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Scratch Build – In Progress [Scratch Build] 'Completed' Project Ethos & Cube - The Baby Grand

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by SavellM, 19 Mar 2013.

  1. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    So I've been working on a little project (well you could call it little, but its pretty huge ;))

    Some background, I have a server rack in my spare room, with a Synology NAS rack mount, and a Gaming PC, with a monitor on top of it.
    Now this is OK, but sitting and using a rack as my desk is rubbish so I need a solution.
    Also the missus wants the rack out of there, so we can start re-using the spare room :)

    My friend is a carpenter, so I will be taking advantage of that in this build...

    First things first, designing a desk to fit both a server and a desktop.
    The server will be rebuilt and using FreeNAS, and then my gaming machine will be a nice new build.
    ______________________________________________
    Current Gaming PC Hardware:
    Configuration :
    CPU: Intel Core i7 6700k Skylake (Delidded)
    Motherboard: Asus ROG VIII Hero
    GPU: 2x NVIDIA Titan X
    SSD Boot: Samsung 256gb 850 Pro
    SSD Gaming Drive: Samsung 1tb 850 EVO
    RAM: Corsair 16GB DDR4 Dominator Platinum 3300
    PSU: Corsair AX1200
    Fan Controller: Lamptron CW611
    Monitor: Asus ROG Swift PG278Q

    Server:
    CPU: Intel Core i5 4670t Haswell
    Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth Z87
    HDD RAID: 5x WD Red 3tb
    RAM: Corsair 16GB DDR3 Arctic White Vengeance
    PSU: Seasonic Platinum Series 660w
    UPS: APC SmartUPS 1500

    Watercooling loop:
    CPU Block: EK-Supremacy EVO Clean Nickel
    Reservoir: 2x EK-RES X3 250 Reservoir
    GPU WB: 2x EK-FC Titan X - Nickel
    Pumps: EK D5 Vario Pump x2 with 2x EK-XTOP Plexi
    Radiators 360: XSPC AX360 Triple Radiator
    Radiators 480: XSPC AX480 Quad Radiator
    Tubes: Will be making Acrylic Tubing
    Fittings: Bitspower Deluxe White fittings

    I will be running 3M carbon on the inside and having everything on top of it, eg Mobo.
    I am also getting the mobo trays custom made out of perspex and then fitting using standoffs away from the desk.
    I will be running LED's under the tray so you get a white glow from under the mobo's.
    I will be using White and Blue Sleeving, as this will make a nice contrast to the black 3M Carbon.

    The lid of the desk will be made out of toughened glass with a laminate top to stop scratches.
    Can find an OCN build log here
    ______________________________________________
    Some 98% completed pics:
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    For more completed pics please:
    http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=257797&page=9
     
    Last edited: 20 Oct 2015
  2. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    So Desk Design:
    [​IMG]

    Some working shots, double checking the measurements and design in SketchUp
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    Vaneering the cuts to make it look good
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    Making the Curve
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    Handles for the draws arrived
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    Some 3M Carbon to put on the inside of the desk where the motherboards go
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    Port hole for cables going into the desk
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    Some Corsair Dominator Platinum 16gb ram I picked up early in a good deal
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    Lamptron Fan controller for mounting into the front of the desk
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    Some Enermax fans
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    SD Card reader and extra USB for front of desk
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    Something hidden inside a sexy velvet bag
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    New PSU as it was found cheaply during sales
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    So I have decided to detail some of the building work so far:
    Started out with 2 sheets of wood, and 1 solid oak posts:
    Meet Chris, my Carpenter friend...
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    Cutting out the different sections we needed:
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    A Pile of wood that will become something awesome:
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    Got wood?
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    Starting to iron on the sides so it looks pwetty:
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    Veneering 101:
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    Cutting out the curve:
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    Biscuit joints:
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    Joints:
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    Some more:
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    How they slot together, just missing the leg here:
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    Plaining the legs:
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    Legs all cut and ready:
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    Making the curve, having to slice out so that it can bend on itself:
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    Curve glued together:
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    Curve held together for about 2 days:
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    Torture:
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    Finally free and checking the fit:
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    Making the draws:
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    Some more draws:
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    Veneering the edges of draws:
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    Curve veneered and ready to go:
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    So pwetty:
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    Cant get enough:
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    Desk taken home to start being put together:
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    First stand before we realised we needed to change it:
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    Editing plans and cutting off the top:
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    Sad to see it go, but its for the best:
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    All cut up, and how it lies currently:
    [​IMG]

    Hopefully will start work next week again :)
     
    Last edited: 24 Apr 2014
  3. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    Motherboard standoffs arrived.
    These will hold the perspex motherboard tray off the bottom of the desk by 15mm.
    [​IMG]
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    And some silicon rubber washers for most if not all my screws.
    Should help dampen some sound and provide some nice cushions :)
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    And some beautiful sleeving:
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    My first crimp ever!
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    Came out so much better than I ever thought it would.
    Great tools make easy work :D

    And ofc famous drawings...
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  4. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    First bits of my Watercooling Loop turned up.
    More to come of it.

    Some beautiful toys turned up.
    This is the start of my WC enthusiasm :)

    The Packages
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    The Beat
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    So shiny!
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    Now I need to get on and finish the desk so I can get everything fitted.
     
  5. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    A bit of what we were working on yesterday:

    We have to start making the dropdown for desk 2.0.
    So pieces cut, and test fitting:
    [​IMG]

    Yup looking pretty good:
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    All biscuit joints and holding its own :)
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    Not looking too shabby:
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    You can see the legs are cut down slightly.
    And also the draw section is up :)
    [​IMG]
     
  6. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    Something else awesome just turned up :)
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    So bit of an update...

    Did some work yesterday afternoon.
    Decided to take apart the radiators and spray the shells white.

    So shells without the cores:
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    End bits sanded down:
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    Sanding away:
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    Ends and shells all sanded down.
    Looks quite nice with the silver edges :D
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    Did a coat of primer, but it was very windy so had some bubbles and some thick bits. So decided to sand it down again.
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    Primer sprayed in garage = no wind!
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    Looking better:
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    Liking it in white!
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    Started to do some more work on the desk:
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    All standing:
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    Back is on, hiding the insides away:
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    Looks nice with the back on:
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    Inside lip cut down, and from the inside with the back on:
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    Cutting the draws down to fit the new design:
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    Showing what it looks like from under the floor looking up the desk's skirt.
    Guess the back really does cover it nicely, you can just start to see the insides:
    [​IMG]

    Back for where the UPS will be standing upright:
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    Back board joining onto desk:
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    Draws being fitted, checking size and spacing:
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    Back to do another coat of primer:
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    After its dried for awhile:
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    Looks really nice in white:
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    Sexy!
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    Some Moar:
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    Quite like it with the grainy look, of the black still slightly coming through:
    [​IMG]

    Now, I just need to let the primer fully dry, and then I will spray it Matt White.

    Did a stain on a cut off piece of wood to check it matches my TV Unit at home. (I can report it is almost a perfect match)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  7. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    Oh man do I have an update for you guys.
    My mobo trays are finally cut and ready :)

    I will get them within the next few days, but these are the pics from the creator :)

    Also remember that Cube will be a server and a half height machine, and Ethos will be for my gaming so slightly larger to accommodate bigger that ATX size, eg the Rampage series of boards.
    And lastly its just a test fitting with a dummy board.

    *Warning, there are a lot of pics*

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    Furball Zen likes this.
  8. YearZero

    YearZero What's a Dremel?

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    *head-asplode*

    Nice, can't wait to see more!
     
  9. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

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    Some nice work. This should be awesome.:D
    Could you salvage the top cut to make a drawer that matches your curve?
    -Didn't know XSPC were doing their radiators like that. They could sell just the shrouds for sweet fan covers.

    -Interesting approach to mobo tray assembly too. The mounting risers are a nice find too. Don't be afraid to throw out a link or two.;)
     
  10. tekonivel

    tekonivel Minimodder

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    WOW! :jawdrop:. Just the table itself is a peace of art.
     
  11. Asouter

    Asouter --------

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    That's some introduction, Nice looking desk, nope great looking desk!!

    I think the idea of turning the curved off cut into a draw is brilliant, it'll turn that desk from great to f##ing awesome

    subbed
     
  12. Furball Zen

    Furball Zen Shut up and Mod

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    Ok ill be the Debby Downer and point out some issues i have.

    1. Its a drawer not a draw.
    2. Glass doesnt scratch, acrylic can.
    3. Primer is not needed unless youre covering black for a white top coat, nor is sanding the entire factory coating. Wind doesnt cause bubbles, improper painting does.
    4. Its a solid wood build, rubber washers wont isolate vibes from anything, the wood absorbs it. If your mobo vibrates id be worried for another reason.
    5. Its spelled veneer :)
    6. What kind of server are you running that 10 year old hardware couldnt handle it? Or your current 'gaming' board? Or is this another "look how much money i can spend on a build to try and impress you guys"?

    All that said, so you dont think im a total putz, welcome to BT and good luck on your desk. The wood and design are nice and i will stay to watch :)
     
  13. Asouter

    Asouter --------

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    Thanks for correcting my spelling Debby ;)
     
  14. skybarge

    skybarge just chilling at work

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    You can correct his lack of grammar and capitilisation too if you wanted :)

    Just a few points to knock back:
    - Glass can be scratched by anything harder, which includes most metals, perspex is an excellent
    choice for you build, since the tray looks like it'll be out of the way

    - The bubbles would be caused by incorrect temperature, or oil/debris on the surface. If you can, make a small shroud of of cardboard next time and do it in inside at room temp(if allowed)

    - You should always sand a gloss coat off before painting,so you did that right. It'll give the paint some grip to stick.

    - You should always use primer for bare metals, as you've done. It also allows you to fill in any slight imperfections. I think you've done a good job


    Loving your project, I agree with the step of waiting for the latest hardware! If you are going to build something amazing, put the latest and greatest/most efficient at the time :thumb:
     
  15. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    Hey Man,

    I appreciate any feedback I can get. So no hard feelings at all, and I'm looking to learn as much as I can from everywhere. I have never watercooled (spelled right? ;)) before so this is a first for me.

    2) This is why I got the top done in Glass, as I wanted it to be sturdy and last for awhile.
    3) I got bubbles as it was really windy so I had to spray close, which your right, is improper painting. Hence why I sanded that down again and did it properly in a closed area. Results were miles better!
    4) The rubber washers weren't for things like the mobo tray. They were for things like fans, HDD's and anything else with a moving part. I got a bunch so I can stick them anywhere I want. I would rather have them and not need them, than need them and not have them.
    5) Thanks :)
    6) The main and real reason I want a Haswell server builds is power efficiency. The 17w and lower CPU's make for a nice 24/7 server build. Also the native 6x Sata 3 (6gb/s) ports are a major plus in my books. My Gaming machine is using an old 1366 and currently a 560ti (which will be upgraded). So this build isn't about look at the latest greatest, but for real world improvements. To be fair, I have spent a lot on the desk itself, as this will last much longer than any hardware I put inside it ;)

    But any advice anyone can give, I'm all ears :)
     
    Asouter likes this.
  16. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    Some more of what Chris has been working on today:
    Mortise and tenon joint:
    [​IMG]

    And the Lid coming along nicely!
    [​IMG]
     
  17. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    So a bit of an update.
    Working on the Desk Sunday and finishing it off now before staining and taking it home.

    Getting ready to make the glass template
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    Rough cut out
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    Cuts in nice and close
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    So nice
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    Chamfer Edge
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    Cut outs
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    Chamfer'd Edge to join with the side
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    Joined up
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    All sorted ready to send off to get Glass cut
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    Getting ready for staining...
    Filling any bits and then sanding it down.
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    All joins filled
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    Top re-veneered.
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    Cutting down 4mm for the piano hinge
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    Fits, Check
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  18. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    Nice and snug
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    Top fitted and working nicely!
    [​IMG]
     
  19. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    So update today.
    What we worked on yesterday.

    Finishing off the filling and sanding making sure its beautiful :)

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    Staining started :)

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    Getting Draws all stained up.
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    This little bottle of stain goes so far!
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    Looking good!
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    Next we need to do a matt varnish to seal it in and add protection.
    Then were pretty much done on the build side.
     
  20. SavellM

    SavellM What's a Dremel?

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    So bit of an update this afternoon.

    Got my desk home :)

    [​IMG]

    Doing some test fittings with the mobo tray fitting under.
    Its a tight squeeze!
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    That is also without the standoffs raising it up :(

    Standoffs fitted... And testing it out
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    My little helpers :)
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    Gaming mobo in place.
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    What it will look like with the 3m Carbon underneath!
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    Backdrop highlights the perspex!
    Cant wait for the LED's underneath.

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    That's all for tonight.
    Will slowly start to work on the insides now, exciting times...
     

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