Project: Cirrus

[mgfb]

Had to put the Htpc on hold for a little while.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17860

The reason for this is my old man generously stuck his hand into his pocket and bought me a Sapphire HD4870 so i guess i know owe him one.

As he is an avid flight sim fan and amatuer pilot ( he and some of his pilot buddies have just opened an advanced flight school acrobatics and close formation stuff), i thought i would take some time out to throw a little system together for him to replace his second pc' that he is always complaining about.
As it will only be used alongside his main rig purely for tinternet and running small apps like roger wilko, voip and msn etc it doesn't need to be a beast. So i'm gunna use the guts of the Htpc.

The theme was easy enough to choose as back in november he was involved in an air crash resulting in him fracturing his back. (He's all alright now though :up:) so to say thanks for being a generous old boy and to celebrate the complete destruction of £300,000 worth of plane there was only one choice a Cirrus SR22 GTS inspired case.



http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4251/galleryperspective2.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?image=galleryperspective2.jpg)

Gonna be a simply case mainly just some blended venting on the front to mock the coweling and a nice paint job.

True to form i've rushed into this without taking any "before" photo's. But will get something up soon for you all to have a look at.

[mgfb]

Here is the case as it currently stands (promise next time i will start taking photo's from the begining).

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4484/dsc0248v.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0248v.jpg)

The only work done so far was to drill a hole large enough through the front panels for the fan and inlet tube, which is a piece of 4" pvc waste pipe.

The two side pods/vents were made by heating some 40mm perspex tube and compressing it to form an elipse. This was then cut to the profile needed to fit the case.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/2525/dsc0258f.jpg (http://img16.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0258f.jpg)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3178/dsc0259p.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0259p.jpg)

After everything was hotglued in place, a huge pile of p38 (bondo i guess in the states) was spread over. Time to start molding.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/4333/dsc0253bqn.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0253bqn.jpg)

Still not sure what to do witth the drive bays. Thinking maybe about completly cutting off that corner and turning it into a canopy or something.

[NightrainSrt4]

Looks really nice! Just one question, how do you get into the computer if the front panel is bonded to the sides like that? Is one side not bonded just looks like it so the panel can still go in?

[SXRguyinMA]

nice work, I'm also wondernig the same thing as Nightrain

[mgfb]

Should have mentioned the perspex has already been cut into two pieces at the joint of the panel. Filled over the top to get a nice and even finish then i will just cut through the filler, alowing me access and finish the ends. You can just see the gap on the last pic (there's a grey line).
Will probably be clearer when i've done it, and taken some photos.

[Karbon Killa]

Those holes look about the perfect size for some analog temp gauges. I like the idea and where this mod is heading. +rep on the idea, and hope to see more soon.

[mgfb]

Small update.
managed to get some time over the weekend to spend on the case.
The plan was to get the front intake and side mouldings all sanded down ready for paint. However i got a bit carried away and ended up with this.

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7936/dsc0262n.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0262n.jpg)

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1223/dsc0264h.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0264h.jpg)

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/347/dsc0265q.jpg (http://img5.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0265q.jpg)

I cut a section out of the front panel to reduce it to a single bay.
The steel work behind was cut at a 45deg angle. And a square section removed from the side panel.
I used a block of that foam stuff used for flower arranging (it shapes easily) to form the front curved piece (you can also hot glue the stuff which was cool) and a length of waste pipe cut down the length heated and opened up to form the spin on the top panel. The whole jobby was then coated in P38. The photo's show it at first fill. I have since sanded down and refilled to profile Also extended the spine to the end of the case.
Will get pic's up soon.
I'm planning on cutting through the filled area to allow access inside the case like i have done on the side pods. Seemed to work quite well. It has kept a perfect form along the case aswell as a clean hard edge at the join.

Been toying with the idea of adding a dorsal fin at the back with an led hooked up to HDD activity. kinda like a navigation light. Also still need to get a spinner for the fan.

[Eclecticos]

Looks Fantastic! Interesting idea heating and shaping perspex tube to
form a new and improved front panel. Damn near perfect. +Rep

[mgfb]

Reforming the perspex tube worked well. I heated up a 250mm long piece with a hot air gun. It was a real struggle to keep a uniform shape along the entire length. The best way i found was to warm one side and shape it by rolling it on a table. Then repeating on the other side. this seemed to produce the best profile.

[mgfb]

Been a slow painfull job sanding the whole thing. But it's nearly ready for paint.
Got my self a new power switch from my local Maplin for £5. Nice heavy stainless steel job.

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3090/dsc0273l.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0273l.jpg)



http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6430/dsc0272a.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0272a.jpg)

[msmrx57]

Looks very nice so far.:up: + rep Color scheme going to match aircraft in the photo?

[Remy]

So you painted the power switch? What kind of paint did you use? That looks great!

[jhanlon303]

Very nice work being done here. The filler job is looking smooth. The perspex forming has given me a couple ideas.

john

[mgfb]

Planning on the same colours as the photo at the haed of page. Depending on the colour match i can get. I know the bloke who runs cirrus uk might see if i can blag some sort of deal,

The power switcn isn't painted just the stock polished stainless steel
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=19093

[mgfb]

Just given the case it's last coat of spray filler ready for the final sand and smooth.
Should hopefully get the first colour coat layed on the weekend.
Still undecided on the tail fin think it might look a bit cheap.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2388/dsc0277r.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0277r.jpg)

http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/774/dsc0284.jpg (http://img382.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0284.jpg)

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/7231/dsc0282.jpg (http://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0282.jpg)

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4845/dsc0280m.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0280m.jpg)

[SXRguyinMA]

lookin good! :up:

[msmrx57]

I think a fin could be done with out looking cheap. Would just need to scaled to fit the case. You could also make stubby wings off the bottm edge of the case. Just my 2 cents, but from what I've seen so far you've got the skills to pull it off.:up: Also hope you can get a deal worked out on the paint those colors look great.8)

[OvRiDe]

This is looking GREAT! Very nice work!

[DonT-FeaR]

very very nice work so far man... looks great

[mgfb]

Finally got round to buying a spinner. Cost a Whole £1.20 from my local model shop.


http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7802/dsc0286.jpg (http://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0286.jpg)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2565/dsc0287s.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0287s.jpg)

The base diameter was a bit larger than the fan hub so a little trimming was needed. This was then mounted using hot glue.

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/8289/dsc0288.jpg (http://img139.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0288.jpg)

I have given it a good going over with filler. When set it's gonna get blended smooth.

Also had chance to lay abit of the white base coat. Amazing how many little imperfections show up with a bit of colour on them. so back out with the wet and dry.

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7080/dsc0293n.jpg (http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0293n.jpg)

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/474/dsc0295.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0295.jpg)

[msmrx57]

Looking very nice. That spinner cap is a great touch, gonna look amazing. 8) Yeah it's always surprizing how many flaws show up with the first color coat. Keep up the graet work! :up:

[DonT-FeaR]

this is gunna look fantastic.. good work so far REPPAGE

[mgfb]

Big thanks all round for the encouragment. :up:

Really can't wait to get this one finished.

So many idea's for the next project