space case

[meticoeus]

Hello all, this is my first post. I have been reading various tutorials and worklogs here and am quite impressed so I decided to join today. Brief background: I'm a full time college student (Math/Physics double major) with a love of computers. I have some experience in building computers but very little in modding them/use of power tools/etc though I fully intend to learn.

Anyway, I am planning an ambitious (for me) scratch built case that will look like a space ship, most likely based on Star Wars ships. I am considering ships such as the TIE Interdictor or some version of a star destroyer, though the design doesn't need to be finalized until after I start the foam board modeling stage.

Anyway, I plan to make the chassis out of aluminum or steel and the body out of sheet aluminum or more likely something like styrene. I would appreciate input here.

The system (a gaming rig/multipurpose) is not finallized yet either but I won't be buying parts until mid-August.

current specs:
dell 2407 24" monitor (1920x1200 native)
Core 2 Duo
appropriate mobo (waiting until conroe is out...)
DDR2 800Mhz
graphics card(s) powerful enough for above resolution and good fps on current games. possibly Nvidia's 7950 gx2
500-650W PSU
sound card (taking suggestions, preferably under 100 USD)
HDD yet to be determined...
medusa 5.1 headphones

I will be integrating a water cooling system into the case. I plan to use copper pipes through the bulk of the system, attched to the chassis and tygon to run to water blocks and such.

My budget for this system (as well as tools and case) will be around 3,200-3,500 USD. Any and all input is much appreciated.

(as anyone reading this may be able to discern, I'm not most organized person in the world, lol)

[vidas7de7jesus7]

sounds cool. stick a worklog in the proper forum. Looking forward to it. Make a TIE Bomber (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c4/Tiebomber.jpg). It's a less known craft, as well as being large enough to fit stuff in there. While if you created a TIE fighter large enough to fit an ATX mobo, the wing things would could be... maybe 2 or 3 feet across (if everything was proportionate).

[meticoeus]

I will start a worklog when I have a better idea of what I'm going to do. Right now I just want input and I have little time to work on anything.

The TIE Interdictor is a version of the bomber. It has four missle pods instead of 1 so it could house the pc in less space (proportionaly).

Space isn't a huge factor but somthing like the wings of a smaller TIE (bomber, interceptor) would be too large as I intend to keep things proportionate if at all feasible.

[DaveW]

Welcome to the Boards. :)

Sounds pretty cool, I assume you've seen CrazyBillyBob's R2 mod for another star wars related mod?

-Dave

[meticoeus]

Actually, I found this site while searching for case modding info and came across CS's Nighhawk project and was rather inspired. I saw that he used aluminum for the chassis but I'm curious what kind of aluminum it was and where would I find it?

[CanaBalistic]

Its just standard aluminum angle. HomeHardware, Lowes, Revy, Rona, Beaver Lumber. They charge by the foot so its best if you know roughly how much you need before you go in. Remember to add an extra foot or three incase you make any mistakes.

[maximan1]

FEAST YOUR EYES!
http://common.ziffdavisinternet.com/util_get_image/9/0,1425,sz=1&i=99118,00.jpg

Not mine but still cool

[simon275]

Thats cool.

I bet it ways a tone.

Wonder what its made out of.

[slaveofconvention]

My first suggestion is take your list of components and throw it in the bin. I'm not sayin there's anythin wrong with the items you selected - there isn't - but a couple months down the line, who know's what will come out - not to mention that, if it's your first mod - and you have the patience to do it properly - it may well take months too - so you MIGHT be lookin at buyin hardware 3 4 5 or even 6 months down the line - you buy the hardware now, and it'll be seriously devalued by the time you use it, and you WILL be annoyed about what you spent and what you have, compared to what you could get if you spent in then....

[meticoeus]

I read somewhere that that TIE was made of ply wood (or however you spell that ;p) and pvc mostly. Anyways, thanks for the help and don't worry, I'm not buying parts until either the case is nearly complete, or my old pc dies and I have to replace it lol. (which considering its age, it is quite possible, sigh)