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Spreadie · 25th Feb 2012, 14:59

I have finally decided to start work on my old Chieftec Dragon case.

Currently, I have very little in the way of an overall plan for it, so I'm looking for ideas and inspiration.

Here's the old girl

Even without a clear idea of what I want to achieve, there's nothing stopping me making a start; so, after ten minutes of rivet drilling, I'm left with this...

And this...

I will be watercooling, so I do plan on a 360 rad in the roof and a 240 in the lower front panel.

I'm currently degreasing and cleaning the parts, and I'm either going to paint them or send them for powder coating. Clearly I won't be doing any of that until I make the required cuts and holes.

Anyone know the costs of powder coating, and a good company to use?

improprietary · 25th Feb 2012, 19:34

ooooh the memories.

Spreadie · 26th Feb 2012, 12:40

Slight change of plan. I have (will have) two 240 rads spare pretty soon, so I'm putting a 240 in the roof, instead of a 360; for now.

30 minutes with a jigsaw and file, plus around an hour's hard graft with an emery pad, and the difference is striking...

My arms feel like they're gunna fall off. I am so unfit.

bulldogjeff · 26th Feb 2012, 14:14

as I was reading the first post I was thinking that's just crying out for a rad in the roof and you done it...Nice start, i love these cases.

It's got to have a window in it as well.

Spreadie · 26th Feb 2012, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldogjeff

as I was reading the first post I was thinking that's just crying out for a rad in the roof and you done it...Nice start, i love these cases.

When I decided on a 240 for the roof, I was torn between the mounting I've gone for and maybe fitting a couple of fat 240s side by side with vents cut in either door; but doing it that way means dropping the PSU back down on to it's bracket, and I'm planning to use that to mount the pump(s).

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldogjeff

It's got to have a window in it as well.

It'll be getting at least one window, Jeff - anything to reduce the amount of sanding required for those side panels.

That reminds me, I need to find some flat u-channel edging; and I have to research the best way to remove acoustic matting.

RedManc · 26th Feb 2012, 17:22

My 2cents on this is NEW FEET! but they new roof looks great, where are the Rad templates from ?

Spreadie · 26th Feb 2012, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedManc

My 2cents on this is NEW FEET! but they new roof looks great, where are the Rad templates from ?

The old feet are consigned to the skip, they were pretty nasty, and I have a set of casters spare... I have thought about recessing them in the case floor so it sits lower down, but I'll have to measure their swivel circumference, to see if it's worthwhile, or even possible to do without hindering mobo placement.

The rad templates are from MNPCTech. Clicky

Cheers!

AK71 · 26th Feb 2012, 17:30

Oo, looking forward to this. That case certainly brings back a lot of memories

Burnout21 · 26th Feb 2012, 22:34

I have much love for these cases, all i am going to say is 'keep it pure to the design' its a classic case which needs love and attention

kaiter · 27th Feb 2012, 02:56

Nice post thanks for sharing.

Spreadie · 27th Feb 2012, 07:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnout21

I have much love for these cases, all i am going to say is 'keep it pure to the design' its a classic case which needs love and attention

I know what you mean, and it is a little difficult when throwing ideas around.

The idea is that it will remain, and be recognisable as, a Dragon. However, if that means I only give it a lick of paint and throw a bit of fairy dust on there, what's the point? On the other hand, this is my first project log, and skills and budget are not exactly boundless.

A perfect example is the front door and fascia panel - that is what identifies the case. So, my problem is how do I make changes to the front without destroying it's identity?

I have a lot of thinking to do.

Thanks for the comments, guys.

matiss · 27th Feb 2012, 08:05

Damn i´m getting old *memories*. Nice idea putting that good old trusting case to a new job. I should revive mine too

Burnout21 · 1st Mar 2012, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spreadie

I know what you mean, and it is a little difficult when throwing ideas around.

The idea is that it will remain, and be recognisable as, a Dragon. However, if that means I only give it a lick of paint and throw a bit of fairy dust on there, what's the point? On the other hand, this is my first project log, and skills and budget are not exactly boundless.

A perfect example is the front door and fascia panel - that is what identifies the case. So, my problem is how do I make changes to the front without destroying it's identity?

I have a lot of thinking to do.

Thanks for the comments, guys.

My old dragon

That was 7 coats of Ford Mexico yellow, each flatten and buffed, the main chassis painted black. I miss the case as it ended up in a skip after uni as I had no room for it

However I do have another one

shown bellow in my old render farm.

With yours I would extend the hole pattern on the side panel into something interesting and back-light it

Spreadie · 1st Mar 2012, 21:13

Nice looking Dragon!

Interesting idea about the hole pattern. I'm going for a window, but there's nothing to stop me making a pattern on the other panel. Food for thought, thank you.

In other news, I'm praying for the rain to hold off this weekend, so I can make some more progress. I don't have a garage, unfortunately, and the shed is rammed.

adidan · 11th Mar 2012, 08:44

Had any ideas yet mate? Or is that asking too much?

Spreadie · 11th Mar 2012, 10:17

I'm still stripping it back to bare metal at the moment, mate. And building up the courage to try removing the acoustic matting.

KidMod-Southpaw · 11th Mar 2012, 10:28

Looking good, nice start. Can't wait for more!

adidan · 12th Mar 2012, 06:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spreadie

I'm still stripping it back to bare metal at the moment, mate. And building up the courage to try removing the acoustic matting.

Do it man, there's sun in the sky, just do it!

tr3 · 16th Nov 2012, 21:04

How is the modding going, as I have the same GIANT case doing nothing......

Tr3

Spreadie · 17th Nov 2012, 14:34

The project is on hold at the moment, but by no means abandoned.

It's mostly stripped back to bare metal and the foam matting is gone, but all the bits are in a box in the shed for now. I have some designs made out for the side panel lighting, but I need access to a pillar drill to do them justice - there may be an old one up for grabs at work, I'm just waiting for a decision from the gaffer.

Also, my mate is building a proper spray booth at the bottom of his garage - so I'm hoping to give it a really good paint job.

25th Feb 2012, 14:59	#1
Spreadie No disassemble! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: an island in the south Posts: 5,296	Dragon Reworked [looking for ideas] I have finally decided to start work on my old Chieftec Dragon case. Currently, I have very little in the way of an overall plan for it, so I'm looking for ideas and inspiration. Here's the old girl Even without a clear idea of what I want to achieve, there's nothing stopping me making a start; so, after ten minutes of rivet drilling, I'm left with this... And this... I will be watercooling, so I do plan on a 360 rad in the roof and a 240 in the lower front panel. I'm currently degreasing and cleaning the parts, and I'm either going to paint them or send them for powder coating. Clearly I won't be doing any of that until I make the required cuts and holes. Anyone know the costs of powder coating, and a good company to use? __________________ Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes; after that, who cares?! He's a mile away and you've got his shoes! 2500K\|Gene-Z\|8GB\|670\|X-Fi\|V1200+\|3007WFP-HC\|M4\|F3\|MK-85\|G500\|EK Full Ni\|FC670\|D5\|360 GTS\|240 UT60

26th Feb 2012, 12:40	#3
Spreadie No disassemble! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: an island in the south Posts: 5,296	Slight change of plan. I have (will have) two 240 rads spare pretty soon, so I'm putting a 240 in the roof, instead of a 360; for now. 30 minutes with a jigsaw and file, plus around an hour's hard graft with an emery pad, and the difference is striking... My arms feel like they're gunna fall off. I am so unfit. __________________ Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes; after that, who cares?! He's a mile away and you've got his shoes! 2500K\|Gene-Z\|8GB\|670\|X-Fi\|V1200+\|3007WFP-HC\|M4\|F3\|MK-85\|G500\|EK Full Ni\|FC670\|D5\|360 GTS\|240 UT60 Last edited by Spreadie; 26th Feb 2012 at 12:49.

26th Feb 2012, 14:14	#4
bulldogjeff The modding head is firmly back on. Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Gliding through cyber space Posts: 7,322	as I was reading the first post I was thinking that's just crying out for a rad in the roof and you done it...Nice start, i love these cases. It's got to have a window in it as well. __________________ BULLDOGS BOX..FINISHED HEAT BLAST...FINISHED Saturday Night Special..FINISHED... Rebirth Finished

26th Feb 2012, 17:22	#6
RedManc Supermodder Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 338	My 2cents on this is NEW FEET! but they new roof looks great, where are the Rad templates from ? __________________ FOX

26th Feb 2012, 17:30	#8
AK71 Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, UK Posts: 90	Oo, looking forward to this. That case certainly brings back a lot of memories __________________ Project Fluttershy

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25th Feb 2012, 19:34	#2
improprietary FT03 is a bitch to watercool Join Date: May 2011 Location: esbjerg, denmark Posts: 305	ooooh the memories.

26th Feb 2012, 22:34	#9
Burnout21 Is the daddy! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bindi's cupboard Posts: 8,099	I have much love for these cases, all i am going to say is 'keep it pure to the design' its a classic case which needs love and attention __________________ Project log Mocha70 Workstation: Q6600, DFI P45-T2RS Plus, 8GB Reaper HPC, Quadro FX3450, 60Gb Vertex 2 Game: i7 930, GA-X58-USB3, 12GB Kingston, GTX280, 1Tb Seagate, WC

27th Feb 2012, 02:56	#10
kaiter What's a Dremel? Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2	Nice post thanks for sharing.

27th Feb 2012, 08:05	#12
matiss Multimodder Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Vienna Posts: 112	Damn i´m getting old memories. Nice idea putting that good old trusting case to a new job. I should revive mine too

1st Mar 2012, 21:13	#14
Spreadie No disassemble! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: an island in the south Posts: 5,296	Nice looking Dragon! Interesting idea about the hole pattern. I'm going for a window, but there's nothing to stop me making a pattern on the other panel. Food for thought, thank you. In other news, I'm praying for the rain to hold off this weekend, so I can make some more progress. I don't have a garage, unfortunately, and the shed is rammed. __________________ Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes; after that, who cares?! He's a mile away and you've got his shoes! 2500K\|Gene-Z\|8GB\|670\|X-Fi\|V1200+\|3007WFP-HC\|M4\|F3\|MK-85\|G500\|EK Full Ni\|FC670\|D5\|360 GTS\|240 UT60

11th Mar 2012, 08:44	#15
adidan CPC_refugee Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Outside your house. Posts: 10,090	Had any ideas yet mate? Or is that asking too much? __________________ Don't do today what you can put off until tomorrow Battlefield 3 adidan_uk BF3 Stats i7 3770 3.4GHz // Asus P8Z77-M // Scythe Big Shuriken // Gainward 570 Phantom // 8Gb G.Skill Ripjaws 1600MHz // 250Gb Samsung 840 // 650W Be Quiet Dark Power Pro // Lian Li V351b Apache Filled // Samsung T220 22" // W7 64

11th Mar 2012, 10:17	#16
Spreadie No disassemble! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: an island in the south Posts: 5,296	I'm still stripping it back to bare metal at the moment, mate. And building up the courage to try removing the acoustic matting. __________________ Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes; after that, who cares?! He's a mile away and you've got his shoes! 2500K\|Gene-Z\|8GB\|670\|X-Fi\|V1200+\|3007WFP-HC\|M4\|F3\|MK-85\|G500\|EK Full Ni\|FC670\|D5\|360 GTS\|240 UT60

11th Mar 2012, 10:28	#17
KidMod-Southpaw Making You Feel Old Since 2010 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Wigan Posts: 9,886	Looking good, nice start. Can't wait for more! __________________ Project Logs: Refraction - Steampunk Flash Drive Silverstone PS07 - Asus M4A88TD M EVO - AMD X6 1055T - Asus 7790 Cu 1GB - 8GB Corsair Vengeance - Xonar DG - M4 128GB - Frio - Antec 650W - Dell U2312HM X2 - Poker MX Red - Sennheiser HD 598 - IcyBox3219 (WD Red 1TB X2) "The fear in my eyes when my lass almost opened contacts, and with the name Alessandro, yours comes up very near the top." - Blazza181

16th Nov 2012, 21:04	#19
tr3 What's a Dremel? Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Essex Posts: 2	How is the modding going, as I have the same GIANT case doing nothing...... Tr3

17th Nov 2012, 14:34	#20
Spreadie No disassemble! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: an island in the south Posts: 5,296	The project is on hold at the moment, but by no means abandoned. It's mostly stripped back to bare metal and the foam matting is gone, but all the bits are in a box in the shed for now. I have some designs made out for the side panel lighting, but I need access to a pillar drill to do them justice - there may be an old one up for grabs at work, I'm just waiting for a decision from the gaffer. Also, my mate is building a proper spray booth at the bottom of his garage - so I'm hoping to give it a really good paint job. __________________ Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes; after that, who cares?! He's a mile away and you've got his shoes! 2500K\|Gene-Z\|8GB\|670\|X-Fi\|V1200+\|3007WFP-HC\|M4\|F3\|MK-85\|G500\|EK Full Ni\|FC670\|D5\|360 GTS\|240 UT60

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