Project: 24 Hour modding Maddness!!

[Wag]

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/6065/moddingmaddness.jpg

Madness??!? THIS ... IS ... MODDING!

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't had any updates to "Projected: Pawned!" but due to a Promotion at work I've had my time dedicated to a project in Bismarck ND which is a full four hours away from the shop which houses all my tools and modding supplies. I've been able to make a couple of short trips back but they are usually filled with Meetings for work and spending time with my wonderful and very understanding wife.

However, this time the modding itch cannot be pacified. I needed it so bad that I couldn't even wait to have something. I needed a case to chop and I needed it now.

In the trunk of my car resides the stately Antec 300. One of my personal Favorites. Found at the Best Buy (I hate Best Buy by the way) for $69 which is only ten to twenty dollars more than what many places online sell it for. The modding urge is suppressed only by the knowledge that the shiny new never-been-open case in my trunk is eagerly awaiting the chopping block.

Due to the fact that I only have 24 hours to modd (actually 12 hours x 2 between Monday and Tuesday) The case will only be receiving minimal changes. These changes will include some cuts into its metal sides and top, the addition of some plexi and LED lights, vinyl sheets, and finally, a simple paint job.

I know its quick and dirty, but hey. Sometimes that’s the way urges are.

This post is simply a primer for what is to come. I am enlisting the help of my wife to photograph (and possibly take some short videos) of the work in progress. I'll have the full story with images of throughout the 24 hour ordeal and hopefully a finished product posted on Tuesday night... if all goes well........

Wish me luck!

Wag

[Waynio]

LMAO, Awesome :banana:, I look forward to see this, sounds a very fun project :), good luck m8 :up:.

[Diamon]

Godspeed mate!

[StormRider]

the clock starts now.
or does it?

[Wag]

Clock starts Monday! Can't jump the gun too quick. I have commitments outside of modding tomorrow. However, I couldn't resist a little dis-assembly when I arrived back home tonight.

Carefully undressing the case.... using my bare hands... seducing it... exposing its inner parts and leaving it naked......

Dare I?
....
...
..
.
oh yes.....

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4103.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4108.jpg


Oh don't be so coy...

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4111.jpg

Strut that stuff

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4119.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4117.jpg

Oh, and I wanted to save the solid panel since the intended design wont need it... so.. I'm stealing the panel off my current system.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4124.jpg

I'll save you for later. Not enough time in 24 hours to make major changes to the bezel. I happen to like the simple elegance of the stately Antec 300's front anyway.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4133.jpg

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4134.jpg

Now we are getting somewhere.
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4135.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4136.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4137.jpg

More parts to to come off.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4139.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4140.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4141.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4142.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4146.jpg

They would have just gotten in the way anyway.

The ports and switches will be preserved as the front is receiving minimal (and possibly no) modding due to time constraints.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4148.jpg

Out with the Ports

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4156.jpg

Out with the LED's

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4171.jpg

Out with the Switches.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4180.jpg

Out with the fans

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4170.jpg

Leaving a bunch of stuff that won't be tampered with and easily reinstalled.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4182.jpg

And one fully naked, fully customizable chassis to receive some surgery.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4188.jpg

I'll probably have some further preparations tomorrow. Those won't count toward the 24hour madness either. That wont start until I have to start using tools on Monday.

Until next time.

Wag

[Wag]

I managed to squeeze my designing in around my busy Sunday. A little Painters tape, a straightedge, a pencil and a sharpie goes a long way.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4189.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4192.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4196.jpg

I know it doesn't look like much in the pictures. Hopefully it turns out OK.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4198.jpg
http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4199.jpg

The real work begins in the morning.

[Loki]

Great shapes for cutting!
are you going to use clear acrilyc?

[Wag]

It's been a crazy couple of days...

The good news is that I got a lot of solid modding in and I do have something to show for it. The bad news is that over the course of the past three days my wife's car blew a head gasket. The car was 12 years old and wasn't worth the repair bill. Sadly that meant that we had to do some car shopping around the modding maddness. I suppose it cut a good ten hours off of my mod weekend. What that means is that while I got a lot of good cutting, grinding, filing, and sanding in. I did not get paint, plexi, and lights in place. On the plus side, we did successfully test drive and purchase a relatively low mileage vehicle. At 2006 Subaru Outback (from our '99 outback that broke down.) It was a very expensive weekend.

That won't stop me from posting the progress. Even if my spirits were trampled a little, modding was the silver lining.

Things began by removing those unsightly fan sections on the side. Their raised grating wouldn't work for the jigsaw cutting.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4201.jpg

Then it was straight to cutting out the design.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4202.jpg

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4205.jpg

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4210.jpg

Rinse, Repeat

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4213.jpg

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4217.jpg

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4220.jpg

With those roughly cut, I turned my attention to the top. First removing the panel.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4227.jpg

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4222.jpg

Then cutting in the same fashion.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4229.jpg

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4234.jpg

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After that, it was on to cleaning up those edges. I had expected to get a little cleaner edges with the jigsaw. I probably should have changed the blades sooner to allow for more precise cutting. That's what I get for trying to save a couple bucks on blades.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4241.jpg

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4245.jpg

The goal was to take an edge like this

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4254.jpg

And turn it into this

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4255.jpg

Still not perfect, but with time a commodity I did not have... sometimes good enough.... is good enough....

Leaving me at the end of day two... with this

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4264.jpg

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4265.jpg

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4266.jpg

And with the dirty hands of a happy modder.

http://www.ghostobservance.com/uploads/Images/ModdingMadness/IMG_4258.jpg

You can notice in the top where the metal got warm and actually stretched on the center line. Hopefully the plexiglass backing will keep it looking straight. That was one side effect of that angular design with straight long edges cut so close to each other. I guess I'll know for next time.

All in all I'm happy with the cuts. I had recently watched the movie "Tron" and while it's not specifically a "Tron" mod, you could probably say that the design is inspired by Tron.

BTW, the Tron Legacy trailer looks pretty good. If you ask me at least :D

I'll keep you posted on the next modding session. Probably a day of paint and primer followed by a day of electrical.

Oh, and to answer your question Loki, it will be clear plexi, but will have white vinyl on one of its surface. When mounted, it will have the vinyl on the inside of the case giving the surface the benefit of the shiny plexi top with an opaque white back. The plan is to also include LED's mounted in the plexi to spread the light out across the design. I haven't ever tested the technique before, so we will see how it goes.

Wish I had more to show for two days work. That's what happens I guess.