Project FlameProof: Elemental Nocturne

[Kayin]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/flameproofbanner.png

Just to put some minds at ease, the Bat is not being abandoned. This is my development/review testbench machine. It's also going to hopefully be my bid for MDPC...

This is a return to my roots-it will be the fourth PC in the FlameProof line for me. The first was a direct-die watercooled 2500+ Barton in a completely etched acrylic case, the second was a watercooled 3000+ Winchester in a watercooled and heavily reworked Lian-Li PC-60, the third was a scrapped project involving a copletely polished ThermalTake Shark, a 3600x2, and a fully watercooled motherboard, but as I said, it (literally) fell apart.

I'm going back to what I do best-etched windows, aluminum cases, redonkulous watercooling, and completely custom artwork. I'm also gonna test some new technologies that will be applied to my new business undertaking-the tricks I use here will show up in the offerings from the modding company I'm starting. I've done this forever, I've a lot of tools and a few tricks that even the pros wish they had access to in their backyard, and I'm finally in a position to attempt to make a go at it.

So with less ado than you'd probably like, here we go!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/080-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/044-6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/097-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/099-1.jpg

You know, the way things are going in these pics, I'm afraid I'll find a betta in the CPU box.

http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=1154504

Actually, no bettas, and this is just a few seconds of playing around, the stock sink isn't very good at all. Now, as this is all about some custom artwork, here we go...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/logo.png

This is one of the pieces of art that will be showing up, but there will be others as well making an appearance here before they're etched into something (or other, more interesting ideas...)

All right, flame away. I'll be back later when I have a case selected (or more likely, in hand...)

[Couch3ater]

Love that picture? Self drawn?

[Kumo]

Looking at her belly, I guess you neutered your cat. That's why she looks upset :D

[SXRguyinMA]

this should be interesting :D

[x88x]

Nice artwork! I'm definitely looking forward to seeing this come together.

[Kayin]

Yeah, I do all my own artwork for this.

I found a PC-7 I had lying around, it should serve well for this project. However, by the time I'm done, it should be barely recognizable. This should be FUN!

I stripped the case yesterday, if people will ever quit cutting grass I'll get some pics.

[StormRider]

Yeah, I do all my own artwork for this.

I found a PC-7 I had lying around, it should serve well for this project. However, by the time I'm done, it should be barely recognizable. This should be FUN!

I stripped the case yesterday, if people will ever quit cutting grass I'll get some pics.
what, have people been cutting grass in your garage?:D
Looking foreward to seeing how this turns out

[Kayin]

No garage, and I'm VERY allergic to grass. I may snap some pics tonight anyway.

[Trace]

Cute cat!
Can't wait for the cinebench comp... Goodluck

[Kayin]

Got a lot of good work done today...

Got the bottom cut for a 3x120 radiator first off...

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/002.JPG/IMG]

[IMG]http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/003.JPG/IMG]

[IMG]http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/004.JPG/IMG]

After that, it was on to the top to cut and fit a 2x120 radiator and fans...

[IMG]http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/005.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/006.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/007.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/008.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/010.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/014.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/015.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/016.JPG

And assembled... The standoffs are for a part of the project that hasn't been shown yet.

After that, the case was de-riveted for polishing. This is the motherboard tray...

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/017.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/018.JPG

This was just the pass with 1000 grit. There's still 2000 and polish to go.

And now, for some REAL modding. What you see is a chunk of jet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_(lignite)), a type of coal used as a semi-precious gemstone. Being in the coal-producing parts of the Appalachians has its benefits. This is before...

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/019.JPG

And this is after. A few hours of love with a Dremel and this is what you get-a depiction of the element of wind (air) in coal, effectively.

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/021.JPG

A nice day's work, with more to do tomorrow. And, I have even more surprises in store...

[Trace]

Nice dremel work!!!

[x88x]

Hmmm, intriguing...

[jiggiwiddit]

Nice engraving on the jet. Can you show something to get the scale of the piece? I'm guessing flame/coal/jet along the theme of the mod maybe?

[Couch3ater]

Jet eh? Should be interesting. Looking forward to it. =D

[Kayin]

Here's a pic of the jet carving with a Coke can for size. Not the smallest thing out there...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02822.jpg

And here's some sleeving progress... PCI-E cables are sleeved. The reason for the heatshrink on both ends bundling the cables is that I have very tight constraints on space in this case, and jamming everything in will require a few tricks. This is one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02818.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02819.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02820.jpg

And the side panel layout, ready for cutting. Looks pretty nasty outside, may rain soon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02821.jpg

And here's the big fun in this worklog-something else never featured in a PC case before. This is...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02828.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02829.jpg

No, it's not just rocks. There's more to it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02823.jpg

That's two slabs of amber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amber), or copal to be exact.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02824.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02825.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02826.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/DSC02827.jpg

And, since Mach wanted proof, here it is.

http://www.ambericawest.com/chunks.html

Now imagine that I have a five-gallon bucket full of this and more.

[Couch3ater]

O.o Are you buying all this amber / jet? If not, where on Earth are you getting it?

[x88x]

Oooh, nice. That'll look beautiful once it's cut and polished. :D


O.o Are you buying all this amber / jet? If not, where on Earth are you getting it?

IDK about AL, but I remember when I visited the Petrified Forest National Park, there were a few shops nearby that just giant piles of all sorts of semiprecious rocks that you could buy by the bucketload. I'm guessing this is from somewhere kinda like that?

[Kayin]

We pulled this from a barn that's older than I am by far (it also happens to be the barn I'm converting into a house) and it was practically one with the top of a table we deconstructed. I'm absolutely unsure where it came from, but its value is undoubted. You can even see the layering, how it was built up over time.

It being copal, and not true amber, it's softer and less brittle, but it gums easier as well. Interesting thing, I can flow it with the heat gun if I try hard enough, but I really risk some nasty burns and the destruction of the piece as well.

I still haven't finished showing off my materials, but I have been approached by a sponsor that will determine how things go from here. I'll post more progress when I have a definitive word from them.

[billygoat333]

oooo sponsors... yummy.

[Couch3ater]

YAY sponsors!

[StormRider]

lol, I want some of that amber.
I've never seen a case that uses that stuff. Can't wait to see what you have in mind for it

[jiggiwiddit]

Ahh... so copal is soft pre-fossilized amber? If its still soft, can it be melted and poured into a mould? :glasses:

Or am I off track?

[Snowman]

Looking like a great build, glad to see you back on the scene hope my emails weren't harassing my only intent was to make sure you didn't fall of the face of the earth.

[Kayin]

No offense taken.

I had real issues, and I had to get everything squared away, and then I came back. I'm glad I could help you.

Today has been mostly ordering parts, and I'm gearing up to cut some metal in a few minutes. That side panel is looking to get cut to pieces. Think it'll look better with some holes in it...

[Kayin]

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/001.JPG

Polished mobo tray...

and that side panel layout?

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/002-1.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/003-1.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/004-1.JPG

That's all Dremel and files.

BTW, I have my own space to host now, I'm just in the process of fixing all pics. It'll take me a bit to reupload everything on satellite.

[Snowman]

BTW, I have my own space to host now, I'm just in the process of fixing all pics. It'll take me a bit to reupload everything on satellite.

ouch who is your service provider?

in other news mod is looking great.

[Kayin]

Some of my toys came in...

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/005.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/006.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/007.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/008-1.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/009.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/010.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/011.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/012.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/013.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/014.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/015.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/016.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/017.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/018.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/019.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/020.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/021.JPG

I'm sure you guys notice the build quality on the TyphoonIII. So I kitted it out with a D5 Vario and some BP barbs and compared it to something I have lying around the house, and it was found wanting.

I'll be contacting P-PCs tomorrow to send it back. It's nasty.

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/022.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/023.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/024.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/025.JPG

[x88x]

Oooh, shiny! :D ...well, except for that one piece..

I've never seen plexi fittings before..have you used those previously or are they new?

[mDust]

Looks interesting, although I can only see half the pics due to bandwidth limits imposed by photobucket... :(
And that reservoir looks like it was made in someone's basement... The very first acrylic welds I ever made were cleaner than that.

[SXRguyinMA]

yea that res does look horrible! but that gorgeous EK CPU block makes up for it :D

[Kayin]

All right, here's a teaser while I'm gearing up to go to Bham...

[Mach]

I doff my hat sir. You win with your unobtanium acquisition. :) Consider me intrigued.

[x88x]

Hmmm, let's see.. Given the materials already announced, I'm gonna guess maybe cedar? Color looks pretty yellowed though, so I can't really be sure. Are you going to stain it or leave it raw?

[Kayin]

Red oak and poor lighting. As to stains, keep watching this space.

[Luthien]

I feel your pain on poor lighting. Why does it always have to rain on the days you need to take pictures?

[Kayin]

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-13_11-01-22.jpg

More assembled, and SHINY!

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-13_11-01-30.jpg

Still some final polishing, but it's coming together...

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-13_11-01-37.jpg

more reflections...

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-13_11-01-59.jpg

Still not finished. I think you'll like the finished product...

[Kayin]

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/side.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/air.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/earth.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/fire.JPG

http://thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/water.JPG

That's enough for now, touch-ups later.

[x88x]

Wow. That...looks really good!

[Kayin]

This isn't dead, not by a long shot.

I've been tied up with RL stuff, but I had a chance to get some major modding done. Remember that XSPC reservoir?

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/inprogress.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/completed.JPG

Still gotta get XSPC to send me the caps for this thing. It actually came without them.

Work continues apace, but I'm not ready to reveal my hand yet...

[x88x]

Oooh, preeetty. You wouldn't happen to be throwing some LED lighting into that panel, would you. :D

[jawshwaa]

hand carved , love'n it!

[Luthien]

Excellent

[Kayin]

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/DSC02973.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/DSC02974.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/DSC02975.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/DSC02976.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/DSC02977.JPG

Work continues apace, the partition divider is coming together thanks to the heat gun and my new plexi knife...

[x88x]

Hmmm, you have intrigued me good sir. I am intrigued.

[StormRider]

I want to learn how to make curved plexi/acrylic like that

[Kayin]

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/DSC02986.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/DSC02987-1.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/DSC02988.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/DSC02989.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/DSC02990.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/2010-05-07/DSC02991.JPG

Making the hard drive rack for the case. Holds 10 2.5" drives, the drives pictured are Fujitsu MAYRC2036 SAS drives.

[Kayin]

This has not stopped, I was merely ill for a great while, but I have new parts, new progress and I'm committed to finishing this one JUST AS I SEE IT IN MY MIND, which means I'm still working my ass off.

I'll try to post pics today...

[Trace]

Woohoo!

[x88x]

w00tz! Glad to see you back in the modding seat. :D

[Kayin]

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/022.JPG

What are we doing here?

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/023.JPG

Besides putting holes in it?

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/024.JPG

A piece of wood... This is getting strange, no?

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/025.JPG

The case, all fans and front panel wired and sleeved...

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/026.JPG

Need to paint marker one wire there.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/027.JPG

Looks like it grew there...

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/028.JPG

There's the front panel, fan controller, res, and that plate-holding two Bulgin vandal switches. Everything has a place, I promise.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/029.JPG

The fans are all wired up, each half to one switch.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/030.JPG

All sleeved, and all connections are heat-shrinked both to hide white connectors and for stability.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/031.JPG

One molex connector left to hook up, but it's the pumps, so an important one...

Left? Panels, cutting and fitting acrylic, etching, and getting in the blocks for video cards and tubing. Still to come are some really fun new products I'll be debuting soon...

[SXRguyinMA]

lookin good man! I can't wait to see it all come together!!

[Trace]

Gratz on the feature.

[Kayin]

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/0281.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/0291.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/0301.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/0311.JPG

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/kayin/Personal/FlameProof/032.JPG

New board, old one conked out on me. Just used it for 4GHz on this proc, so it's not too shabby at all. More parts are getting finished all the time, just working on getting everything stuffed in the PC that's supposed to go now...

[Trace]

Woot. Hit 5ghz!

[Luthien]

Yay for the feature!