Cooler Master Case on hold, ideas for new case mod.

[Tweezy]

I have put my Cooler Master Stacker case on hold since I would like to get in some experience and such before I start hacking up a $160 case. I am going to be modifying a case VERY similar to the one below since I already have the case at home: http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/11-156-002-24.JPG

More images can be found here Clicky. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?Image=11%2D156%2D002%2D24%2Ejpg%2C11 %2D156%2D002%2D15%2Ejpg%2C11%2D156%2D002%2D16%2Ejp g%2C11%2D156%2D002%2D17%2Ejpg%2C11%2D156%2D002%2D2 1%2Ejpg%2C11%2D156%2D002%2D18%2Ejpg%2C11%2D156%2D0 02%2D19%2Ejpg%2C11%2D156%2D002%2D20%2Ejpg%2C11%2D1 56%2D002%2D22%2Ejpg%2C11%2D156%2D002%2D23%2Ejpg&CurImage=11%2D156%2D002%2D24%2Ejpg&Description=RAIDMAX+Diamond+ATX%2D228S+Silver+0%2E 7mm+SECC+ATX+Mid+Tower+Computer+Case+%2D+Retail)

I am going with a card theme mod on this case. Themes/symbols can include cards, suits, chips, slots, billiards, darts, dice, pinball, jukebox, money, etc… Does anybody have any ideas that could go into my design? Any other symbols that might fit the theme? Right now the only thing that I have come up with is a side panel window, quartered off, with a symbol of each of the four suits in their own individual quarter, etched in. I would throw red led’s in the diamonds and hearts areas and a different color in the spades/clubs areas. Input?

[ajmilton]

i like the side panel idea, with the card suits

i was thinking, maybe for spades/clubs instead of etching you cut out around the spade or club and back it with some frosted plexi and a white LED

contrast a bit with the LEDs on the diamond/heart

if this ain't clear i'll see if i can mspaint something to explain it in a bit

[Tweezy]

i see what you mean i think, what if i had an entire window, etched the heart and diamond and threw a red led on them like before, but then i cut the spade and club out of the acrylic, and in its place put a piece of acrylic the same size and shape, would there be a way to meld it so its one solid sheet of plexi? do u get what i mean?

[ajmilton]

acrylic glues should be adequate if you're careful enough. i'm not really the pro on this, but tybrenis should come around and tell us who's right, wrong, and how the hell to really do it.
do you mean a different color of acrylic for the spade and club?

[Tweezy]

yeah, like tinted acrylic for the black effect. Also, im off to the hardware store very soon to buy stuff. I have no tools. planning on a dremel... any must-haves while im there?

[Tweezy]

please keep the ideas flowing. one thing i thought up is maybe, where the ugly silver panel is now, move the power button and put a miniature dart board there in front of a fan opening? also, on top, a very small billiards replica? i am officially calling this a casino themed case.

[Mitternacht]

If you know anyone good with airbrush art, have them do a Ace of Spades and a Jack of Spades on the side, with dice showing seven (5 and 2)

That would look amazing.

[jaxspades]

I like the Jack of Spades idea..............

[jdbnsn]

I'll try to come up with some ideas later, but off hand I would say making feet out of billiard balls would/could look good. And you can make a custom power button using a red/transparent Di (singular dice = di or die?), well anyway, buy using a clear red colored Die you could attach it to the push button component and run an LED in the back to the "power" terminals of the mobo so it lights up when turned on. just a thought...

[Vertigo]

I could see a mean airbrushed joker on this one, with all of the suites flanking him. If you really wanted to get tricky, you could do a full on bondo'd molded monstrosity with the idea. I like the card theme, good idea lots of room for creativity with it imo.

[Tweezy]

Wow, wasn't expecting that many replies. Lol

Well, I like your ideas, but as you said this relies heavily on my knowing somebody with airbrushing skills. Unfortunately I don't. Here are the ideas I have so far. Please give me feedback on this. This will be in the perspective of looking directly at the front of the case. The front bezel will have a working model slot machine on the bottom, the right side panel (behind the mobo) will have a dart board. On the top will be a working miniature billiards table, and on the left side will be a panel window. The window will be quartered off with each of the quarters representing a different suit of cards engraved into it. The center of the panel will have a fan behind it and in front will have cards spread out in a circular pattern around the fan. I don't have the time nor the energy to learn sketchup at this very moment but hopefully my ideas are translating well. Also, the entire case will be covered in green felt (like poker tables at casinos) and the drives in the front will be semi-stealthed.

[SgtM]

Wow, wasn't expecting that many replies. Lol
..but as you said this relies heavily on my knowing somebody with airbrushing skills. Unfortunately I don't.
Look up deathstarchris on this site.. crazy airbrushing skillz. Don't know what he would charge, but it would be worth it.. check out his mod: http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4850