for now, this is what he gets.

[The boy 4rm oz]

On a second look you can see the flash made it look worse than it is.

[DonT-FeaR]

WOW thats all i can say atm

[aintnothang]

thug nasty.

[FuzzyPlushroom]

Great window, the case looks pretty sharp! +rep for a job well done...

...but tell him to give me back my speakers. :D