NZXT Beta -> Battlefield 3 Box

A

abyss33

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Jun 22, 2008
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Getting a late start, so this will be a large first post. This is my first worklog and I will no doubt make mistakes. The concepts are: to create a MARPAT Digital Camo pattern on the outside of the case, all flat black interior, and a smoked MARPAT pattern on the side window. Click the thumbnails for larger pics.




My starting point


Front panel, lots of hot glue to remove



Prying out the power and reset switches



Case completely gutted



A few rivets drilled out to remove the HD cage



Pilot hole for the bottom 120mm, set slightly forward for M/B clearance



120mm cut, left a really sharp edge


Bottom 120mm after sanding


Side panel window cut and sanded


Side panel window with printed overlay, just started cutting


Masking done, ready for tint


Side panel after tint, a little too dark, should have stopped at one coat


Side panel decal. Printed and trimmed, ready for clear coat


Making case feet from a piece of scrap PVC trim


Trim, cut to width


Measured for cuts


After cuts, ready for screw holes, sanding and paint.


Base coat done and case assembled.


After masking tape and printed pattern.


Finished, 3/4 view


Finished, side view

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Wow! Thanks for all the responses :). I updated the log, but there's nothing too exciting tonight. I'm going to start the exterior tomorrow.
 
I phoned in the exterior. I was too lazy to use the same scale as the side window and enlarged it. I also only went with two tones instead of the original three that I planned. I had to touch up a few spots where my base coat wasn't dry. Overall, I like the result and I had a lot of fun doing it. I'm calling this one done, but I might make another one in the future when I have more time. Thanks for all the comments and feel free to give me your opinion, love it or hate it. :D
 
Nicely done! Masking for the digi desert looks like it was a pain. But good work is never easy. Very unique and well executed! Game on!
 
akg102 said:
Looks great! Did you have any trouble cutting the aluminum?
Click to expand...

It was actually thin steel. I tried a few different methods. The way I used to do it was with a dremel rotary tool with a cutting wheel. But this time I found that using a dremel trio with a side cutting bit made a much cleaner edge and I didn't have to smooth it out as much. I used some MDF trim board clamped to the side panel to guide the router.
 
I enjoyed building this thing so much that now I want to build a Skyrim themed case, so I'm selling it as a complete system on eBay with a matching keyboard, mouse and monitor. PM if you want the item number. I may post pics of the mouse and keyboard as well.
 
aww...horrible marpat colors but nice work on it...personally think you shoulda gone with a darker army green or the Marine Corps desert colors.
 
USMCGrunt said:
aww...horrible marpat colors but nice work on it...personally think you shoulda gone with a darker army green or the Marine Corps desert colors.
Click to expand...
And technically it's not marpat w/o the ega, but I'd hate to have to mask that too, haha
 
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