Case Mod - In Progress Battlestar Galactica Mod: Complete!

Hello everyone, I've been a member here for a while, but haven't posted until now. I figured it was about time
I introduced myself! I've done a few mods over the last couple years, and you are welcome to check them
out on my website. Some of them you may or may not have seen before. Anyway, you guys are very talented
and I want to tap into your vast knowledge for my next mod. I welcome any and all comments, criticisms, and
suggestions you may have.

So without further ado, here is my next project:


This is going to be my part of the group-theme mods based on the SciFi series, "Battlestar Galactica."
I plan to take my recently won CM Stacker 830 and convert it into the Galactica. I'm still in the design
and conceptual phase, and I hope to get it drawn up in Sketchup soon. I will post more detailed pics at that time.

I think this will be a fun one to do! I really enjoy the new BSG TV series, and it has many elements I can draw from for ideas.
And this case will be a huge canvas upon which to work, so there will be plenty of real estate to work with.

I messed around in Sketchup, and after many, many long late-night hours I came up with
a VERY rough mockup of what I'm planning for this Stacker case. I tried to retain alot of the original lines of the case,
so you could look at it and know this used to be a Stacker 830. Its lines match up so well with the Galactica, I think it adds
to the overall look (not to mention makes my job a lot easier!). So without further ado, here are the pics! (yeah, like you actually
read this whole thing before looking at them )







The top of the case will have the landing bay running through it from front to back, and the landing strip will be lit up on the inside.
The front will sport a 7" lcd monitor, and the BSG insignia below it. I have special plans for that, and you
will have to wait and see (couldn't divulge all my plans first off, that just wouldn't be much fun )
The sides will have vertical ribbing to match the top landing bay, with the centers being the armor plating. (retaining the stacker's
side vent shape). There will be four engines, two on each side that will function as either fresh air intake, or exhaust. Haven't
decided yet. I apologize for the crudeness of the engines. Sketchup was not willing to cooperate with me when trying to create
complex curves (as evidenced from the top launch bay). So I cheated a bit and stole the engines off of an existing Galactica
model I found in Google's 3D Warehouse. But I think you get the idea.

So what's the first thing that you gotta do when starting any case mod?
That's right- Disassemble the donor case!


After taking some measurements, I set off to my garage to cut a pattern for the foam out of 1/8" fiber board.


I made up a simple jig with a piece of alum flat bar. Traced my curved lines on both sides so they are symmetrical,


And cut out the pattern.


Set it on the case for fit,


And proceeded to cut the foam using the pattern and a long bladed knife.


Cut two pieces. These will be glued together, and glued onto the fiber board as well.


Sorry, that's all I got done tonight. But at least I started! After gluing, I will commence the cutting, shaving,
trimming, and slicing of the foam to the landing bay shape. Once the basic shape is attained, then I can coat
it with resin or fiberglass. Although I have been eyeballing this stuff called Plasti-Paste by Smooth-On.
It's a trowelable fiber resin that cures into a durable plastic in just 90 minutes. It would be ideal for making up the
landing bay top, and all those ribs too. I would just have to work in sections, what with its 10 minute pot life and all.

So I'm off and running. Stay tuned, this will get interesting!

 

nice sketchs

 

Looks like an ambitious mod... Hope that it comes out as close as possible to your sketch!

 

<-- Subscribed and eagerly awaiting to see where you go with this!

 

aww man!!! the pics are down!!! well, it sounds like a kick butt idea. can't wait to see the sketches of it!

 

been waiting to see a BGS mod for quite some time, you better not screw this up!

 

Ambitious is the word, but I really hope this all comes together. Those sketchups look great.

 

Thanks guys! Not sure what happened to the pics, but they seem to be up now. I hope to get another update posted within a day or so.

 

looking good! is that a section of cylon hybrid hose i spy in the background?
(although i hope you have vinyl dye )

 

I hate it when work gets in the way of modding! :x

Well, I didn't get as much done as I had hoped this week, but I will post up what I did get done last weekend. I plan to get more done tomorrow to make up for it though.

Anyway, here are the carving pics. Snagging the electric turkey carver from the kitchen (shhh- dont tell Mrs. Boddaker! lol),
I started shaving the foam down to the landing bay shape.




Then I took the drywall sander and rounded the sides smooth. And yes, I was wearing a respirator the whole time.


Then I hacked off the ends, and marked the eventual openings.




Since that Plasti-Paste has just a 10minute pot life (length of time you have to work with the stuff before it sets up),
I cordoned off sections with strips of cardboard held in with brads.


The Plasti-Paste comes in two containers: One with the fiber reinforced paste, the other a liquid. Mix the two at a 3:1 ratio respectively.


I mis-judged the amount slightly for my first section, and had a bit left over. So I spread what was left over the other half.
You can almost watch the stuff set up. It changes color from the dark brown paste to the light yellow plastic within minutes.


Here you can really see the color difference between the first hardened section and the one I just laid down.


Completely cured and ready to sand smooth. I actually messed up and forgot to smooth it out more before it set up.
Now I have more sanding work to do. :x


Also because I didn't smooth it out adequately enough prior to it setting up, there are numerous divots that I will have
to fill in as well. I might just bring out the bondo for that, since the plastic is so hard to sand.
I plan to finish this layer tomorrow so I can move on to the fun part - the ribs!

8)

 

*shakes fist* I was thinking of doing a BSG mod (though it'll never happen) just the other day damn it!
In all seriousness, good luck with the mod, I hope it turns out how you planned. Bondo is a pain to sand in large quantities and you need alot of patience

 

I will watch this mod...BSG rules.

I also had started a BSG mod,but it is still on papers,i am thinking what materials to use,first i have to rebuild some parts of the case and rebuild-mod an old rad for w/c.Then the exterior.It's different from yours.

 

This looks great, will follow with interest.

Regards
BenJ

 

looking good keep up the good work.

josh

 

Had a look at your site and loved your Mystique HTPC i loved the Ipod dock at the front will deffiently be checking this one out.

 

Thanks guys!

Made decent progress today.

Got the whole thing sanded down pretty well with the drill and sanding discs, followed by the orbital.


Then I layed on a skin coat of bondo to fill in the low spots, and sanded that smooth. You can really see how uneven it was.


Lastly, I filled in the tiny air holes with the glazing putty.


Since this is the bottom layer and will be topped with all those ribs, it doesn't have to be sanded down perfectly smooth.
My main goal was to get these pronounced lines on each end.


Sprayed a light coat of primer on to get a uniform color.


And demolded the piece. I was careful not to ruin the foam because I still need it.


Shot of the underside. Funny, it actually transferred my markings from the foam to the plastic!


Here I started marking out the ribs. I figure one rib every 1/2" looks about right.


Here I am forming the side skirts of the landing bay. These will attach under the overhangs on each side of the bay.
The ribs will continue from the top , over the edge and onto these pieces. You'll see what I mean a bit later.


All in all a productive day. Happy Easter everyone!

 

Also happy easter to u
Wow it looks so SMOOTH
Keep up the good work, I like the style of the case

 

WOW that bug thing look amazing man this mod seems nice ! good luck

 

Nice work, like it.

 

Minor update:

Did some work on the side skirts. Got them smoothed down,


and trimmed. This is how they will fit onto the main piece.


I taped them into place, and will add some support braces for strength. Once those are in, I will bondo up the seam and smooth out the edges.


8)