Project: Ark Reborn - Update 11/16

[TheGreatSatan]

Well here's the scoop. I built the Ark of the Covenant mod a while ago and have always regretted the way it turned out. It was such an easy theme to nail down and yet it still looked like crap.

I intend to fix it. I'm not fixing the old case......I'm starting over. Last time my biggest problem was the case I used. I was trying to make a metal case look like a wooden box, which it didn't. I should have used something thinner covered in wood and went a simpler route, I won't make that mistake this time.

So I got a basic desktop case from Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121010) Then stripped it down and painted it gold.

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060329.jpg

The computer will have a piece of wood under it and another identical piece on top

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060330.jpg

The top piece will still be adorned in an elegant trim

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1020941.jpg

And I kept my topper with the angels. Which turned out beautifully

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1030040.jpg

Here are the new case feet

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060342.jpg

I still have the old carry bars

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1030010.jpg

I drilled holes for the bars to connect to the base

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1030034.jpg



I'll be using a threaded rod to hold these on

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060350.jpg

Then I cut exactly how much I need and coat them in Gorilla Glue to ensure it dries with the best fit

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060351.jpg

Then I pound them into place beneath the surface of the poles and add a little glue too.

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060353.jpg

Next I'll be cutting out all of the panel sides

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060347.jpg

Yes, from the outside it will be all wood!

[billygoat333]

Awesome! will be watching this guy.

[x88x]

Looks like a great start. :D

[TheGreatSatan]

I've had so much time to think about and plan this project that I will be done this week.

I added a rope trim piece to the base

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060354.jpg

I then flipped the base over to paint the legs too

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060355.jpg

The first side to go on is the right

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060356.jpg

Then I measure and cut the power button and DVD drive

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060357.jpg

Once cut it gets mounted to the front

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060358.jpg

The base is pretty much ready. I ran out of paint, but will fix it soon

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060361.jpg

Now I add the case to the base

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060364.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060365.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060370.jpg

[TheGreatSatan]

Today, I added the two right beams

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060373.jpg

I got this cool wavy thingy

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060374.jpg

That I added to the front to cover the screws

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060375.jpg

I've been thinking of how to permanently attach the case to the base, but not be seen. I've had these coax cable clamps for a while now

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060377.jpg

I'll have to use a longer nail or screw to make this work

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060378.jpg

I painted an initial coat of gold

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060382.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060385.jpg

The front left pillar is added to the bezel without the side panel

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060393.jpg

I'll be cutting a left panel window soon

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060372.jpg

[TheGreatSatan]

I added some more of that cool rope trim around the window

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060390.jpg

I have this sweet mesh that I'll be using behind the window

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060395.jpg

But first I make it gold too

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060396.jpg

Here's where I plan to make the side removable. The rear pillar is getting glued to the lone side

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060407.jpg

Then it's reinforced with screws. I also attach the window with silicon

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060410.jpg

Now I can add and remove the side panel and pillar in one movement

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060413.jpg

An it still looks perfect

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060412.jpg

Then it's painted to match

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060422.jpg

Rope trim is also added to the drive bay

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060431.jpg

I know it's all gold, but I will be adding highlights that will make it look more aged

[Loki]

yeeyy YE OLDE ARK!!

Do U ever stop modding stuff? LOL

[TheGreatSatan]

Never!

[Yeticorn]

I remember when you did this the first time! The wooden exterior looks much better, can't wait to see what the end product looks like.

[Loki]

I'll give the side panel a good sanding with a 1000-ish sandpaper, and another layer of paint, to make it shine like the rest of the case :)

[TheGreatSatan]

The front will get it too. It still feels real course

[TheGreatSatan]

I added some cool black lines to break up the color on the handles

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060436.jpg

[TheGreatSatan]

I used some Durham Water Putty (http://www.waterputty.com/) to fill the voids

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1060446.jpg

[Liquid_Scope_99]

Looking awesome man . Durhams Water putty is awesome stuff .

[TheGreatSatan]

That's it, I am Done!

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/Arkfin2.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/Arkfin1.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/Arkfin3.jpg

[SXRguyinMA]

nice work!

[Yeticorn]

Nicely done, I like this version much better then the last :D

[Loki]

Nice :D some pics of the interior plz?

[flare]

Looks very cool man and I second Loki's post. Pics of interior please!

[TheGreatSatan]

No components inside. Just a case mod

[billygoat333]

turned out looking great!

[TheGreatSatan]

So, I'm thinking of adding a system in my Ark case mostly for show. I had a Pentium D 3.8GHz laying around, so I picked up a cheap motherboard and dropped in 2gigs of RAM I already had too. I then figured, I might as well use one of these extra 3870 X2's collecting dust in my basement too.

Just look how much bigger the video card is to the motherboard!

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/P1060714.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/P1060717.jpg

[SXRguyinMA]

hey that 3870x2 looks familiar :whistler: lol

And I've got that same exact Dynex PSU sitting next to me that's currently being used for a test PSU for my breadboard :D

[TheGreatSatan]

Yeah it's good enough for testing, but not the one I'd use for this system for sure

[TheGreatSatan]

Here's the PSU (http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0321037) I got.

[SXRguyinMA]

yea I paid $10 on ebay for my new dynex 400w. it's not going to be in any systems, I'm probably going to un-case it and make a cool custom bench psu out of it :D

[x88x]

I'm probably going to un-case it and make a cool custom bench psu out of it :D

Make sure you watch out for those power resistors..they hurt. ;)

[ATi_Loyalist]

A master of woodcraft!

[TheGreatSatan]

More done

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/P1060721.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/P1060724.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/P1060725.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/P1060726.jpg

They're pretty bright

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/P1060727.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/P1060731.jpg

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp143/TheGreatSatan/P1060735.jpg

[msmrx57]

The lights being so bright just make it better. It's like the Nazis are about to remove the lid. :D

[TheGreatSatan]

Exactly. I don't even care if the computer inside works. It just has to melt Nazi's :)

[StormRider]

oh, we are in so much trouble.

[x88x]

Now you just need to get some Nazis to melt. :D