Project L'Amour

[Elenril]

L'Amour means love in french... Yes, how very sappy of me =P

This is my first mod. I'm sure a few of you have seen my idea and design for this posted in the Idea Zone forum, and now I've actually started working on it! Advice is still needed and greatly appreciated though.

I'm starting out with a Thermaltake Soprano. I've taken a photo where you can clearly see the windowed side, front, and top. (The old hunk o' junk in the background is my current case)

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5338/dscf5879na3.jpg

I plan on doing a garden/floral themed mod. It'll have a 'garden' on the top featuring a gem tree (or a pretty tree of some description), a pond and the USB ports which you can see on the top will be incorporated into a rockery type thing. The window will have a metal tree design and floral designs painted onto the inside of the plexi. The front panel will also have a metal floral or tree design, fitting the curves. Here is my original design. It has been slightly modified since (mainly the inclusion of a pond on the top, which hasn't been drawn onto the plan).

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/1944/treedesign1kt8.jpg

Anyway, I finally got time to go supply shopping this morning, and I bought a bunch of stuff, mainly for the garden. I bought this absolutely massive piece of foam for the base, and started gluing grass and rocks onto it. Here's a few pics. It's obviously only in its beginning stages.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9606/1005091ny9.jpg
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/9624/1005093zw1.jpg
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4948/1005092bl6.jpg

Yes, I forgot to dig into the foam to make the pond, so I'm just kind of building everything up around it...

I still haven't been able to find a gem tree! I've checked Tree of Life, heaps of gem and gift shops, but nowhere has them. Does anyone know where I could be able to get one?

I also bought the LEDs from Dick Smith Electronics today. I also have some problems concerning these. There are 3 of them -
5mm High Intensity
4500mcd Super Red LED
is what it says on the packet. But I have no idea how I'd connect them to everything to make them work. Can anyone help me out with this?

[NuKS]

Looks good. I read your other post on this project. It looks very interesting. I am pretty new to the board also, and this is the first project that I will see from the beginning so I am going to subscribe to this one,:)
Pretty soon I will be working on my first project, but I don't have as much of a time crunch as you do. Good luck and I can't wait to see how this project goes!

[Bucko]

Good to see you have started!
Thanks for the scan of the LED specs. It makes it easier to work out what you need.

I'm still availble to come down to Sydney next Saturday and bring some tools to help you out if you like.

[XcOM]

Good to see you have started!
Thanks for the scan of the LED specs. It makes it easier to work out what you need.

I'm still availble to come down to Sydney next Saturday and bring some tools to help you out if you like.


thats cool of you bucko, i think it would be a wise cource of action to get help, especially when working with electrics and you8 are not quire sure what your doing.

But basicly, LED's have a flat side, also on this side you will notice the connector is shorter, this is your NEG (I thinks anyway, correct if wrong)
do you know what voltage the LED's are, standard LED's come in 12v, 5v and 3v

Either way you will need to connect a RESISTOR to the LED on the POS (+) and then attach these in parreal (SPelling?) to the apporoite connector on your molex depending on what voltage your using

If you get the voltage, how meny your using im sure we can help.

:)

[Bucko]

They are 2v LEDs according to the spec sheet

[Elenril]

Minor minor update, just a few more pics of the grass I did today.

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3725/1005099ut9.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9606/1005101gh5.jpg

Ahh... The wonders of perspective =]

I put what I've done so far onto the top of the case, just to see what it'd look like. If you squint, it looks pretty neat! Just imagine that the white edges will be black, and it'll have more bushes, long grass and trees and rocks on it. And i cut the foam too short at the front, so imagine that it goes all the way to the edge of the curve.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7581/dscf5894wo8.jpg
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7804/dscf5895wo3.jpg
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/3227/dscf5893ua2.jpg

I just want to say thanks, Bucko, for ALL your help so far. I would have no idea about anything that I'm doing if it wasn't for all your advice, so yeah.. thanks. I'll let you know about Saturday. Thanks for the offer.

Oh, and XcOm, thanks for your help too. I think I'll be fine with the electric stuff for now.

[Bucko]

No probs! It's nice to use MSN Messenger for something useful.

It's also looking pretty good so far too.

[mercerman318]

That looks really cool, i really like your design, and its turning out great

[DaveW]

Looking very nice so far! +Rep for sharing, keep up the good work!

-Dave

[jdbnsn]

of the grass I did today.

uuhhh...huh..huh..huh..he does grass...

[NocturnaL]

Haha wow this is pretty weird, but i really like it. +rep for being one with nature

[Elenril]

uuhhh...huh..huh..huh..he does grass...

lol. now if that's not constructive criticism, I don't know what is.

and i believe it should be SHE does grass...

[Ichbin]

next thing you know, dells comes out with the "GARDEN PC!" and dont forget the "GARDEN XPS - SO YOU CAN PLAY GAMEZORS OUTSIDEZ!"

lol, im loving the artistic imaginiation in this. Very creative.

[jdbnsn]

and i believe it should be SHE does grass...

Oops, man bad! She does grass...

[Elenril]

next thing you know, dells comes out with the "GARDEN PC!" and dont forget the "GARDEN XPS - SO YOU CAN PLAY GAMEZORS OUTSIDEZ!"

NOW GAMERS CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE THEIR NATURAL HABITAT!

Ever been interested in horticulture AND gaming, but were never able to take care of your plants outside because you might miss that vital team kill? Now you can bring your plants inside - right onto your PC! Gardening and gaming will never be the same again!

[dfigravity]

You guys are nutty :)

[chaksq]

Awesome, that grass is looking great! And to think that I am giving up gaming to live more and the gamers decide to emerge from computer rooms. Figures.

[Crimson Sky]

Looking like a labor of love~! :p Welcome to TBCS! I really like miniatures and dioramas--the pond came out nicely

[Aero]

wow I completely missed that you started work on this! Looking very good so far. I love the way that grass turned out. Looks very nice, can't wait to see more!

[Elenril]

Time for another small update. Haven't really done much this week because of other assignments and half yearly exams.

At Bucko's recommendation, I bought another piece of plexi to mount behind the window, so I can paint onto it without having to work backwards and paint the inside and all that. I also bought myself some aluminium, and I've drawn out the design onto it to cut out. My DT teacher bought a dremel and I've been having fun with it, unsuccessfully trying to figure out how to cut metal properly. I'm still working on that! I'll probably just end up using a jigsaw and using the dremel for the smaller bits. I don't have any photos of the metal, because it's at school and I forgot to take my camera, but I'll take some soon.

At home, I've been working on the garden, adding more grass and bushes and stuff. Basically, it's more vegetated than last update. I gave up on trying to find a gem tree, so I just ordered a gem tree kit. Still waiting for it to arrive.

Here's the garden so far. The gap in the middle is where the USB ports go:

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/9669/p1020448st4.jpg
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/331/p1020455in7.jpg
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1446/p1020465gm1.jpg
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/6347/p1020469uj2.jpg

I painted the edges black so it'll blend into the case better when I attach it on top.

I'm still going to add more rocks, bushes,even longer grass, water, and of course, the gem tree. Stay tuned! :bunny:

[jdbnsn]

Wow, that came out really nice! Keep it up!

[XcOM]

/subscribed,

Dudette, this ROCKS (no pun intennded)

[Elenril]

NEWS FLASH: I've been given an extension! The project is now due on 8th June!

Look what I found at a random craft shop the other day:
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/9726/p1020473dp1.jpg
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/8564/p1020476aw9.jpg
They're so cute! They sit and look at me and chat to eachother as I work =]

Anyway, modding update. Here's my design drawn on the metal:
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3285/p1020481jl4.jpg

My pathetic first attempts at using a Dremel and a Jigsaw:
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6229/p1020485yl8.jpg

Eventually my DT teacher noticed I wasn't getting anywhere, so he took over and did some vague cutouts with the Jigsaw:
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4540/p1020488ef2.jpg
I'm going to cut it finer with a Jeweller's saw and Dremel tomorrow.

And finally, look what arrived in the mail today!
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/912/p1020489ff1.jpg
My gem tree kit! The nice lady who owned the shop was kind enough to pack extra gems at no additional cost. I love gemstones. I've got the bulk of my assignments finished now, so I'm going to start making my gem tree tonight.

And just for the hell of it, because I have yet to use it: :banana:

[DaveW]

This worklog is coming along great, and i'm loving the original ideas and creativity. Keep it up!

-Dave

[Eclecticos]

Fantastic! Looks Good so far, I like your Little Birdies ;)

[simon275]

What a neat work log. Hope it all goes well when it comes to marking and you get a good HSC mark in the end.

[Elenril]

What a neat work log. Hope it all goes well when it comes to marking and you get a good HSC mark in the end.

I'm only in yr 11 this year, so this isn't actually for my HSC. I've enjoyed it so far so I may do a more extravagant harcore mod for my MDP next year, if I'm allowed to. Is there some rule about not doing the same thing twice?

[Elenril]

Finally got round to making the gem tree.

All the copper wire branches twisted together without any gems:
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7527/P1020492.jpg

Halfway there...
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4586/P1020497.jpg

Here it is in all of its copper and garnet glory. I wanted it to be all red to fit with the colour scheme:
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/230/P1020498.jpg
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/5254/P1020501.jpg
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/317/P1020503.jpg

Unfortunately I took the case to school so I have yet to cut out a hole in the garden for the USB ports on top of the case, so I have to wait to attach the tree and start on the rockery thing.

I won't be doing much this week, the school musical opening night is on Friday, and the rest of the week is taken up by full day rehearsals. No more DT lessons for me for a while =(

[simon275]

Sweet tree. Hope the school musical goes well.

[DaveW]

This is a cool case.

Loving it.

-Dave

[Elenril]

And then, much merriment ensued within the garden of earthly delights.

http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/8097/P1020506.jpg
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/1600/P1020509.jpg
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/9626/P1020512.jpg
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/7735/P1020518.jpg
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/1677/P1020520.jpg
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/9017/P1020515.jpg

i'd say that the garden is just about finished. maybe i'll a few more bushes here and there.

and here is my metal tree, finally cut out (really badly, i may add. you might not be able to tell from the picture, but the edges are truly shocking.)
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/8659/P1020514.jpg

time to attack it with various sandpapers, files and other such tools!

[jdbnsn]

I'm diggin your gem tree, has a bit of a bonsai shape to it. You also did a great job with the color composition of your prarie, looks rich and realistic. Can't wait to see what you are doing with the metal tree...

[Drum Thumper]

This is very original!

+Rep for the great work, keep it up!

[Darth Invader]

Congratulations really creative, different, but to without losing the class neither the beauty!
You could have done a test: Weigh marry it before and after of the modifications, wanted to know the more weighed he will stay.

Hugs,
Darth

[Computer-Geek]

this is really nice work ! :up:

[Eclecticos]

I decided to make me a palm tree out of aluminum See (http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/1668/p2250421vd4.jpg).

+Rep to You.
Can't wait to see your project on the PC Case.

[Spawn-Inc]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh ya this project. wow its coming along good. you should put a little water fall/pond on the top there and some how hook it up to a water cooling setup.


+rep

[Elenril]

Eclecticos: Looks like I've infected you with my enthusiasm for nature =] But I can also see you couldn't quite eliminate all the geekiness (in reference to the design at the bottom of the palm tree). Looks good though, especially the leaves.

Spawn-Inc: Yeah, there's this stuff I'm going to buy that looks like water when it hardens, kind of like glue that dries clear, and I'll put it in the pond. I was going to do a water cooling system, but I don't really need one and it would cost too much.

I'm trying to find tiny model ducks to put in the pond, I think it'll be cute and add some sort of extra depth to it. I haven't managed to find any yet, I might have to make them myself.

[simon275]

I'm trying to find tiny model ducks to put in the pond, I think it'll be cute and add some sort of extra depth to it. I haven't managed to find any yet, I might have to make them myself.

Maybe try model train scenery

http://www.hobbyco.com.au/product/show_item.php?plu=CH11458

You could also make some really little ones out of clay and paint them yellow?

[xRyokenx]

It's coming along quite nice... I may have to do something to theme my room better... I have wood walls and a green carpet, it's a bit of a weird silver green or something though... some plants of some sort would be nice in here.

[Elenril]

add lots of trailing vines everywhere! and tall potplants! then you could have a jungle room! i've always wanted to have one, but noooo, my parents paint my room plain boring white....

[Elenril]

>>Last Minute Assignment Rush on the Night before the Deadline<<

The assignment is due tomorrow, with much to finish before I hand it in, including:

- Paint the window
- Finish the garden
- Wire up all the LEDs both inside and outside the case
- Attach the garden to the case
- Sand and polish up the metal tree design
- Attach the tree to the window
- Finish portfolio (I know, it's not actually modding, but it's still a major part of my assignment, so it has to be finished)
- Buy ducks, water glue stuff and finish the pond

Just for fun, I'm going to continuously update this thread throughout the night, to keep track of what I've done and how long it takes for me to do it.

-----7PM-----
I set up all the things I'd need to begin painting the window: note my terrible masking tape and improvisional attachment of tree to plexi in order to paint the design. And yes, that is an ironing board - the amateur modder's workbench :D
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6962/p1020531ku5.jpg
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3107/p1020532fs6.jpg

-----12AM/MIDNIGHT-----
I was distracted by a very long phone call, during which I attempted to sand my metal. I managed to make the scratches on it less noticable, and cleaned up the edges a bit, but not enough to make any great difference, so no pics of that yet. I've done about half of the painting of the window, and discovered in the process that I have very bad paintbrush control, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/2541/p1020534wu4.jpg

-----2AM-----
Finally finished painting the plexi! I could have made it more detailed, but I'm a bit too tired now.

[Computer-Geek]

nice job on the painting you did so far :up:

[simon275]

Good job. Love the painting. Hope you enjoy school your day at school with 4-5 hours sleep.

[slytherock]

Nice work indeed :up:
really interesting project too; really different. A fresh new bread

[Elenril]

Thanks for all your comments and encouragements guys... It really means a lot to me.

I slept in this morning and got to school late... I spent the entire day working on the case. I took some progress photos with my camera, but I forgot to bring the cable to download the pictures, so I just took some shots with the school camera of how it looks now, with the window on the case.

http://i7.tinypic.com/53ajbd0.jpg
http://i8.tinypic.com/6hhvja0.jpg

[simon275]

Thats so pretty with all the black swirls.

[Elenril]

A coupla shots of the window and the tree. The tree is held in place by blu-tack because I'm going to keep working on it after the project's been marked, coz I want it to look better.

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/940/P1020535.jpg
http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/1037/P1020536.jpg
http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/6097/P1020537.jpg
http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/9553/P1020538.jpg

My teacher was so intrigued by the case he decided to give me until the end of the week to finish it, because he wanted to see the completed thing. I want to do something with the front and other side of the case. I was thinking of painting a similar swirly design on the front with silver paint, but I'd like to do something more interesting with the side. Suggestions, anyone? Or if you can think of anything I should add to it, that'd be greatly appreciated too.

[Computer-Geek]

What color do you want on the inside? Changing out the and black and orange fans for led fans would make a difference and some cable sleeving also.

[Mach]

Very nice work. I really like the tree and swirl accents. Your original sketches reminded me of a Victorian Garden but after seeing the tree, it reminds of a render of the hanging gardens of babylon. See here:

http://www.irantouristguide.com/photogallery/seven-wonders-sightseeing-picture/Hanging%20Gardens%20of%20Babylon.jpg
http://www.irantouristguide.com/photogallery/seven-wonders-sightseeing-picture/Hanging%20Gardens%20of%20Babylon.jpg
http://www.moorsmagazine.com/images/Hanging-Gardens-of-Babylon.jpg

On the left and right of the first picture, you can see vines and flowers hanging down. Could you blend the green from the garden on top down the edges? It would be very cool if you could create a wall texture like here:

http://lh6.google.com/image/MachModAlbum/Rm8lSBZOgPI/AAAAAAAAAIE/mTcgOLTSbfI/s400/11-Reveal%20Bricks.jpg
As found here: http://www.craft-products.com/dolls-house-building-guide.html

or maybe this?
http://www.heartofclay.com/page9.htm

Have you considered frosting the back side of the acrylic on your window so the swirls aren't lost in against the inside of the case?

[jdbnsn]

You are one groovy chick Elenril, you are definately a front page (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com) pimpette. When you get the case closer to completion you will likely get a full-feature article. Nice work so far!

[Elenril]

Computer-Geek: I am going to put in a red light inside. I was going to get LED fans for the side and front, but I wasn't sure if they were needed. If I was get them, would they add anything to the internal lighting? I may get cable sleeving when I've got all my hardware installed, depending on how messy it looks.

Mach: Thanks for those images, they've given me some more ideas of where I could go with this design. I think I'll put more plants and vines and stuff, like you said, to get the green into the rest of the design. And the wall texture idea was great, I'll definitely be using the stony one for the other side of the case. Thanks for your suggestions!

jdbnsn: Thanks for the front page feature, I'm just lost for words because I'm so happy. Thanks for all your support, advice and encouragement (that applies to everyone here), you're all such friendly and helpful people. Now I'm going to put extra effort into this case.

[Computer-Geek]

Yup the led fans would add to the internal lighting :) Cable sleeving makes everything look neat lol. Congrats on getting your project on the front page.

[Elenril]

This isn't really an update, I just felt the need to post something. I got my marks back and I got 56/60, so I'm pretty pleased about that.

My DT teacher checked out this site since it was mentioned quite a lot in my portfolio for my research, and noticed the front page. So he wrote a short article in the newsletter about 'one of our yr 11 students has done a pc mod for her first design project of the year, and gained recognition on an international website' blah blah blah. It's quite embarassing, people keep coming up to me at school and talking about it.

I haven't been doing much on the mod because I've had heaps of schoolwork and I've had some things going on in my personal life so time hasn't been as available as I would have liked it to have been. However, I did manage to get my dad to pick up the case from school, so he's bringing it round over the weekend so I can work on it in the holidays.

Suggestions and ideas are still welcome ;)

I have a slight dilemma: The new graphics card I have has a blue LED fan, but the colour scheme is red and green. I can either change or get rid of the LEDs, but I'm also thinking of reviweing the colour scheme. Maybe blue and green? The gem tree is already red, but red lighting would clash with green. What do you think?

[Bucko]

Red and green? Go the Rabbitohs!

[Cymae]

you probably don't want it to start looking like a christmas tree. I want more updates damnit! You'll be too busy with our mod soon, so hop to it ;)

[jdbnsn]

I'm glad to hear that your front page spot gained you some much deserved notoriety, just be sure to tell everyone who asks to join up!

[Mach]

Congrats on the great score! Blue and green sounds better than red and green. Blue = Water, Green = Trees. The gem tree contrasting with every thing else will highlight it as being special to the garden so no worries there. If yu haven't already gone too far down the road of red light, I'd vote for blue and green.

[Elenril]

I've been squeezing in sporadic bursts of sanding and filing the metal tree whenever I have the time, but I haven't achieved anything photo worthy yet, although a lot of the shallow scratches are gone now.

My dad delivered the garden to my house yesterday evening, and I used tape to attach it to the top of the case. I've cut the front of it a bit short, so I cut the wavy bit today and painted it black. I'm currently waiting for it to dry...

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/6607/p1020551yn7.jpg
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/1168/p1020563jj2.jpg
(A little bit of insight into my improvisational methods: I am using my piano stool as a table. A roll of tape is serving as a holder for the tube of black acrylic paint. I found that the clear plastic top of an oboe reed case is the perfect space-saving paint holder, as my piano stool is quite small.)

This little guy likes to lie between my legs when I'm kneeling. Now we know who to blame when I make mistakes:

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/595/p1020555yz2.jpg

Apparently the board that the garden is on got bent sometime, so now it doesn't lie flat on the top of the case. Would clamping it to a table for a while be the best way to make it straight again?

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/5089/p1020567sx0.jpg
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9809/p1020564gv1.jpg

jdbnsn: Unfortunately I go to an all girls school, and I am the geekiest girl in my grade, if not the entire school. No-one else has much interest in case modding. Most of the things they said to me went along the lines of: 'Wow, that looks really cool, I'd never do a thing like that!'' I guess modders are a lonely minority.

Mach: Alright, you've made up my mind. I think I'll have a blue cathode tube inside, and all the extra lighting like fans and stuff will be green.

[jdbnsn]

Oh well, at least we're getting known right? As for the top piece, what is it made out of? If it is rigid like wood or MDF you may be better off fixing it to the top of the case with short wood screws from the inside that only extend half-way through the material. If it is foam, you could try clamping it or if it will be permenantly attached just use any strong adhesive. BTW, you have the exact same dog as my mom!

[The boy 4rm oz]

This mod is great, I haven't seen anything like this before.

[Elenril]

I'd hit a rut with this thing, I had no idea what to do, what would look good, or anything, so with the help of jdbnsn, I came up with a new idea, and I'm now taking this mod in an almost completely different direction. I'm pretty much starting over, with a new case and everything. Once I get Photoshop working in Linux, or find my antivirus program and switch back to windows, I'll probably post some plans/designs, and when I go back to school and scrounge a case or two from their storeroom full of old cases, I'll start working on it.

Watch this space!

[Ichbin]

awww. I was liking the whole garden theme :(. But im curious what its gonna look like :P

[jdbnsn]

If you are planning on doing what we talked about, I don't think you need to start over. In fact, what you have there is a nice starting point.

[Elenril]

http://i16.tinypic.com/6facgug.jpg

If you can read my teeny tiny writing, that's my new design so far, with my new case. I'm continuing with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon theme, so coming out of the side of the case will be several ledges, and I hope to be able to incorporate a waterfall into it as well. I have a gap in the garden where the previous case (Thermaltake Soprano) had USB ports on top, so I'm going to cut holes in the top of the new case to keep that thing going. I'm going to paint the case black or a dark shade of green.

I'm having trouble deciding if and where I should put any external lighting, mainly for the garden, apart from the lights mentioned in the image for the waterfall. What do you guys think?

P.S. Ignore the huge DOMAYNE watermark across it... I drew it on some of our printer paper at work the last few hours...

[simon275]

Very nice can't wait to see you start this.

[Computer-Geek]

thats an interesting new design :) what about the water evaporation ? you may have to add water alot.

[Mach]

It sounds very cool. I can't wait to see til the pics start rolling in. :)

You might find these links helpful:

Company that sells waterfall effect glue(check out the video): http://www.woodlandscenics.com/items.htm/Water

Google book on waterfall effects (Not sure if the link will work)
How to Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery
By Dave Frary (http://books.google.com/books?id=iq_cqiFdFR4C&pg=PA96&lpg=PA96&dq=realistic+waterfall+scenery+glue&source=web&ots=1ABaJhkwIQ&sig=Qe8kuwK3ZnTqxioUWvRQRXOv9Sc#PPA96,M1)

Far Cry mod where water was used:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8102

[Bucko]

Far Cry mod at bit-tech where water was used:
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=111352

OR, see the mod here on our forum where it has been trimmed down of the "OMFG great work!" comments for your reading pleasure:

Far cry Mod (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8102)

[simon275]

If you go with water a water cooling pump might not be the best as if it runs dry it will die. So maybe a more hardy one for like water features could be used. But the flow could be a bit high.

[dgrmkrp]

I'm having trouble deciding if and where I should put any external lighting, mainly for the garden, apart from the lights mentioned in the image for the waterfall. What do you guys think?

U could put/hide tiny green LEDs in the grass, to light the trees :) and for the waterfall... U could find a ready made "waterfall lamp", which creates smoke and circulates water (so somebody used the right pump and all the stuff needed for a nifty project and packaged them ;) ).. I've seen these in novelty/gift shops.. pretty cheap stuff shouldn't set u back much (~30$) :)

Nice mod till now.. can't wait to see how much better it gets :)

[jdbnsn]

As for the water pump, you can get relatively tiny submersable water pumps which a quite inexpensive and probably the best way to go. I wouldn't worry about accent lighting just yet, wait until you get a landscape put together and it will be more apparent.

[Elenril]

Just for kicks, here's my case with pink lights and metal tree + painted plexi:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7554/p1020594zl8.jpg
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4237/p1020595ti5.jpg

So here is the case I'm going to be using:
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/9297/p1020603tm9.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8732/p1020604sz8.jpg

It's fugly as hell, I hate it, which is why I'm going to be modding it. I'm going to sand down all the straight edges on the silver border/frame. The case also has NO fans, apart from the back (which actually doesn't have a fan yet, just a grill). It's like some sort of anti-cooling case, seriously.

There is a place for 2 80mm fans in the front, but the front of the case has the power buttons instead, so I'm going to try and move them somewhere else to make space for the fans. Is that possible?

I need a frame or support of some sort for the clay or expanding foam or whatever I'm going to use, so me and simon discussed it for a bit, and came up with this: for the terrace/steps/waterfall is going to be made from a frame made from wood, with chicken wire as supports and clay to make the actual solid stuff and texture. Simon's making a sketchup model because my modelling skills fail and his drawing skills fail, so I'll post that up later.

As always, further ideas and suggestions are welcomed with open arms.

[Bucko]

If you stuff up the front, I have another to fit that case here. It does have the power and reset buttn already cut out of it though, but it will fit your case.

If you aren't confident to mod, I could make up a front for you if you design it.

[Elenril]

I'm going to do mod it, nothing better than sitting in the backyard on a nice sunny afternoon after school wielding a multi-tooled rotary killing/hacking device and attacking a computer case. If I screw it up, I'll take up your offer of the case front though, thanks :)

[Cymae]

this reminds me of another project...one you were supposed to have painted :P

[Elenril]

Oh yeah, that one! I've sanded it down and primed the sides, just not the front yet. I was waiting for some masks so I didn't inhale toxic paint particles, and I was having some trouble opening the can. I'll figure it out soon, never fear =P

/offtopic

[Computer-Geek]

I can't wait to see what you do with the new case :) Also your case looks really nice!

[simon275]

After some work I can came up with the design for the case in sketchup. Please excuse my sketchup skills. This is only a draw up of what the side steps and waterfall are gonna look like the rough before been bolted to the side of the case.

View looking from the font.
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3433/pic1rx6.jpg

View Looking from the back
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/4075/pic2tf3.jpg

The water fall. Notice the trough at the top so the water builds up and comes down across the falls. And also the pond at the bottom where the water pools and then travels through the outtake pipe back into the case. to be put through the reservoir and pump again.

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/3205/pic3ed4.jpg

View looking from the side that will be bolted to the case. Notice the intake pipe at the top for water for the waterfall trough and the outake pipe down the bottom.

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/6451/pic4wf4.jpg

The underside of the waterfall pond

http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/8899/pic5xw0.jpg

[The boy 4rm oz]

Mate those sketchup skills are great, much better than mine haha.

[slytherock]

Nice work Simon :up: it make me think of a stadium. What about adding a music figurine down the waterfall?
Like Kurt Cobain ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/slytherock/pic1rx6rethink.jpg

[Elenril]

sly: LOL!!

simon: *jawdrop* Those. Are. Amazing. Thanks so much for making the model for me!

[Computer-Geek]

Wow that model looks nice :D good job simon.

[jdbnsn]

sniff....wish I had some progress like all the other mods....:fbrown:

[Elenril]

Aaahh as much as I would love to keep modding, I just don't have the time or resources. Final year of high school, saving up to move to England and go to uni etc. Maybe I'll pick this up or start a new mod in a few years once I'm comfortable.

P.S. Good work Jon, way to resurrect a dead thread...

[Eclecticos]

I though i was going to see some progress here. Tisk Tisk. :D

[jdbnsn]

Aaahh as much as I would love to keep modding, I just don't have the time or resources. Final year of high school, saving up to move to England and go to uni etc. Maybe I'll pick this up or start a new mod in a few years once I'm comfortable.

P.S. Good work Jon, way to resurrect a dead thread...

I was actually flipping through the article archive and saw this feature and remembered the story about how your teacher was so proud and the whole school new about your fame. Put a tear in this old man's eye. :)

Jon