Storm'd!

[Defyant]

The Storm rings are added!

(ive decided NOT to flame polish these!) as having them FULLY polished will not give the lighting effect im after!

the top Frames are added as well.

I think you guys will agree it has a very crisp classy clean look about the front of thr case now, and im happy thats its all still pretty much an original idea.





and of course! how could i end a post without some mandatory lighting effects


i personally love it!

i think that the opportunity here for me to have a ball with diff lights really presents it self!

the larg outer frame can easily be one colour with the Storm rings another! but i'll prolly stick with a blue or a purple to keep in with the STORM'D theme.

[Defyant]

after the last post and the "mock up" shots! i was really keen to get the front end fitted!


First call of the day was to pick a couple of sets of fans! i'm still not sure what the exact fans that i will run.


for now i'll use the aerocool silver blade 2's

another trip to the local fastner shop forsome more HEX heads

A qik test with the new fans

time to screw on the front storm rings!

the bolts that hold the rings on also hold the front fans in place.

fans in place its time to part assemble the the plex case.

[Defyant]

the front of the case has been drilled to match the pattern of bolts from the front frame.


The bolts will not go all the way thru, but stop short but still enuf to secure the frame to the case.

the frame can now be bolted to the front of the case.

The innner area has been cut away to allow the top fan to fit

With the new front "Bolted" into place.

[Defyant]

next was to move onto the upper smaller frames.


One will surround the Matrix Orbital 2 x 24 lcd display the other will be the new door panel for the crom.

these are both drilled and counter sunk then extra holes are drilled into the front panel and the top frame is attached.

the cdrom rom is installed for a test run as is the matrix lcd

[Defyant]

Needing an excuse to use my sexy new router bench! i was off to the plex shop today for what will be the second last time in this project.

Picking up some "cut to size" panels for what will become STORM'D new overlay side panels..

The Original idea was to leave the case clear! but this case is being "STORM'D" so it needed to be Darkend all round.

Using overlay panels keep in with the over all plex theme.


5 new smoked panels and 2 new front clear panels.

Starting with the top.

These panels are cut to the .5mm and are a perfrct fit!

The new side overlay panels fit snug as well.

The orignal side clear plex panel has 2 holes already cut for 2 x 80mm fans! thinking that not a bad idea! i decided rather then cover them up!

i'll add some storm rings as well and make a full feature.......this won't the the cases main side feature! bigger and more special things for that.


Over to the drill press some new rings are cut..... this time rather than make thick clear rings like the front..i decided to go for a more subdue'd sleek look...something that won't stick out like a sore thumb!

the rings are made from the same smoked plex as the overlay panels and arefrom 4.5mm thick plex.

[Defyant]

The new smoked overlay panel is cut to match up with the original side panel.

For now i'll use these fans! but a chrome fans will be brought later to match.

The whole assembly-- rings---overlay panel----original panel ----fans

can now be bolted together for a test run!!

[Defyant]

really wanted to get the side "storm vents" perfect! altho they come off looking ok! they still needed a lot more work!



I decided that the HEX head bolts i was going to use....didnt suit the side vents as much....a trip back down to the local fastners shop and i came home with these sexy little thangs!


these are just perfect! i much prefer the way they will sit flush with the ring .

Back of with with side rings and it was time to give em a "flamin"
doing the inner small holes and the inner ring itself but leaving the outer angled edge still with a machined look.

With that done!


i relised that there was no way to slide the side panel off with the fans still attached to the inside of the case!!!

a qik fix was to make the whole overlay panel and fans/storm rings as one unit! then bolt that unit onto the orig side panel.


a large clean sqr opening is cut and flamed smooth.

Fans panel and ring assemble are bolted together then layed onto the orig panel and bolted on

Somthing still wasnt right!......they just didnt look "finsihed" a qik think about it...

[Defyant]

they need mesh!




the solution was some old 8" car speakers i had under the bench!

a small frame jig is made from some scrap plex..this will be used to "press" the shape into the new grills.

a ruff cut is done, with plenty of excess

this is soo much fun!

after a qick trim!

big smile for D

and with the freshly flamed rings and new bolts! bigger smiles for D.

onto the second one!!!

slide it in!

[Defyant]

i know its a lotta hoopla over somthing small but its getting the small things just right that really give me a buzz!

[Defyant]

The original Front cdrom and top panels wernt 100% square...i free hand cut them and then dremal cut the insided out and filed as streight as i could get them.....



Still looked a bit "dodgy",,, so i had 2 new panels precut and gave them the once over on the router bench! hehehe love saying that now!!!! "the router bench" !

in action!!!!

One is a "dummy panel" and is goin to also act as the front mount for the Matrix Orbital lcd display.


The second is for the cdrom.

Just a standard matrix... but being oem no mounts!

nothing flash but heres what i came up with.