The "hydro" mod

[Escobar999]

hi everybody welcome to the "hydro" case mod. this is my fist mod so bear with me, this a copy, paste of my worklog that ive started this summer, its far from being finished as u can see. im plannig to do a mirror finish metallic green (car paint at 30$\can) on the outside and im also planning on painting the interior with both metallic green and glosst black, MAYBE 2 custom etched windows (1 each side) and plenty of other things that i have in my head but can't think of right now, so yeah...

here it is...

stock case with supplies
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/6702/dsc010202pw.th.jpg (http://img95.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010202pw.jpg)

first cuts
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/2499/dsc010264hc.th.jpg (http://img95.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010264hc.jpg)

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/2420/dsc010320qp.th.jpg (http://img95.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010320qp.jpg)

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/7831/dsc010357dv.th.jpg (http://img95.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010357dv.jpg)

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/6762/dsc010235hn.th.jpg (http://img95.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010235hn.jpg)

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/9251/dsc010249jz.th.jpg (http://img95.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010249jz.jpg)



UPDATE: got it all hooked up...

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/3707/dsc010455sp.th.jpg (http://img342.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010455sp.jpg)

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/4931/dsc010448cs.th.jpg (http://img342.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010448cs.jpg)

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/3107/dsc010532um.th.jpg (http://img342.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010532um.jpg)

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/5021/dsc010560lb.th.jpg (http://img342.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010560lb.jpg)

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/5772/dsc010479jl.th.jpg (http://img342.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010479jl.jpg)

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/9029/dsc010466so.th.jpg (http://img342.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010466so.jpg)

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/9843/dsc010489ui.th.jpg (http://img342.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010489ui.jpg)

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/1337/dsc010503sg.th.jpg (http://img342.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010503sg.jpg)

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/637/dsc010578tt.th.jpg (http://img342.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010578tt.jpg)

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/711/dsc010581nc.th.jpg (http://img342.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010581nc.jpg)

http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/3483/dsc010607dh.th.jpg (http://img342.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc010607dh.jpg)

let me know what u guys think is good or bad!!! THNX!!!

p.s. ill try and get some more nighshots when i have the time, my batteries died on me last night :(
(also a 512 ddr400 kingston died in the process)

[Escobar999]

UPDATE: I decided to cut out an intake in my bezel heres what it looks like

here im preparing to cut

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3254/dsc012728gi.th.jpg[/URL]

cut made
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/8566/dsc012766ir.th.jpg (http://img387.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc012766ir.jpg)

with the mesh
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1310/dsc012842jy.th.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc012842jy.jpg)

installed but not painted yet
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7510/dsc012901df.th.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc012901df.jpg)

also did a stealth drive and painted my floppy

stealth drive without bezel (credit to maxx for the eraser tip ;) )
http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/6986/dsc012813kv.th.jpg (http://img366.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc012813kv.jpg)

painted floppy
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3969/dsc013290qp.th.jpg (http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc013290qp.jpg)

it works!!!! :D
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1226/dsc012881fr.th.jpg (http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc012881fr.jpg)

heres what it looks like. its doing a little contrast right now but when ill
have the whole bezel painted its gonna look slick :lol:

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4081/dsc013320pq.th.jpg (http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc013320pq.jpg)

i also changed the stock TT fangrill on my cpu heatsink. BYE BYE UGLY GRILL!
http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/2577/dsc013063xc.th.jpg (http://img369.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc013063xc.jpg)

Hi bonzai-mods kick ass turbine grill 8)
http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/2500/dsc013078ge.th.jpg (http://img369.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc013078ge.jpg)
the grill didnt made a difference on temps, however i dont know why but since i put this grill on
my fan runs @ 4900/5000 rpm instead of 4600/4700 rpm :shock:

thats pretty much it, but i have over 150$us worth of stuff coming for this case
and 350$US for my bro's pc(water cooling) so stay tuned :D

UPDATE here is one of the few things ive received.

tadaaammm!!! custom "marijuana" leaf design
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4066/dsc016700hv.th.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc016700hv.jpg)

and they even shipped 2 of them (because it took almost 2 months to burn i guess),this one is a little bit different tho. the background is an haitian flag

http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/4287/dsc016712qn.th.jpg (http://img483.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc016712qn.jpg)

this is made from this image
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/3600/3509668qq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

turned out the etched werent punched correctly the holes were on the wrong side, they (voyeurmods/brian) agreed to burn a new 1 tho with NO holes this time :D

[Escobar999]

HUGE Update:
well... where to begin... lol
they say measure twice and cut once, so i guess ill show u my measurements first.

the inner lines is where i need to cut.
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8708/dsc018239oq.th.jpg (http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc018239oq.jpg)(reclick on the pic while in imageshack to make it bigger)

with the windows in places
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/246/dsc018213tm.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc018213tm.jpg)

due to the fact that i already had 2 fans on the side panel and that i really need those fans, i couldnt make the panel with only the etch, so i decided to make the side window in 2 parts, yeah thats right 2 parts,ill have the parts with the 2 fans on a green uv plexi, and the etch. those 2 parts will be mounted so that they look glued together (but they wont be) they will be held in place with some scotch double sided clear tape (u can find it at home depot). i made sure to use the flame polished side to go sit against the etched window edge.forgot to take a pic of that, sorry. enuff talking lets make some sparks!!

w00t
http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/6312/dsc019471pn.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019471pn.jpg)

i tried to make it as straight as possible,(less filing later on)
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9213/dsc019393nh.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019393nh.jpg)

almost a perfect cut, i had to go really slow but i think it was worth it
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/7296/dsc019414ir.th.jpg (http://img356.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019414ir.jpg)

pretty much halfway cut, dont forget protection goggles, so you can see your final product :wink:
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/5677/dsc019493ho.th.jpg (http://img356.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019493ho.jpg)

heres a close shot of the corners
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3992/dsc019430uv.th.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019430uv.jpg)

w00t the window is CUT!!
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1293/dsc019515qc.th.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019515qc.jpg)

intake is also cut! keep in mind that there wont be anything in the middle when ill be done with it. this was just a tester to see how it would look, seeing it now, it definitively needs to go. just wanted to see it with a window thats y i kept it.
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/7357/dsc019670py.th.jpg (http://img110.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019670py.jpg)

corners cut in details.(they were a freakin pain in the ass) ,not filed yet.
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8246/dsc019583mq.th.jpg (http://img70.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019583mq.jpg)

for the time being ill use a uv green window, i still need to paint the panel before final installation and i dont want to ruin my main window so yeah... uv green for now :(
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7075/dsc019710xy.th.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019710xy.jpg)

test fit... YAY it fits!
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/951/dsc019726ad.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019726ad.jpg)

intake holes measurements. need to cut inbetween the 2 circles, thats where the grills will be sittin so no need for a perfect cut here, just between the lines will be good enough.
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/36/dsc019748pz.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019748pz.jpg)

here are the not filed yet holes
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6210/dsc019769bq.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019769bq.jpg)

with filed holes. remember that it doesnt need to be perfect to look perfect :wink:
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7922/dsc019806rf.th.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019806rf.jpg)

test fit with the grills mounted, w00t it fits!
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/8830/dsc019913nu.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019913nu.jpg)

now lets mount the window on the panel... remember that "scotch double sided clear tape" i was talking about earlier? lets see what it looks like (thnx to bill from mnpctech.com for the tutorial)
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1801/dsc019814cl.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019814cl.jpg)

u need to SLOWLY and CAREFULLY peel it off!! or you will peel the protector film and the glue will stay sticked to your scrap piece of metal. forgot to take a pic of it but it happened to me, and i dont feel like wasting my tape to show it to u guys, just peel it off carefully and you'll be alright :P heres the 5mm stripes ive cutted. sorry for the freakin flash, and yes, i know, the first stripe isnt straight. hehehe
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2396/dsc019842eb.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019842eb.jpg)

heres it is mounted on the panel, u can see where the tape is from that pic.
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7981/dsc019859fx.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019859fx.jpg)

wide angle shot
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4960/dsc019921ah.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc019921ah.jpg)

frontal shot
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/1903/dsc020935hc.th.jpg (http://img106.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020935hc.jpg)

assembled night shot, this is the darker i could get my room to be, ill try and get some real night shot tommorrow. keep in mind i only have a dual 4" uv in there hence why it doesnt glow that much
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/4666/dsc020914lq.th.jpg (http://img106.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020914lq.jpg)

this is it for the window... i have some more pics, but i think its a big enough post for today and im tired as hell so ill post the rest tommorrow. :P

comments are greatly appreciated, good or bad, bring it on.

[Escobar999]

UPDATE: OMG! thats was a long day! lmfao!!! sry guys, got busy but here it is.

to begin, here is the awesome lian-li wheels installation pics (thnx marquis for the link and idea)

w000t! aren't they nice and sleek?
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/7876/dsc020180ye.th.jpg (http://img372.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020180ye.jpg)

i couldnt resist just sitting my pc on those to see what it would looked like hehehe
http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/9716/dsc020215oq.th.jpg (http://img123.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020215oq.jpg)

i forgot to take a pic of what it looked before, so i've just put the stock feet over the tape and here it is, thats what the stock feet looked like
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/5060/dsc020224pz.th.jpg (http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020224pz.jpg)

here is a close shot of 2 holes
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/4779/dsc020251iu.th.jpg (http://img224.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020251iu.jpg)

here is the 8 holes needed to install the wheels. was pretty easy to do actually. notice that the top right holes are not aligned with the dots, they're meant to be like that, i screwed up with those dots, hehehe
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/5889/dsc020246qx.th.jpg (http://img56.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020246qx.jpg)

everything fitted perfectly on the 1st try w00t! i cant say that often, so ill say it now. lmfao!
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3570/dsc020263aa.th.jpg (http://img70.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020263aa.jpg)

here is a close, angle shot.
http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/4893/dsc020283pe.th.jpg (http://img400.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020283pe.jpg)

close shot of the brake, lian-li suggest to put the brake in the front but the way my case is designed it looked way better with the brake on the back.
http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/6066/dsc020276ca.th.jpg (http://img400.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020276ca.jpg)

wide angle shot. sry for the "kinda" blurry pic, it looked good from the camera's 2 inch screen lol
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9530/dsc020589zu.th.jpg (http://img228.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020589zu.jpg)

now that the case elevated a bit, i found out a good spot for my swicthes, the molex doesnt work very good because the tape doesnt hold it down strong enough, but i might try something else :D
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1493/dsc020419ts.th.jpg (http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020419ts.jpg)

in this pic if u look closely u can see the 4 inch ccfl underneath the case in a "V" shape, i wanted to make to some kind of a fade effect. sorry i forgot to take a better pic, im actually lucky that u guys can see it in this pic lol! this pic has been taken to show how the switches looked with the bezel back on
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9440/dsc020502lj.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020502lj.jpg)

here is what it looks like in the dark as of now
http://img458.imageshack.us/img458/3199/dsc020790ll.th.jpg (http://img458.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020790ll.jpg)

with the door open
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3194/dsc020833qy.th.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc020833qy.jpg)

thats pretty much it for now, ive begin modding the anodized fan i have in the front, im putting some LED on it, cuz the fan looks boring in the dark right now. i should have the pics sometime this week along with pics of all the stuff ive ordered.

[crenn]

Well.... it's unique..... I'll give you that...

[Tweezy]

I like it alot. In fact it has inspired my first case mod project. Thank you. Can you tell me what case you started with as a base?

EDIT: Sorry for necromancing this thread but I felt I had a legitimate on-topic and relevant question to ask. Also, since I found it through this user's profile I had no idea how truly old it was until I finally thought to look at it. :-\

EDIT 2: What did you use to make the cut on the front of your case?