Lets see some progress pics
I would really like my Thermaltake prizes...Thanks everyone for my wonderful prizes!
K, so here are the progress pics I promised.
This is from one of the three cameras I have pictures on, so unfortunately this is just pictures from today. I'll post the lead up pictures when I get those cameras back so I can complete a real work log.
This is after 3 or 4 layers of red paint. I ended up using Automotive primer and paint from Advance Auto Parts since it was convenient, and we're pretty sure the case is steel. This is, of course, the heart side of the case.
And the other side that came with the case originally.
I'm going to throw another layer on tomorrow. As you can see the primer is still kinda visible.
Inside, in the light. This is your first real view of my handywork, but I have more in depth pics showing the flaws of my cutting on another camera. The rectangle sides are pretty straight, and remember that I did all this using a 1.5" cutting disc and a tungsten carbide lateral cutting bit. Given that, I'm kinda content with the final product, but of course I always want to do better.
All the components are in the computer now, and I decided against sleeving the wires because I couldn't figure out how to get the molex and some of the SATA connectors off.
The other side came out the best out of the two.
Unless Girlfriend says otherwise, I will definitely redo this plastic part.
And this is why. I am either really awesome at painting cause I can do the 'old paint' look really well, or I'm really novice cause I did the 'old paint' look on the first try...
Red Plexiglass is RED! I figured it'd be a little lighter, but oh well, Girlfriend likes it.
When I held this up in front of the fire in our fireplace it made the flames look like hell fire, it was sick.
Mockup without glass. Notice how the red side isn't flush with the top of the red front. I plan on painting just that little strip of the top to make it all flush. Girlfriend wants me to keep the rest of the top and front black, and keep the silver parts silver. That may add on to the case later if we decide to change it later, but maybe not. I have only one DVD drive for this comp, so I will be filling the rest of the bay slots for both the 3.5" and the floppys with red plexiglass, and eventually etch some sort of design in it. Probably whatever you guys photoshop up as the header graphic.
Found this Parr bonding glue for aluminum to adhere the glass to the case side.
I tested the side a little too early and the glass slipped off and smeared a bit of glue. I plan on rubbing that off tomorrow.
As I said, tomorrow I plan on repainting the heart side and probably repainting the plastic front as well. I'll put the glass on the heart side and attempt to paint the top of the case as well. I'm also gonna put that OC cooling kit I mentioned way earlier on and see if its worth it. I'll also cut the glass for the front and mock it up for y'all, and then I'll take suggestions on what to put on the glass. Any other suggestions and design tips are also welcome. That's it for now, thanks!
I would really like my Thermaltake prizes...Thanks everyone for my wonderful prizes!
Lookin' good, man. I "managed" to get the old-paint look my first go as well, though I was covering a small area of one color up with another, and that caused it... but honestly, it looked pretty neat. Doesn't work with your mod, though, unfortunately.
The heart-window looks quite nice, considering. Actually, the only thing that's bothering me about this case (aside from the line that doesn't line up that you're already planning to fix) is that she doesn't want you to paint the silver area around the power button. That'd drive me nuts, personally, but it might just be me.
+rep, anyway.
Nice work so far. I like it.
I would go and repaint the front panel. The girlfriend, if she's anything like mine will tell you its fine no matter how it looks. I had the exact same issue, and to this day I never really figured out what caused it and couldn't repeat it. But I will say that when it happened to me, it was the final blow to the original Project: Nightrain, as I spent hours on the front panel only for the clear to crackle.
Here's a pic of what happened to me, only one I could find hosted offhand. Nightrain paint crackle. So ya, I would do it again, or if you're like me, you will continue to be disappointed by it.
Nice work on the painting. Did you prime the plastic before painting it (the front fascia)? That may have caused the paint to crack.
Project: Elegant-Li *NEW*
Project: Alpha FINISHED
Project: LEXA Revival FINISHED
Project: LEXA FINISHED Bit-Tech MOTM Nominee October 08
Actually, Girlfriend just asked me if I could paint the silver parts now, so tomorrow they will most likely be red. The silver part under the handle comes out so it will be easy, but I guess I can mask off the silver part when I paint the strips too, so it wont be so bad.
As for the crackle, I did paint it once with a plastic paint, but I sanded it pretty well before I put the primer on and the primer stuck almost perfectly. I think my problem with the red layer on the plastic was that I tried to do it all in one layer. It was really cold outside, and it was already dark and I was trying to finish it, so I pretty much just emptied the rest of the can on it hoping it'd turn out good. Obviously it didn't, so I'll fix it tomorrow.
I mentioned this idea before, but let me know what you think. In order to incorporate a little more red into the black top, I think I'm going to drill a bunch of small holes that shape into a few small hearts on the top. I have two red CCFL's, so I think I'll put one at the bottom and one at the top so I can get good light through all the windows and openings. If I position the top one the right way it will shine light through those holes when the room is dark, and it should create a nice effect.
Oh, and Fuzzy, you never hit the rep button![]()
I would really like my Thermaltake prizes...Thanks everyone for my wonderful prizes!
I made a good bit of progress today. The only things I have left to do are cut and etch the plexiglass windows in the front, and install the OS and I should be done. I won't consider this project done until I get that etch done. And now for the pics!
After another round of painting I'm finally content with the heart side's coating.
Don't mind the gap between the side and front, that is fixed by thumbscrews in the back. This is just a mockup with the bad front and the finished side.
Mock up of the bad front and the finished heart side.
Head on shot.
Mockup of CCFL tubes and making sure the glass has time to bond with the adhesive.
The lights inside are on, but you obviously can't tell in the lighted room. Thanks to all who suggested I use red glass so it shows red in the light as well.
Even though I decided not to use the cooling duct inside the case I did decide to use the directional tube on the PSU fan. I think it looks cool, so does Girlfriend.
With the room light off, yay!
The front panels should show light really well.
Of course the other panel barely gets any light because of the mobo, but that was expected.
Too lazy to paint the rear.
But it glows nicely.
All the parts to be painted/repainted. The handle, the area under the handle, the face plate, and that little stip to make it flush.
And the silver part on the top.
Nice and smooth after 150 grit and 400 grit.
Three layers still leave bubbles, boo!
Same with the handle.
My masking job.
The flush zones turned out pretty well.
I cut out an area on the top in order to let more light through to the handle. Ended up looking like Dilbert.
Most of it turned out pretty good.
But the face plate still cracked a bit. Not as bad as the first time though. We're content with it.
The hole worked out pretty nicely considering I cut it while the grate was still drying.
Yep, still cracked.
Very, very cracked.
The mask job turned out ok, it was getting dark and I was running out of paint.
Comes together pretty well.
Lights up the top real well now!
It glows!
Should be a nice light show in a small room.
Again, not so much on the other side.
Well that's it for now. If anyone reading this gets bored feel free to come up with a good header, or urge jdbson to finish his header, so I can etch whatever y'all come up with into the plexiglass windows that will be on the front. Thanks!
I would really like my Thermaltake prizes...Thanks everyone for my wonderful prizes!