Page 1 of 5 12345 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 47

Thread: Black Widow Mod

  1. #1
    Fresh Paint
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    5

    Default Black Widow Mod

    This is my pride and joy: the Black Widow. It started off as some case (can't remember what it was) and went from there. I
    really liked the Black Widow bike made by OCC (Discovery Channel's American Chopper) and I wanted a computer like it. So I made it.

    The webbing is made from anodized aluminum rods all cut and handbent to shape. Alot of hours went into that. Once the pieces
    were all made I put everything together with epoxy. I would have preferred welding it but the 4mm rod is too thin for the
    weld to actually penetrate. And the anodizing doesn't help things either. The webs are mounted to the side panels using three
    motherboard stand-offs to make the webs float from the case 3 / 4 inch.

    The paint was done with a deep red mix from Rona with metallic red Dupli-Color spray paint over it to create the blood red
    I wanted. The pin-stripe across the front was wrapped up the sides and over the side panel to create a single line. I did this
    to create more organic curves on the mod and to act as a counter-balance to the downward lines of the webs.

    The side window was cut in a two step process. After laying out my window size with masking tape I marked the four corners
    of the window and used a 2.5" hole saw to create the nice rounded corners. The idea was to create more counter-balance to the
    webbing. I then proceeded to use the Dremel with the cutting blade in a free hand motion along each side. I used shallow cuts
    to create the edges and to properly line it up with the holes I already cut. (Tip: always mark and cut from the inside of
    the panel. This way if you gouge or score you panel wrong you don't have to try and hide it with paint. Just smooth the
    burrs down afterwards) This window is attached using an invisible mounting method. Alot of modders like to use two-sided
    tape to hold their windows in but thats not hardcore enough for me. I took several nuts and epoxed them around the edge of the
    window on the inside. I marked the spots and carefully drilled into the plexiglass (leave the protective wrapping on the
    glass when doing this or you'll end up with scratches all over it). Once the holes were drilled and everything was finished
    I just slipped the glass over the nuts and the window was attached firmly and invisibly.

    As usual it got my watercut logo on the front.

    This project took me nearly four months to complete including paint.

    This is the only time I've ever used a manufacturer's sticker on a mod and the only reason I did this was to make it
    clear it was a 64-bit processor for a trade show I was going to.

    The system specs are:

    Athlon 64 2800+ (1.8 GHZ) Processor
    MSI VIA K8T800 s754 motherboard
    512 MB PC-3200 DDR400 SDRAM
    250 GB S-ATA Western Digital 7200 RPM HDD
    Radeon 9600XT 128 MB Video w/ TV-Out
    LG GSA-4081B DVD+RW
    Enermax 400W Power Supply
    Windows XP Professional


    The Black Widow in all its glory.


    The opposite side. You can see that both sides have the webbing panels.


    A close-up of the webbing. You can how I trim and smoothed the epoxy to make it (hopefully) blend together like one piece.


    A close-up of the Black Widow trademark: the hourglass. I layed this out with paint mask after creating the shape in
    Corel Draw and using a sign program I have to print it on my plotter. The plotter cuts very thinly into the paint mask
    material to allow you remove the excess while leaving your design to transfer it to your target.


    A full shot of the top panel with my signature watercut logo. This is put on every single computer that gets built in
    my shop.


    Even the keyboard got modded. If you're ever going to mod a keyboard be sure to have either a spare keyboard or
    make sure you know where every key goes before doing this or you "K" key might produce "?" The webbing on the wristrest was
    all painted by hand.


    A close-up of the lettering on the keyboard identifying the mod. These letters were hand painted with a 3mm brush.


    The mouse also got modded. Well, if you're gonna mod the kb you gotta mod the mouse. All of the design work on the mouse
    was handpainted.


    A shot of the rear. You can really see the colour of the chasis and just how dark that red really is. I really like using
    thumbscrews and use them on every single computer (mod or otherwise) that I build.


    Lastly, an interior shot of the case all light up. Thats only one cold cathode illuminating the interior. The original case
    side panel had the line of squared perforations on the side and I wanted to keep that so I made an effort not to cut it off
    or through it when I was making the window.

  2. #2
    Overclocked
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Where ever you wish you could live.
    Posts
    357

    Default Re: Black Widow Mod

    All I can say is "Shazam!"
    - AMD Athlon64 3200+@2.2Ghz | Gigabyte K8NSC-939 nForce3 250Gb | ASUS 6600GT 256MB |1GB Kingston ValueRAM

  3. #3

    Default Re: Black Widow Mod

    Very nice! Excellent theme and execution!
    Good job and every reason in the world to be proud!

  4. #4
    Water Cooled
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Arizona, USA
    Posts
    743

    Default Re: Black Widow Mod

    That is a VERY nice looking rig. I hope I can someday turn something out like that
    Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
    - Unknown

  5. #5
    Overclocked
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    232

    Default Re: Black Widow Mod

    I really like it. You did an awesome job. I like how professional it looks.

  6. #6
    Anodized UK-Blade's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Great ? Britain
    Posts
    96

    Default Re: Black Widow Mod

    Top Banana!!!!

    So nice to see a mod with some really innovative features....

    Keep up the good work.
    Sarcasm - Is only one of the services I offer.

  7. #7
    Fresh Paint
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    5

    Default Re: Black Widow Mod

    I appreciate all the positive comments, everybody.

    I love modding computers and have a couple underway that I hope will also be as cool as this one. This was a lot of work to build but definitely worth it and taught me alot. My modding skills are still pretty amateur but doing something as difficult as this one taught me alot and has spurred me on to not let me inabilities stop me from trying new things.

    Thanx.

  8. #8
    punk as **** public_eyesore's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Pasadena, CA (NOT Canada...or Mexico)
    Posts
    1,237

    Default Re: Black Widow Mod

    Quote Originally Posted by MisterChief
    All I can say is "Shazam!"
    ditto

  9. #9
    Overclocked Xbrid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Gold Coast , Australia
    Posts
    296

    Default Re: Black Widow Mod

    that is one cool case! why no exhaust fans?
    "Hey look, the topic!! It's getting away! Quick catch it! *running* Must *running more* get on *panting* TOP...IC!!!! *collapses* "-Temmink
    Intel Q9450 @ 3.2GHz
    Asus P5E3 Premium WiFi
    OCZ Platinum PC3-12800 1600Mhz XTC 4Gb 7-7-7-24
    2 x Powercolor HD4870 512Mb in Crossfire
    Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme with Noctua 120mm 1300RPM Pressure Optimised Fan
    Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit w/ SP1

  10. #10
    Fresh Paint
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    5

    Default Re: Black Widow Mod

    Why no exhaust fans? Honestly, I forgot.

    I had been working on that mod for over four months in anticipation of a local trade show I was going to and rushing to finish it and three others before the show and it got overlooked.

Similar Threads

  1. Hammer Mod - first real mod
    By SharkMan in forum Your Mods
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 11-05-2006, 11:49 PM
  2. Nox's Mechwarrior Mod Mk1
    By Nox in forum Works in progress
    Replies: 29
    Last Post: 09-03-2006, 07:02 PM
  3. My Mod Idea
    By Tweezy in forum Idea Zone
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 07-26-2006, 04:59 AM
  4. Black case Mod
    By IceBerg_5 in forum Your Mods
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 02-16-2006, 10:33 AM
  5. Stealth Mouse - A 4 hour mod using Plasti-Dip
    By temmink in forum Works in progress
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 07-30-2005, 03:04 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •