Need ideas

[SKDgarbage]

I need ideas for a case mod. This is the case I've been using
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144042
which I mostly bought out of convenience and I'm more than tired of looking at it at this point. I don't know how much potential it has for modding or if I should start with a new one. I also don't know what I actually want it to look like. I love blue/black, mesh, lights, and plexi but I don't think mesh and plexi would look good together (feel free to post pics to prove me wrong). I like the looks of the mac G5 cases but I don't think I wanna work with one due to the massive size. If there's some one that'd be willing to toss some ideas around with me and/or has some sketch up skills that'd be great. I'd also like to make a little brother version of the case for a future HTPC. I also don't have much experience doing any of this nor do I have a full shop to play in. Lemme know what else I can mention to get some ideas flowing

[progbuddy]

Mesh and plexiglass look wonderful together if you know how to do it ;). I think it would be kinda cool to see some etching in the front, and have some cut-outs and mesh behind 'em. Maybe more lights of a different color? Also, you could build a small bay thing for the top to hind the fan hole.

[SKDgarbage]

After posting I've ran across some pretty nice looking cases with mesh and plexi, so yeah I'm going with both. I like this kind after every kind I've seen http://www.mcnichols.com/products/perforated/images/slothole/pics/big_slottedflat.jpg
not that exact kind but it's the first one I found from google ;)
and I don't know how you came up with the same ideas as me prog, it's kinda creepy. I made a rough sketch in sketchup and I had the fans in the top with a cover going most of the way along and I was planning on etching one of the sides. For the lights I got inspired driving past a local industrial park that has three signs along the road, they're a different color every time I see them and half the time they're pulsing one color to another. Eventually they made me decide to go with tricolor LEDs ;)

Just a few things I don't know about yet. If I heat up plexi and bend it, will the heated parts become more breakable after cooling? What's the best way to put a window in another piece of plexi as seamless as possible? And I'd like to have the side panel like a normal one with thumb screws on the back but it's going to be plexi, how should I go about that? How could I get it to stay in place? Thanks!

[TheGreatSatan]

You need to pick a theme! It's critical to success!

[SKDgarbage]

Welll I don't have a theme but some ideas. I don't know how to do it though. I should probably post pics so you guys can help me but I don't want to give anything away :-/

[progbuddy]

Heated plexiglass does become more brittle and is prone to breakage. I would consider a clear epoxy resin in small amounts (pindrops) to secure the two pieces together.

[SKDgarbage]

That's what I was afraid of prog. I don't want to do it that way, I want it to be curved. Luckily this place http://www.plasticsupplyandfab.com/ is down the street from where I work. They were a plan B because I didn't want to spend anything I didn't have to. I think I've got everything figured out now. All it's going to take is time and money (as usual). Thanks for the help. I'll get a worklog going when I get the parts together (which I've somehow managed to find all locally :eek:)

[SKDgarbage]

Well I've started buying material for what I have figured out so far but I need more ideas for the side panels/front/top. This is what I have for the frame so far.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k188/skdgarbage/frame1.jpg?t=1231482118
I was planning to mount the cd/dvd drive on the top and hiding it. Going over the cd/dvd drive I wanted to have a G5-ish style thing, and same thing on the front bottom (the empty spot in the picture on the right). I was planning on doing most of it in plexi (most likely black) but not sure what would look good. I'm also looking for a unique way to mount the hard drives. I love the cases that have clear plexi along the sides/edges with some kind of light shining through it with something covering the big surfaces but I'm not sure how to incorporate it. I have an idea for the sides but I'm not sure how I'd like it in reality or how to explain it or draw it in sketchup. Anyone wanna take a whack at it? And anyone have any other ideas? Also looking for some cool switches (with lights!)