Half Life 2: Gravity Gun

[Produkt]

I've been sitting here for the past hour plotting out my new machine, my original prospect was roughly 1.5-2k to spend on it. well even with the plans of tapping up to a radeon X2800 (or what ever they drop first) I still have a couple hundred left over for a case

I had gone back and looked at the first HL2 case, and wile in itself it was an awesome case, but it didn't scream HL2 and the HL2 logo case wasn't a representation of the game either.

I'm looking at making a full on Half-Life 2 case featuring the citadel in its full glory even with proper keyboard and mouse to complement it

http://half-life2.com/img/conceptart/hl2_conceptart.InnerCity.gif
http://half-life2.com/img/screenshots/hl2_screen.UrbanRenewal.gif

this is the case I planned on building it upon, but if you have a better suggestion I'd be fully welcome to it!

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/11-144-137-01.JPG

my main delema is, Wile I have had experience with bondo type modding, window cutting etcetera this one requires much finer detail, and I'm not entirely sure what to do! at first I had planned to get sheets of aluminum but I'm fearful of it bending too easily!

My painting skills and such aren't going to be a problem, I'm widely open to suggestions so hit me with them!
wile I'm not going to be money stengy I want to stop after the 300 dollar mark on supplys (case included)

[SgtM]

Sounds very cool. It took me a minute to realize those were screen shots of the game!

[Produkt]

first one is a painting, second is in game :P

[SgtM]

both are sw33t!! Looking forward to seeing you kick this off.

[Dem Pyros]

i think what would look sweet would if you bondo'd some of the spires from the citadel on the sides. Between the spires you could put window openings. Just a thought.

[Produkt]

I'm spending time today sketching out a full design. Unlike the case made for valve I intend to keep some of the crumbling city underneath the citadel

Thanks for the support guys, I'm looking into how Crimson Sky made his added features, I know a lot of it was from model kits but he fabricated some stuff, so I'm reeeellly reeeelly interested in how he managed that

[DaveW]

As he says himself, Kit Bashing is a time consuming task.

It can also be expensive if you don't have contacts.

-Dave

[Produkt]

As for time, I have 6 months before I upgrade my machine, in which time I hope to complete the mod. and I have several model kits left over from my childhood which I failed to finish. these are only sparsly used, most of the mod will be hand fabricated, I understand he manufactured some of his pieces with bondo, wile others looked like paper/plastic stuff.

I'm also trying to find the work log of the other HL2 case mod made for valve (it currently resides in the offices of valve software) it has citadel gates on it as well (maybe I can find out how he made his parts)

Sketches are done, I'm trying to find a scanner here in school to get this up on the net, if not I'll wait till I get home.

After I get home I'll start on a 3d model so I can work out all of the kinks in my design

[Produkt]

Here is the sketch I made today, the 3d model is being made, but I'm taking a break since Burning crusade just let out, I'll be done with the model tomorrow for sure, so far I was able to get a nice addition to the citadel! I'm adding the creative remote kit (included in the Audigy 4) into my case, I've also gotten my brand new Wireless N card! YAY! A work log will start on this as soon as I have my materials for the citadel! Although the small building you see in the bottom corner on the front may be started by tomorrow evening

http://www.closedshutter.com/images/case_sketch.jpg

[Produkt]

Well After getting a speeding ticket today I'm sure there will be a delay on ordering the hardware for the machine, but the funds for the case mod are more than accounted for, in fact I'm thinking about boosting my budget for the case to 400 dollars to archive perfection :D

I decided I needed to tear open my belkin wireless antenna so I know how to mount the antenna!

http://www.closedshutter.com/images/belkin.jpg

I'm in search of some PVC foam hopefully I can find 1' 1/2' and 1/4' sets of it for variation over the case. I'm calling up all of the local sign creation businesses asking to buy scraps and where they get theirs from! (when they open tomorrow :( )

[public_eyesore]

nice, I was wondering how you were gonna pull it off. And I gotta say, that looks sharp so far(the concept drawing)

[Produkt]

Alright major breakthrough has been made, I have the primary material I intend to use! PVC Foam or Expanded PVC as its also known. I'm getting 1 sheet of 1/2 inch and 1 sheet of 1/4 inch (2x2) sheets in addition to that I'm getting 1 sheet of 4x4 1/8th inch think :D for additional construction

once I've confirmed that that stuff is on its way I'm ordering the case WAHOO!

right now I'd like a low cost solution to a 6 or 7" lcd display for the front of the case (to be hooked up via s-video, rca cable, ect...)

3d model is high priority tonight so I'll be cracking on that really soon!

Quick update...

I made a model for the under body (these will be made with aluminuminum... and the pvc material mentioned above.)

http://www.closedshutter.com/images/underbody_3dwip.jpg

this is what I'll make before to house enough of the changes to the frame of the case. the left side will be loaded with fans :D strictly cause I FEAR water :P I'm going to build the cosmetic version tonight

[DaveW]

That's a neat design. +Rep for sharing the sketch.

-Dave

[Produkt]

The case has been ordered from newegg today :D should arrive by Wednesday or Thursday so I'll take that time to spend on finalizing my plans and collecting the fans and paint I'll need to finish everything off :D I need 2 more 12cm led fans! blue :D

on top of that I was able to buy the pvc board today its called sintex or something, I'll have to check on the name :D I'm so excited they even gave me a nice sized piece to screw around with which I'll use to make the 80mm fan mount for the front

I only have 1/4 inch thick stuff at the moment the sheet of 1/2 inch thick stuff is being ordered cause they never used it :P

here's a picture of the sample and the remaining mod money!

http://www.closedshutter.com/images/supply.jpg
btw... if you cannot count it... its roughly 220 dollas

I splurged again, I found a guy who sold me a nice new MX Revolution for 50 bucks, I felt it would work well with the techy citadel, I'm modding it and replacing its green led lighting with blue lighting to match the case, and removing the logitech logo and placing a C17 logo in its place :D

as soon as the case hits my home on Wednesday or Thursday I'll pop this into wips, I'm going to start modding the mouse now (below is my G5 and the new MX Revolution)

http://www.closedshutter.com/images/mx_g5.jpg

[AJ@PR]

That's a neat design.
Very true!
What program is that?
SketchUp?
3DsMax?
AutoCAD?
:santa: :santa:

[Produkt]

Its actually new, made by the same people who make Lightwave 3D, its called Modo 202 (202 is the version)

I've got a student license and I use it a lot :D I think its ease of use is so much better than any other modeling package. it just doesn't have animation yet.

and thank you very much!

I've got the case now, I'm getting all my supplies together and making proper blue prints so that I don't mess anything up.

Once I'm ready to cut it up I'll send pictures... parts may come sooner than expected though! and the LCD screen will be a fun project

its a 4 inch psone screen (3rd party manufacture) and it will have the same design style as this

http://www.meinberlin.de/fototouren/bilder/365/breen.jpg

any one know where I can get some thin plexi-glass?

[Waxx]

awsome mod man. hope you pull it off nicely, ill be watching this thread

good luck!

[sirkillalot617]

any one know where I can get some thin plexi-glass? what thickness do you want. just a rough guidence will do

[Produkt]

I want 1/8th of an inch or 1/16th if possible...

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

my suggestion for u is to not use blue lighting....... seeing as one of the main HL2 colors is orange i would shoot for such lighting.... but give it a bit of a hampered look not like the bright neon monstrosities heh

[sirkillalot617]

mmm il have look around

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

well if ur gunna use cold cathode lights i would suggest like wrapping it with some sorta sticky foil and cut chunks outa it...... so its not a solid light

[Produkt]

I'm not sticking with a single color for lighting... that would be stupid :D

I've redesigned the way the buildings and citadel wall will be made and behind every building there will be red orange and yellow led's blinking in a random order to "simulate" fire :D

4 color led fans will be mounted on the inside to look like the ball things you shoot out of the plasma rifle (forgot what they were called)

the LCD hosing will use blue LED's because of what it represents but thats about the only place I'll use them


but on the subject of blinking LED's I made a nice kit where I had 4 led's and the opposing corners would blink together

any one know where I can get plans to make something that will make these led's blink if they just have power (I don't want a controllable card...)

[Ichbin]

Like your sketch idea, you should put the lambda logo in random small spots like the game does. Would add the small edge.

[Produkt]

Aye... Well I'm getting closer I need something to finish a thing or two off for me

does any one know a method have a secondary sound card to spout off the audio for my case lcd screen? I wanna have it separate (to have speakers built into the case)

Current Parts list

Case (obtained)
Sintra PVC Board (obtained)
LCD Screen (obtained)
LED Lights/Controler (Trying to figure it out)
1 gallon of bondo (obtained)
Airbrush + paints (Still shopping)
Fans (Need a couple more... because 20 isnt enough!)

So as you can see... I'm ready for the first part :D Cutting it to pieces!

once I get all of my parts collected I'll get a nice group shot and take some pictures!