Scratch Build Wargames WOPR desk computer

[HCP]

From the movie Wargames i bring you WOPR.

Love this movie, and love the WOPR.
Started planning this a half year ago, tried to contact people in the US having some info about the real model to get measurements and color codes etc.
Got some good info and now its time to get it rollin´.
I found some sketchup model of the WOPR, but the measurements were totally off, and some parts were to big/small, wrong place and so on. Took me almost a month to get all details right in the sketchup model. Used the movie of course and all pics i could found on the net. Also got some emailed to me from a previous worker who made the original back in the 80´s.
Size of the case will be about 19x8x6", perfect to house a ITX motherboard with a 3870K AMD, i have a Intel 330 128GB SSD somewhere and a Corsair H60 that will to the job perfect
I do not play games, so the graphic power is not a issue for me.

If someone dont know what the WOPR is.
War Operation Plan Response




Now from the start, it may look a bit messy until i get all the parts and stuff together

The roof of the WOPR. Rounded wood stripes to get rounded parts without sanding me to death



Adding some round corners, Using 20mm pipe to get perfect corners.



The three panels for the LED´s
Sketchup model, got them CNC cut to get perfect holes everywhere



My first order of LED´s, 400 of them... After some counting, im gonna need 1000 more


To be continued

[Vetalar]

when i thought about led array - i find smth like this

it's dirt cheap, no need to solder or smth. just drill holes and put leds randomly
and it blinks in 8 ways

[HCP]

Im using a solder kit from Velleman to control the lights, christmas lights i think will ruin the result with blue and green lights

[Vetalar]

there is alot of lights on market of any desirable color. oh and one cut away blue/green lights

[HCP]

Now when i think about it, the flash sequence is pretty much spot on with the WOPR, looking at my neigbours house lights.
But, already soldered 400 leds. Maybe use the christmas lights for the back side nobody see anyway

[HCP]

Now it starts to look like the WOPR

[Vetalar]

Originally Posted by HCP

But, already soldered 400 leds.

one have a ton of patience

[C4B12]

This is gonna be fun to follow. Love that old movie!

[HCP]

After some re-measuring, the first part i made for the LED panels was to small. Forgot to change the setting on my table saw

Trying to hold all pieces for a photo

[HCP]

Slowly growing up

sorry for the mess around the bench, i dont have time to clean up for the pics
Of course there will be some descent final pics and video of it.

[HCP]

Been sanding and sanding to get straight edges and round corners.
The top parts getting good now, and ready for gluing. But i think i leave some parts to the last step so i dont get any problems adding the electronics



Adding a pic of the real deal, from almost the same angle.

[Ch2pa]

I will follow this one

I like the concept and the movie too. Good Luck

[Pfaffen]

Originally Posted by Vetalar

when i thought about led array - i find smth like this

it's dirt cheap, no need to solder or smth. just drill holes and put leds randomly
and it blinks in 8 ways

Never thought of Christmas lights, how much power do they use? Voltage and Amperage?

[kelmannen]

Originally Posted by Pfaffen

Never thought of Christmas lights, how much power do they use? Voltage and Amperage?

usually 12/24v, amperage totally differs with the lenght/voltage

[Pfaffen]

Originally Posted by kelmannen

usually 12/24v, amperage totally differs with the lenght/voltage

Thanks! I may have to try that sometime.

[Nexxo]

HELLO HCP. SHALL WE PLAY A GAME?
>_

[C4B12]

@nexxo It's "Greetings HCP" actually

[Hanoken]

I thought for a sec you were hinting at warhammer my bad ha ha ha, but to say the least now that I realize it is a mod about wopr I'm even more interested can't wait to see what you have in mind for this project, by the way, ever heard of a game called defcon? you might be interested

[HCP]

My biggest concern with the WOPR was the doors, they are countersunk and have rounded edges.

Take a look



I tried different solutions, cut open pipe, sanding in a angle and other stuff, nothing really good.
Now i found this, and whats im going with. Not 100% identical with the original but good enough.
Some putty and sanding, and after that i will run a router bit making the edge rounded i think will do the job.

[HCP]

Now the fun work starts
Time to figure out where the LED´s go, from what cluster and what colour, my charts are pretty easy to follor, but with 1400 LED´s i think i will have a brain freeze or two :P