Overload

[NightrainSrt4]

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/9158/projectheadercopy.jpg

You guys asked for it, so here it is. A worklog.


Case that started it all: Compaq SR1830NX
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3995/img1186af.jpg

Take note of the crappy placement of the mesh venting.
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6236/img1185b.jpg

I hadn't planned on a worklog, so you're missing a few steps. Flipped, chopped, and new top and front.
Much more airflow!
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1711/img2046x.jpg

Getting the window cut very quickly, with no regard to perfection.
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/6826/img2047km.jpg

The original rear fan grill cut out and filed.
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/8617/img2048gw.jpg

The first filing on the window complete.
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/3998/img2060p.jpg

Needs some work in some places, but needs primer to be sure.
http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/2893/img2061.jpg

Note the oak support beside the motherboard tray. This keeps the tray flat against the side panel. A majority of the case structure had been removed so this was necessary to keep the tray from flapping in the wind.
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8833/img2062e.jpg

Closer shot showing how much cleaner the edges are compared to the original cut.
http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/7269/img2063.jpg

Test fitting the smoked plexi with the door. This became a huge problem as the door slides on and the window was too large due to the funky mesh. This made it so I couldn't get the window on with the plexi in. ARGHH. Fixed it by cutting off all the metal slides on the side panel, so it now attaches more akin to an Antec 300.
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9694/img2064yz.jpg

[slaveofconvention]

Looking sweet - have you considered trying to get some black fan grilles? I think it'd look really tidy and a great contrast with the light colouring of the wood!

[NightrainSrt4]

Oh, sorry if I haven't mentioned it. The case will be painted white, and have black accents.

The fan grills are only temporary, as I hope to make my own radgrill type grill out of aluminum if I can find a cheap supply. I just used them to get the fan holes lined up.

[NightrainSrt4]

I picked up some primer at the hardware store. I found a good selection of socket cap bolts at ACE, but didn't think too much about what sizes I would need, as I haven't gotten my fans yet, so I didn't purchase any.

Having issues acquiring ~1/8 aluminum sheet/plate. Everything around here is very thin, almost flashing. I got a lead on a metal shop in town, so I will see if I can find them. If not I will have to deal with either plexi, or wood, and I'm not so comfortable with plexi. It just takes too much work to get an edge as clean as aluminum.

They had steel plate/sheet, but I am not that much of a masochist to do that, plus the weight.

[NightrainSrt4]

Notes to Self:

-Don't like Valspar spray paints. Could just be this can, but the spray pattern isn't even, paint globs up at the tip, and it spatters too much for my liking. Chose it, as they had many choices for white topcoat.

-Remember to seal the edges of the mdf. Completely forgot before I started laying down thin coats of primer. Have to sand it down a bit and lay down some kind of sealer.

[SXRguyinMA]

maybe try mixing up a little fiberglass resin and brushing the edges of the MDF with it :up:

[Mark_Hardware]

Use the glue diluted with water method

[NightrainSrt4]

I'm probably going to do the wood glue and water mixture and let it dry, then sand it down a bit. Cheap easy way that is supposed to work pretty well.

[NightrainSrt4]

Trying to get decent days for painting is becoming harder and harder with the temps dropping and winds blowing hard here in New England.

1st prime on side panel.
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/3880/img2065h.jpg

Here you can see where I had to cut the feet off the case and make space for the 120mm fan. Remember the top of the case was once the bottom.
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/6624/img2066zc.jpg

Sorry for the lighting here. It's night time, and the best place at the moment is in the kitchen area.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/1822/img2084b.jpg

Remember the imperfections in the holes will be masked by the radgrill type grill I've yet to make.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/1503/img2082r.jpg

You can see the lian li hard drive rack that is just sitting in there atm. I suppose that should be painted as well.
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/4796/img2083.jpg

You can still see some texture in the mdf. I've got to figure out a way to make that go away, without cutting too far into the few fair weather days I've got left.
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/7995/img2081b.jpg

This is frustrating as I've got too much painting, and the days of being able to are disappearing. Small apartment + tiny balcony doesn't equate to being able to get a paint job like I want. Things get worse when I feel rushed to get the paint on before the temps really drop.

[NightrainSrt4]

I wanted to get a quick look with some test hardware in so I can start to think of wire management and such.
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8973/img2086gx.jpg

Three Scythe Slip-Stream 120 slims make an appearance. $1.20 at xoxide.com ftw!
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/1240/img2087z.jpg

Remember, this will be smoked plexi.
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/4700/img2088p.jpg

A look from the rear.
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/4365/img2089gw.jpg

Temp bolts and washers still making their appearances.
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/513/img2090rs.jpg

Test innards - the slim cd drive.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/6091/img2091x.jpg

500W OCZ ModXStream modular power supply. $29 at newegg AR! This should be enough for the e5200, Gigabyte G31m-es2l, 8800GTS 320MB. After playing around with this power supply I do not think I ever want to touch a non-modular psu again. I never understood the big deal until this was in my hands.
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/4019/img2094r.jpg

I wanted my fangrill to be made out of ~1/8 aluminum sheet, but I can't find anything anywhere in this city. Will probably have to go with plexi. Either order a sheet of smoked to match side panel, or go with painted black. Ideas?

[artoodeeto]

looking real nice. I'd go with the smoked plexi - what I see right now is smoked plexi essentially comprising an outside element on that side panel, and some solid black shapes (fans, PSU) comprising interior elements, all of which contrast with the main outside element of white. I think having black fan grilles might take away some design uniformity by adding solid black as an outside element as opposed to just an inside element. But then, that's just my opinion :).
about 4.5 years ago I used to work at a Micro Center computer retailer in northern California, selling compaqs and HPs like this one. My overriding memory of the cases they used...well to keep this G-rated I won't add the choice adjectives that I can think up for their design/quality. :D Suffice it to say you're doing a great conversion so far, much better than what you started with! (and yes...modular PSU's are the best, although in my own mod I may completely disassemble my PSU...jury's still out on that one)

[NightrainSrt4]

Thank you. Ya, the side panel is smoked plexi, just no point and taking the protective cover off until the end of the mod. The smoked plexi would be real nice for the grills, I would just have to order another sheet.

I might have a small scrap leftover somewhere that I could maybe make the small fan grill to see how it looks.

EDIT: WOOT! I've got a piece big enough to do the entire front panel, top grill, and the small fan. I just can't make any mistakes. My history with not breaking plexi isn't too great, but then again Project: Nightrain I didn't have a dremel, just a drill and a mini hacksaw.

I'll make one out of clear just to get it right.

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

ideas... hmmm... ship me the modular!.... oh.. mod ideas :P j/k i like the smoked idea...
smoked plexi gives that wicked "i got something pretty, but u cant quite see it" feel...
like ladies in lingerie.... leave a lil something to the imagination :)

[Liquid_Scope_99]

very slick man i like it the white and black fans looks cool +rep

[NightrainSrt4]

Ya, I do like the smoked plexi. It's what I've got in Nightrain II, which will eventually get finished as well (are they ever finished?). The issue with that is that I've grown out of the style that it was made in. . .

The smoke is really nice. You can barely see anything at all that is in the case without lights. I really like that look.

The issue now is how to do the front panel grill. Because I used the holes on the chassis front, the upper 2 bolts are further in than the lower. As it is, it doesn't make much difference, but if I make the width of the grill somewhere between the two dimensions it is going to show, hard. If I make it a new front face, then it hides that a bit, BUT do I really want the whole panel plexi. I did that with Nightrain, and not sure if I want that again. Time to think.

[artoodeeto]

I'll answer your parenthetical question with a paraphrase (alliteration not intended :D): A great mod is never finished, only abandoned...

[NightrainSrt4]

For this update I want to start by asking if anyone knows of a source to get this type of bolt?
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9701/img2096p.jpg

I would like the head to be a little smaller in diameter, and the shaft to be thinner, but I think they look killer. These are spares from my glass desk, so I can't use these, nor do I have enough.
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/9595/img2099ur.jpg

And I started making the fan grills. I started with the smaller rear fan to see how it works out.
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/1561/img2103ba.jpg

Fresh from the dremel. No filing or anything yet.
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9826/img2104u.jpg

After a few hours of filing and sanding. It's not perfect, but with the rudimentary tools I've got I'm proud. No waterjet for me (although sometimes I wish I had one!).
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1055/img2106b.jpg

I frosted the smoked plexi as it was far too see through/clear for what I wanted. Looks quite nice, even with the temp bolts and only primered case.
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6812/img2108v.jpg

Looks pretty nice, no? The hole above will have power switch and be made out of the smoked plexi as well.
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8261/img2110n.jpg

[SXRguyinMA]

looks nice :up:

[NightrainSrt4]

Poor lighting pics tonight. Mostly because my brother keeps bugging me of my process so I'll just update here instead of just sending him pic links.

Current work on the front panel grill. I didn't like how the grey overtook the entire panel, so I didn't bother finishing the holes for fans and such, as I am going to cut it down much smaller.


Here you can see what I was thinking by not liking it; the smoke was supposed to be an accent, not overtake the entire panel.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/160/img2126p.jpg

I decided to look at some of the hardware I would be using and noticed the shroud on the 8800GTS was SMOKED PLEXI! Ripped off the stickers and after a couple hours of peanut butter application and scrubbing this is what I wound up with.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5171/img2117y.jpg

Still need to finish sanding/wet sanding with 1000 grit, as I've noticed some of the unevenness in the pics, but it looks much better now than before.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5687/img2119hh.jpg

It makes me sad that such beauty isn't going to be seen with the side panel on. I think the window is just lower than it. That's okay, I'll give some nekkid shots when its finished too. ;)
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4379/img2122y.jpg

I'm not sure what is under the black eVGA sticker so I hadn't removed it yet. As it looks like there's a funky divot that might look weird if I take the sticker off.
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/5172/img2124lx.jpg

[NightrainSrt4]

I know how much you guys love hardware shots so here's a few more.

No sticker smoked plexi shroud vs. regular ugly sticker stock shroud.
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3232/img2130a.jpg

Unfortunately, no SLi in this build.
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3852/img2131p.jpg

Gigabyte G31m-ES2L mobo, e5200, 8800GTS 320MB, along with the CM Geminii cooler.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1645/img2132j.jpg

If I can find the fan bracket the Geminii will have 2 of the Scythe slims on it. It's been running "passive" in the TT Lanbox it's in now keeping the e5200 high 20's/low 30's under general use, so if I can't find it, then it isn't a big deal.
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1368/img2134o.jpg

29$ AR OCZ Modular 500W psu
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/6452/img2135fh.jpg

I am really enjoying the modular cables. =)
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/7172/img2138qa.jpg

Hopefully in a few days I'll have the front panel cut down. And maybe some more paint if I can get one decent day.

[p0Pe]

daym that thing looks sexy dude! really! only thing i would say, is that the holes in the front isnt perfectly round from my point of view, but the paintjob really makes this a FRICKING NICE CASE:D
+rep

[NightrainSrt4]

Wow, thanks a lot. Means a lot coming from THE p0Pe =). Especially when its only sitting in primer still.

As for the holes, I didn't have a big hole saw, so it was done with jigsaw and files a while back, and also with the impression I was going to mount the slim drive turned 90* on its side and placed beside the 2 fans, so I off centered them a bit. Later I changed that plan, which meant when I went to clean up the holes, if I continued to try and make them perfectly circular they were going to very visibly be off center which I didn't want.

They also were never supposed to be seen. *wince* as I wasn't going to show anything except the final pictures, but my little brother bugged me for pictures in progress so I tossed them up here too.

Hope to get the front grill cut down this weekend. Too big.

[crazybillybob]

Take a look at McMaster-Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com/#) They have just about everything :) when it comes to screws and other bits for machines.


CBB

[Dysturbed]

Probably a little late but if your looking for 1/8" aluminum try a sign shop. They usually have painted aluminum that you can sand down. And they usually have lots of scrap sitting around they will give you out of their recycle bin. (I know i work in one heheh)

[NightrainSrt4]

I'm bringing this back from the dead. Don't want to get anyone excited, lol, as it may take a while but I am making progress.

I found the case in my little storage area and kept coming back and looking at the pictures in this thread of it, thinking about all the potential it had/has.

I said screw it. I don't need a clean apartment. And with that I dove into the front fan grill.

Stay tuned.

[SXRguyinMA]

:banana:

[NightrainSrt4]

It's been raining so I couldn't get out on the balcony until now.

I sanded the primer coats so it is ready for paint. I have to go pick out the white in the next few days.

I've got to test the power supply for the build to make sure it works before I go tearing the sleeving off and dye the cables.

[SXRguyinMA]

I seem to remember anotehr member here dying his cables and it caused the PSU to not work, but I forget exactly why :think:

[NightrainSrt4]

That's odd. I've done it before on my server. It's been up 24/7 for more than a year since.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22069

[SXRguyinMA]

well in that case sweet :D

[xr4man]

i remember reading about your dye job before. it looks really good and much easier than sleeving or replacing connectors. i think i'll steel that idea next time i want custom colored cables.

gotta give a rep for that.

[StormRider]

I seem to remember anotehr member here dying his cables and it caused the PSU to not work, but I forget exactly why :think:
you're thinking of this, I presume:http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22451&page=14
and it blew up his fan controller somehow, not his PSU