Element

[Trigr]

Well I got a case from a fellow employee and I figured Id get things started with it. I just cant let a case sit without my mind starting to think about things to, and with my Del-icious case just waiting for a good weather day to take completed pictures .... i needed something to do.

This was an old Compac Presario case he had, even had the guts still in it with Windows 95 on it. I quickly took the back screws out to open the case up when I discovered this wasnt like the usual cases I was use to. This thing actualy had the guts of the frame slide inside the enclosed outer frame. Well that changed up my original thoughts but it doesnt kill my ideas. :wink:

Anyways heres some pics of the case as I got it.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2939.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2941.jpg

here you can see how it slides inside
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2942.jpg

and some naked frame
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2943.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2944.jpg

[Trigr]

Well got it all apart and of course the first place I start is opening up a window in the side.

Knowing the switches and some lighting will be attached to the exterior frame and plugs need to be accessible, this window will also be the way in for wiring once equipment is installed.

Now imagine a glossy white case with a piece of blue acrylic attached to the exterior using stainless steel screws. the interior will be illuminated with white tube lighting and various LEDs.

heres all the pencil measurements drawn out.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2946.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2947.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2948.jpg

corner holes drilled for a rounded window look.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2949.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2950.jpg

and my second favorite tool
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2951.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2952.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2953.jpg

edges filed and sanded
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2954.jpg

and the interior in place as it will be seen throught he acrylic.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2957.jpg

well thats the start to another project ..... im sure there will be more on the way and things are starting to move in the right direction.

[Trigr]

well got some work done on the case ..... small little update.


working the 120mm fan into place

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2962.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2963.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3008.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3007.jpg

to give the end setup like this

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_2964.jpg

the front bezel

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3009.jpg

i used a piece of left over plastic tube i had from another front bezel project. this is 4" diameter and will let the fan drag in the most air it can.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3011.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3010.jpg

using my glue gun i set it in place before starting any bondo work

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v710/Trigr/101_3015-1.jpg

cheese time

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3014.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3013.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3012.jpg

and some glaze putty after sading it smooth. the glaze putty helps fill in any dimples in the bondo created by sanding.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3027.jpg

i still have some touch up sanding and glazing to do but should look good when im done before sanding primer and more sanding.

[Trigr]

did some cage work while the bondo was curing. being that the internal cage is gonna slide separate from the external i need to set things up a bit to allow for easy connect/disconnect. the main thing is gonna be the lighting inside and getting power to them.

this is the internal frame showing where i need to cut so i can place the transformers for the cold cathodes when they are installed.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3028.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3029.jpg

the transformers will get mounted to the inside of the external case. this will allow for the internal frame to slide out from around them.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3030.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3031.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3032.jpg

you can also see i cut the front open taking away some material restrictions for the fan.

[Trigr]

worked a bit on the external frame to add some openings for lighting effects to be added later.

here is the bottom of the case. now heres the plan. the internal frame will keep a solid floor making the bottom unviewable. the external frame will have some acrylic place inside under the internal frame. there will be lighting added later to the inside to add a glow to the bottom. the LEDs will be invisible when looking through the side so they wont effect any interior lighting.

heres the bottom taped and center marks made

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3033.jpg

and two 4" holes cut

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3036.jpg

and after cutting the middle out. you can see the sharpie lines i drew still visible. always leave room for error so i cut on the inside of the lines, this let me file and sand the edges smooth without risking a mistake that could goof up the look.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3037.jpg

and after sanding the edges smoth

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3038.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3039.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3040.jpg

i also added a 4" hole to the top just above where a hardrive is able to be mounted. nothing major about this, just something extra to add with lighting later on.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3034.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3035.jpg

[Trigr]

diggin through some boxes i found a usb/headset/mic connector from another case i did but never reinstalled. i knew exactly where i could use this.

i grabbed some tape and took some measurements.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3044.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3045.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3046.jpg

found my centers and drilled some holes.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3047.jpg


after some filing and sanding it fit right into place

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3048.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3049.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3050.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3052.jpg

had to modifie the internal case a bit so it could slide into place and not hit it.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3055.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3056.jpg

[Eclecticos]

Great Work mannn.. .
Everything Looks super clean! +Rep

I especially like the cutout you did for the USB.
Welcome to TBCS.

[Bucko]

Looking good so far!

[elbarto241]

nice clean cuts. i see some potential in this case.

[AMD_TaT3rs]

looks awesome. i wish i could bondo as well as you can, when i do it it goes everywhere how do you get it so nice?

[psychowit]

NIce it looks good colour scheme sounds good too rep+

[Trigr]

thanks guys. i got some update photos here.

i worked on the powersupply area. being an older branded case, the stock power supply was a bit different then what current day has. i cut out the opening big enough to allow the edges to be hidden by a acrylic P/S cover.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3057.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3058.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3059.jpg

and heres the cover in place. it will get a airbush paint job on the back saide to help hide the edges some more, but thats later on.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3060.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3061.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3062.jpg

knowing the interior and exterior are seprable i needed to come up with some way to supply power to the accessories like lights and front fan. i needed this to be removable also.

heres my beginning piece of angled aluminum.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3063.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3064.jpg

drilled
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3065.jpg

filed
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3066.jpg

test fit plug
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3067.jpg

cut to fit
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3068.jpg

couple of 6x32 screws to test fit
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3069.jpg

[Trigr]

next is the 15x15 side window

just a simple piece of 1/8" clear acrylic. i moutned it here to mark the holes from the inside.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3070.jpg

then tapped the holes in the case
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3071.jpg

and mounted the acrylic
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3072.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3073.jpg

the test screws are a bit way to long so those will be cut later
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3074.jpg

once the glass was done i could start on the exterior paint, jsut a nice gloss white for this case.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3075.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3076.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3077.jpg

and this sides gonna get a little extra done
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3078.jpg

heres the fun
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3079.jpg

a little flame touch drawn up
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3080.jpg

cut out
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3081.jpg

and base flames
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3083.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/trigr2/A101_3084.jpg

ill have more to come once the blue cures and breaths for a couple days. still have some 1500 wetsanding to do, airbrush some accents to it and 1500 wetsand again before the clear coat gos on.

more to come later.

[chaksq]

Looking good, good work with that acrylic.

I really like what you did with that semi-modular molex connector. It reminds me of something I have planned for one of my projects.

[b4i7]

i like those flames!

[SgtM]

Man.. I've always hated compaq and their cases. Looks like you're taking something that sux, and gonna make it cool. Excellent work so far. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one turns out. +rep

[Drum Thumper]

Yet another worklog that's gonna get a /subscribe.

Smooth work, and I like the bondo work you did!