My first Mod... Starcraft 2

Well a quick update. My budget just hit the skids. I need some major work done to my truck so this project is going to be on hold for a bit. Hopefully not too long, so keep your eyes peeled

Wow. this is looking great so far, and thats only styrofoam, so, I can't wait to see the real thing o_O

Well since my budget just took a huge and grinding halt thanks to my truck I decided to take another approach at this mod. I am going to work on the periphrials, which I can do without spending money, and tackle the case at a later point. Don't worry though, once my budget gets loosend up a bit we will start back in on the case ASAP.

So what I am going to start on now is the keyboard. For the keyboard I am using an old dell. The nice thing about this keyboard is that it has 3 buttons at the top that I am going to change around. Typically they are for email, internet and search tools. Instead I am going to install a remote power button and some LED controls to light the key board.

What I would like to do is install some LEDs under the keyboard and light the individual keys. What I am also going to do is make it so that these LEDs can be turned on or off seperate of the PC and I want to add some flair for when gaming.

The way I want to add some flair is by making the lighting situation change dependent on whether I am playing a game (in this case Starcraft) or just using the PC. So I am going to install a switch that will change the standard keyboard color( not sure yet, but probably blue) to reds, yellows and whites to highlight game specific keys. Here is a pic of the keyboard that I will use and some simple notes on it.

more to come later...

Here is a question for everybody on how I should design the keyboard. I was thinking of doing it one of two ways.

First I was going to simply paint it with the same color scheme as the sace. Most likely a red and black keyboard. Red would surround the keys and black would act as a boarder around the keyboard.

The second way I just thought of was trying to make it look more likey a keyboard at a consule that would be foudn inside the barracks or other terrain war ships. I would try to mimick the attached image.

I would go with a dark gray base color and then make the keys glow orange. Replace the push button power with a military switch and change my push buttons for the LEDs to toggle switches.

Let me know what you think.

the second way look better IMHO

Quick update:

I have started some work on the keyboard. I have drilled 30 holes into the base of the keyboard for 30 high output LEDs. I want the keys to be lit up nicely so I am trying to get as much light into the keyboard as possible. I also did a basic coat of chrome paint on both interior sides of the keyboard to help reflect the light around the inside of the keyboard.

So here is a little picture of the base painted (interior) and all the holes. I am starting to place the LEDs, but need to get some more ordered along with additional resistors. Once that is done I will begin placing the switches, The power toggle, light on/off toggle and the light switching that I plan on doing for multiple colors on the keyboard

Sweet man. Good luck with this project. I'm definately watching this.
IMO, I like the first keyboard design. Make it match the barracks. It'll look better in my opinion. Unless the case opens in some large way and the inside matches the second paint scheme.
+Rep man.

Well here is what it looks like for the first 8 LEDs, 22 more to go. Sorry for the blurry picture, but my camera sucks without the flash and the flash just happens to wash out the lights.

Of course I still need to figure out how to make the keys translucent.

dude thats sick

looks nice, have you sanded the leds?... otherwise i think that would be a god idea, since its very sharp in certain places