Hey all...its been a year or so since I have been actively modding but I saw an opprotunity and decided to take it.
As some of you know, I am not really new to the modding scene as I have a few builds (Big Blue, Christine, Ultimedia, and Tanya) under my belt, however I am about to begin a new mod and I would like some input from other modders.
A little background first: I am working for a company that sells, leases, and repairs copiers and office printers. Occasionally, they toss out copiers that reach the end of their life cycle or become too expensive to continue repairing.
In any case, I have an opprotunity to take home (for free) two Canon ImageRunner 400s copiers with the Document Feeder and Cabinet on both machines. (Link to see what copier looks like that I am talking about).
Now, my thought is gutting the copiers' internals completely, leaving just the outer shell. I was thinking of modding the document feeder, (gutting and modding it) into just a cover, or maybe I could mount an LCD monitor on the inside of the lid?
I was also thinking of leaving the glass intact...letting it act as a window instead of having to mod out the side of the case or find some new material, such as acrylic.
Internally, my thought was having 2-3 spare P4 single-core motherboards either arranged in a vertical, 'sliced bread', arrangement, or having two motherboards mounted on mirrors or reflective acrylic and set in a "V" like formation inside the case. Standard cathodes or LED strips will light the internals.
(I was thinking if I go multi-motherboards I may want to do a linux-based cluster...so any help on that is appreciated highly.)
What I am really looking for is some advice on the exterior. Mainly what I need is help on a theme...and remember, I have TWO of these copiers.
First I was thinking of doing a retro-60 to 80's mainframe or super computer theme. Make it look like big beefy machine right out of an ancient server room. Think Honeywell-Bull DPS 7, IBM 700/7000 series, IBM System/360, or if I go with a super computer theme...something like Cray (which I could do if I modded the outside)
I was also thinking of doing a futuristic case...like something that could be cast as a Star Trek TNG or Voyager type prop. Very smooth lines and hidden accent lighting.
A HAL themed case has always perked my interest as well but I'm not sure how to go about making that signature red eye plate, or how the rest of the case should look and feel.
Another idea passed along by a friend was to do a Military theme PC....something that looks like it could be a forward fire-base computer main-frame. The idea didn't really appeal to me at first but now I am beginning to take to it.
Another friend suggested that I do a Jukebox mod, and while I like the idea and have kicked it around for a few years, I'm not sure how to go about finishing it off if I started it....(software? touch screen? speaker placement?)
Now, again I have two of these copiers so I could do more than one theme, listed here or something I may have not thought of..... Anyway, thoughts?