Got Ideas, But Where To Begin?

[Twisted Chaz]

Hey I've got this wicked idea for a full case mod, but I've never done any case modding at all.

Where is the cheapest place to buy cases with no vents, or anything cut out of them?

Would it be a good idea to share my design? or shall I keep it to myself, and see if I can do it.

[Zeus]

first of all. Let me be the first to welcome you to our forums.

second, where to buy a cheap case depends on where you are. In the US you can probably just go to a local Fry's Electronics or CompUSA. Online you can use sites like newegg.com, or zipzoomfly.com, etc.

third, we do not usually make a habit of stealing people's modding ideas. in addition to that, telling us what you plan is a good way to get input on how to pull it off or how to improve on an unrefined idea.

In any case, good luck!!

[Twisted Chaz]

Unfortunately I don't live in the US, I'm from the UK so u can't just pop down your local computer shop because they're all over priced.

I've been trying to use Cinema 4D to draw up some plans, but it's a pretty hard program to use.

Shall I just post my idea here? or somewhere else on the forum.

[Malatory]

Idea can be placed here.

As Zeus said most of us are not into stealing designs. But I have seen some taken from companies.

[Twisted Chaz]

Ok, well I was thinking about making the case into . . . an old factory fan. So I would cut a foot diameter circle in the side panel of my case and then build out a metal wire housing which would holf a huge 3 blade fan.

Obviously everything would be painted (on the outside :p) in a kinda rusted metal style and just have 1 white light behind the fan, so that when it spins it would produce a blurred glow.

Think it's possible?

[FynexFox]

Hey, that sounds cool. Lemme give ya some ideas!

For the top, you could try making it like old refineries/factories, much like the pic below.

http://www.cncden.com/newstemps9/Refinery_by_Aircraftkiller.jpg

Im talking about the top, the two slanted roof tops and the 2 smoke stacks, thatd be sweet. Also as a plus you could put fans in the smke stacks or get lil fog machines to have smoke billowing out.

Have a lot of pipes and stuff coming out of the sides and going around the sides and what not. That big rusty 3 bladed fan soudns cool, a working one would roxxor just as much.

http://www.denham-marina.co.uk/3%20blade%20fan.jpg

That would make a cool fan for the side but rigging it to run off the PSU might be ahrd or not even possible, you know to get the voltages, im not sure youll have to ask. Well Im outta any more good ideas, i hope this works out and everyone can help, GL!

[Twisted Chaz]

Well I was thinking that the fan would spin yes, but I wouldn't want it to go fast.

And the chimney tops are a good idea, but I would miss the place to put my cups :P

How easy is it to realisticly paint a case?

[FynexFox]

Well, Id say not very easy. From what I have seen getting scratches, rust, and organic materials painted is a bit of a challenge. It takes a careful eye and a steady hand and some know how, but I am sure if you tried to paint a little cardboard box as practcie youd figure it out.

[Aero]

rust is actually easy to paint, but of course, the more you do and more attention to dsetail the better it will look. But it's not that hard to get a simple and effective rust job. I would recommend useing a base color and mix in some sawdust till it gets gritty (obviously NOT for spray painting or airbrushes). Then just paint it on where you need the rust. Let it dry and dry brush over it with another color (if base was dark, the dry brush should be light, if the base was light then this should be dark). Dry brush again with alittle different color. Most of all experiment and find what you like before you paint your case though.

[UK-Blade]

WOOHOOOO..Nice to see another modder from the UK.

Welcome.

Good places for cheap cases are either you're local little PC shop (Not PC World etc). They're normally quite cheap.

Or someone like http://www.ebuyer.co.uk They do some cheap stuff, esp in the clearance section. A couple of months ago they were clearing some cases at £5 each!!!

Good luck with the mod, nice grungy, rusty urban decay....lovely.

Keep us posted, esp lots of nice pics....:)

Where in the UK? (if you don't mind me asking.....)

[SiteByJW]

For powering the fan, insted of powering it with the computers power suply use its own power cord hidden into the case, But use the a delay swith for on/off spitting into a wire off the off the computer like the front led light that shows the computer is on. So that when you turn on your computer the delay switch turns on the fan? I know of work.

[Twisted Chaz]

I won't be building it for a while.
1. I'm a Student at Uni
2. I'm poor (should of guessed that from above)
3. I want to get all the components first.

I live in Surrey normally, but I'm at portsmouth uni at the moment.#
Cheers for the input guys, all going down in my note pad.

[Twisted Chaz]

Ok I've got a mock up of the case design, shall I post the pictures in here? or somewhere else on the forum.

[AceX]

Post the pics in here.

Since you're new to modding and poor, take a cheap approach to this. Start with new fans, wire management, and some new paint. That MIGHT cost you $50 USD. So... about 30-40pnds? You'd be surprised what a fresh coat of paint does to a case, especially if you take your time and do the proper sanding and prep work.

[Twisted Chaz]

This is the second time I've used Cinema 4D. The materials on this case are just on there so you can see the depth and stuff a bit better.

And here it is:
http://www.team-space.co.uk/extra/case%20image%201.jpg

From the top view so you can see the 4 fans at the top.
http://www.team-space.co.uk/extra/case%20image%202.jpg

Inside the machine, u see the fan, obviously it'll be mounted to the case, instead of floating in mid air. A small white light will go there.
http://www.team-space.co.uk/extra/case%20image%203.jpg

Another look at the back vent shaft thing. which will have a fan inside it.
http://www.team-space.co.uk/extra/case%20image%201.jpg

I'm worried that the vent shaft on the back will be too big and look a bit clumsy. And I don't want the fan housing to be as round as that, I'd rather have it rounded where it connects to the base, and then curved into a flat front.

[Twisted Chaz]

no feedback :(

[AceX]

Let me think about this for a few, get back to ya