|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm trying to button up the whole front panel this week, so I test fitted the small 2.5" lcd's into their pocket frames. I needed to figure out what to do with the top to cover the opening. The screens give off some heat, and they have small flat cables coming out of the top, connecting them to their control boards, so I couldn't just make a lid and cover it all up. So I decided to make some vent covers out of one of the stock mesh grills that came with the stacker case. Here are all three cut, with areas cut away for cable clearance. Also, the cables were an ugly orange color, so I colored them all black with a sharpie.
I got some goodies in last week, including my Black Ice X-Flow 360 radiator, so I could do the last bit of hacking on the case (hopefully). I will be mounting the rad under the floor in the base. I expanded the existing cutout to match the radiator. Now I know what your thinking, that I am mounting a 360 rad where a 240 should go due to the shorter opening. Well, I have my reasons! :P I will explain a bit later, and all will be clear as mud. So, if any of you eagle eyes noticed, the rad is about as thick as the base is tall. And since putting wheels on this thing (or any style of case feet for that matter) is pretty much out of the question, I need to extend the base somehow to give the rad ample airflow underneath. So I got some 1" aluminum box tubing and threw it into the scroll saw. I'm matching the base's curves for a nice clean extension. If you'll notice, the base comes straight down a bit at the very bottom. This will need to be rectified in order to continue that angled body line. For mounting, I was able to pick up a few of the existing threaded holes originally meant for the wheels that came with the case. So after I marked the hole positions on the bottom, I drilled them out. And in order to get the screws in, I drilled out oversized holes on the top. one done, three more to go! Once the extensions were mounted, I moved to the front of the base. I need to do something there as well, otherwise it will look funny. So I made a couple pieces out of angle bar. Now the body line below the front bezel continues down to the bottom of the extension.
Having finished the extensions yesterday, I was able to skin the whole thing with styrene today, complete with armor paneling. :) Here I am gluing down the base layer of styrene. I roughed up the metal surface with the dremel, using a cut-off wheel, to make the glue stick better. After the glue set up, I trimmed the excess. I then removed the base from the case and brought it inside to apply the armor paneling. I did it just as before: sketching out a random pattern, cutting the panels out almost completely, gluing them down, and cutting away the remainder. Now I just need to go back and glue all the edges down and this side's done. With both sides done, I shot it with some primer. Stuck it back on the case, and threw on the front and side panels for kicks to see how it looks. Pretty good I'd say. At first glance you'd never know it was extended, which was my goal.
Ok, so I was going to start painting last week, but as i began to make preparations, I realized I needed to do a few more things before I could begin the paint process. Parts needed a bit more detail added, and the keyboard and monitor needed some work as well. Might as well have everything ready so I can paint it all at once. So the keyboard and monitor got the ol' rib/armor treatment. First I drew some random armor paneling onto the palm rest, and cut out a few portions. Then I added the ribbing behind the cutout areas. Then I covered the bottom. Still gotta add a few more details, and prime. For my main monitor I'm using an IZ3D 22" widescreen. I removed the front bezel and started adding the ribs. Using a piece of tape to help keep the top and bottom ribs lined up. Ribs done, and some detail pieces added for good measure. Now there are just some minor things to finish up before masking and painting everything. If I can get the base coat on tonight I will be looking really good.
