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Tech-Daddy
12-20-2005, 11:55 AM
This will be the work log for my newest mod, the BOSS : FX-57.
The case was designed for the Coolermaster CaseMod compettiion of 2005.
I have based it off of a 1969 Boss 302 mustang that I had a picture of of:

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/ford_67.jpg

I love these cars!

Ok, working off of the car above, I had this to work with:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/CM_equip.jpg

There were the prizes that I had recieved from previous rounds of the Coolermaster Competition. The actual competition was 3 rounds of modding using Coolermaster components in some varying degree.

1st round was 2 items of CM product (I believe) - top 10 progress
2nd round required 5 items I believe - Top 5 progress
and the 3 round had to be *all* CM product.

This rig is the result of successfully working through rounds 1 and 2.

The 3rd round is an all new case, all new mod. If I remember correctly, the competition started with somewhere around 40+ participants. It was a difficult run, but very rewarding.

My rig used on the 1st two rounds was actually some impeccible timing and extreme luck. Lupine, my past computer mod, was what I was working on at the time of the contest. I had already chosen the components of the mod, which turned out to be mostly all Coolermaster stuff. Then the competition rolls into the picture... and I was already a month into Lupine... "Hrmm... already have the parts qualifications met... let's see how she does!"

The rest, as they say, is history!
;)

So, the loot in the above pic was from passing through rounds 1 and 2. I also took it upon myself to purchase a few other little trick bits that I thought would look good on the mod:

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/stash1.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/stash3.jpg

I want to take this moment to say a HUGE "Thank You" to NVidia for supporting the enthusiast community! These 2 cards were the sole result of me prooving myself to NVidia, and them believeing in this mod. They were chosen to compliment the "pipes and horsepower" theme of the mod. You'll see these cards a bit later. They are SUPER SEXY!!!! ;) Gold Heatsinks on both sides of the card, the VPU has 2 heat pipes escaping from the front of the card to the back heat sink on the back of the card. Integrated LED lit fans in the back heatsink offer cooling performance, while giving hte card a sweet lit effect.

The memory, 2x512MB of Crucial's Ballistix Tracer line were provided to me by Crucial. I had spoken with this gentleman @ Quakecon, not believeing it was who I was speaking with. Well... he made a believer out of me! I've always been a big fan of the stability of the Crucial stick. Now I get to see how well these babies perform! The Ballistix Tracer line has embedded LED's in the top as well as the bottom. They give off a bitchen cool glow under the DIMM, as well as the chasing activity/utilization lights on the tops... beautiful black chrome/gunmetal grey heat spreaders with the orange/yellow Ballistix logo on the side... they are just purdy! Thanks Crucial!

The final piece of the puzzle, was this screaming baby of massively powerful silicon:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/test2.jpg

Yes folks, that is a raw, naked and ass kicking FX-57 CPU, and straight out of the oven from AMD! Had they not stepped into this role, I would have had one hell of a time fielding this mod the way I wanted it. Remember, this is a horsepower based mod. It is based on the old muscle cars that took Cu.In. to the extreme! The 302 was one of the best cars of it's time! I wanted this mod to incorporate "best in breed" performance parts as well. I totally did not expect AMD to step up as big as they did, but step up they did! And we all get to benefit from this! Much appreciated AMD!

The motherboard is an ECS KN1 Extreme that was won during Quakecon.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/test1.jpg

It has garnered some really good press on it's own since it's release, and I hope to put it through it's paces by the time I finally get BOSS into a usuable place!

On a test run to make sure all of the parts are in good working order:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/test10.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/test12.jpg

Note the video cards, damn those things are cool!
The blue lights coming from between the slots, are blue LEDs that are attached to the motherboard. They blink randomly, and are just a cool effect!

The power supply was a Coolermaster RealPower 550 that I won during the contest. It is a non SLI model, so I had to convert it to an SLI mode to make it work with this mod! That will be noted later.

There will be several quick mods that will be performed on the equipment, comming up next!!

Tech-Daddy
12-20-2005, 12:03 PM
Warranties are sooo over rated... ;)

Strip down the 6800GT's
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video1.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video2.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video3.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video4.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video5.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video6.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video7.jpg

Those blue LED's have GOT to go! ;)

And, while out there tearing apart perfectly good fans... I remembered that the power supply had a "watt vu meter" for the floppy bay/ . Plugged it in, and it was a backlit blue.... so what's a modder to do? Break that lil freak open! See what makes it tick!

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/meter.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/meter2.jpg

If my wiring memory serves me correct, this is a 5mm LED running straight off of the 3.3v line!! I think I'll make it either red or white.... depending on what I find on 5mm LED's.... or possibly 2 3mm leds (one on each end of the vu meter...) hehehhe.... it just keeps on going...
;)

Tech-Daddy
12-20-2005, 12:11 PM
.... with my own blood! ;)
This entry happened as I was stripping down the power supply for a fan swap (blue to white). I noted on the fan pull that the amp draw was differing in favor of the installed PS fan having a stronger motor... boy was I proven right! Read on intreped modder.... ;)
------------------------------------------------

So. while pulling apart the case tonight, and clearing the frame, I decided to gut the power supply, and test out the fans... see how my replacement white LED fan would compare.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/ps1.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/ps_fan.jpg


Let me say this, the fan in the powersupply is a MUCH stronger fan that what is purchased in the retail channel.
Just how stong you ask? Well, the PS fan pulls .45 amps while the retail case fan that I bought pulls .13 amps. There is a serious rpm difference between the two fans, and major airflow in favor of the existing power supply fan.

While testing the fans, the PS one started to fall... I reached for it to stop the fall...POW!!! ZzzzzzZZIP! POW!!!!
ow OW!!! @(&$*(&@#@&#!!!!!!

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/ps_bite.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/ps_bite2.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/ps_bite3.jpg

after 10-15 minutes of papertoweling and compression on my finger tips, I finally stopped the bleeding. I took that little experience as the fan telling me "I aint a normal fan, and you had *better* put me back in the power supply if you know what's good for you... foo!" I'll figure out another way of getting the white light.... ;)

(sidebar: it took me literally 2 weeks to get my fingertips back to their semi-feelgood state! I literally had two fingertips bruised, and as an admin that types all day, you can imagine the discomfort caused from the index and middle finger throbbing from too much pressure! ;) Don't let the little pin holes fool you! Those lil bastards were deep!!! )

Also of note, the Coolermaster power supply uses a 3 pin molex connector, just like the fan header on the motherboard... except that they rewired it a bit, they flipped the 12v and the ground, but left the signaling wire in place, go figure... ;) so I had to pop the pins on the retail fan and shift them a bit to make sure they would work properly.

I took a ton of pics of the strip down, nothing really interesting there. Just some pics for later use to show before and after, possibly an article on the case, we'll see.

But, I figured you guys would get a chuckle outta my misfortune...
;)

Tech-Daddy
12-20-2005, 12:17 PM
*note* - the work done here was to create a new look for the video cards without pulling from their already stellar appearance. All I wanted to do was accent them a bit. Bring them more in line with the rest of the mod. from a color scheme standpoint.
--------------------------------------------------------------

I've been doing lots of planning and sitting in the garage just looking at the case... kinda one of those meditation things, I think my wife thinks I've really lost it this time... ;)

I needed to normalize the colors in my case, seeing as the fans are white (Intake, exhaust, blowhole and power supply fan), and the under carriage lighting will be red (under the case and under the motherboard), the fans on the video cards were more of an aqua blue and did not match with the theme. So... how does one go about changing the color of an LED that is hoplessly soldered onto the PCB's ??!?? You call for help, that's how!! (I have a buddy on another forum that does exceptional surface mount work!)

Check this out!!!

Before:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video7.jpg

We discussed what I wanted to do with the fans, and then settled on the proper color, and he took care of the rest! This man is a PRO!!!!

What was originally blue is now a nice, glowing white!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/Fan1.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/Fan2.jpg

Now, the neat bit about this next shot, is that when I got the device (an active, heatpipe chipset cooler from CoolerMaster) it had a fan in it that lit up blue. For some that is cool and all, but I don't particularly want blue in my cases anymore. So, in the Craig Tate mentality, I tried to change the color to purple for use in Lupine... everything I tried (all of which involved putting some form of red coloring over the blue LED to try and blend it to purple, that was ghetto) did not work. My buddy *not only* pulled the blue LED and replaced it with our decided upon white LED, he also noticed that the PCB for the fan was actually setup for 3 LED's and he filled the remaining 2 other spots!

So... not ony is this the *only* white "Blue Ice" chipset cooler, but now instead of one LED to light it, I have 3 to light it!!! Think I'll change the name of it from the "Blue Ice" to the "Ice Cube" or something like that. Then, as if that wasn't good enough, the guy hits the part with some cleaner that he had at his disposal, and got a large portion of the ghetto painting I did to the fan trying to change it's color!!! Just took it over the top in my book! Thanks bro!

The 2 video card fans for the Gigabyte cards are just gonna absolutely *snap* in those shiny, gold reflective heatsinks! And since they wil be SLI, the card on bottom will be lighting the card over it, I'm anticipating some nice light play there! Also, remember that the fans had a shroud of their own that was anodized to a near yellow/gold match of the heatsink color?
(Image here:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video2.jpg )

Well, I'm going to take those little shrouds and hit them with some matte black paint to add accent to the white light that the fans will be providing now! It's gonna look soooo cool! ;)

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/Fan3.jpg

I have more to post, I gotta get something to drink... more in a sec!

Tech-Daddy
12-20-2005, 02:40 PM
Mmm'kay... started butchering the case out... you guys know... rough cutting the fan grills out, gouging out where you dont want metal, etc.

I have shots of those but they are all so boring, no need to post. You guys know the drill!
;) (modder humor there...)

But, I went up to Kinkos and hit one with a large format printer. I had my graphics printed to the native size. I wanted to make sure that my measurements that I "thought" during the design process, were accurate... this is how the stripes will lay out on the computer. Try to look through the blue tape and the stripes underneith.

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/side_stripe1.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/side_stripe2.jpg

That mesh work is going to take some bondo or mesh/fiberglass, we'll see what is needed.

now, the neat thing about these stripes is that right there where the word "BOSS" is, the stipes are actually stopped. So, if I want to space the stripes out a bit more... I can do it!!! But, the plan is to cut the window in the middle (where I cut the paper out of hte center of the sideways "U". Anywhere you see grey metal or white paper would be caution orange. This is what may allow me to drop the bottom stripe just enough to get it past the mesh work, so that I am only cutting on straight metal, and not trying to patch up the mesh work that was pressed into the metal.

I have to leave enough space @ the bottom of the window frame for the elevated "BOSS" logo to be built up and added on below the striping. I need metal to tap into for strength, so I dont want to cut too much away. (*note* - I ended up doing away with this in the final approach.)

I've also found some sweeet acrylic square cubes that will work great after being wrapped in that "Chrome vinyl" (from Lupine), hoping that it will look like chrome metal legs!

Anyone know of a place where a person can buy metal speaker grille mesh? I just need a little bit of it... ;)

Tech-Daddy
12-20-2005, 03:42 PM
Working on the video cards, since I got the fans back.
Did a little custom work to the cards. They have a little fan shroud that is anodized to nearly the same color as the heatsinks:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video_mod1.jpg

That just would not do in my case... ;)
So I hit them with a good layer of camoflauge black (think super matte black)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video_mod2.jpg

Then I used a sanding block *very lightly* on the raised lettering of the shroud to strip the color off and leave the letters their brushed aluminium color.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video_mod3.jpg

I then vinyl dyed the power cables for each of the fans with black, and then mounted the fans and routed the cables:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video_mod4.jpg

And then installed the shroud....
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/video_mod5.jpg

WOO HOO!! I like that look! but I dont want to get too happy, because as I was trying to do the same actions to the fan on the other card... my power/signal/ground lines started popping off
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/videohcrap1.jpg

*&@(#&(%$@!!!!!

By the time I got it back to my bench, the power *and* the ground had said "Hasta la vista..." to their respective solder points on the back of the fan...

So I broke the last remaining one, and will now be working on resoldering the lines back onto the existing solder points. (fingers crossed).

However, both of the cards will look like the above unit. I left the bottoms of the fan shrouds the gold color to aid in reflection of the light, but the top is the nice, even matte black.

Tech-Daddy
12-20-2005, 03:45 PM
nice concept. Looks like it will be good. But i cant understand, even though it was free, that your using an ECS motherboard

The ECS board was free, yes. But it was also one of ECS's first jaunts into the enthusiast market. It is not one of their little economy boards that they are famed for.

ECS is trying to redeux their image, their perception within the computing public. Granted it will take more than a motherboard or 2, but they are trying. I wanted to see how well they did.

Plus, the color scheme lended itself well to a contrast to the case frame (you will see in a few posts what I did).

;)

Hope this clears things up a bit.

Tech-Daddy
12-20-2005, 06:46 PM
There will always be details in my mods, some of which will be noticed immediately... some of which will be noticed later, and some not at all!

The shrouds are not noticed unless you know that the cards are not normally covered in this way. I like all of my mods that way. Honestly, the best compliment on some of my details, is for them to go unnoticed, and for the viewer to think that the item "came" that way.

On my last mod, Lupine, I had a user email me that they did not know that Coolermaster made a purple case, and wanted to know where I got it from. After explaining through pictures that it did not come that way, and that I had actually painted it, it became clear to them it was custom.

:)

Tech-Daddy
12-21-2005, 12:58 AM
If I was not a modder, and did not have a window going on the rig, then the sliders on the drive bays would absolutely rock! But, I'm a window nut, and I just cant stand the sight of those things... soooo... OFF WITH IT'S HEAD!!!

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/frame1.jpg

I'm going to custom craft drive bays for the CD ROM(s) and any front facing devices. Materials that I am considering are either mesh, acrylic, or (what I'm considering) sandwiching some UV reactive orange acrylic inside of brushed aluminimum. I'm leaning very heavily to the last one, as I can cut the drive screw holes and paint the aluminium gloss black (like the frame will end up. I'm thinking that the edges will erupt with glowing orange if I embed a UV LED or 2 into the acrylic. The drive bays will not be the full height of the case, but instead built to only house the device that needs the support. Essentially, I build a 5.25 bay from the top that is riveted to the front and the top of the frame and it will support the optical drive, and the 3.5 inch bays will be built in a similar fashion, with embeded lighting.

So, I have now committed to this.
It will either be lit, sandwiched, meshed or a combo of these techniques.

And tomorrow, I go over to Harbor Freight and buy my bending brake to make this all happen!
;)

(*note* this was changed in the end final execution.)

Tech-Daddy
12-21-2005, 01:00 AM
Took a few hours this morning and built a bending station for the bending brake I picked up from Harbor Freight this last week.

I figured after I thought about how it was going to work, that I might need the ability to have the work possibly suspended under the bending brake from either side, depending on the way the bend needed to be oriented.

Attaching it to my bench would have limited me on how the material was to be handled. This way, I have all that free space under the brake to allow for the material to be under the bending surface, if it is needed.

:)

Started out with 3 wall studs, 8ft in length.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bending1.jpg

Cut it down to the sizes I needed for the frame:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bending2.jpg

Framed it and gave it feet, then added in two supports to the feet.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bending3.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bending4.jpg

Attached the brake to the top, and used 2 1/2 inch 1/4" bolts and a corresponding washer and nut on the bottom... TADAA!!!!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bending5.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bending6.jpg

Oh, and here is my mascot...
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/mascot.jpg
If *ever* you have wondered "Why?" it takes me a bit longer to do most of my mods... now you are looking at her!!! ;)

Tech-Daddy
12-21-2005, 01:06 AM
A few days passed after I made the above post... then this little gem popped into my log...
;)

--------------------------------------------------
"I am glad I am slow....."

;)

Gave me time to mull over my drive bay creation problem, and came up with a solution. What I *dont* like about the Coolermaster drive bays are those dang tooless sliders. So, to keep my dimensions right and tight on the 5.25 and 3.5 areas, I'm sticking with the original framework of the drive bays (why reinvent the wheel, eh?) but stripping off the plastic tooless sliders and springs that annoy me to no end. By doing this, it will allow me to keep the original Coolermaster steel that already fits all of the rivet holes, the front bezel mount holes, etc. So, I strip those off, and pull off the supporting steel work that acted as the slider guides, and that will give me the 5.25 bay that I can *then* wrap my acrylic acround and then a bent and painted piece of alu over that to sandwich in all that color!

Much easier!

I Had been beating my head against paper mock ups trying to get my drive spacing, hole allignment, depth and length, etc to all come out right.... then it hit me (kinds like one of those Outback steakhouse boomerangs, but I didn't leave to go eat after the inspiration!) and I went to town on my bays!

Pics are boring... use your imagination! ;)

Tech-Daddy
12-21-2005, 01:08 AM
Press fast forward 2 more days...
;)

--------------------------------------------------------------

Hacked holes this weekend, side window, top blow hole. Forgot to upload the pics, will get to them tonight.


Looking for a local powder coater for the frame (gloss black)... want to sneak this into another run so that there is little to no additional prep work for whomever it is that provides the service.

Lots of wrap up filing to make the beastie as smooth as possible, with finished holes.

The connectors that I spoke of earlier in another thread are going to look SO sweet with this!

Going to build a black acrylic bracket to mount the recepticles in to, and then I'll cut the power transmission lines to size, and solder them onto the plugs. Then using the other side of the attachment, I'll put the power lines, PCI-e power, and SATA power through those adaptors!

:D

(que muzik)
"Come togethaaa!! ... riiiight now.... "

Tech-Daddy
12-21-2005, 01:10 AM
Guess what?? I found a powder coater that would do my frame!! Loved how this came out... uber sexy!
;)
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Yummy frame shots!
;)

We're all family here, so I can talk like that... :D

The 3.5 bay that resides directly below the 5.25 bay area. This frame actually has 2 sets of these, however I chose to pull the bottom most one in favor of airflow (it blocked the fan, and I was not going to have a drive down that far anyway...)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/powder3.jpg

This is an outter shot with the mobo tray in the forground. All of these pieces are clean. Any white "spots" you see are not dust flecks or the like... they are pin sized reflections coming off of the smooth and glossy surface.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/powder4.jpg


I'm going to get a better pic of this, but this was to show just how smooth it went into all of the little nooks. cranys and bends of the case... this is the power supply area, and, specifically, the rear exhaust point of hte case. Look in the corner that frames the exhaust fan. I *always* have had problems getting this section even... no worries on this one! ;)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/powder5.jpg


Check out the reflection off the base section of the case!!!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/powder6.jpg


The 5.25 bays:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/powder7.jpg


Another shot of the frame....
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/powder8.jpg


You may notice some holes in the framework of the 3.5 and the 5.25 sections of the case. I cut out sections of steel that were standing too tall and would interfere with this next section of modding... you'll see shortly!


This weekend is going to be a big time push for me so be looking for some pretty serious updates from my side tomorrow and Sunday!

Tech-Daddy
12-21-2005, 01:21 AM
Riveted it all back toghether! (except for the top pieces and the skins... MMmmmmmmm.....

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/powder9.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/powder10.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/powder11.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/powder12.jpg

Tech-Daddy
12-21-2005, 01:23 AM
I'm building my back grill for the rear exhaust on the case. But it will be a mirror of this one, from a construction standpoint.


Cut the acrylic to size, tap the holes in the corners:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/grill1.jpg

Add on a vinyl covering that makes it look like carbon fiber:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/grill2.jpg

And then bolt it into the PSU cover with stanoffs under it to give enough space between the mag and the center of the fan:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/grill3.jpg

more later after I finish the rear exhaust!

Tech-Daddy
12-21-2005, 01:32 AM
Case fan grill pics.
I screwed up when I bought my nuts and bolts tonight... both of my packages of nuts were supposed to be lock nuts with nylon inserts... only one was...

So, these pics are the grill, spacers, and fan (sans lock nuts) so that you can see what is in store!
;)

More later!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/grill4.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/grill5.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/grill6.jpg

Tech-Daddy
12-22-2005, 12:23 AM
it is a bit of a pain to find someone willing to do small jobs, but it is possible.

*note* - This happens shortly after Turkey day, so set that timeline in your head. From here forward, happens in the span from Thanksgiving to December 11th.
*pant* *pant*
-TD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm back from turkey day binge... (ugh, that hurt) and am back on my modding wheels...

The pics you are about to see are *only* the rough out of the sheet aluminium template for the hood scoop.

I plan on taking this rough shape, covering it with "Great Stuff" foam, and shaving and sanding that down to the desired shape. Then I'll use fiberglass to lay over it and sand it down to the shape I want. After sanding, I'll prime it, and commence to painting the outside of the case!!!!

Here are the prelim scoop shots:

Looking from the side, front of the case is to the left:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop1.jpg

Looking down the scoop from the leading edge:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop2.jpg

From the side:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop3.jpg

And after I unfolded the pieces and took off the tape, I'm thinking that this should be just about the perfect sheet shape to bend and attach it all together:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop4.jpg

These are just so you will get the idea of where it is headed.

The sheetmetal cutouts will actually have bottom tabs cut so that they extend off of the bottom attaching walls of the scoop. I'll then cut slits in the top of the case roof for these tabs to fit through, then I'll bend them and JB Weld them into the roof (underside of the top) of the case.

Then start up the foam treatment!!

I saw a guy do this for his rig for some body work he was doing. This looked like such a cool way to get the desired form, I applied it to the hood scoop!

:)

Tech-Daddy
12-22-2005, 12:31 AM
prototype built out of alum with the bending station that I built earlier:

Here is the cut sheet loaded into the bender:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bend1.jpg

After bending it into submission:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop5.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop6.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop7.jpg

I also disected a UV meteor light. Removed the acrylic tube and the acrylic cube ends, so that I only have the little LED strip. I plan on using this in the machine, but it will actually be burried in the side next to the 5.25 bays, but firing out into some UV reactive acrylic that I plan on having a little light show with... ;)

Tech-Daddy
12-22-2005, 12:33 AM
Wondering "Why?" I would want to pull out the guts of a metor light?

This is why....
Active lighting (http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/lights1.wmv)
More Active lighting... (http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/lights2.wmv)

I plan on embedding this effect next to the 5.25 bays, long ways down the side. The UV LED's will be firing into the side of the Orange acrylic and the effect will be seen on the inside of the case!!! And I have not even polished the edges yet! This is the straight acrylic and the effect is much more noticable in my garage than in the capture of the camera.

:D

To quote Stimpy... "Joooyyyyyeeeeeee!!!"
:D

Tech-Daddy
12-22-2005, 12:34 AM
Too tired to post pics, but here is what I did tonight:
1) Foamed the hood scoop. tomorrow I'll cut it down and add in more foam in the low places.
2) Took my CoolDrive3 that I bought (older model drive cooler, and it looks kida retro too!), removed the blue LED's and replaced them with White. Now there is a nice even white glow that matches the fans, that emenates to the edges from the front center.
3) repainted the fan exhaust port on the mobo. Remember it used to be a optic green arcylic. Now, it is a gloss black, and the power lead is sleeved.

Foam is drying, and my eyes are trying to close...

Tech-Daddy
12-23-2005, 04:18 AM
Picture update from last night...
not much text, as I need to get out into the garage and shave the scoop into shape!

Painted the fan shroud from UV reactive green to a gloss black, and sleeved the power cable:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/back_fan.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/back_fan2.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/back_fan3.jpg


Seems that we have had this discussion once before... and because of our debate, I was able to locate these bad boys for less than Radio Shack!!!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/connectors.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/connectors2.jpg


The CoolDrive started blue:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/cooldrive1.jpg

and changed to white:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/cooldrive2.jpg

And I have a whole slew of gross jokes and commentary on "what" this looks like... let's keep it clean folks... ok? ;)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/foamy.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/foamy2.jpg

It has hardened today, solid foam (*tap* tap*, *thud* *thud*...) so I'm stepping out to cut it down now! Hopefully there will be some cool pics forthcoming tonight!

Tech-Daddy
12-23-2005, 04:19 AM
Yeah, it aint the cleanest stuff... but I sure do like what I am getting right now!

I just spent about 30 minutes shearing off the crap, and fleshing out the basic form of the hood scoop. I did one side flush with the edge, and the other side like a traditional hood scoop. I'm likeing the flush side the more I look at it.

I have a big, freakin HYOOJ air pocket that was in the middle of this foam, so I have touchup to do tonight to fill in that spot, then run another bead on the side that I stripped to make it perpendicular to the surface.

Here are some quick pics:

Looked a bit like a turkey here...
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/foamy3.jpg

Started with the coping saw and sheared off the top:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/foamy4.jpg

This is not half of the mess I made, lots more in the trash bag to my left (not in the pic):
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/foamy5.jpg

Starting to take shape, and I'm figuring how bad the air pocket was... ugh...
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/foamy6.jpg

This is a decent view of the side that I sheared to make perpendicular to the surface of the case:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/foamy7.jpg

This is a shot to try and show the "flush side". This is the style that I am leaning towards.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/foamy8.jpg

A few top shots to show the general shape and orientation:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/foamy9.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/foamy10.jpg

:D

I could not be happier with the initial results. Only thing draging it down is the mondo air pocket.

;)

Headed back out into the garage!!!

Tech-Daddy
12-23-2005, 04:20 AM
Heheheh... I just think it is a great accessory! (and I do think it's kinda purdy too! ;) )

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/cpu_fan3.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/cpu_fan2.jpg

This will be positioned over the cpu fan, mounted on the fan grill... at least... that is what I'm thinking!

Tech-Daddy
12-23-2005, 04:21 AM
I'm getting ready to get out in the garage and cut the base off of this thing... but here is a glimpse of what I'm looking for:

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/cpu_fan4.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/cpu_fan5.jpg

It is just resting on the bottom of the filter there, I want to get the base of the housing on there for authenticity, as well as the integrated mounting post that comes with it. Will allow me to wing nut that top of the filter housing.

Tech-Daddy
12-23-2005, 04:21 AM
From tonight:

That is the 92mm fan grill legs that you see sticking out from under this dude... damn near a perfect fit! I could not have been happier!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/cpu_fan6.jpg


So, I hear the question, "How did you get the grill to stay on down there, Craig?" Well, I'll show ya, if you promise to respect me in the morning! ;)
Zip Ties. 2 of them, that will never be seen, because they are smack in the middle of the air filter. I can live with this.... can you? ;)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/cpu_fan7.jpg


Test fit in the case... making sure I have not done all of this work, only to have it not fit... criminy! I'm going to likely have to shear the bolt down and get some sort of nylon centered lock nut for the top! While I had the grill off, I pulled hte fan and sleeved it's power/signal wires in a black sleeving.

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/cpu_fan8.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/cpu_fan9.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/cpu_fan10.jpg


The scoop is shaping up nicely! Very nicely I might add. Not done with this by any stretch, but the bulk of the basic work is done. Shape a bit more, then I'll fiberglass it tomorrow. While the fiber glass dries, I plan on filing down the side window to it's final level, and work on painting the out sides the Orange color. (Sand, prime, sand, paint, more sanding... more painting... ;)



http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop8.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop9.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop10.jpg

Tech-Daddy
12-24-2005, 03:01 AM
Thanks everyone!
Update time!

Quick pic update.... a little text to show what all has happened in the past .. uh... how long have I been outside? ;)

No lie, I think (in hind sight) I used a bit too much resin, as I think my 2 layers of fiber glass with the resin worked in to saturate the fabric, I think I made the 2nd cousin to ballistic kevlar or anti missle armor! JEEZUS! I went through 4 qty/80 grit sander pads sanding the fiber glass down to the initial shape in the 2nd pic! 3rd, 4th and 5th scoop pics are the first layer of bondo, then 1st layer sanded, then the 2nd touchup layer applied.

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop11.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop12.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop13.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop14.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop15.jpg


Took the front grill emblem out for the first time in a while! Put it to my dremel polishing attachments and wire wheels to get the years of dust and crap that were embedded into it! Much better now!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/stang1.jpg


This is just to show the placement of the hood ornament, and also that the very top and very bottom of the bezel have little tapers. Turns out those are part of the back plastics of the front bezel attachment framework. I can paint the top and bottoms of the front bezel something to accent the work I am about to put on the front.

I've got a cool idea for the paint (I think... we'll see, I've test painted something tonight to see how it comes out later tonight.), might be a two tone matte black/deep smoke grey gloss anodized paint on the front, with the edges being the side panel OSHA orange.

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bezel1.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bezel2.jpg

I've got another paint scheme in my head, (my original one) that I'm thinking will work as well... more on that later!

Tech-Daddy
12-24-2005, 03:02 AM
That intake has been a serious pain in the a$$... I like it, but I dont. I don't like it because I see what I did wrong with it, where my fabrication was errored.

However... I'm not beating myself up over it too badly... after all, it was my first time using fiberglass, my first time to create something *this* "from scratch"... All of my mods previously have been stripping stuff away in hte form of cutouts and such. Not used to building up things that did not exist in the first place!

So, in that sense, I'm pretty happy with it.

Also, my last tech piece arrived in the mail today. A Plextor 712SA SATA DVD Burner. It is not the slot load (wanted one of those badly, but did not want to the price premium those were carying), but I wanted my hard drive and my optical to both be SATA devices, as I have orange SATA cables that same with the board! That was some good karma! So, I'll have no PATA "flat ribbon" cables t hide in the rig at all, and the SATA cables that are used will be in the same color scheme as the paint job!!! ;)

Tech-Daddy
12-24-2005, 03:03 AM
;)

happiness!
scoop is almost flawless (externally) and I can live with the crap on the inside of it. I think I have a way of disguising it though! We'll see...

2 pics to show where I am as of 10 minutes ago!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/orange1.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/orange2.jpg

Took a boatload of pics today to show all of the other things that have led up to this point, and I'll get those in later... but when that orange hit the white primer... my heart lept!

It is *sooo* the perfect shade!!! I purposely used the white primer to try and brighten up the orange. I was afraid that if I used grey or dark primer as a base, it would dull out the orange. So I used grey high fill primer on 2 layers 1st, then sanded, then 2 layers of white primer, then sanded *very* carefully.

I've also begun on the front bezel and the drive bay covers and the cool drive unit. I came up with a cool color for the center that is not totally black. I'm keeping my streak alive of finding a way to incorporate Duplicolor Metalcast in each of my mods thus far! ;)

More in a bit!

WOO HOOO!!!!!

*fumes in my garage were making me loopy!!!*

Tech-Daddy
12-24-2005, 03:04 AM
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/orange3.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/orange4.jpg

And the 1/2 painted front bezel:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bezel3.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bezel4.jpg

The black is actually transparent, Metalcast Smoke color! All of the 5.25 bay covers are this color as well as the brushed alum front of the DriveCooler 3.

Tech-Daddy
12-24-2005, 03:05 AM
*note* - this happened the second week of December (Dec. 6th to be exact)... remember submission deadline is on the 11th... <cue Jaws theme...> ;)

I was fighting below freezing temps with small space heaters and stuff. It was pretty touch and go! Had to heat the pieces that were to be painted, heat the paint, then after spraying, get the heaters aimed properly at the pieces to help them cure. Garage temps were in the teens to 20's when some of these pics were shot...
-TD
---------------------------------------------------

Hopefully it can get dry enough before the freeze rolls through tonight.

I am tempted to leave a heater running in the garage on concrete just to keep the area where the parts will be @, a bit warmer.

:roll:

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop16.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop17.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop18.jpg

Tech-Daddy
01-01-2006, 03:03 AM
Test mounted the PS with the spacers in place so that the fan fit properly, yay!!! Also looke d pretty cool too! ;)

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/power1.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/power2.jpg



Having to rethink the power cabling.

Not getting rid of it, but I underestimated the space left after the power supply and the optical drive were added in (plus the drop of the cieling due to the blow hole fan firing in to the scoop...)

So... I have to relocate the cable attachments. And since I will not have anything located in the lower 5.25 bays, I'm going to take 2 of them and build a minimalist drive bay attachment (think like a bay cover for the front bezel, except it will face the back) 2 bays used space. I'll cut a hole into the side of the 2 lower 5.25 bays and feed the power cables through that. Solder them on, and have my plug panel facing out into the open area, and cables will be run from there to their respective devices.

This placement will also put the mobo 4pin Molex (next to the PCI-E slots) and the 4 pin AUX connector within easy reach and it should proove to be an entertaining cable path!


http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/power3.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/power4.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/power5.jpg

Tech-Daddy
01-01-2006, 03:06 AM
Work done tonight. Remember, I'm going for a vehicle type of feel.

Taking a page from Lupine, I was soo happy with the cabling redirection, I think I'll use a similar technique here. Except this time, the ATX motherboard power bundle will stay out here and not get fed through.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/power7.jpg


The individual bundles ranked according to where they are on the cable hole of the power supply. I tried to back trace all of the cables and order the various bundles according to whether or not they returned to the top or the bottom of the bundle @ the power supply.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/power8.jpg


Looming on the cables and routed back to the hole. I'm not trying to disguise anything here. I wanted it to have a "piped" feel to it. Maybe sparkplug wires, or the vacuum tubing that is all under the hood.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/power9.jpg


And the cascade of cables on the back side of the motherboard.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/power10.jpg


some will be kept as is, and others will be butchered and reallocated to other power needs.

Tech-Daddy
01-01-2006, 03:08 AM
Trying to get some paint to dry tonight so that I can get some of the long "time" items done while I grab a bit of shut eye in a bit.

1st thing that I knew I had to get done tonight was the front bezel.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bezel5.jpg

When I pulled the tape, I realized that the left side was not masked properly. Missed it on the pre-paint inspection. Now I have to re-mask the grey/black area, and paint this stripe, without creating a run... grrr....
Oh well...

Other than that, and a few oversprays that hit the tops of the grey areas from behind (another numbskull moment, I masked for paint from the front... totally did not cover the holes for paint coming from the back side! *headsmack smiley* )
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bezel6.jpg

Both of these should be easily fixable. ;)

Tech-Daddy
01-01-2006, 03:09 AM
Paint is fixed and drying. Next id to get the bottomw of the top manel with the scoop and paint it gloss black (to match with the powdercoating of the frame.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bezel7.jpg



My cable interface bracket.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bracket1.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bracket2.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/bracket3.jpg

I've cut a hole behind this bracket that faces the back side of the case, and fed the wires through that hole. I'll then clip the power cables and attach them to the recepticles that will be mounted in the bracket.

Back out to the garage!

Tech-Daddy
01-01-2006, 03:13 AM
Lunch to Dinner pics...

Underside of the scoop. (this is actually painted now)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/scoop19.jpg


Custom feet created for this computer. Start with a acrylic block, put it on a spindle, and put a file to it! I did not want round, but square did not sit with the curves that are predominant in the striping and window. So, I blended them! ;) I plan on covering these with the chrome vinyl.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/feet1.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/feet2.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/feet3.jpg


Meteor light controllers: (before and after... no pansy ass blue going in here!)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/meteor1.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/meteor2.jpg


The wall that will have the UV light firing though it's edge:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/side_wall.jpg

Tech-Daddy
01-01-2006, 03:16 AM
(*NOTE*- this was the begining of a very serious problem that ended up costing me about 1 day of work... it was sickening... -TD )

getting much closer to full realization!

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/side_stripe3.jpg

I have a little bit of touchup to do to the front Bezel, and I'm redux'ing my power lines that were already done.

I'm not adding in additional jacks to attempt to handle the proper grounding. The only 2 that will not have all of their ground lines are the SATA connector (which will have a optical drive and an older SATA drive) and the P4 AUX connector (12v x2, Ground x1 <normally 2>).

Tech-Daddy
01-11-2006, 03:26 AM
This was the last update I made before submission to Coolermaster...
I had been up for 36 hours straight. There was a LOT of problems that happened in the final push, corners that had to be cut, and ideas that had to be pulled and delayed. It was *exhausting*...
------------------------------

I am tired, exhausted, and glad this thing is over...
;)

We'll see what the others brought to the table.

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/CM_Final5.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/CM_Final6.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/CM_Final7.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/CM_Final10.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/CM_Final11.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/CM_Final12.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/CM_Final13.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/CM_Final16.jpg

I'll talk more about the events of today... later. Right now, I can feel my energy leaking out my feet... ;)

Nighty night all!

Tech-Daddy
03-17-2006, 02:33 PM
1 - I swear most boss's with hood scoops the scoop is black. Maybe a result of the hood stripe, but still, it caught my eye.

First off, thank you for replying to the thread! I always like talking about this, especially when it involves design decisions!

I'm not a Boss afficienado (spelling?), so I won't feign complete knowledge of the painting schemes. But what all I had seen, you are right about the scoops being black. Ive seen them with either the entire hood matte black, or the black of the center stripe being continued on to the scoop. So, "yes", you are correct in the coloring of the scoop being off. I was actually considering continuing the "charcoal black" treatment that I had on the front, but if you notice, that stripe is too narrow for the scoop. Effectively, the black would not have been symetrical to the front. If I wanted to black the scoop, I would have had to black out the entire front of the bezel, which I did not want to do (for the sake of color diversity). Alternatively,just putting the stripe the same width as the front bezel strip did not look right either. So, ultimately, I left it as I thought it would look best on this machine. You are right though, it is not accurate with regards to proper color scheme and layout on the BOSS line. Nice catch!


2 - Your scoop's ending form seems too rounded, like the scoop off a modern car not an early mustang.

Another good catch! The back taper of my scoop was my own decision, as well as the slight top rounding. The scoops you show I actually did consider (and they would have actually been easier), but I had this stubborn vision in my mind's eye, and like a splinter.. I could not get it out of my head until lafter I built it! ;)

My initial mock ups of the scoop, I did not like the "ski slope effect" on the computer. Just a personal preference, so it was done with heavy influence from the Boss scoops that I did see, but in my own style.

I'm very glad you like the mod! Thanks for the enthusiasm!!

Tech-Daddy
04-09-2006, 01:18 PM
Thanks Thallion! Much appreciate your chiming in!

It's all about the details....
I felt it necessary to pull out some of the little things left undone on BOSS, and here are two of the things I have picked up on to complete this weekend.

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/mustang_acrylic.jpg

This was one of those little things that I did not do in the end... the chrome will be smoked with the MetalCast smoke that I used on the middle stripe, and the red color will be painted over with the OSHA orange. There is a little fan inside the unit, as well as a blue LED that I need to replace with a white one to keep it inline with the rest of the mod. Guess I could go orange on the LED too... might esperiment a bit on that route:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/mouse.jpg

While I work on the case build out on DST, since I am out there... figured I'd quit slacking off and get these little ones worked out too!
;)

Pulling that mouse apart was a PITA!!!!

The top over the IC is the blue LED that lights through the vents and the fan. That will be what I replace with a white or orange one.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/mouse_internals.jpg

6 screws holding the internals together.... cripes...
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/mouse_palm.jpg

Finally... broken down:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/mouse_palm_components.jpg

These parts will be OSHA orange:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/orange_mouse_prime.jpg

and these are with the first layer of smoke paint:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/smoke_chrome1.jpg

I plan on 2-3 more layers of paint on these parts.

Tech-Daddy
04-10-2006, 01:48 AM
after 2 more coats of "Smoke" and the 2-3 coats of clear:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/smoke_chrome2.jpg

the top pieces:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/orange_mouse.jpg

Pulled the blue LED out of this beastie, and replaced it with a white 5000mcd light. I then sprayed it with a glass frosting so that the light would disperse and not just spotlight. These pics were prior to me spraying the frost.

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/mouse_led.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/mouse_led2.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/mouse_led3.jpg

Tech-Daddy
04-14-2006, 05:10 PM
Test fit...
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/assemble1.jpg
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/Boss/assemble2.jpg

couple of take aways on the pics....

Mice have pretty tight clearance tollerances on the buttons, and a thicker paint causes these to stick due to the gaps being tighter.

*SO*

I am forced to file down the gaps to allow for more space, then repaint the buttons and such to fit properly together... but this should let you know where this baby is going...
;)

Tech-Daddy
04-16-2006, 11:02 PM
YAY!!!
The mouse is done!

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/dst/final_mouse1.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/dst/final_mouse2.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/dst/final_mouse3.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/dst/final_mouse4.jpg


Here is a little trick I pulled tonight. The Rubber surround on the wheel was a clear rubber, and I wanted the opaqueness of a "tire"... so I took the rubber piece off of the plastic center. I then boiled some water in a glass dish, then poured in 1/2 a package of RIT black dye. Mixed it up good, then dropped the rubber piece into the dye. Let it sit there for about 30 minutes, essentially letting the water cool with the rubber in it. I let the boiling water cool for about 2 minutes prior to adding in the rubber piece for fear that I was going to melt it and mis-shape it.

But the piece came out PERFECT! Opaque black, and still fits the original dimensions!

I need to buy some mouse skates for the oval patches that I took off the bottom, but otherwise it is done!

Tech-Daddy
05-02-2006, 12:42 AM
Just a quick update, I took the Saitek keyboard down to Austin for the AustinModder meeting this last weekend!

I got PoMan, the rework master over there, to generously donate his skills to replacing the surface mount LED's in the keyboard. No blue for BOSS... the keys all illuminate white now! Looks super cool!

But before I go and put up pics, I took the board apart one more time, and I am now painting the external frame OSHA orange (same color as BOSS). I'll be leaving hte keys the silver that they are.

After I get the paint completed, I'm going to work on getting the BOSS logo on the keyboard, possibly some striping.... dunno yet. Still experimenting with the layout.

;)

Tech-Daddy
05-03-2006, 01:22 PM
Updates on the keyboard as of last night:

Patient is on the table:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1.jpg

Intestines removed. These are the light bars on the Saitek that have the surface mount LED's on them. This is the part that PoMan rocked like a concert! ;)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1a.jpg

Putting the boards back in place (notice around the edge
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1b.jpg

At home on my workbench:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1c.jpg

14 TINY little screws holding the keyboard onto the front plastics:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1d.jpg[/img]

*BAM!* magically they are apart and I have lightly sanded the plastic to give the primer something to grab onto:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1e.jpg

"hellp me... pleeeeease!" ;)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1f.jpg

White primer, to help brighten the orange when applied:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1g.jpg

First coat of orange:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1h.jpg

"BAAAANNZAIIIIIIII!!!!!" Frikken bug... Why the **** can't they get the hint that wet paint is NOT for resting on??!?!?! Look right next to the flash in the middle, and up to the right a bit... see that little booger with wings... lil punk....
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1i.jpg

*lightly* sanded the bug out and then reshot another orange on the top to even out the paint.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1j.jpg

1st clearcoat:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1k.jpg

2nd clearcoat:
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard1l.jpg

More later!

Tech-Daddy
05-04-2006, 01:13 AM
Ranken... yes it was!

UPDATE TIME!!!
getting closer!!!

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard2a.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/keyboard2b.jpg

I will have the graphics to figure out... but Mmmmm....MMMM!!!!

I like the look of that! ;)

Tech-Daddy
05-06-2006, 03:19 PM
Great idea! Was planning on that!

Well, I botched my CD ROM front panel trying to make it "thinner":

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/bay_mistake.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/bay_mistake2.jpg

It got sucked into the lower belt cover and smacked around and sanded where it should have been.... ;)

... well, I fixed it last night!

I found my spare 5.25 panel, lopped the legs off of it, plopped it on my belt sander (after adjusting the work stop to be lower so that the front plate would not slip under the stop) , and made it nice and thin!

Then I used some adhesion promoter and colored the front panel to the same color depth as the others!

I now have the front panel attached to the computer, and it was the right thickness, as I hot glued a little piece of acrylic on the inside of the bay cover so that it is positioned right over the eject button. Now, because I sanded down the bay cover, there is a little play in the front, and by pushing the lower right corner of the panel, it depresses the eject button.

Works like a champ now! It does not look ant different than the last panel, only that it now functions to allow for the eject button to be hit!

YAY!!!

The family is about done! I just need to get some decal paper for the BOSS logos on the keyboard, but I may be able to take a family picture of everything by this evening!
;)

Tech-Daddy
05-09-2006, 09:35 AM
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/boss_family1.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/boss_family2.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/boss/boss_family3.jpg


Link To Original Thread (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1769)