Project "tensa sama ke-shi" (Heavenly Chain Computer Case :P)

[dgrmkrp]

Hi everybody,
I'm starting my new mod here and hopefully, all the experience I gained while I lurked in the shadows and did funky "experiments" will pay itself :)

This mod is a scratch build with maximum transparency, shadows and blackness :). It's based on the anime series Bleach and mainly on the theme of the man character, at it's max power.

Some info can be found on clicky_here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleach_%28manga%29)
Some pics from the last episode:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/snapshot20070507233047.jpg
the sword named "tensa zangetsu" (天鎖斬月), but in a whiter/hollow form.. i like it better in this case 'cause it offers more contrast and detail.. than the norma black on black one..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/snapshot20070507233014.jpg
Ichigo's eyes when he gets focused on fighting.. can you say blue leds?

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/snapshot20070507233005.jpg
the main "dressing" for the case: black flames with white highlighting? bankai (final release) mode..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/snapshot20070507232933.jpg
another shot.. same idea.. I just love this effect.. tried it with scrap plexi :) more on this later..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/snapshot20070507232836.jpg
and a white Ichigo, his inner hollow :) nice idea.. would be nice to paint all the PC's guts in white, but neah.. too risky..

and a small ("accidentally" resized by the server) wallpaper: click_me (http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/bleach_wp_006.jpg)

Now, time for some pics of the stuff I'll use:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/0004.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/0000.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/0005.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/0006.jpg
xp 2600+, epox nforce2u mobo, 2x512DDR400+ akasa copper hs, 6800gs/256, akasa fan control, vortex2 hard drive cooler, asus dvd-rw, 2 ac3 fans and a katana 2 cooler..

If you may be wondering how a non-socket A cooler can fit... Well, I do have a dremel, drill and grinder.. and scrap steel and aluminum :) sooo:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/0007.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/0008.jpg

It fits! Perfectly, snuggly, no fear of transport problems 'cause the cooler is mounted with nuts and bolts.. the above mobo and cooler aren't mine, but we did buy 10 katanas and needed only 5... so all PCs in the room got a nice HS now :) almost... still waiting for my Infinity to come... 4 of them..

The ideas i went trhough up to now are:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/th_v01_05.jpg (http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/v01_05.jpg)
flames made of plexi.. sanded.. frosted.. err... looked nice but not quite the effect I was after..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/th_v02_01.jpg (http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/v02_01.jpg)
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/v01_05.jpg)getting closer to what i was looking for.. I made the virtual black flames by painting the inside of the plexi. Just like I'll do in real life..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/th_v02_04.jpg (http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/v02_04.jpg)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/th_v02_02.jpg (http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/v02_02.jpg)

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/v01_05.jpg)more than what i wanted.. but most redo it.. custom made to fit a katana cu and I have a katana 2...

more info after i find how to actually pronounce the freakin' name i just invented ;) it was supposed to be the "tensa zangetsu case".. but' this ain't no sword.. now it should be like "tensa <something>"... much better... if any one can help with this.. by any means, please do.. oh, this mod should be completed in about 2 weeks... hopefully...

[Maz]

天鎖様ケーシ
tensa sama ke-shi
Master Tensa Case

Pretty sure that is the right kanji for sama, but I'd look it up first anyway.
日本語ができ増すか。なんえんせにぐらいにほんごをべんきよしはじめますか。

BTW never use Babel fish for translation. I threw my easy sentences in there and It came out with something CRAZY.

[.Maleficus.]

Sounds cool man. Though I'm not much of an anime/manga fan myself (only one I really got into was Rurouni Kenshi... 5th grade baby) this should be awesome.

And just a side question. Am I the only one seeing a bunch of ?s instead of (I imagine) Kanji?

[Bucko]

All I see is ????? as well.

[DaJe]

That's because you guys don't have asian language support installed on your computer. You can do it via the Windows disc. I myself have all languages supported.

[DaveW]

^^^ DaJe is correct.

I don't think you actually need the disk though, older versions of windows simply compresses them when you aren't using them and leaves them on the drive. Not sure if this is still true...

-Dave

[Bucko]

either way, the question marks are just as easy to read as Japanese and make as much sense to me.

[dgrmkrp]

天鎖様ケーシ
tensa sama ke-shi
Master Tensa Case

Pretty sure that is the right kanji for sama, but I'd look it up first anyway.
日本語ができ増すか。なんえんせにぐらいにほんごをべんきよしはじめますか。

BTW never use Babel fish for translation. I threw my easy sentences in there and It came out with something CRAZY.

so... you hit the right spot :D babel fish.. baad..
this is a pic of the name for those that don't have the language packs.. although I don't have them either, each time I install firefox, I get them :)

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3892/namerq8.jpg

so, any mod care to please change the name of the thread into tensa sama ke-shi?

Back to elaborating ideas:

I wanna use plexi and bend it.. Use 2 pieces to form the main body and the big cover.. smaller pieces will be made for the drive section and maybe for a duct.. my deadline for case design is by Friday, so that I may cut the pieces and do mock-up assemblies and redo/reshape if needed.. and then paint! etch! I have the plexi in sheets of 1 square meter...

Also, I will buy black window tint foil and add it in layers.. to create some kind of transparent flames.. this is optional..

Hmm.. what else.. need white leds? I have 25 blue ones.. but man I'm short on cash after buying stuff for my other rig.. :rolleyes:

[dgrmkrp]

Soo, name is nice enough to keep: Tensa Sama Ke-Shi :) And I did manage to come with an idea of what to use for cooling the old xp cpu: the old sonic tower... of course, it didn't fit the way it was.. not visually, not in my opinion... so I committed the ultimate sacrilege in heat sink design and...

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/IMG_2299.jpg
..painted it black!

I tested it.. therefore the dust particles caught by the flash.. and it still cools.. to what extent have I marred its cooling capabilities? I shall see later on.. Anyways, I gave away my katana2 cooler for a brand new and big infinity, with 5 pairs of heat pipes.. so, I killed the option of using the Katana for socket A.. someone else will, though :)

Of course, anyone that knows the cooler I will be using can fit 2 120mm fans will ask themselves how can I fit a 170mm tall cooler in a 140~150 mm case.. Well, I'm gonna let the cooler passive and just allow it to stick out of the case.. Weird, but why not :)

More update later tonight...

[The boy 4rm oz]

If you don't wan't to use the blue use A pair of white 10cm CCFL's. That will set of the black flames perfectly and would work perfectly with Ichigo's inner Hollow issue lol.

Oh and I think Tensa Zangetsu means white moon fang, or is that the attack he uses. I forget haha.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Even though I havn't seen the latest episode I know well enough that thats Rukia's Zanpaktou impaling Ichigo.

[dgrmkrp]

Even though I havn't seen the latest episode I know well enough that thats Rukia's Zanpaktou impaling Ichigo.

Well, this is from episode 125. So ...nope, that's Ichigo's, but it is white because he is fighting his inner hollow.. who is also white.. with a white version of tensa zangetsu :) It's an interesting theme: black vs white, good guy black, bad guy white.. yin yang concept and with a bit of bleach twist :) Hope this is not a spoiler ;) :twisted: :santa:

back to the work log.. a friend bought a jig-saw and 10 blades for acrylic.. so either tomorrow ( Sunday.. maybe not) or later next week (more likely) I will cut the panels to be bent..

[The boy 4rm oz]

Whoops my bad haha. Because of my lack of broadband my friend (who is also a fan) downloads the episodes and gives them to me. I only have up to episode 120.

Anyway I like your idea, should look awesome when it's done.

[Silenced_Coyote]

Even though I havn't seen the latest episode I know well enough that thats Rukia's Zanpaktou impaling Ichigo.


Well, this is from episode 125. So ...nope, that's Ichigo's, but it is white because he is fighting his inner hollow.. who is also white.. with a white version of tensa zangetsu :) It's an interesting theme: black vs white, good guy black, bad guy white.. yin yang concept and with a bit of bleach twist :) Hope this is not a spoiler ;) :twisted: :santa:

back to the work log.. a friend bought a jig-saw and 10 blades for acrylic.. so either tomorrow ( Sunday.. maybe not) or later next week (more likely) I will cut the panels to be bent..

:mad: Can you guys warn me of spoilers at the BEGINING of your post?
I would really like to keep up with this thread, since I love Bleach, but not at the cost of having it spoiled. If not, then I guess I'll just look at the pictures and not read a word of it. :mad:

Anyways, best of luck to you. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

[dgrmkrp]

sorry dude.. I knew it would be a chance that others hadn't seen it, so did say "Hope this is not a spoiler".. sorry again..
errm, we haven't seen the episodes past 125 and because we like them so much, we read the manga... that's a bit more evolved, but it still is just a series of images.. the anime version rocks! if you wanna be thrilled even more, don't read them too.. but if you are curious and patient(japanese >> english).. ;)

worklog:
I'm still working with the .max model each night and now have a bit of a difficulty with the big silencer on the 6800.. I lent it to a friend and forgot to measure it.. before.. so that now I don't know how much it sticks out beyond the pcb of the video board.. hmm.. can solve this if I can find pics and schematics :)

[FPMachine]

天鎖様ケーシ
tensa sama ke-shi
Master Tensa Case

Pretty sure that is the right kanji for sama, but I'd look it up first anyway.
日本語ができ増すか。なんえんせにぐらいにほんごをべんきよしはじめますか。

BTW never use Babel fish for translation. I threw my easy sentences in there and It came out with something CRAZY.

only a few of those characters are actually Kanji. Most of them are Hiragana. (no idea how to spell it in english that is phoenetic.) Kanji is the picture language. Hiragana is fairly similar to our alphabet and Katakana is similar to Hiragana but is the alphabet that is used to spell any foreign word and they are all spelled phoenetically.

[linoge]

just seen this i have been planing a hollow ichigo
themed case for a wile but i
haven't seen many anime stile cases around.
and so far it looks great
im exited to see how it turns out

[smoking_pig]

Im a big fan of bleach this will be interesting...ur design looks cool but i think you should include more bleachish stuff than just some flames and a logo.

Also im pretty sure this is mostly kanji, I know hiragana and most kana so id say its kanji.
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3892/namerq8.jpg

Btw take a look at my black and white mod if you wanna see some contrast.
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7311&page=4

[dgrmkrp]

Hello everybody :)
It's been 3 exams since I last posted and hopefully I nailed them all. Many things have happened, so let's jump back to work..

@Smoking_pig, nice case! And the color theme is beautifully implemented. But that's not what I want for my case.. My "white" should be opaque plexi, lighted up white by LEDs.. So that if I wish, there would be no white or light or anything bothering anyone when I watch my favorite anime :)

@linoge: thank you and good luck with your case. I've seen just one Bleach case, but there are tons of cases (expect weird shapes or mods) out there.. Just search for some anime series and then for mods with their name, or a characters name. I found a lot..

And now, on to some pics (still with a borrowed camera :( ):
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/0009.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/0010.jpg
I've been using a heat gun and a 400x1000mm sheet of plexi.. After the first bend, I wanted to see how it matches size-wise. I'm using a riva video board with a pentium heat sink on it just to approximate the height of the 6800 cooler.. and an old sound blaster to keep at least one pci usable..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/0011.jpg
The second bend... Oh, I am off by half a centimeter now vs the .max project, but that's easily taken care of.. I did actually take care of it :)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/0012.jpg
I measured the angle of the bend with a block of aluminum.. Didn't turn out perfect, but it is very close.. I hate it that I couldn't find plexi with paper protection.. this plexi has sheets of plastic glued to it and that thing shrivels when heated :(

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/013.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/014.jpg
..the inner sides in the making.. a thin strip for the clear side, and a fat chunk of plexi for the PSU and drive bay support.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/015.jpg
.. a draft for the back panel.. I've been pondering and seeing how I will be using AC fans that have a nonstandard screwing technique (can't use bolts and the screws supplied aren't long enough), I am researching some form of glueing them, but also keeping vibrations at bay..

At the back I decided to make holes for all connector and place the power and restart switches there..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/016.jpg
..some interior planning.. I must wake early in the morning and go buy some screws and the brass things used to raise the mobo from the case.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/017.jpg
..a draft of a possibility of what the front could be... I was in a bit of a dilemma: I added 2 fans for exhaust and have a 3 channel fan controller.. so the solution is to add one more.. but where? So, seeing as the front has lots of free room and I still don't have a nice LCD to put there.. A fan there can enhance the cooling power of the case :) And gives me the possibility of more fan modding and grill-assorting :)

I must leave the modding world now and go study the exciting world of.. microwaves :) See you later..

[dgrmkrp]

update:
I have a hard drive and a PSU, plus, by pure luck, I found a way to mount the sonic tower, but rotated 90 degrees, just the way I wanted! ...I used a clip from a water cooling kit :) more work will be done in the future :) pics later, I've been up for 20+ hours..

[Maz]

they use plastic because it streaches when you bend it. otherwise, you would either need to remove the paper or have it tear, a lot.

[Andr0m3da]

I love the idea for this case. I havn't really watched much of bleach but enough to be interested in this project =P.

repzz

[dgrmkrp]

Sorry for overshooting my deadline... and for the lack of progress.. but measures have been taken: I assembled the guts and they still work, except for my old DVD burner.. It seems one of these lasts no more than a year in my hands.. The battery is dead too, but that can be easily replaced. I started the cutting on the plexi shell, bought some glue and tested stuff.. One problem I'm having is the heat that forces me to cut for half an hour than take a pause for several, until the rotary tool cools down. I think it's age is showing..

Some pics of the test:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/022.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/021.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/020.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/019.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/018.jpg

What I don't like, is the fact that the big atx cable and the smaller P4 cable run above the video adapter.. And also, it's gonna be a very tight fit in other parts...

Not to forget the theme of the mod, I shall re-watch a large portion of the series to get involved and better understand what I must do for the aesthetics part. Till next time...

[VCR]

I hate this show but every night i just watch it. Anyway good luck with you mod!

[Greco101]

Wouldn't painting the heatsink make it retain heat more?

[dgrmkrp]

I hate this show but every night i just watch it. Anyway good luck with you mod!

I loved this show at first sight, because I had 80+ episodes to watch from starters.. Then I took a brake and allowed them to accumulate to 110+... Now, I have to wait till fall for the action to start again.. Just fillers nows (I enjoy them too).. And I can't not look at them every week :( Guess they hooked me.


Wouldn't painting the heatsink make it retain heat more?
I think it does trap more heat, but I'm using the system now (the other I have is under re-construction) and I'm running almost silent (arctic cooling fans are really good) at 39 degrees centigrade, with average load (music, browsing, downloading and some minor image editing >> 30ish% load). It's true that I've seen even 34 temps but with more fans and with an opened window ;) Right now, I'm happy to hear a slight humm and have the black sonic tower, although the 5 degrees are there too :|

Oh, my soldering tool died with a really bad smoke act and because I'm at home, I can't do any work on Sunday.. nagging parents :p

I did manage to almost cut the I/O bracket, but I sincerely don't like it.. must think of somethin..

[dgrmkrp]

So, this would be the time to announce the version one of the case... dead :dead:.. Why? Answer: my dad didn't like it.. And because I am doing this for him, a change of plans was imminent..

Yesterday I went shopping and found something more appealing to his tastes.. please do not laugh.. I used a local online shop and searched their offerings of PSU-less cases to find products ranging from Thermaltake, Lian Li to.. unnamed cases.. Guess what I ended buying for a mere 15$? (vs 75$ the far-from-completion acrylic version :| ) This:

(I had to clean the pics for them to be usable in further max processing.. watermarking was there and it did say something.. but the respective site didn't say it was copyrighted material, so I was able to edit them.. no photoshop here, just paint.net)
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/front_clean.jpg
Can you say clone? All in all, this suits my needs, as you will see..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/closed_front_clean.jpg
Wavey? White.. Low quality, cheap plastic, weird marks on the interior metal works.. bleah..
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/open_front_clean.jpg
The door isn't that flimsy, because it is held with some nice and simultaneously weird hinges, but still.. bleah.. And then inside.. Lighting will be carefully placed and light bleeding has to be controlled..
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/side_closed.jpg
The side screams cheap.. Normal holes are there, in the way as usual is the air duct, but the one thing that caught my attention is a 10-bladed, 2-level 8cm fan.. will show pics after installing the dreaded phone camera utility..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/back_close2clean.jpg
The back, after a bit of "modding", with the paint brush, is what I wanna make it.. No bloddy grills.. Chromed wire grills are the way to go!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/front_02.jpg
First attempt at "improving" things.. Ok, photshop rules and Paint.net is just an evolved version of paint.. nothing more.. but still free..

OK, this is all theoretical now.. but things change a lot in one day (plus a night).. So, after digitizing the case dimension and it's only 'feature', the door, I get a canvas to work on..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Clipboard01.jpg
Simple box with a face.. I looked at it, turned it around.. thought of some ways to improve it.. Then I asked my dad what he was thinking.. He said it has to still be white.. And look normal.. errm.. That pissed me off for about 36 hours.. I had a nice "chat" with both my creators.. and finally, seeing how pissed I was, dad said I could cut "some" holes.. Anyways, I was kinda overworked today and blew off in the wrong direction.. But it was constructive anyways :D Watch the thread..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Clipboard02.jpg
First problem to tackle by 2x120mm fans: no intakes!!! How the hell? I was curious and ran the system that way right after taking the case apart, putting it back (IT HAS SCREWS INSIDE, NOT JUST RIVETS >> did not expect that!) The temps rose up steadily in 24 hours, until I had 64/40 degrees on cpu/hdd!!! No way! And this with stock settings, not maxed out.. Talk about bad airflow.. or no airflow.. Also, the top of the case was hot and I couldn't keep my hand on the PSU exhaust.. eeeek.. So, I'm running now with the side panel away.. 49 degrees with 75% overclock.. hihi.. nicer, but I've seen 36ish too..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Clipboard03.jpg
So, how can I keep everything as it is yet make it functional? Cut some holes on the side of the plastic face plate.. Also, I added a weird shape for the window, that would cut away the side intake, hide the PSU and the bays and keep the side PCI/video vent.. weird.. but workable.. as you will see..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Clipboard05.jpg
A nice fan control PCB will be donated by the akasa jr fan controller. Also, fans must have filters and a mounting plate (already marked on an aluminum plate now and prepped for cutting.. someday, after I become once again home alone.. I hate being alone, but this is the only I can work nowadays..)

The next part is what made me think this as a do-able mod.. What would make it unique? What can I use that doesn't mean copying or just adding stuff together?

THIS:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/00_modd_var02_02.jpg
Custom, made-by-me "vector" drawing of Ichigo's mask! I took some screen shots and contoured the mask I found most appealing.. Then I edited it and added some wind effect (played with the vertexes and lines).. I accidentally stumbled upon this arrangement! And I just love it! Still, the more I watch it, the more I get used to it and find it lacking somehow.. patience.. and I will find the answer.. I downloaded an entire website for this one idea.. After watching about 800+ wallpapers of various charachters in Bleach, the one thing that popped in my mind was either the mask, or zangetsu himself, or Ichigo going for his first Bankai.. errm.. Guess what I could vectorize..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Clipboard04.jpg
Some 5 min rendering.. with a background.. this isn't final though, because of some mechanical inadequacies.. Anyways, black and white for now. With a high gloss.. Darkest black I can find will be used, and the purest white applicable.. I'm searching for either some black self-adhesive plastic surface or black and white primer plus paint plus clear coat, but judging from my past experiences with black paint and clear..!?..

I have been working today on an update, v2.02 (couldn't finish it.. I'm strolling in the dark, trying to see some shape there.. For the top of the case, the other side and the front.. Flames looking like ragged clothing are what I wanna "dress" my case with), on the rest of the case..

Some redecorating in the inside area: a custom (lit) plexi etch on an inside piece I will mount to hide the drive bays (Cut it today, prepped for drilling LED holes, masked for drawing the etch pattern.. have no clue yet what tot etch, but have to!).. Some bondo (bought nice white and sand-able stuff today) filling on the face plate outside and inside.. And some more stuff.. If I could just get some alone time.. Aaaargh.. Well, I think it is enough for now.. I should get some sleep, as I have a long day tomorrow (chores, trips, doctors, bureaucrats).. Bye for now..

PS: the black paint does appear to harm performance on the sonic tower.. and of course, the dust.. So, unless sacrificing headroom, don't paint your heatsinks :rolleyes::redface::p

[The boy 4rm oz]

I liked the old design but this is so much BETTER!!!! I live how you incorporated the hollows mask into the window area.

[dgrmkrp]

10ks :) It took me 3 hours to plan.. I wonder how I'm gonna end up doing it :) more updated coming today.. I still have some 500 pics to study and a new episode to watch :D

[The boy 4rm oz]

I'm only up to episode 123. My mate wont give me the ones he has downloaded :(

[dgrmkrp]

Well, I am at 136.. won't say a thing tho about what's going on! shhh, silence and secrecy :) Also, I'm watching claymore too.. Gonna take some good cookies and a nice drink and watch them now.. Cheers :)

[The boy 4rm oz]

Well episode 123 has just downloaded so I may start to watch it, and download the next lol.

[dgrmkrp]

mhmhmm... you mean it is just being aired? ;)

[ESX]

Well, I am at 136.. won't say a thing tho about what's going on! shhh, silence and secrecy :) Also, I'm watching claymore too.. Gonna take some good cookies and a nice drink and watch them now.. Cheers :)
Going to watch it later today!

And good luck with the mod! I'll defenitly watch this one :)

[computergeek19]

Nice mod man, I also plan to do a Bleach hollow tribute for my case(well its a cube). its going to be mostly the 2 Vizard masks I have seen so far, ichigo's hollow mask and menos grande masks with body. (I may also add some of the espada mask like Ulquiorra) but nice mod, I can wait to see it finished.

[dgrmkrp]

uuu, this is interesting.. you see, after watching the entire series and having taken a lot of screen shots.. I can say that the masks are prime mod material.. So, good luck and can't wait to see what takes shape from our dark imaginations :>

after a couple more hours of modding the desings ;), I ended up here:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/00_modd_var03_01.jpg
..evolved window side.. I don't like this that much.. so I'll redo it :)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/00_modd_var03_02.jpg
..the other side :) this I just love.. going very well with the mask and Zangetsu's shredded coat :)

I'm having some trouble making a uniform shredded pattern.. Because I ain't using any models, but rather drawing them after an idea.. I get some various conflicting ideas.. And now, I think I must rework the window side..

You may be wondering why the hell am I trying so hard to do these shapes in 3d.. well, I plan on having them printed in full size so that I can use them as masks, pardon the pun, for either painting or cutting vinyl layers :) Hopefully, my dad can help me there, as 50x50cm prints should be possible with a big f-ing plotter :D Then, I'm gonna cut the model with a nice and sharp blade and glue it somehow for either painting or.. for good..
Going to sleep now, I have to wake in less than 6 hours for more house-work... bye

[dgrmkrp]

...Although I did more modeling, I can't just move a mouse and have a case "rendered" in real life :think: :alien: So, it is time for some fabrication :)

So, let's see what we have after stripping the case:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/01.jpg
..empty shell of the cheap kind.. made of flimsy.. and easy to cut steel!


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/02.jpg
..this is where I wanna etch.. something: either the name of the case/project or something else..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/03.jpg
..uuh.. I wanted to make something, cause I have some 1mm Aluminum to spare, but they are too small to do any case work.. so, they will be radiators for the transistors in the fan controllers..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/04.jpg
..something like this..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/07.jpg
..or this..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/08.jpg
..or this.. unfortunately, I must have f*@#ed somewhere.. Cause I burnt the transistors.. Not to worry, as I expected it.. So I bought some spare NPNs :) and made the unit back, but without the make-shift rads.. Still, I have no clue where I did wrong, as I did use shims to isolate the transistors and I did install radiators before, without side-effects..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/05.jpg
I marked the plexi piece for the holes I will drill for the LEDs.. sometimes..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/06.jpg
this is something I spent all day on.. the front aluminum piece that will hold 2 120mm fans..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/10.jpg
in the meantime of not modding and thinking.. I bought some vinyl and some bolts and nuts.. and masking tape and other things..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/11.jpg
then I cut these using the angle grinder and the 'dremel'.. took much longer than expected cause I wasn't happy with it: first, I found out that this is a weird aluminum that is tougher to cut, but brakes easily. So, after marking round holes, I cut what u see.. then sanded, filed and cut again.. took a looong time to get it closer to my needs..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/12.jpg
.. after tweaking a lot I got here: no drill means I had to use force and a screwdriver to make holes..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/13.jpg
..this is after putting one fan.. then two..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/14.jpg
..this is where they will go after I cut the case too..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/15.jpg
..till that point comes, the fans are 5 volted and used to cool my amp :)

more to come tomorrow :)

[Silenced_Coyote]

You are amazing! I absolutely love what I am seeing with the renders. The masks and shredded cloth looks great.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Good start, should turn out great.

[calumc]

with those transistors you could try putting a bit of thermal paste on them before the 'heatsinks'

[dgrmkrp]

@Silenced_Coyote : Well, I try to do something unique.. If I have the best intentions and can't make 'em real, I should at least try to make them .jepgs ;) But, I can't decide whether to keep the flame window or use a shredded cloth pattern there too... I have made lots of patterns and I'm far from happy.. The masks stay, the full side stays, but the window.. mmm...

@The boy 4rm oz: 10ks and I sure hope myself. I do some 4-6h modding day by day.. Should be done sooner or later this way.

@calumc: I could use paste, but I have special shims made from a silicon material or mica plates.. They are used for small installs and are easy to service. They are used in PSUs and common stuff.. this is way to low-power to need thermal paste.. And I don't have any at all right now :P

Back to the worklog:

{Written in notepad at first, cause my ISP thinks it is funny to cut the line and do stuff without telling anyone. One moment I was alright, the other, no packets received. Also, if it isn’t their fault, I may experience the same problems I have with my vista rig... So, it could be a virus or bad drivers… I am so sick of this unsecured network I am right now... It’s been Hydra last month, now Jeefo is spreading around…}

August 15th

...more progress on the case... Today was time for some metal cutting and shaping. For me to use the fan mount I made yesterday some holes had to be cut and some metal removed. So I took the angle grinder with an old disc (will regret that later and change it) and the ‘dremel’ with some new discs. I marked and cut some parts, but first thing I did was kill the bad noise generators at the back of my case: the stamped grills!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/01-1.jpg


Next I took a marker and drew some lines on the front part of the case. There are some things that wouldn’t like a fan installed there, like the measly 80mm high restriction stamped grill and the surrounding metal, plus the 5,25” bay:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/02-1.jpg
They have to go ;)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/03-1.jpg
After doing the straight and easy cuts, I started cutting the bay metal. Horrible results with the worn out disc… I changed the disc with a new one and repaired... errm, cut away the bad parts ;)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/04-1.jpg
After doing all that cutting, I thought I was going to have a nice and easy install... Wrong! I had to cut another notch (in the middle pic) and some corners up the top of the plate to allow the plastic part to sit flush.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/05-1.jpg
Next was gluing with a local type of chemical weld. I used some old training weights I found in the tool box. Then after two tries I got the desired position and waited 10 minutes for the glue to harden. The strength is acceptable. But it says 24h before full strength.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/06-1.jpg
It was tough to cut and design. NOT. :D luckily, with all those metal cutting tools, the case was safe now.. Clearance is good enough, fans are quiet at 5V and all is well… Or is it?

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/07-1.jpg
I wanna have a hard drive and not show it, so I decided to hide the vortex cooling unit so that the knob doesn’t hinder the door from closing. I had to cut about 4mm in the aluminum panel I made... And I bet I’ll do it a gain when I get a DVD unit. But everything fits to less than a millimeter.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/08-1.jpg
Ignoring the bad cabling right now in the front area, there is lots of space to pull air for the fans, the hard drive has a passive way of cooling itself too and there is even space for a low noise fan on the sonic tower. Also, I glued the front bay plates that remained and prepped them and the whole panel for cutting/bondoning.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/09_leds.jpg
I also spent the last part of my paycheck to buy these: 40 blue and 40 red ultra bright LEDs. These were about 40 hard earned $ and makes me sad at the though of having loss this many (or more, never counted them) LEDs before, after a nice, messy party L

Also, I bought 50 2g tubes of super glue, as there isn’t ant source here for bigger quantities, like the bottles I’ve seen on some logs.

I may have to reinstall windows to get the LAN working again, and do it on 2 systems.. But what the hell.. I have all the time in the world.

Thanks for reading.


August 16th

I continued with some delicate work. This has never been my strong point: cutting small pieces of plastic. I needed some intakes and decided against the small slots on the side.. Why? Because I didn’t want the mounting poles inside the face plate to be visible. Then , I couldn’t cut with such precision… The dremel kept jumping away, hot pieces of plastic were flying everywhere… So, this is what I did:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/01-2.jpg
I put tape on the sides before. Now I marked it again and cut the paper away to see how much intake I was creating. I say it is pretty good for 2 120mm fans at 5V. Just look at the pic with the fan frame. The cut area is comparable in size

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/02-2.jpg
Using the dremel with a toothed disc, I cut away a lot of plastic… that leaved the question how to cover it and mask cutting mistakes…

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/03-2.jpg
I keep most of my junk that can be recycled: these are the grills from the Antec case, plus some scrap from the first n0name case. I cut it to shape and fitted the grill inside the hole. I repeated the process and glued them with superglue at first then with the 2 compound adhesive, for strength.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/04-2.jpg
After the glue set, I bondoed over and proceeded to the upper segment. This is the only odd shaped grill, as it is close to the front locking mechanism.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/05-2.jpg
For the upper part intake, that feeds air to the vortex, I couldn’t use ugly stuff, like a big hole or something… So, I re-written the kanji for the project name and simplified the second and third symbols, because my drill attachment wasn’t small enough for such fine letters or cutting precisely for that mater. Symbols are marked and prepped for cutting.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/06-2.jpg
…and after cutting. I got pretty close to what I wanted, but I may have to spread some bondo over some scratches I made. Also, I used some of the vinyl I bought to see if it looks good… I think it does, but even if I managed to put the stuff without air bubbles trapped, there where some debris I didn’t notice that were caught under the vinyl and they are visible and mar the finish L Must redo it, add some mesh under the symbols and maybe paint the plastic black before applying the ‘glossy paint job’. Although this looks kick ass in real life, this is a finger print magnet! It is so shiny and distorts light in such a sexy way… then it gets covered with oils and grease and loses its’ sleekness L

Enough for today. I’m making a strict schedule for the following days, as from the 5th of September, school re-starts for me and I have 3 exams waiting… @#$@@%@#.. so, must weigh the cost of those exam I may fail.. bye for now.

PS: ISP has issues, talked to them , they reset my line and now I can download with 100k, but can’t even upload a picture on photobucket, let alone send my work-related mails.. aaaargh…

today: I'm up and running and so is my uploading. Some bondo work today coming right up.. in a few hours ;)

[The boy 4rm oz]

Mate that looks great, you have done a lot of work in a short amount of time.

[dgrmkrp]

10ks :p I give my best :)

Well, more work done today, although it may seem less.. I had run in the most common problem I have experienced since starting to do stuff virtually before actually doing it.. things don't always go as you please. Why? Well, because you have to take into consideration a sufficient amount of variables to do the job.. like the dimensions of a piece of steel, or the fact that it has something stamped on it. This was the main problem for today: when I did the rough sketch of the sides, I didn't quite take into account the stupid model they imprinted on the side, spelling TAC.. whyyyy? I mean why did they do it? I have to cut it away because they stamped it so hard I can't dremel it flat.. it would be too much work and maybe make it more flimsier to bondo it and re-flatten it... I may be lazy,
but I am creative:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/02-3.jpg
masked the entire panel and left the areas to be cut/kept visible. Although my cam didn't capture it, there are lines marking where I can 'go' with the cuts and with the window.. So, I have to hide the PSU, hardrive, hardrive cage, cut the round hole out, keep the side vent AND use the CGI flames/shreds.. Impossible :(

So, I had to keep in the limits, but still use as much as possible from the design..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/03-3.jpg
I kept this lil feature 100% from the design.. Used an A4 paper to copy the lines from the screen and then penciled out the back. After pressing hard and repeatedly with a ball pen on the paper, the design was imprinted on the masking tape and I just had to refine it :) In order to keep the design positioned correctly, I drew some arrows for alignment sake.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/05-3.jpg
After some gooood time with a pencil, a black pen and a marker... the flames are a bit off, but I had to hide stuff and keep within some limits... so the flames are tweaked horizontally :)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/07-2.jpg
These pics contain valuable information for when the time comes to cut the window.. You can see that this job will be made in steps: a big, unpreccise cut, smaller cuts.. and then some refinements. The pic in the right is what should guide me to the final form. The vent won't be cut, but I wanted too see what design could integrate it, as it is black and I plan on keeping it black. :)

Right now, I am considering cutting the mask... And using some lit plexi under it.. That would be interesting, right? The vinyl will still cover it.. unless I get enough money for a full black/white paint job. But maybe cutting the mask will look some much better.. Have to try.. so, you know what I'll be doing the rest of the day: modeling. fiting. trying. Can't do noise at this time of the day, so this activity fits just right :)

See you later.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Still looks good, you haven't altered your original design too much.

[dgrmkrp]

I admit, it is close, visually, but if you look mathematically at it (sorry for size):

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Clipboard.jpg

this is how I had to skew the image: mask is smaller, at 0.7 scale, flames are denser and the bottom can't be kept.. still, I'm 90% happy :)

[computergeek19]

Great work man, I can't wait to see it finish

[The boy 4rm oz]

Both designs look great. I think your first one would have been more suited to a full tower or a server case. Another mod perhaps? ;)

[.Maleficus.]

Dude, that panel looks killer! I can't wait to see this cut out!

[Dilphat]

Wow, I like the panel so much, I am a fan of bleach to. This case is gonna be sweet!

[dgrmkrp]

Thank you for your cheers :) Been some time since the last update, but hey, I gotta work for money, and have to learn too :( Still, when I have my brain full of formulas and can't take anymore.. break time. So, I tool a break from my studying and picked up the 'dremel':

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic1.jpg
do you know what this is? :twisted:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic2.jpg
..now you can see it better.. I took some progress pictures while cutting, to let the tool cool down. I used one huge disc I made and I used less than half of it to do all the work.. till the last pic.. I paused my work for today because my parents are coming home and they hate it if I work with power tools.. in the house..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic3.jpg
..All I did today was some rough cuts, the filing will occur at another time. I have six different shaped files to do it with.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic4.jpg
my cutting technique involves grinding more than cutting, so I'm left with some serrated edges and no AA..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic5.jpg
..same here..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic6.jpg
..This is how I cut bigger portions out of the panel.. Just cut small pieces, bend em and then grind them down.. then make the cut rounder..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic7.jpg
..window side done.. guess what is next..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic8.jpg
..the mask!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic9.jpg
..here is the progress I made today.. It is hard to cut further because the cutting disc hasn't lost that much from its radius, so I have to take my time and leave the smaller cuts for later..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic10.jpg
..the panel as it is now is fairly close to my design.. with a bit of more detailing I will have exactly the panel I planned..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic11.jpg
another problem I'm gonna have is with the teeth.. I'm gonna need some finer discs.. Like the original ones, but I don't have any.. aaargh.

Well, enough for today.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Window looks great.

[dgrmkrp]

Exams are over (I hope), so I have plenty of time :) What for: this project! So, today I've been doing some more tricky cuts, cleaning up, sanding, filing... even some work around the house that got me tired.. But I'm happy 98% ;) Still some things need doing, then I'll be 100% pleased.

Modding day started really badly, as I had to do some stuff before it and got my fingers sliced and my hands really..sanded :) As I started filing the window, I noticed my finger was dripping:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/01-4.jpg

..well, the file went right into my finger.. so I had to change my working finger for a while..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/02-4.jpg

..this is where I am now.. I cleaned the cuts as much as I could, but I must wait till tomorrow for my finger to get better.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic10-1.jpg

I marked the window on a piece of paper and made sure I had enough overlapping material to fix later.. I'm not sure whether I should use nuts&bolts or try something different, to keep the outside clean..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/Pic11-1.jpg

And here is the plexi.. I marked it and cut it more than half way. I had to stop, cause the tool is getting really warm and it is 8 o'clock..

The plan is to have the panel white, the black flames on top, clear plexi with some sort of etch.. more ragged flames, red LEDs and some tinting :)

Tomorrow I'm doing the rest of the window, cutting the vinyl and maybe bondoing the front part's honeycomb grill...

[computergeek19]

Cool design man, I am liking how the hollow mask is coming.

[dgrmkrp]

10ks

Well, now I have 3 cuts that bled, countless that are just skin deep and my hands hurt.. I've been also sanding some walls, to get them smoother before painting, in my house.. so.. I want a mechanical sander :(

This is where I am now (did some stuff today, but there is tons more to be done and time is flying):

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/04-4.jpg
..while cleaning the cuts I made with the 'dremel', I was thinking: careful not to cut yourself >> bam!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/03-4.jpg
..window cut and tested..

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/05-4.jpg
..window installed and some things marked.. I teared the backing off later, but I remember my plans :)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/06-4.jpg
..a bit of the etching and wiring done.. a bit I say because I put in only 7 LEDs, 7 + 4 to go.. And I have to make some nice etches too, not just the back of the mask..


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/07-3.jpg
..I was thinking of adding LEDs to the side of the mask, to light it up more evenly, and on the lower part of the panel, where the bleach name would be etched. I'm gonna go with the name of the series style as it appears in the beginning of the anime, each and every time :)

..my fingers hurt.. I'm tired.. I'm gonna watch some zombie movies and listen to my bleach music collection :) night.

[computergeek19]

So cool, I wish I had the same skills as you for cutting with a dremel. BTW which is your favorite opening/ending in the anime?

[dgrmkrp]

10ks :) I like the current ones the most.. It has to do with the action and the video part too: the intro was eerie the first time I saw it, but I could tell the action was going somewhere I won't like :) but mostly because I have a bad memory and the others are blurry in my head :) good thing I have them all. I'm a member of bleach exile and it's a good thing they offer a lot of the anime materials there for download, although I only have fan art and music from them.

There are 6 openings and 12 endings. I remember the openings better, but I don't think I've ever said "Man, why did they change it?" twice.. I was always shocked when they changed something.. but.. it was all for the best :)

Worklog related.. I'm really tired, didn't have time to sleep last night.. Gonna do some light stuff today, if I feel like it. I think bondo will do.. I like the fumes ;) (THEY ARE DANGEROUS, IT WAS A JOKE! :))

EDIT: now you made me listen all day to bleach songs :) I think my favorites are (in order):
aqua timez - alones
rie fu - life is like a boat
asterisk - orange range
tsumasaki - oreskaband

and my ringtone: shiro sagisu - on the precipe of defeat
:) I hate u know :p

[Gen.Omega]

Wow. This is amazing. Cant wait to see it done and painted this is going to be awesome.

[XcOM]

looking good mate

[dgrmkrp]

10ks guys

I'm gonna paint some parts black, mainly the interior.. but no I don't have any paint.
Seeing as I'll be leaving home tomorrow, I wanted to spend my last night here doing what I like most: detail work.. I mean modding :)

After a long tedious working day yesterday (grape harvesting.. prepping the wine-to-be mixture..) and a long shopping day today, I spent the last 6 hours cutting and assembling stuff. Of course, the window panel was firsted for the first time - now. And oh big surprise, it didn't fit cause of the huge sonic tower. Some force and I bent it into submission. A 3 millimeter
job, but it was in the way of the 4mm acrylic. After making it fit, the pc wouldn't boot and I had to reset the CMOS, re-seat stuff inside.. wasted some time, cause I'm an idiot sometime.. well, all is working now and with no problems.

So, some pics:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/01-5.jpg


after lots of fidgeting, cleaning the surface and applying and reapplying the vinyl, I got it smooth and started cutting with a new blade.. I made some stencil-thingy to trace the top flames, cause I wanted them to be as close as manually possible to the design.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/02-5.jpg

The several manual steps have changed the design by a slight amount, but if I ever do this again, I will be more careful :)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/03-5.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/04-5.jpg

some shots of the panel, with leds and ambient light on or off.. not much difference. It's clear to me the other leds are needed, and also the etch. But that will have to wait.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/05-5.jpg

this is a step not in the 3d design, cause it would be too much of a hassle and I did it faster the freehand way.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/06-5.jpg

drew some ragged flames and cut them :)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/07-4.jpg

and this is the look I'm going with. It isn't finished as I am keeping a trick up my sleeve. Think of this as the "primer".

I found another thing that is a bit representative for Bleach: their way of communicating. Thru hell butterflies.. or moths, whatever they are. I just think that no one made black ones before. This surely removes all happy, spring/summer time happiness out of them :) I hope. I'm gonna do one for the top of the case, which looks a tad empty to me, in the back.. I'm not sure whether to use any, but I'm thinking of making a couple.. At least as practice for cutting the vinyl.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/dgrmkrp/tensa_zangetsu_case/butterfly.jpg

also, If I would have a laser etching machine.. I think you know where I'm going ;)
What remains now is some black painting, some ethcing, some more leds.. some more vinyl art and then some secret stuff I'm planning. See you next time (hopefully not in 2 months time..)

[calumc]

That looks great!!

[Aero]

dude, we have got to get you a better camera :P. Everything looks soooo awesome. Amazing job on that side panel cut. Great work, can't wait to see more.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Mate absolutely fantastic, you have done a great job so far.

[Snowman]

I think the soul chain (cant remember if thats the proper term) on the front of case would be awesome. I had this same idea for a case but you have gone above and beyond what I could every do. Looks great +rep