Project: Pirate Sonata

[R@Mo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/pirate_sonata2.jpg

Long time lurker, first time poster. This is my first mod, so play nice. I'm starting out with a stock Antec Sonata case, and the idea is to emerge with a quiet, elegant, yet bad-ass machine at the end of my modding adventures.

My current setup:

(hardware in white, performance mods in yellow)

- Intel Pentium IV 2.4C @ 3.0Ghz (Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu + AS3)
- Abit IC7-G (northbridge fan unplugged, was too damn noisy)
- Corsair 512MB TWINX 3200LL v1.2 @ 2-5-3-2
- ATI AIW 9700 Pro (Artic Cooling VGA Silencer, copper BGA heatsinks)
- Maxtor 120GB 7200RPM 8MB
- LiteOn 16X DVD
- LiteOn 52X/32X/52X CDRW
- Logitech Z680 5.1 THX Speakers
- Logitech Cordless MX Duo
- 19" LG F900P
- and of course, Antec Sonata case w/ TP380S PSU


I didn't take any pictures of my case while performing any of the mods I've completed so far, the reason being the lack of a digital camera. I'm posting now because I got hold of a video camera and took a few shots with it. They aren't of the best quality, but will have to do for now.

The stock Antec Sonata case:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/stock_exterior.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/stock_interior.jpg

I knew I wanted a theme for my case, but was unsure what to go with.

At first, I was thinking of doing a Mortal Kombat theme, having grown up with that game :). So I started by making my own 120mm fan grill from plexiglass. I cut it using my Dremel (which I only purchased a few months ago...yes I'm a newb but getting accustomed rather quickly). Here is the fan grill after the cutting was done:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/mkgrill1.jpg

After filing down the edges:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/mkgrill2.jpg

And after painting with black paint:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/mkgrill3.jpg

But then, I saw this in a French case mod gallery:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dope.jpg

So, dissatisfied with my unoriginal idea, I abandoned it, and starting searching once again for some inspiration.

So after about 2 months of brainstorming, and browsing multiple case mod galleries (just to make sure my ideas were somewhat unique), I came up with the idea of doing a pirate theme. I hadn't seen anything piratey out there as of late, so I hope what I produce will indeed be original. The Sonata being already black helped in making this decision. I also liked the finish on the outside of the case and wanted to keep it intact.

One of the first things I experimented with was closing the perforated holes spelling "Antec" in the sides of the case. They were letting way too much dust in. What was the point of the dust filter in the front of the case if dust could easily enter from here, I ask ya?!?

So I used plexiglass to cover the holes, and attached it using some 3M double sided tape. Doing so caused my power supply temperatures to rise considerably. To remedy this, I decided to mod the front bezel to allow more air to flow into the case. My inspiration for this came from here (http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=7720).

Doing this did improve airflow, and PSU temperatures dropped slightly, but not low enough. When the PSU fan is spinning quickly, so is the 120mm case fan (they're linked using the fan-only connector, which is temperature regulated in the PSU). My case became noisy, and I wouldn't have that.

So I started running my PC with my side panel off. My PSU temperatures dropped to record levels, and my computer became nice and quiet, but now I was worried about the hard drive, which was getting waaaay hotter than it should be (so hot it would hurt to touch it for more than 5 seconds).

So this is a problem I have yet to fix. Perhaps in the future I will cut the front bezel and somehow add an intake fan. I don't know. Any ideas are appreciated.



Visual Mods Completed To Date
========================

- Sleeved power supply, painted the cover, swapped in a blue/red LED fan, added a "Skull" chrome 3D fan grill, added a window, and stuck a "Danger: High Voltage" chrome applique on it.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case006.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case055.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case017.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case011.jpg

I know, I know. The ATX 12V line isn't sleeved yet. Couldn't get the damn connector off, even with the proper tool. Will try again later.


- Changed power LED to blue, and HDD activity LED to red.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case024.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case051.jpg

Sorry, couldn't get any pictures of the red LED in action. Maybe I'll defrag my hard disk soon or something, so I can take pictures. In general though its not nearly as bright as this blue one, so I'm not very happy with it.


- Added a blue and a red CCFL, and took the switch out of the supplied PCI bracket, and mounted it in the front of my case instead for easy access. Also installed some mirrored plexi in the sides of the case, to enhance its appearance. Now it's possible to see the Artic Cooling VGA Silencer on the ATI card.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case022.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case010.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case039.jpg

I will be replacing the mirrored plexi with new pieces with better fit (current ones got scratched as well). Also, at the moment there are no mirrors below the HDD rack, so that will need to be addressed as well.


- Replaced stock screws with black anodized thumbscrews on the PCI brackets, and replaced the stock case fan with a blue 120mm LED case fan in back.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case045.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case048.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case060.jpg



Other Planned Mods
===============

Case handles: I've been looking all over for some nice chrome case handles, that are stylish and between 12 and 16cm wide. So far only found a single pair at Home Depot, at 24 bucks (CAD) each!! Looking for a cheaper alternative before springing for them.

LCD Screen: I'm researching the posibility of incorporating the PSOnce 5" screen into the 3.5 inch bays and ditching the floppy drive I currently have in there (which actually DIED on me...since when do floppy drives DIE!?).

Case side panel window: This is an obvious future addition that will need to be made. In fact, this is what I'm working on next. I thought about a little and decided to go with a cutout instead of a full window. I searched the net for ideas and came up with this:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/pirateflag.jpg

which I modified to this:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/piratefinal.jpg

which better fits the side panel's layout. Cutting this out will leave the Antec holes intact (unfortunately), unless I mess things up and end up going with a full window (remember, I'm new with the Dremel).

I will be starting on the side panel tomorrow. :cool:

Here are some overall pictures of the case as it is currently:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case026.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case038.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case036.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case061.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case049.jpg

That's all for now. Any comments/suggestions/ideas?

[R@Mo]

Quick update: As promised, I started working on the side panel today. Taped it up using Painter's tape on the inside and out, drew my (mirrored) pattern on the inside with a sharpie, and starting cutting away with a dremel. Here are some pics.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel05.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel03.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel04.jpg

Cutting in the living room isn't a great idea, but I don't have much choice living in an apartment. I have to leave the room for a while afterwards to let the metal dust settle so I don't breathe it in. :eek:

[R@Mo]

Quick Update: Did some more cutting. Steel takes forever to cut, hence the slow progress.

Got more of the sword cut out now.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel09.jpg

Here are some close ups of my work so far:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel06.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel10.jpg

I tried to cut within the edges. I'll file them down between Dremel breaks.

I also went out and bought a tungsten carbide cutter bit, which I'll use on the sword handle parts. I think I need to drill a hole in each part to start though. I'll worry about the detailed areas after the larger areas are done.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback so far. :D

[Pwnisher]

Looks pretty sweet, and very nice dremel work there. On a side note it ook like 5 minutes before your pictures appeared, that just might be something on my end though.

[R@Mo]

Not sure why the pictures won't load properly every time. I uploaded them to some free webspace, so I have no control over whether they come up right away or not unfortunately. :confused:

[dudewth]

Looks good so far. Definitely nice work with the cutting. I liked the original fan grill :o Your hardware is pretty similar to mine except that I've been planning on making mine more silent, as yours is now.

[TANKORR]

sweet - looking forwar to more pix of the project

[jayjaya29]

Looks great, definitely a different case from the others.

[Pherret]

Cutting in the living room isn't a great idea, but I don't have much choice living in an apartment. I have to leave the room for a while afterwards to let the metal dust settle so I don't breathe it in. :eek:

Open an outside door or window and cut in that direction? If it's daytime (to not disturb others) you could also run a vacuum cleaner hose next to what you are cutting.

[R@Mo]

Open an outside door or window and cut in that direction? If it's daytime (to not disturb others) you could also run a vacuum cleaner hose next to what you are cutting.

Good idea. Next time I'll move my table next to the window. Maybe I'll be able to breathe easier afterwards. :)

Not sure how the vacuum thing can be set up. Sparks fly everywhere, not in only one general direction. :(

[bobsaget]

looks good man, keep up the good work! :p

[R@Mo]

Quick Update: I stopped working on the sword, because the sword requires smaller disks. So I switched to cutting the skull (never thought I'd use that phrase :D). Since I'm working indoors, I'm restricting myself to working hours (9-5) so that my neighbors are out while I'm causing all that noise. :eek:

Here are some pictures of my progress so far.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel18.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel15.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel16.jpg

So far the 'creases' in the pirate skull's bandana are holding up fine. I discovered that the sanding drums that came with my dremel kit do a great job of making the edges of metal nice and smooth, without applying much pressure. I will be using them on these 'creases' as well as the other edges of the cutout. They get used up really quickly though, so I may need to buy a few more.

So far so good. :D

[kronchev]

YAAARRR lookin good

[87IROC Z]

Looks great. I cant wait to see it when its done. I still cant decide if i should mod in my apartment or not. id hate to be the annoying noisy neighboor.

BTW, where did you get your mirrored plexi?

[bored-sarcasm]

that looks damn good for a first mod. you can always file down the edges later. nice work with the dremel too.

[R@Mo]

BTW, where did you get your mirrored plexi?

Bought it from Rona, but Home Depot had some as well when I went to check.

[R@Mo]

Another Update:

Did some more cutting today. Worked on both the top half of the skull and some finer parts of the sword handle. Here's an overall picture of my progress:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel19.jpg

Close up of the sword:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel20.jpg

and of the skull:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel21.jpg

I used the tungsten carbide cutter (#9901 (http://www.dremel.com/productdisplay/bit_template.asp?SKU=9901&Color=009999)) to do most of the sword handle. Problem is, the bit doesn't stay in the tool for very long, and is continuously jumping while I cut. Maybe I'm using the wrong approach or something? :confused: I always use this (http://www.dremel.com/productdisplay/att_template.asp?SKU=565&Color=99CCFF) while cutting to add stability, but the bit still jumps and occasionaly falls out of the collet, despite it being screwed in tight! :o

Anyways, if anyone is wondering how things are looking from the other side of the panel, here are some more pics:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel22.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel23.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel24.jpg

As you can see in that last image, the painters tape burns up in some areas. :eek: I will most likely be taking a day off tomorrow and getting some fresh air instead. Also need to work on my Honours project, which is way behind schedule. :(

[TANKORR]

I used th cuttoff wheel to make the initial cuts when I cut my blowhole - then I used the same 9901 to do the finishing work - it came out very smooth. I then used a stone to take out any sharp parts.

I think a few things might be happening - you have a part not working or are using the wrong speed setting. Additionally you might be using the wrong amount of pressure...

[§pix]

What I would use for the finer parts of the handle would be a roto zip. Best tool in the universe for delicate work. hmm... But you may not be all that well off on the money and buying a tool that will just make it faster/easier isn't always good... I have a workshop of my dads that I get to go through though. Hmm... I agree with the speed thing and the bit jumping out along with maybe the pressure. I don't really know what to say...

With the cutoff disks what speed are you using? I notice that you have to 10 speed dremel (I believe). If you use a slower speed it will be harder on the motor and will burn it out a tad bit faster. Along with making it harder to cut. The reason for it wearing so is that it doesn't have the juice to let it cut through easily... Thus making it bog down and get hot... etc

As for metal dust. I agree with the vaccuum. The sparks will go in but do absolutely no damage. They are just peices of metal that get hot before they come off. They will cool really fast and be just fine before they even get to the main body of the Vac.

Hope I helped.

[R@Mo]

TANKORR, you were right. Turns out I was using the wrong speed setting with the 9901 bit. :o I was cutting at 10, when I was supposed to be using 5 or 6. :eek: That's why it was skipping.

I always use speed 10 with the cutoff disks, so no worries there. §pix, you're lucky to have access to a workshop. I live in an apartment alone and had to buy all the tools I'm using. :(

Gonna be working on my project on Sunday, so look for an update come Monday afternoon! :D

[TANKORR]

I am glad I could help ya out - I am looking forward to the finished product.

[tylerhskate]

thats cool, pretty detailed work - nice :D

[R@Mo]

Got some yummy stuff in the mail today. Check these babies out.

Skull & Bones Case Badge:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case066.jpg

Skull & Bones Thumbscrews:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case065.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case064.jpg

They match the general theme of the case nicely, don't you think? ;)

I plan on using two of the thumbscrews for the side panel, and one of the remaining 2 will be modded into a key for the front door/side panel. Not sure what to do with the last one. Any ideas?

Back to work! :D

[R@Mo]

Just had a nice meal (chicken breasts fried in BBQ sauce, white rice and mashed potatos) which I made myself btw :cool: ...

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case067.jpg

Did I make anyone hungry? :p

Alright, enough of that. I've been experimenting with paint lately, and I have to say, the Duplicolor paints are definately higher quality than the Krylon. Remember how I cut out a window in the PSU? Well, I used that scrap piece of metal to test the paint on. Here is what I was able to achieve.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case068.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case069.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case071.jpg

Metalic blue...mmmmm...

So yeah, that was after sand (320), primer, sand (320), primer, sand (320), paint, sand (600), paint, clearcoat, sand (2000), clearcoat, sand (2000), polish, polish, polish....lol....Its taken about a week to get through this process. I used Krylon primer with the Duplicolor paint (despite warnings not to on the can) and it turned out pretty good still. I like the results, so I will probably be stripping the Krylon blue paint from my PSU and using this sexy Duplicolor metallic blue instead.

Lots of mods, so little time. :D

[R@Mo]

Update time!

OK, 5PM, everyone is coming home from work, so I had to stop making a racket. Here are some new pics:

Overall progress:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel26.jpg

Close-ups:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel27.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel29.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel30.jpg

I drilled a hole in each eye which will eventually hold LED's, for a scarier effect. :cool:

Pretty much all the cuts remaining are precise cuts, so to tackle them I will use a combination of the #409 (http://www.dremel.com/productdisplay/bit_template.asp?SKU=409&Color=CC0000) disks (because as somebody said earlier, they really do slice throught the metal like butter, and they get small fast!), and my trusty tungsten carbide cutter (#9901 (http://www.dremel.com/productdisplay/bit_template.asp?SKU=9901&Color=009999)).

Hopefully in 2 days or so I should be done the side panel cutting and you'll all be able to see the final result. :D

Thanks for all the compliments btw! You guys are great! ;)

[rogue_jedi]

looks nice so far.

as far as inhaling dust goes, invest a few dollars in a pack of painting masks (little blue things like the dentist wears) so you don't swallow any.

as to fresh air - who needs it?

soldering isn't hard, just get a good soldering iron, keep it hot, and when applying solder, it doesn't need much, and don't move the wires while it cools off. with standard lead/tin solder, you want to avoid it looking silvery and shiny when you finish. instead you want it to be dull. also, put some heatshrink on it before you solder (just shift it out of the way) to protect the joint.
/i am fairly certain about the shiny=bad when soldering, but double check so you don't screw up ifi was wrong, mkay?/

[§pix]

Looks sweet so far.

[tylerhskate]

did u follow my idea i gave on "go with the metallic blue" paint? or did u already have that planned.lol!! i love it

[Check_Point]

Dude, must say you've got some kick-ass dremel skills.
Sorry if you mentioned it before - is it your first dremel experience?

[Falls Included]

i think he said it was

and a little steel dust does the lungs good! just like ciggarettes!

[R@Mo]

Yup, my first time with a dremel. :D

Don't get me started on cigarettes...I hate smoking AND smokERS....no offence to anyone here of course! Thank God they banned that shit in public! :o

[bored-sarcasm]

i might have to pick up some of that paint...i got some rust oleom stuff, navy blue. that shit looks pretty good. keep up with the good work.

[R@Mo]

Quick update:

Alright, some good news and some bad news. First the bad news.

I had to meet my professor today, and I got home after 5PM, so couldn't do any cutting. :mad:

The good news? Before I came home, I decided to make a visit to the mall to look for stuff to use in my computer mod. It's a lot of fun looking at random things to find one that fits your case's theme and thinking of ways it can be incorporated. And guess what? I found the perfect item!!

It's a belt buckle. A belt buckle you say? Well yes, a SKULL belt buckle!! :cool: NOW you see where I'm going with this. :D

Check this out. I cut off (using a dremel :dremel: of course) the slot the belt would normally pass though, and wet-sanded it down using 2000 grit sandpaper to give it a shiny chrome-like appearance. Before it was rather dull and stainless-steel looking. I didn't take any 'before' pics :wallbash:, but here are some 'after' pics:

The front:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case073.jpg

The back:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case074.jpg

And a picture with some outdoor lighting:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case075.jpg

I haven't decided yet where I will use it, but most likely it will be placed on the front door of the case. So what do y'all think? :)

[bored-sarcasm]

are you going pirate theme or death? :)

nice idea.

[rogue_jedi]

cool looking skull! are you going to backlight it or cut out the eyes and light them?

[R@Mo]

How about "Pirates Of Death" looool :D I dunno...I'm kinda making it up as I go along...so whatever looks good gets implemented.

I thought about cutting out the eyes and using LED's, but I already plan to do that on the side window (possibly as a HDD indicator), so doing it on the front is overkill...then again...overKILL....hmmm... :D :D :D

[RS3RS]

How about "Pirates Of Death" looool :D I dunno...I'm kinda making it up as I go along...so whatever looks good gets implemented.

I thought about cutting out the eyes and using LED's, but I already plan to do that on the side window (possibly as a HDD indicator), so doing it on the front is overkill...then again...overKILL....hmmm... :D :D :D

Yeah, I agree. Either lit up eyes on the belt buckle, or on the side window, not both. Both would just look overdone, or riced, or both.

Love the look though, that'll look great on the case

[§pix]

FOr a first time dremel it is kick ass. Looks as good as mine and I have been messing with powertools since I was a little child. Keep up the good work man.

One mor ething... Can you send a little bit of that food my way?

[R@Mo]

Update time: I did some more cutting today, but this time no pics, sorry. I still have the teeth to cut, as well as the detailed parts of the sword handle. The next time I show you guys pics the side panel will be reunited with the rest of the case, with lexan in place and backlit with my CCFL's. Plus, its fun building up some suspense in the thread. :p

Some bad news: while I was filing away at the edges today, my hand slipped and I accidentally scratched the paint nearby. :( Does anyone know how I can retouch the tiny scratch because I really don't want to paint the whole side panel. And if anyone says 'sharpie' I will castrate them! :D I want this thing to look nice in the end!!

One other thing: I bought some LED's and resistors online today from Hong Kong. Can't wait for them to arrive! Need to learn how to solder soon! :eek:

So, does anyone know how long a package takes to arrive from Hong Kong to Canada usually?

[R@Mo]

One mor ething... Can you send a little bit of that food my way?

Kinda late with the request. It's all GONE! :D

[§pix]

Sharpie...

[CBR]

Canada...

[R@Mo]

Sharpie...

ALLLLLRIGHT....BEND OVER...this won't hurt a bit!! :eek: *snip* :eek:

:D :D

[R@Mo]

Canada...

yes yes, Hong Kong to Canada...are you always this slow? :p :D

[Check_Point]

R@MO, can you please sum up all the dremel bits you've used so far in your project?
(except of the #426).

[Hinokagutsuchi]

A mod so good, that it can only be rated "Arrr!"


Heh, It's looking cool, but the buckle pics aren't showing up =/

[R@Mo]

R@MO, can you please sum up all the dremel bits you've used so far in your project?
(except of the #426).

Apart from the 426, I've also used the 409, 420, 561, and 9901. I tried playing with the sanding drums as well, but I think I'd rather sand by hand instead. Hope that helps.

I'll fix the pics in the morning.

[§pix]

ALLLLLRIGHT....BEND OVER...this won't hurt a bit!! :eek: *snip* :eek:

:D :D

You're not man enough!

[bored-sarcasm]

nice thread jack ^^ :rolleyes:

[CBR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by R@Mo
ALLLLLRIGHT....BEND OVER...this won't hurt a bit!! *snip*


You're not man enough!

Youre wrong Spikky, I dont believe you are man enough. ;) :D


nice thread jack ^^

How reflective is that shiny plexi stuff?

[PS-RagE]

Keep it on topic guys

[R@Mo]

Quick Update: I originaly said I wouldn't show any more pictures before the side panel is done, but its taking a lot longer than I had hoped. Filing takes forever to do right - a lot longer than cutting. So here are some pictures to keep you guys interested while I inch closer to finishing off the cutout.

First off, here is that scratch I told you about. I've since scratched the panel in other places, although none as pronounced as this first time. Looks like I might have to repaint when done filing. :(

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel44.jpg

It's OK though - I'll learn from it and hopefully it won't happen again. :o

Moving on, I managed to file away the worst of the rough edges, and I cut away at the teeth. I still have the handle to cut. Here is a picture of my overall progress as of this afternoon:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel38.jpg

As you can see, I've removed the painter's tape from most of the panel. Of course, this proved to be the mistake that resulted in the scratch shown above. I'm documenting this so others can learn from my mistakes. When filing, use protection!! :D

Here are some close-ups as usual, first of the teeth:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel42.jpg

then of the skull's bandana:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel43.jpg

and finally of the sword handle:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/dremel47.jpg

In the skull bandana picture, the gray/whitish stuff is basically glue left behind by the painter's tape. I need to get this crap off without scratching the panel, and frankly I'm not sure how to do this. Any suggestions?

Overall, I'm very pleased with how it's turning out. It's very fulfilling seeing your creation coming out the way you envisioned. :cool:

[tylerhskate]

thats amazing, nice cutting sir :]

[Chunk]

i usually use this stuff called Goo Gone to get rid of adhesive residue like that. I used it on my car before and it didn't seem to do any damage to the paint, but then again the paint wasn't all that great to begin with :p

[R@Mo]

thats amazing, nice cutting sir :]

Why, thank you sir. ;)

i usually use this stuff called Goo Gone to get rid of adhesive residue like that.

Someone suggested I try grain alcohol instead. Where can I find Goo Gone though?

[Kurtis]

Goo Gone... Hmm... I have that and yet I failed to use it on some aluminum I was cutting and had dimensions marked on masking tape. The aluminum got so hot during cutting that the tape actually melted onto the aluminum... and then burned my fingers...

Completely forgetting that there are ways to remove adhesive crap, I opted to use a power sander to sand the adhesive into a aluminum-dust goo that was a bitch for the sander to get off!

Adhesives 1
Mad Skillz 0

Sorry, that was sorta off topic... so back on topic:

Nice cuts. can't wait to see it filed and painted!

EDIT: This post was made by ErrOnReq, not Kurtis.

[R@Mo]

Actually I like hearing other people's experiences, so thanks for sharing. Btw, Kurtis, you have a Sonata as well, aren't you gonna cut a window in it?

[§pix]

You can use a number of things, goo gone, Asatone(basic ingredient in fingernail polish remover but you can buy in cans), Fingernail polish remover, Alchohol might work but I doubt it... Try using itbefore you buy something that you might not need. Money saved=more money on mod!

Uhh. I would go easy if you were to go out an buy some asatone or something like that. It might act like brake clean does for car hoods... :D

[Kurtis]

ACK!

This is Brian, ErrOnReq... not Kurtis.

He does have a Sonata, but he isn't going to cut a window in it.

[Chunk]

Where can I find Goo Gone though?

i usually get it at walmart

[R@Mo]

I'm confused about something and I'm looking for some advice. I can't make my mind up whether to spring for a Noritake VFD (http://www.bit-tech.net/review/120/) or a PSOne 5" LCD (http://www.kickassamd.com/modules/mods/article.php?storyid=1). They both cost about the same - $185 CAD + tax.

Advantages of the VFD:
- Fits in a single 5.25" bay :thumb:
- Wide viewing angle & bright letters
- Easier to wire up

Disadvantages of the VFD:
- Can't display multiple colors, high res graphics, etc (ie. limited to text + logos/graphs)
- Software configuration could be a problem


Advantages of the LCD:
- More flexible - can be used as a second monitor for emulator gaming (MAME, etc) or for Samurize.
- *Bling* factor

Disadvantages of the LCD:
- Hard to wire up correctly and configure in Powerstrip.
- Takes up two 5.25" bays (if mounted in front)
- Narrow viewing angle

My case is usually on my right side, so I *could* have whichever display I get mounted in the side panel, but that might look too....un-ergonomical (ie. not pleasing to the eye).

So, what do you guys think I should get, and why? And where would you place each of them if you had the same case? :confused:

(At the moment I'm leaning towards the VFD)

[tylerhskate]

psone lcd would like tight

[R@Mo]

Side Panel Update: Well, I finally finished filing all the edges, then bought some 99% isopropyl alcohol from Walmart and took all that gunk off that was left behind by the painters tape. This stuff cleans so damn well and then just evaporates into thin air. Its very cool :cool: stuff.

Anyways, here is the final result:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case087.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case104.jpg

Some close-ups of my dremel work:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case107.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case111.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case114.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case117.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case122.jpg

And one final picture of the overall side panel, in the dark:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case146.jpg

Unfortunately the pictures don't do it justice. It really looks amazing in person. :D

[CBR]

That looks good. Looks great in the pictures so I can only imagine how good it is in person. Keep up the good work.

[87IROC Z]

That really came out great. I cant wait to see it when its completely done. :)

[TANKORR]

WOW :eek:

[gies]

looks sweet...i wish i were good at using a dremel :rolleyes:

[JEEVES/whohasmyname?]

in my project black lightning i am using a graphic noritake vfd but in my future project (mp3 server)I am using a ps1 screen (picked it up for 45 bucks american :p ) It realy all depends on what you need it for. In Black Lightning I am only using it for stats and mp3 stats, where as in the mp3 server that is going to be the only monitor. Rember that if you are using the ps1 screen it has to run as dual monitors where as the vfd can be wired up in serial. That is kind of the main reason i didnt want to use the ps1 screen in Black Lightning.

That cut out looks great, nice job on the fine dremel work.

JEEVES

[jayjaya29]

I bet it does look better in person. Pictures never really do anything justice. But it looks awesome, the colored fans and lighting in the case make it look even better. Looks sweet. Great work.

[R@Mo]

Thanks for all the kind replies. :)

in my project black lightning i am using a graphic noritake vfd but in my future project (mp3 server)I am using a ps1 screen (picked it up for 45 bucks american) It realy all depends on what you need it for. In Black Lightning I am only using it for stats and mp3 stats, where as in the mp3 server that is going to be the only monitor. Rember that if you are using the ps1 screen it has to run as dual monitors where as the vfd can be wired up in serial. That is kind of the main reason i didnt want to use the ps1 screen in Black Lightning.

If you remember from my first post in this thread, I have an ATI AIW 9700, which only has a single output. Does this mean that to use the LCD using VGA output I'd need a second PCI graphics card? :(

I'm currently bidding on an LCD on ebay. If I can pick one up for under 20 USD + shipping, then I will. :p

So much for that. 50 minutes left and its at 29 USD now. I prefer the VFD anyway. ;)

[JEEVES/whohasmyname?]

From what I understand you hook up the ps1 lcd through the tv out on vid card. I might be mistaken and there might be a way to hook it up serial or parralell, if you find it let me know.

JEEVES

[R@Mo]

From what I understand you hook up the ps1 lcd through the tv out on vid card. I might be mistaken and there might be a way to hook it up serial or parralell, if you find it let me know.

JEEVES

The LCD can be connected in 2 ways. First, using the tv out on the video card, as you mentioned already, and second, by using a VGA cable and altering it a bit so it connects to the LCD (requires soldering).

I did a lot of research on this topic, so here are a few resources for anyone looking to do this mod. I, however, have decided to go with the VFD.

http://starfox.ucc.asn.au/carcomp/serio_lcd.htm
http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=warren
http://www.kickassamd.com/modules/mods/article.php?storyid=1
http://www.gamesx.com/avpinouts/psxav.htm

[§pix]

Walmart rollbacks save the day once again.
/me starts whisling the walmart rollback theme-song.

[JVP]

Nice case...

...and happy Canada Day! :D

[R@Mo]

Nice case...

...and happy Canada Day! :D

Thanks :D

[R@Mo]

Just a quick word to say that I will be going on vacation :cool: for a few weeks so there won't be any updates until early August. Hope you all enjoy your summer & mod on!! :D

[CBR]

Oh thats evil. The anticipation is already building. Oh well, have a nice vacation. :)

[eyedol]

looks nice so far.

as far as inhaling dust goes, invest a few dollars in a pack of painting masks (little blue things like the dentist wears) so you don't swallow any.

as to fresh air - who needs it?

soldering isn't hard, just get a good soldering iron, keep it hot, and when applying solder, it doesn't need much, and don't move the wires while it cools off. with standard lead/tin solder, you want to avoid it looking silvery and shiny when you finish. instead you want it to be dull. also, put some heatshrink on it before you solder (just shift it out of the way) to protect the joint.
/i am fairly certain about the shiny=bad when soldering, but double check so you don't screw up ifi was wrong, mkay?/

Dull = bad
Shiny = good

The dull finish is a sign of a cold solder joint meaning you were moving the components that were being soldered. Just some fyi.

[rogue_jedi]

Dull = bad
Shiny = good

The dull finish is a sign of a cold solder joint meaning you were moving the components that were being soldered. Just some fyi.

told you i wasn't sure:p i always forget which one is good/bad. so i took a guess. i'm usually better at guessing than this though. o well.

the mod looks really really sweet. i think you should try and do something about the antec logo though. doesn't really match the case theme.

[qb4ever]

Sweet mod! especially the side panel.

[CoRPS]

Very cool.
THUMBS UP!

[Rel1c]

Very nice!

[hellomynameis]

Very nice and clean cuts from what I see here.

[Mad Machinist]

Needs a cannon................... :p :D

[§pix]

Me wants more... Looks good so far though.

[R@Mo]

Thanks to all for your kind comments. :) I'm finally back from vacation, but I won't have time for case modding for another week or so due to school. So look for an update then.

[XeRo_Dark]

Very very nice mod, havnt seen many pirate themed cases, though many normal skull themed cases, but this is fuckin shweet.

On your side pannel id say go with red instead of blue, and to get a cool effect of the sword being metal, you could get some spray adhesive and some uber thin foil and do a outline around the entire sword, kinda like chroming a model. It would add a big holy shit to the mod :D

[R@Mo]

Finally, an update:

Just finished working on the LED eyes in the side panel. I learned how to solder along the way too! :D I connected 2 blue 3.3V LED's in parallel, and since the HDD header on the motherboard is 3.3V, I didn't need a resistor at all. Here's the finished result:

LED's Off:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/Case107.jpg

LED's On:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/Case108.jpg

:cool:

Download Video [Right-click, Save Target As please!] (http://www.hkhqatar.com/blue_eyed_pirate.avi)

Note: The LED's in the video are blinking whenever the hard drive is accessed, NOT whenever the music is playing. I compressed a large folder to get the blinking to happen more often. :o

[CBR]

The pictures look really good, but I cannot view the video. It appears as though you have exceeded your bandwidth. :( Try a new (better) host.

Your mod is really looking good. Keep up the good work and most important, keep us updated! :D

[rogue_jedi]

the leds look really cool. good work!
http://www.mentallyretired.com/h/index.cfm/u_rogue_jedi (http://www.hardfolding.com)

[R@Mo]

Video should work now. :D

[R@Mo]

On your side pannel id say go with red instead of blue, and to get a cool effect of the sword being metal, you could get some spray adhesive and some uber thin foil and do a outline around the entire sword, kinda like chroming a model. It would add a big holy shit to the mod :D

:D Good idea, it would definately help to impress, but I wouldn't know where to start with something like that. :confused: Maybe if I could get a permanent silver marker I could outline the entire cutout which could improve the overall look.

[CBR]

That kicks ass. Kinda eerie to see a computer "winking" at you.:p

Good idea, it would definately help to impress, but I wouldn't know where to start with something like that. :confused: Maybe if I could get a permanent silver marker I could outline the entire cutout which could improve the overall look.

Or you could use your newfound soldering skills. ;) That reminds me of the other day. I was at school helping a teacher move some stuff and a worker was in the same room installing a sink. I see him bring out a welding type instrument and a big huge reel of solder looking material. That guy had some skill. It went on real easy and decorated quite well. It was shiny looking even at the distance I was at, maybe 10ft or so.

Ok now that I've lost my mind and have bored you with my nostalgia, I'll go run rampant through the streets burning for a connection. ;)

[R@Mo]

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I was waiting for the Noritake VFD I ordered last week to arrive, and finally it has! :D

I couldn't wait to get it hooked up so I rushed home as soon as I could, connected it, and when I tried it out in LCDC it froze after the first few screens. :rolleyes: So I did that soldering fix to the COM port connector (thanks to TAG & Cheese from Bit-tech :D) which got it up and running right away. :cool:

Here are some pics (it looks way better in person!!).

Time:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case172.jpg

Weather:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case178.jpg

Winamp:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case175.jpg

Now that I have it working, I need to figure out where (and how) to mount it!

More updates coming soon!

[rogue_jedi]

looks cool:) what is cpu usage like when you're using the VFD? i've heard certain places that it can be pretty bad... dunno what software that was with or anything though.

[R@Mo]

looks cool:) what is cpu usage like when you're using the VFD? i've heard certain places that it can be pretty bad... dunno what software that was with or anything though.

CPU usage is hovering between 0% and 3% most of the time, although on some transitions it could hit as high as 5% (yay :p). Memory usage is around 3MB for LCDC while the screen is on.

[R@Mo]

Time for another update as promised!

Well, I've decided to mount the VFD in the front of my case, but since I want it to always be visible I'm going to embed it into the front door of the case, in front of the optical drives.

Remember that chrome skull belt buckle I show'd y'all before? No? Well here's a reminder:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case075.jpg

Finally, boys and girls, in this very post, you will be able to see how I will incorporate this fine piece of worksmanship into my case. :cool: But first, I needed some metal mesh!! So off to Home Depot I went, and picked up one of these:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case186.jpg

That my friends is a gutter guard. What's so good about it? It's flexible, it's light, but best of all, it only costs $4 CAD! :D First I sanded it down, then painted it shiny silver then added some clearcoat into the mix. Here it is marked and ready to be cut.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case187.jpg

And here it is after having the VFD outline cut into it:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case189.jpg

Next, a test fit and proof-of-concept:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case190.jpg

Now you all know my master plan mwaaaahahahha!! :o Pretty darn sweet if I do say so myself! :D

Everything will be fit into a window in the front case door shortly. All that's left is to figure out how to rout the cables out of sight and how to solidly attach the VFD to the mesh (so far I'm thinkin paperclips, so if anyone has any better ideas feel free to share them).

Until next time, here is a video of the VFD in action! (Video removed to save bandwidth. PM me if you want it.)

[FiZ]

That's fucking badass. Can't wait to see it incorporated into your case.

[dudewth]

That's fucking badass. Can't wait to see it incorporated into your case.^^^^

[R@Mo]

Update time!

In my last update, I cut a hole in the steel mesh and showed you guys how I was planning on mounting my sexy new VFD in the front of the case door. The problem was figuring out how to attach the VFD to the mesh.

The first thing that came to mind was using paperclips. But that presented a new problem: how was I going to fill the space between the 4 VFD mounting holes and the mesh? (I needed the mesh aligned with the front glass of the VFD) So off I went searching for things around the house that I may be able to use. Little did I realise the answer lay INSIDE my case!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case216.jpg

Ooooh, rubber grommets!!! PERFECT! ;)

But were paperclips really the answer? I looked around a little more and found this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case199.jpg

The frame hanging wire in this picture hanging set had the advantages that it was more flexible and a lot less brittle than paperclips (no chance of breaking!), so I decided to use it instead.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case196.jpg

So off I went, attaching each corner of the VFD to the mesh. A simple double knot on the frame wire did the trick. Nice and secure - there's no way the VFD can come loose from the mesh now. Sweet! :D

Three down, one to go:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case200.jpg

Next, I attached the mesh to the back of the case door, and I attached the skull belt buckle to the mesh. The glue gun is your friend!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case201.jpg

The view from the other side:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case202.jpg

I lost the functionality of the lock on the door by doing this mod, but I've never had to use it anyway, so no big loss.

And now, what you've all been waiting for, the money shots!! :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case207.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case210.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case214.jpg

And finally, a special treat for everyone (http://hkhqatar.com/VFD_skull_front.avi). (Right-click, Save Target As please!)

Until next time, keep modding! :)

[CoRPS]

looks great bro

[R@Mo]

I went ahead and added 4 blue LED's behind the grill. I'll let the pictures do the talking. :eek: :eek: :eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case219.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case220.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case217.jpg

Nice, eh?! :D

[p3n]

shame about the music

[gclg2000]

lol..

[flat4]

looks real good. i have one question. what does the VFD connect to? and where did u get it?

[R@Mo]

looks real good. i have one question. what does the VFD connect to? and where did u get it?

It connects to the 9-pin serial port (COM1) and its made by Noritake. You can read a review of it here (http://www.bit-tech.net/review/120).

[CoRPS]

Without having to ghetto rig it out the back of like a expansion slot, how can you set it up inside the case on the mobo?

Or.. Am I missing something?

[R@Mo]

Without having to ghetto rig it out the back of like a expansion slot, how can you set it up inside the case on the mobo?

Or.. Am I missing something?

Well, you could always solder the wires straight onto the back of the motherboard's serial port, although I personally don't have the guts to try such a thing. Failing that, you could make a hole elsewhere to route the wires, not necessarily through an expansion slot.

[rogue_jedi]

some motherboards have headers onboard for one or both of the serial ports, depending on what is on the backplane. so you can sometimes get it entirely internal with that method. failing that, running a cable out the back seems to be the best way to do it without some fancy modding. you could use a ribbon cable to it is flatter, but that's about the only thing i can think of to make it less obtrusive if you have to resort to running the cable out the back.
http://www.mentallyretired.com/h/index.cfm/u_rogue_jedi (http://www.hardfolding.com)

[R@Mo]

I'm sorry about the lack of updates. I've been really busy lately with school work. My Honours project presentation about the security of the RSA cryptosystem is coming up on September 13th, and I have yet to figure out what exactly I'll be talking about for 20 long minutes. I get the butterflies just thinking about all the eyes that will be on me. Wish me luck! :(

Back on topic: My good friend S@M was visiting Ottawa last weekend and he stayed over at my place, and he brought his Canon A40 with him!! So I finally managed to take some decent pictures of my case. Thanks S@M!! :D

Click on each picture to view a 1024 by 768 version. Hope you like them! :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case222s.jpg (http://www.hkhqatar.com/case222.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case225s.jpg (http://www.hkhqatar.com/case225.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case226s.jpg (http://www.hkhqatar.com/case226.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case228s.jpg (http://www.hkhqatar.com/case228.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case229s.jpg (http://www.hkhqatar.com/case229.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case230s.jpg (http://www.hkhqatar.com/case230.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case231s.jpg (http://www.hkhqatar.com/case231.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case232s.jpg (http://www.hkhqatar.com/case232.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case234s.jpg (http://www.hkhqatar.com/case234.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case236s.jpg (http://www.hkhqatar.com/case236.jpg)

So, what do you think? ;)

[Skier]

I was thinking it was going to turn out a bit too "overdone," but the effect as a whole is very, very nice. I dig it, excellent work!

[rogue_jedi]

i like it. oh, and good luck on the presentation! i've done a thesis presentation (and i had a sore throat/was losing my voice and it was in a lab with the fans on... not fun:() and i know it isn't easy to prepare for... but you should be alright (just put the same amount of effort into the presentation as you did the case)

i didn't realize the bottom was so shiny:eek: and what's with the dell in the 2nd to last pic?
http://www.mentallyretired.com/h/index.cfm/u_rogue_jedi (http://www.hardfolding.com)

[trust_no1]

Just a question, where did you get the VFD, and how much did you paid for in CDN??

I was thinking of an LCD at somepoint, but seeing that thing, it seems much nicer. How hard was it to wire up?

Thanks, and nice mods, ;)

edit: Oh, and which software are you using for it?

[R@Mo]

i didn't realize the bottom was so shiny:eek: and what's with the dell in the 2nd to last pic?

I cut plexi mirrors for the bottom and the back of the case. It gives a better sense of depth and reflects light nicely, so that it feels like the whole case 'glows'. :D

That Dell is my old PC - a P3 500 circa 1999. I still use it today to backup my data.


Just a question, where did you get the VFD, and how much did you paid for in CDN??

I was thinking of an LCD at somepoint, but seeing that thing, it seems much nicer. How hard was it to wire up?

Thanks, and nice mods, ;)

edit: Oh, and which software are you using for it?

Most of these questions have been answered before, but I'll answer them again anyway. :) I got the VFD from Noritake Canada. It cost me $198.95 CAD after taxes and shipping. It connects to the 9-pin serial port (COM1). I'm using LCDC 1.05 to power it. You can read a review of the VFD here (http://www.bit-tech.net/review/120). It's an awesome display and IMO its worth every cent.

If you end up getting one and need help setting it up, just PM me and I'll be glad to help out.

[Gangsta]

man, you did an awesome job on that sonata
IT L :eek: KS BADASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[trust_no1]

Most of these questions have been answered before, but I'll answer them again anyway. :) I got the VFD from Noritake Canada. It cost me $198.95 CAD after taxes and shipping. It connects to the 9-pin serial port (COM1). I'm using LCDC 1.05 to power it. You can read a review of the VFD here (http://www.bit-tech.net/review/120). It's an awesome display and IMO its worth every cent.

If you end up getting one and need help setting it up, just PM me and I'll be glad to help out.


Thanks, sorry if I'm making you repeat yourself. I read through it all, checked all the links, but didn't catch you bought it from the site itself.

Alright, I'll keep a note of that, whenever I get one. :)


(I'll assume you have the same model as in the review. . . :cool: )

[UnknownSouljer]

I dunno if someone has mentioned this idea, but you might want to concider putting LEDs into the skull on the front of the case to match the one on your sidepanel. Of course this is an opportuninity to use different colored LEDs too, I think red would look really good.

[trust_no1]

I dunno if someone has mentioned this idea, but you might want to concider putting LEDs into the skull on the front of the case to match the one on your sidepanel. Of course this is an opportuninity to use different colored LEDs too, I think red would look really good.

I thought the same too, but it would be too many LED's from what I've read.

[R@Mo]

I was thinking it was going to turn out a bit too "overdone," but the effect as a whole is very, very nice. I dig it, excellent work!

man, you did an awesome job on that sonata
IT L :eek: KS BADASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks! :D


(I'll assume you have the same model as in the review. . .)

A valid assumption. ;)


I dunno if someone has mentioned this idea, but you might want to concider putting LEDs into the skull on the front of the case to match the one on your sidepanel. Of course this is an opportuninity to use different colored LEDs too, I think red would look really good.

Adding LED's in the front skull's eyes would be overdoing it. I won't be lighting the skull up so its more visible in the dark either; I kind of like the silhouette of a skull and bones over a glowing blue mesh. :)

[trust_no1]

To make it more 'piraty', you could put an LED in one of the front skeleton's eye, and put a patch over the other one.


You'll have to add a parrot somewhere too, :P

[dolphumous]

I've never seen anyone with such a fascination for pirates.

Very nice work though. Dremel experience goes a long way.

[R@Mo]

I'm sorry I haven't updated this thread in such a long time. Lots of things have been going on, including:

- I finally finished my Honors project. It's titled "Securing RSA Against Known Attacks By Proper Implementation". I got rewarded for my hard work with an A+ :D

- I started my job search, and just returned from an interview an hour ago, and guess what? I got the job! :cool: Hopefully I'll have more dough lying around for my mods now!!

- My VFD died on me a month ago. It was kinda my fault. I sent it back to Noritake and I should get my replacement in a few days' time. I've learned that Noritake is an excellent company to deal with! I'd definately buy from them again if they keep up this level of after-sales service!

- I got 2 chrome case handles sent free from China, which I will be using soon on my case. They look awesome btw, so damn shiny! :eek:

- The blue LED's I ordered from Hong Kong have arrived.

All your replies have motivated me to make more progress on my mod. Some of the things I have planned in the near future include adding case handles, opening a window in the top of my case, adding a fan to the front of the case blowing on the hard drives, and I might even take apart the entire case and paint the insides! We'll see how things go with my job training and work hours. Until then, MOD ON! :D

[Captain Colonoscopy]

Shweeet. I love pirates. Shiver me timbers. :p

[kubalaTF]

simply awsome. Now it's time to pillage an plunder some MP3s.

[XeRo_Dark]

i think i just splooged myself :D

[R@Mo]

No.....time............to mod.................................. :(

[RAutrey]

Nice work!

[CrimsonSky]

Really excellent skallywag work---Turned out very nice, you should be proud! ;)

[XtuRmN8r]

have you tried out liquid mp3 for the equilizer visualization on your vfd? if not, do, and post pics! :D http://liquid-mp3.schijf.org/

[compslckr]

that looks hot! i like it!

nice work!

[R@Mo]

have you tried out liquid mp3 for the equilizer visualization on your vfd? if not, do, and post pics! :D http://liquid-mp3.schijf.org/

Thank you for linking to that program. I will definately give it a shot sometime soon.

Sorry for the lack of updates. I *do* plan on continuing this project sometime this summer. Living in an apartment makes it hard to mod, especially during the winter. :o

[Copenhagen69]

very nice and original mod man....
thats awesome looking

[Perrupa]

There should be a warning on this thread for minors.
It's obviously rated aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghh hhhhh!!!!!!

Very nice job, excellent dremel work on the side and I really like the mesh. My only only critique would maybe be a more consistent colour scheme in lighting, the blue purple, orange is a bit much for my eyes :D

excellent though :)

Peace

[Spectrum42]

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v255/orustom/case069.jpg

Mod looks great man. I got a question though, did you use a orbital polisher or polish the shine out by hand?

[1337m0dd3r]

looks wonderful : )

[R@Mo]

There should be a warning on this thread for minors.
It's obviously rated aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghh hhhhh!!!!!!

Very nice job, excellent dremel work on the side and I really like the mesh. My only only critique would maybe be a more consistent colour scheme in lighting, the blue purple, orange is a bit much for my eyes

LOL thanks! Actually the color fades from blue to purple to red, and looks way better in person. The camera I used wasn't the best. Someday when I find the time to continue working on the case I'll take some nicer pictures with my new camera.


Mod looks great man. I got a question though, did you use a orbital polisher or polish the shine out by hand?

That was by hand :)


looks wonderful : )

Thank you! :)

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/8087.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=8087)

[Bona Fide]

Great work. Where'd you pick up that VFD? And how much did it cost you?

[R@Mo]

Great work. Where'd you pick up that VFD? And how much did it cost you?

Thank you.

Picked up the VFD from Noritake for $200 CAD (about $165 USD).

You can visit them here: http://www.noritake-itron.com/

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/8087.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=8087)

[N H O]

you plannin any new mods?

[R@Mo]

you plannin any new mods?

Not anytime soon I'm afraid. Currently working and going to school, so no time for modding.