Project: Steel Promise

[alphastryk]

I've been lurking around here and on some other modding sites for a while now, but I just didn't have any money to build anything, so I didn't post. I've decided that I may as well get started, then deal with money (don't question my logic...)

anyways, this is a military / heavy industrial styled case. I was looking around for old army radio equipment or something, but it proved to be way out of my budget...then, I found a solution:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/alpastrk/mini-101_0608.jpg

Its some sort of military ammo crate, and it only cost me $13! :D
(thats my current gaming rig behind it btw...)

The dimensions are a bit odd, but I did do a bit of measuring and test-fitting with parts I have laying around:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/alpastrk/mini-101_0610.jpg

unfortunately, it a short case ( it looks taller because I'm measuring with a microATX board, and I plan on using a full ATX system here), so the only way I could find to put the power supply on the back panel without having crazy airflow was to put it behind the mobo :eek: I am wondering about big graphics cards and the card locking screws though...will there be enough room? :think: idk...

anyways...time to measure more stuff..

overhead view - airflow/fans, psu, mobo, cards, hdds (above psu for now)

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/alpastrk/mini-101_0611.jpg

and...the optical drive spacing is just about perfect (especially as the drive I'm measuring with is a fairly deep one. success!

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/alpastrk/mini-101_0612.jpg

hmm...other notes... I don't want to cut into this any more than I have to, and I'm not adding any more access...that'll be some of the challenge just getting everything accessible through the top only.

anyways... I plan to mesh the back bottom bump-out on each side to allow air for the GPU(s?) (probably 8800gts 320 oc from foxconn) and psu. replace the backplate entirely with a custom one, put a 120mm fan hole in the front, cut an opening for at least one optical drive centered (horizontal), and a card reader and fan controller vertically on the edges of the front...

So yeah... I've been thinking about it alot... any suggestions to improve the layout... because the dimensions kinda just suck inside this thing...

anyways, thats the plan. we'll see how it actually turns out.

EDIT: replaced pictures with links to save the formatting...those were even bigger that I thought...stupid good camera xD

[b4i7]

for the love of jesus, please resize your pics, or use thumbnails to the high res pics


btw..welcome to the forums :)

[alphastryk]

lookie what I found:

http://www.action-electronics.com/panelmeters.htm

wouldn't that be a great replacement for the plain old hdd activity LED? and I should be able to have a toggle on-off backlight for it, as I already have an unused dual 4in CCFL kit... hmm... I could use some of these to show the voltage of the PSU 12, 5, and 3.3v lines too...that'd be a cool looking front panel... :think:

[Eclecticos]

So far so good! When you find Good Mod Suppliers add them to this thread HERE (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8546&page=3)

Welcome to TBCS!
I would much rather see the pics than have to click a link.
Here is a Link to a free Batch image resizer (http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0.html?tg=dl-20&qt=image%20resizer&tag=srch)

[jdbnsn]

I resized you images for you. We definately prefer images to links here and the best size varies based on how much detail need to be seen in one shot. These are a good rule of thumb but it's mainly up to what you like, those batch re-sizers are a life saver.

EDIT: Oh I forgot to mention, it's much better to give your thread a title that reflects what is being shown. You can name your mod or describe it and folks will have a better idea of what's inside, "first mod" doesn't really describe your project. If you come up with a name PM it to me and I'll change your title. Here are some guidelines (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7936) you may find useful.

[SgtM]

Lookin good. Whoever doesn't like an ammo can mod has something wrong with them. I can't read the nomenclature.. is that an old MK-19 ammo can?

[alphastryk]

Thanks for the help with resizing the images guys.

I'm not sure what kind of ammo case it is... I'll check that tonight.

I will update tonight with some more plans and parts.. :)

oh - and I've decided to call this mod 'Steel Promise' (yay military operation name generator (http://www.ubique.ch/codename/)...lol)

ok - I won't be able to update so much tonight... I forgot about the LAN party tonight...lol, I won't be getting much work done. xD

...but I did find a nice power switch...details & pics sometime this weekend...

[alphastryk]

Now that I've mostly recovered from the LAN Party, back to work.

for those of you wondering what kind of ammo can it is:
http://alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0620.JPG
(If you can't read that, it says Small Arms Amm. Box MK1 Mod 0)

anyways, on to work on the actual mod. I mentioned before that I had found a power switch. Its a Marine momentary toggle switch with an LED-lit tip. the LED is white when powered, and turns red when the switch is being pressed. I wired it to some motherboard headers and the +5v line to the LED, and it works great on my test system. anyways, here it is:
http://alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0625.JPG

The ammo box came with a cardboard box inside that has very similar dimensions, so it became the planning box:
http://alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0628.JPG

And here's my planned front panel:
http://alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0621.JPG

the mesh I'm going to use on the sides and front fan hole came from leftovers from a gutter cover of some sort. Here it is in front of the case. I plan to paint it black before I use it though.
http://alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0627.JPG

the last thing I did this weekend was remove the car power outlet from my thermaltake cupholder combo unit. It should fit nicely on the left side of the front panel (its in the plans as that circle with the 4 prongs sticking in)
http://alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0626.JPG

Thats all I've got for now...

[alphastryk]

Ok, got a bit more done. Unfortunately, my dremel has disappeared completely... so unless I find it or can get money for a new one, I'm stuck for a bit on some parts. anyways, I did get some stuff done the last few days.

Firsr I clean off the parts. the top especially is less rusted than it originally looked...stupid red dirt getting in the way.
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0632.JPG

then I went ahead and marked up where I need to cut out for the GPU and PSU vents:
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0633.JPG

http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0634.JPG

I wasn't able to go ahead and cut the holes out due to the missing dremel, but I went ahead and de-riveted and removed the handles and latches from both the front and the back, and boy was that a pain in the ass. it took a good half hour with a screwdriver and 2 hammers to actually get the stuff off. fortunately, I didn't dent the case or anything.

Heres how it looks w/o the handles + latches:
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0631.JPG

http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0629.JPG

As you can see, I also marked out the front fan hole, but the lack of a dremel thwarted me again :mad: :mad:

I'll update again with mose progress, when I have Money and/or a dremel... 8)

[Maz]

Hey i am actually building a rig right now w/ the psu behind the mobo. i got the width down to about 8" including video card, so if your not skiddish around opening up a psu... try your luck.

[alphastryk]

Hey i am actually building a rig right now w/ the psu behind the mobo. i got the width down to about 8" including video card, so if your not skiddish around opening up a psu... try your luck.


that may just be the solution to my dimension problems... I will have to wait until I get a more powerful PSU before I can figure out how much space it'll take...

I think I did figure out how to access the screws for the cards at least - have the mobo/cards on a removable tray, but I still wasn't sure if the PSU would fit....thanks for the idea, I'll mess around with that and see what I can come up with.

[alphastryk]

Ok - I've done a fair amount of work, I've just been too busy to update recently, so here goes.

I got a cheap case at Microcenter to get the motherboard plate and backpanel from:
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0635.JPG

so... what does it look like on the inside?
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0636.JPG

interesting screwless design... I wonder if I can use that or I should just thread the holes and do it old school... ;)
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0637.JPG

Mostly disassembled:
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0638.JPG

I may end up using this front audio, usb, and ieee1393 block, but its gotta change color first...
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0639.JPG

insides sure look promising.
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0640.JPG

anyways, back to the main part of the case:
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0645.JPG

http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0646.JPG

http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0647.JPG

I think I'll reinforce this setup something like this:
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0652.JPG

looks like it will fit fine... dunno about the PSU yet though.
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0649.JPG

BWAHAHA! success!
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0650.JPG

http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0651.JPG

oh - and this mod now has a mascot... ;P
http://www.alphastryk.com/files/casemods/101_0653.JPG

Thats what I've done as of now. I'm starting to think a lot about final color... probably either a dark gray or a matte black...:think:

I'm starting to understand how these projects take a life of their own so easily... xD

now if only I had a my dremel :(

[prosser13]

I say that you should remove the clips and replace them with thumbscrews...

I've got those clips and they really annoy me, especially as they don't clip properly over either my 6600GT or my 7950GT so you have to be careful when plugging anything in...

[alphastryk]

I say that you should remove the clips and replace them with thumbscrews...

I've got those clips and they really annoy me, especially as they don't clip properly over either my 6600GT or my 7950GT so you have to be careful when plugging anything in...

hmm...k

*adds 6-32 tap and tap handle to shopping list*

[alphastryk]

I found the perfect front panel accessories for this case:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3520

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3325

now I just need more $$ again... :(

[alphastryk]

Back to work!

Lookie what I got:
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/4015/1010655rl6.jpg

ok, time to use that pretty new dremel...
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8303/1010656lk3.jpg

8 cutting discs later...
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/1793/1010657vq9.jpg

time to start measuring things again.

looks like my plan of an 80mm fan on eithe side of the motherboard is going to work out well.
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3816/1010658ft4.jpg

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6731/1010659yf5.jpg

uh-oh... the optical drive doesn't fit anymore...
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7265/1010661yk8.jpg

too deep, it would intersect the motherboard.
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3729/1010662fh1.jpg

but, I can solve that problem... slimline drives!
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6402/1010664ca7.jpg

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9527/1010663lf5.jpg

(ok, so that was a floppy in a slimline cartridge. same size, so it works)

I've been thinking about how to make this easy to work with, and I'm thinking that basically everything except the optical drive and the case gadgetry (buttons, lights, front panels, etc) will be on one tray which slides out the back. I can support it with keyboard tray rails or something...:think:
maybe have some sort of panel in the middle where all the plugs connect the tray parts to the rest, to make it easier to disassemble...

anyways, thats what I've done up until now.

[$loth]

That's gonna be a bitch to cut :eek:

Can't wait to see the end result, it's gonna look great :bunny:

[elbarto241]

angle grider to the rescue!

[alphastryk]

That's gonna be a bitch to cut :eek:

yep.. I figure I wont' cut the crate much until i get better dremel blades...those stupid cutting discs die instantly.


angle grinder to the rescue!

If only I had one...

anyways, a bit off topic, but more from my mascot ;)
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/7281/1010654hc4.jpg

[alphastryk]

hey guys - I got started on the back panel today, sorry theres no pictures, I seem to have misplaced my camera's memory card.

came up with some other cool ideas for the case:

- using a broken file cabinet to get rails for the slide-out tray
- dragons (more on this later, need picture to explain properly)

I just need to go get myself a file and some more cutting discs for my dremel...man those thing disappear fast cutting steel, especially that damn ammo can. ah well, I did choose to mod that monstrosity.

[radar]

its looking cool dude. i have a metal bow that i use to store some old coins. and i tried to do something with it but it was to small and crapped inside so.

[radar]

oh and hey do you use uxtheme for your theme on your computer?

[slytherock]

oh and hey do you use uxtheme for your theme on your computer?

Can you please stop that? We're looking at a nice mod idea, not theme...
At least, donT double post

[alphastryk]

hey - I've been doing a lot of work this week, and I found my memory card (under my keyboard... :dead: ). I will post the pictures I had already taken that are on the card and take some more of my work... sorry I don't have any 'in progress' pictures for most of the work, as the SD card was missing... :(

but its going well mostly... cutting the ammo can is hard as hell though, so it takes forever...thats ok, I have all summer to finish this one up...


oh and hey do you use uxtheme for your theme on your computer?

:? :?
ummm... no. my primary desktop has Aston (a shell replacement) and I like winXP tablet '05 on my laptop... :D

[$loth]

I just need to go get myself a file and some more cutting discs for my dremel...man those thing disappear fast cutting steel, especially that damn ammo can. ah well, I did choose to mod that monstrosity.


What technique are you using for cutting through? I found going over a line a couple of times before actually going all the way through it made the discs last longer.

[alphastryk]

What technique are you using for cutting through? I found going over a line a couple of times before actually going all the way through it made the discs last longer.

I've been cutting through at one point and the moving across... I'm thinking that the bits are just not good enough to get through the thick steel...

[alphastryk]

ok...so I lost my SD card again... I swear I'm going insane or something, so I just grabbed another and took some pictures of my progress.

side by side - rear panel (motherboard tray, backplate, card slots, 2 fans, psu mount, etc) next to the ammo can itself - the metal plate came out of one of the side panels from the same case I killed to get the motherboard tray + backplate.

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/8857/1000675ys3.jpg

this is just a preliminary version, and its got a lot of misaligned holes and stuff. also, the material is so thin it seems to warp all over the place, so I'll have to reinforce or replace it with something thicker...

misaligned psu opening + holes:

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9703/1000677dd5.jpg

I will fix that opening and holes, as well as fix the other holes which are off the next time I get a chance to work on the case - probably not until this Sunday.

more misaligned holes:

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/816/1000678ad0.jpg

both rear fans will end up being this red LED model when I'm finished with the mod.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/426/1000679mz1.jpg

planned hard drive placement (I still need to find / construct a 2-3 drive bracket for here.)

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5883/1000680pq4.jpg

remember how I was thinking about file cabinet sliders for the slide out tray setup? I got my hands on some, and it looks like they'll work out great!

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/4143/1000681gh9.jpg

they look good...and they fit inside almost perfectly!

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/875/1000682ly8.jpg

extend very nicely to provide easy access to the system.

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/9147/1000683dl7.jpg

[alphastryk]

I found my SD card from before! (it went through the wash, but it still works just fine...yay flash memory)

so, heres some pictures from before I cut the backplate and stuff...


yeah, I know, posting them out of order... I figured no-one would look at if I posted them in an edit farther up...

marking out the panel:

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/2333/1010671vl9.jpg

checking the dimensions:

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1999/1010672rb9.jpg

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/7241/1010673wp8.jpg

[alphastryk]

unless I can fix and/or replace my dremel... this mod is on indefinite hold...

:(

[BigJohnson]

Hey, pretty new here. But your mod caught my eye. I have a case just like this, so I will be looking forward to see what you will do.
+rep

[alphastryk]

Hey, pretty new here. But your mod caught my eye. I have a case just like this, so I will be looking forward to see what you will do.
+rep

thanks, and thanks for the rep!

I'll try to get this one back on track again soon once i repair / replace my dremel... :|

[elbarto241]

how did you break your demel?, looking through these forums i hear "i cant contiune until i fix my dremel" alot. ive had mines for 6months now and its still working...

[alphastryk]

how did you break your demel?, looking through these forums i hear "i cant contiune until i fix my dremel" alot. ive had mines for 6months now and its still working...

well... Dremels aren't really designed to cut large lengths of relatively thick steel sheet... like what ammo cans are made of, but I don't have any better tools. I'll just leave it at that... see this thread (http://thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9225) for details.

[elbarto241]

posted, good luck on your dremel rebuild :D

[alphastryk]

due to the fact that I have basically run out of time to work on it, and because I can't afford to break a dremel a week (LOL), this mod unfortunately has to be canceled.

:(

[elbarto241]

sorry to hear that. hopefully in the future you will find more time to continue modding.

[calumc]

if you are ever going to do anything on it again i'd recommend getting a 4'' angle grinder for cutting that steel. most diy shops have them dirt cheap