Faaip De Oiad

[jdbnsn]

*Disclaimer: This worklog contains religious folklore and un-proven testimony. I am not stating these ideas as fact nor am I claiming them to be my own beliefs. An exchange of ideas is always welcome, but religious arguments/attacks will not be tolerated. This is FICTION as far as this worklog is concerned. Debates are for another place, another time.


Hello everyone, and welcome to my pseudo-project “Faaip De Oiad”. This will not be an extensive project because I have extremely limited access to tools and spare time. What this will be is a decorative project commemorating my respect for the musicians of Tool, my absolute favorite musical artists. I will be adding to the concept as the project continues as time and creativity permits.
Some background: “Faaip De Oiad” is the title of an enigmatical track on Tool’s 2001 album “Lateralus” in which a voice can be heard over a telephone call in 1997 aired on the radio program “Coast To Coast AM” by Art Bell. In the recording, the voice over the phone eludes to being a former employee at the secretive army base Area 51 and details a scenario of dismal and threatening extra-dimensional beings infiltrating the world’s most populous centers and military forces in order to subdue the human species with minimal resistance. The phrase “Faaip De Oiad” translates literally to “Voice of God” in the Enochian language. Enoch was the great Grandfather of Noah in the Old Testament and according to Ancient Jewish Mysticism lived to the ripe old age of 365 years. Enoch was the last human being to use the language himself which was the same language uttered by God while creating the Heavens and Earth and used by Adam while naming all things in the Garden of Eden. Adam lost his memory of the language after his fall from paradise and the language died at the Tower of Babel when God scrambled laborer’s speech to thwart their arrogant plans to climb to Heaven. This is one theory of how the world’s diverse languages arose.
Enochian is rumored to be the universal language spoken by angels throughout the history of existence and is otherwise referred to as “The Celestial or Angelic Language”. The language would have been lost forever if not for the “Five Books of Mystery” which were journals written in the 16th century by Dr. John Dee with the help of seer and alchemist Edward Kelley. Dee quit his profession in medicine to document the claims of Kelley who spent years gazing into a crystal ball and reporting conversations with angels who taught him to speak Enochian. It is believed that Kelley was executed and maybe even tortured to death when his sponsor became frustrated at his lack of evidence and progress.
During the 16th century, alchemy (an ancient form of a pseudo-scientific investigation of the behavior of nature that combined spirituality and philosophical principles) had reached a pinnacle of popularity especially among European elites who desired a method of producing gold through chemical reactions. Many Alchemists found very comfortable lifestyles living in the homes of prominent citizens while conducting their “experiments”. Alchemy eventually led to the formation of chemistry, a genuine scientific principle.
So, why “Faaip De Oiad” of all things to commemorate Tool? I am not a rigidly religious person and have a scattered belief system at best. However, the music of Tool has inspired curiosity and exploration of deeply philosophical ideas regarding the human condition. More than anything else, they have inspired me to always question dogmatic principles and motivations of belief structures. So in a strange way, their art acted as the “Voice of God” to me in the way I was prompted to evolve my understanding of life, love, and meaning. That, and they F-ing rock!


Okay. At this point I have rough design ideas of incorporating some of Tool’s imagery into structures and possibly painting on my Lian-Li PC-60 (I think). I will be attempting to add my recently acquired watercooling equipment if space permits. There will be some mild lighting added, and for the first time ever in my life, a dedicated effort to manage my damned cables! I don’t have access to an airbrush so I will be limited to hand painting (We’ll see how well this works out). If this project flounders I’ll probably just delete the thread, but I have to give it a shot.

Here are just a few concept images that I may incorporate into the case:


My lovely case:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/PC-60.jpg

Maynard James Keenan:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/maynard.jpg
Ribcage Sculpture by Adam Jones:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/ribcage.jpg
10,000 Days, their latest album:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/tool_10000.jpg
Eye Thingy:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/xmdays_shirtback.jpg
MJK Rockin out:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/-maynard.jpg

I'll post more on the ideas soon. I will being doing most all of the fabricating work next week when I return to Kansas to visit my folks, so I have one week to build whatever needs build :?

[jdbnsn]

Here are some works by one of my favorite graphic artists, Cam De Leon who has one of the coolest websites ever, www.happypencil.com

His work has been used on many Tool album covers...
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/aenima.jpg
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/eye.jpg
I am undecided as to which one of these fonts I want to use on the case, but one of them will be placed somewhere...
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/Tool_Small.jpg
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/toolband.jpg
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/toolthem.jpg

[tybrenis]

WOW Jon! Thats looking awesome, I can't wait for this. I am also a big tool fan so I'll be excited to see what you come up with.

[jdbnsn]

Thanks Ty. I want to sculpt both the large eye, and the ribcage. The eye will likely be mounted on the front of the case and the ribcage will wrap around the sides of the radiator. I am not certain at this point what to use for the sculptures, maybe Plastiroc or Bondo. Any suggestions?

[tybrenis]

Hey Jon,

I know how much modders love their bondo but from first hand experience sculpting it I would not recommend it as it is tricky to get everything perfect. Honestly, a more traditional clay or perhaps even Sculpey would work well here, because you can take your time and work with it in a soft, easily manipulated form.

[jdbnsn]

I see your point, do you think Sculpey or Plastiroc would be better?

[tybrenis]

I've never worked with Plastiroc before, but from what I gather its more of a molding material than a sculpting material. However... if you like the texture or workability or whatever of plastirock, you could always make a positive out of sculpey, cast it into plaster, and then cast it back into plastiroc.

[jdbnsn]

Thanks! That's a pretty good idea.

[jdbnsn]

I think I am going to "skin" the case with cut sections of plastic in a pattern somewhat similar to Mashie's Tranquility (as well as Crimson's Doom3).

http://www.mashie.org/casemods/pics/tranquillity_023.jpg

I have been looking at plastics in the modders supplier thread and think I have found a good product but I'm going to ask for small samples if they are willing to test it out. Since I have no precision tools like table saws and such, the material needs to be cut fairly easily and pliable under heat. I'll make some sort of overlapping mosaic pattern on the sides and add some subtle LED's for accents. I'm thinking about mounting clear sheets of plexi beneath the pattern so that I can back light and cause a colored outline to each piece but that's still undecided.

I need some advice though. I plan to use Plastiroc or Sculpey to create Cam's Eye on the front-base of the case. But the Ribcage will be mounted on the back around the radiator. I don't know if plastiroc or sculpey would be strong enough that the ribs would'nt snap off with a slight bump. I had considered stacking layers of plexi and heat-bending them to form the general shape, then filing and sanding to the final shape. Don't know how hard this would be or if I could achieve it in a short time-span. Any thoughts?

[b4i7]

ive thought about doin a tool case myself.... using the cover of schism ..i think that was the album...as the base for my design

i was thinking about usin a lot of UV and such...

cant wait to see what you do with this!...ill be watching

[jdbnsn]

Schism is a song on the album Lateralus. The album art for that disc is waaay to complex for me to mess with. Lots of overlapping transparent anatomy pics. I don't think I could pull that off.

[b4i7]

thats right:dead: my bad

that is the album cover i was thinkin of....would be a badass etch no?

i think i may have just thought of a new use for me cnc machine :twisted:

[scar~face]

im likin where this is going

+rep just cuz i FRIGGIN LOVE TOOL

[Olen]

To make the eye I would rough it in someting hard and durable and then finish with a skin of something else which is easy to work. The uder part could be anything but possible things I might use would be: breezeblock (bricks made from pumice, they're ultra light and you can carve them with a table knife and would leave a good surface to top coat), bondo - go for it, if you decide its too rough top coat it though if you build up in stages it will need loads but you should get a fine finish, balsa/ styrofoam - light easy to carve finish with something smooth.

Your plexi idea would work but it seems over complex - if you go down that road why not glue together sheets of plywood, its easier for the finishing material to bond to and its considerably cheaper.

I'll be interested to see how this turns out.

[tybrenis]

The plastic your looking for is polystyrene, but you probably all ready knew that. Most likely you'll want around .040 to .060 thicknesses of it - easily cut and manipulated, but sturdy enough to be heat formed and keep rigidity.

[jdbnsn]

The plastic your looking for is polystyrene, but you probably all ready knew that. Most likely you'll want around .040 to .060 thicknesses of it - easily cut and manipulated, but sturdy enough to be heat formed and keep rigidity.

Thanks for the tip! And no I wasn't certain which type was best.


As for the plywood idea, I need to bend the "ribs" around in a 3D shape. Too difficult with plywood. I think I will try sculpting it.

[jdbnsn]

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/variant.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=68&product%5Fid=30825&variant%5Fid=43412

This is what I have found so far with polycarbonate, it seems to be carried in clear only. Lexan is a version of polycarbonate isn't it? It seems more expensive. What would be ideal is grey sheets about 1/4' thick, I think it's going to be pricey.

[tybrenis]

You don't want polycarbonate - you'll need a table saw to cut it, and its a PITA to shape sometimes. You want polystyrene.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=76&product%5Fid=3008

[jdbnsn]

DOH! You'd think after 8 years of college and 3 years of med school I would have gotten this whole reading/writing thing down. Thanks again Ty, don't know what I'd do without ya!

[Drum Thumper]

FWIW, Mashie used balsa wood for the raised areas on Tranquility. But I'm not seeing why polystyrene wouldn't be a good substitute.

+Rep man, music themed mods are some of the best imo.

[jdbnsn]

What I am doing for the siding won't really look anything like mashie's. I am still playing around with the design and straying further and further from the original idea. Tool's message has always been the same, "Don't be a sheep, be creative instead". In that spirit I have chucked nearly all of the original ideas of using their art as a base. I have some decent ideas, they just need to be refined so that they will play well together. Balsa won't work for what I'm doing because I need to shape the pieces somewhat, it's also extremely delicate and I am clumsy.

[.Maleficus.]

This... will... be... awesome. Tool is awesome, and Lateralus is one of the best CDs ever.

Schism FTW.

[jdbnsn]

This... will... be... awesome.

Lol, don't expect Tool quality creativity here. Those guys are from another dimension or something. And, Flood FTW!

[jdbnsn]

I am still playing around with ideas, but I want lots of clean metal-looking curves against a grimy, corroded (not rusty) metal background. More work to do but here is a weak sketch.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/tool.jpg

[Drum Thumper]

Rust paint in your future?

Also, the TooL logo, in my opinion, should be a stealth cover for an optical. Not sure how many you're going to have in this machine though.

As soon as I can, expect some more rep.

[Olen]

Corroded not rusty? Like just surface rust or are you going to chemically treat it to discolour the metal?

Nice design though, I assume the blue bits will light.

I'm subscribing to this one.

[jdbnsn]

the TooL logo, in my opinion, should be a stealth cover for an optical.

The Tool logo is the optical drive, for the sketch I didn't really draw in the computer components so it's not obvious. The corroded metal look is hard to describe. I can't draw it or describe it well but if I find a picture I'll post it.

[Drum Thumper]

You mean something like this?

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d146/drumthumper5150/blackmesa159.jpg

That the Blackmesa HL 2 case mod by piloux. That case, along with Paul's Doom3 mod and a few other outstanding examples were my catalyst to try my hand at casemodding.

If memory serves, piloux used some kind of paint that you brush on, not the rattlecan variety.

A quick search of Bit-tech will bring up his case.

[jdbnsn]

That is very close, I am going for the blotchy look and I'll likely lay down a mix of dark earth tones from spray and blotch some lighter patches with a sponge. That texture looks kind of what I want, but the color is much lighter than I want.

[tybrenis]

That is very close, I am going for the blotchy look and I'll likely lay down a mix of dark earth tones from spray and blotch some lighter patches with a sponge. That texture looks kind of what I want, but the color is much lighter than I want.

Speaking of spray... your plastics fun pack comes with a Paasche VLS dual action airbrush. However, after sending it I realized that I don't think I gave you a color cup.. sorry! I'm sure its a $5 craft store item, though.

[jdbnsn]

your plastics fun pack comes with a Paasche VLS dual action airbrush

WWHHHAAATTTT???? My own airbrush???? Dude you are too freakin cool, thanks man!!!

[Drum Thumper]

Continuing with the TooL theme...this:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d146/drumthumper5150/180px-Tool-logo-early.jpg

would make an interesting On/Off and Reset switch bezel.

Just a thought.

[jdbnsn]

I was thinking the exact same thing this morning, even thought about asking bi47 to mill one. I decided against it because I don't think it will fit with the rest of the look. Haven't ruled it out completely yet though.

[Drum Thumper]

Will the case be whole, or will it have areas where the corrosion has 'eaten' through it?

I'm pretty sure this could be easily obtained by using an oxy/acetylene torch with a cutting tip.

[Olen]

Or with a saw...

Not sure holes would look right with the clean outer metal though. Maybe a fan hole?

Are you planning on pianted 'corrosion' or are you going to try rusting some steel selectivly? If you sponge on concentrated salt solution (or dilute acid) repeatedly after removing all oil it can rust very fast then wash it and clear coat to halt it. Or paint it then sand where you want rust, throw some salt water on and leave it outside for a week. It would be a more random natural process if you like that sort of thing.

Heating can also have interesting effects on the colour of the actual metal.

This was heated up while arc welding and then kept inside so it wouldn't rust, you can see its discoloured.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/532/1000107wq7.jpg

[jdbnsn]

No, no holes or rust. I haven't settled 100% on the texture I want yet, but I am fairly sure that this is what I'm going for...

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/texture5.jpg

[Olen]

What is it?

[jdbnsn]

Well, it could either be very grimy metal, or old smooth stone. Not sure i guess, but it looks the part.

[Jim Beam]

You know for your ribs you could use a small piece of steel rod like pencil iron bent in the general shape. If you wanted something real ridgid you could use thin strips of wood bent around a mold glued together one strip at a time. After the glue dries it will hold that shape and the you can whitle it and carve it.

[jdbnsn]

That's a good idea, but I think I'm scrapping the ribs for now. I may add them later, we'll see.

[b4i7]

that tool symbol would make for a kickin power switch setup

i can talk to ya on aim about different possibilities for it some time

[jdbnsn]

Well, financial problems may hold up the project for a while. I may be forced to move to a less expensive region of the states (backwoods of Kentucky here I come). However I did get a chance to throw together a mounting plate for the waterpump and cut out the logo for the optical drive.

Here is the sliding HDD rack for the Lian Li.
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/PICT0329.JPG

I hacked the top off...
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/PICT0330.JPG

Cut, drilled, and counter-sunk some of the fine plexi Tybrenis sent me...
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/PICT0331.JPG

Assembled...
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/PICT0336.JPG

Here is the pump I bought from Crimson, incidentally it is the same model that he used for the Matrix mod...
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/PICT0337.JPG

Here is the rough cut letters for the logo made from UV reactive blue plexi...
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/PICT0338.JPG

And the awesome airbrush given to me by my good friend Tybrenis!
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/jdbnsn/Faaip%20De%20Oiad/PICT0339.JPG
Thanks TY!

[.Maleficus.]

Looks great man! I have that airbrush too and it works awesome, I can't wait to see what you do with it!

[SgtM]

Lookin good man! +rep

[tybrenis]

How's this going so far, Jon? I missed the last update, I must've been on vacation. It's looking great from all that I've seen!

[jdbnsn]

I've decided to hold off because I may be moving to the midwest. If I do I'll have access to tools and a shop which I don't have here. I can do much better work there than here.

[OvRiDe]

Moving to the Mid-West.. where abouts would that be??

[jdbnsn]

Probably Kansas City, MO

[xRyokenx]

You could always move to Eastern NC, lol... stuff is kinda cheap here, definitely compared to up north. Just a suggestion.

[Killdrath]

Hey, what is your opinion of that case? I'm planning my next system and that case was one of the three finalists. I'm glad to see you putting water inside it, cuz I wanted to as well but wasnt sure how easy it would be to cram it inside that case, with it's cramped-looking layout.

[p0Pe]

Hey, what is your opinion of that case? I'm planning my next system and that case was one of the three finalists. I'm glad to see you putting water inside it, cuz I wanted to as well but wasnt sure how easy it would be to cram it inside that case, with it's cramped-looking layout.


that case is nice, but personally i like the lian li better
if you are looking for plenty of space, and a nice looking case, the lian li is the thing:P it shouldnt be to hard to fit alot of stuff inthere... triballoverkill has put 2 pumps and a load of other **** into such a case:D... check it under featured:)

[Killdrath]

The PC-60A Plus II is a new-ish (I think) design from Lian-Li. I was thinking about trying it, but I'm probably going to go for the V1000 Plus II. I really wanted to use the PC-A05, but I'm pretty sure I'll need more than 2x5" bays.

Either way, I'll end the threadjack. I look forward to seeing this project develop. I'll take this discussion of the various cases to my thread in the idea zone.

[jdbnsn]

Hey, what is your opinion of that case? I'm planning my next system and that case was one of the three finalists. I'm glad to see you putting water inside it, cuz I wanted to as well but wasnt sure how easy it would be to cram it inside that case, with it's cramped-looking layout.


It's a fantastic case, the best I've ever had. I won't lie though, getting the watercooling in is a bit of a squeeze. Very do-able though.

[tybrenis]

Moving home, Jon? Perhaps that will be nice for you - I feel for ya in Norristown...

[jdbnsn]

Maybe after I finish OB/GYN or internal med. It would be nice to be closer to family and probably will save some money. Not to mention I will have tools available...

[Drum Thumper]

Bumped for two reasons: It needed to be dugg, and because I really want to see this beast finished. Way too cool of a concept to let it die.

[SgtM]

I dugg it