Case Mod AzTtec - Added Keyboard and Mouse - Completed!

[Mach]

Very nice work! On the sealer, you might try Minwax Polycrylic brush on. Its water based. It does seem to contract a lot when drying though and may crack underlying paint if you apply it that way. I just used it on some foam Halloween tombstones with good success. Test first though as YMMV.

[GuilleAcoustic]

Originally Posted by dmcgrath

Next Update,





I think this is supposed to be Quetzalcoatl's mom, ain't she a looker?

Continued down the side, and I have yet to finish the tail area at the bottom.



I'm also working on something creative around the HDD release buttons.



I didn't like them in standalone form even after I carved them. So I built a channel hat they sit behind. Helps protect them, and I can fit my pinkie in there still. Even though you can use a pencil eraser if needed, They are pretty tough.



Back to the side continuing with the Quetzalcoatl theme there, I brought the design down the side much like in my initial drawing, but I added a stylized wing.



Overview of my faceplate.

[IMG]http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p93/diceline32/ThermalTake_Mod_Contest
/mayan_Mod_dmc110.jpg[/IMG]

And the bromeliad I did on the front, similar in design on the calendar, since I already did about 20 of them, why not 3 more really huge ones?



And a fun little guy meant to cover the key area. Not sure how I'm going to fasten them yet. I still favor a magnet idea. Maybe with a tether to keep you from losing them. Not sure yet.




Okay, now back to carving!

OMG that is splendid ! Very inspiring ! I'll definitely try to find balsa foam in france for my Infinity wargame scenery.

[Cheapskate]

Any reason you're not the project logs?

[dmcgrath]

Originally Posted by Cheapskate

Any reason you're not the project logs?

Didn't know there was one when I started the thread. Whoops. Of course, now that you pointed it out, I see it. lol

Originally Posted by Mach

Very nice work! On the sealer, you might try Minwax Polycrylic brush on. Its water based. It does seem to contract a lot when drying though and may crack underlying paint if you apply it that way. I just used it on some foam Halloween tombstones with good success. Test first though as YMMV.

I'll look into it. thanks!

[IanW]

Originally Posted by dmcgrath

Didn't know there was one when I started the thread. Whoops. Of course, now that you pointed it out, I see it. lol

If you ask a mod nicely, they might move the thread across for you.

[dmcgrath]

Haha, thanks guys! Small update, but LOTS of carving there.

I got all the drive bays done.





The HDD release area is getting some more crafting on it as well.

[thresh0ld]

had to register just to post on this thread! This mod is full of win!! I think we have a winner here

[Neshekel]

Badass.

Can't wait to see it painted

[dmcgrath]

The HDD area got a makeover, coincidentally, it ended up almost exactly like my initial design drawing.
I wanted to make them like the below pic, at first, but it was too hard to grab them and pull them out.


So I had to cut the grab rail out and back set it. did some more plastic grinding and filing along the way.



More detail shots, this took about an entire day. But it's done on that area and moving on!




And then I moved back to the calendar side to finally finish that up. This part I'm so very happy with I might even have to etch a signature on the area.

[The_Beast]

that looks EPIC

[Fuganater]

MOTY. Your skill is amazing bro.

[dmcgrath]

I came up with a catchy name for the mod.





More pics tomorrow. I'm almost done with the carving and should be able to move on to painting it in the next few days.
Good thing too, since I've only got less than 2 weeks before it's due back to Thermaltake!

[dmcgrath]

Well, except for a tiny little device to operate the side fan louvers, and to add something to the feet as well, I think I'm finally done sculpting.


The next part is kind of critical now, as I would like to lay paint on it, but without destroying any details. So several thinned coats is probably the way to go. I also need to prime the exposed black areas still, but there really isn't much of that left, is there?


A sliding mechanism to cover the lock on the side. It's actually still removable if you take off the side fan cover. I like to engineer things like that.



And a FRAG count for our little gamer guy. (I saw a picture of a wall that was all skulls like this, and thought this was a good place for them.



Finally did something around the window area.



And, of course, the fan is still going to be operational, as well as access to the removable fan screen.



More details.



Thanks for looking!

[daverobson08]

This is absolutely astonishing! Great work, waiting patiently for the finished article.

[IanW]

I do wonder if this will be eligible for MOTY without being in the Project Logs thread?

I sincerely hope so, as you'll probably win hands down!

[dmcgrath]

Originally Posted by IanW

I do wonder if this will be eligible for MOTY without being in the Project Logs thread?

I sincerely hope so, as you'll probably win hands down!

Wow, I'd hate to be DQ'd on a technicality, I did ask for it to be moved, sent a PM, but no result yet.

And as for the MOTY, that humbles me to even think to be included in that category. Once again, I thank you all for your continued support. Now let's hope I don't screw up the paint job.

[deeley2782007]

Was saving my first post having just registered, but I must say Ive never read a progress thread where Ive "ooooh'd" and "ahhhhhhh'd" so much. Amazing work, credit to you!

[monkeyfun]

I'd vote for you.

[joolz1]

WoW very nice indeed

[dmcgrath]

Thanks again guys. It's fun and it's also a huge pain, but worth it in the end I think.

Flipped the case over, took off the feet, dropped the screwdriver right into the base of the little guy there and sheared a huge chunk off. lol. Oh well, a little patch work and some change to add weight to hold it in place.




The completed foot, really simple. I couldn't envision anything more complex there, it's not the best place for fragile foam products.




Then I wanted some little magnets for the front lock cover I'd made. Luckily I found some, inside of my daughter's old refrigerator magnet toys. It was perfect, inside is a little magnet and a little sliver of metal.




I glued one to each place I needed, and then made a lanyard out of a zip tie. it's flexible to get out of the way, but goes straight into the machine. (Totally out of the way of anything! I got lucky there.)






Then I spent a couple hours using compressed air and a vacuum to get 99% of the dust out of there. What a pain in the butt.

Now, it'll get primer on the exposed black spots tomorrow.
As well, I'll probably do a base coat of a thinned black/brown color.