Case Mod Project Stealth - 16-May-2013 (already started)

[Falqoon]

Dear Bit-Tech modders and followers.

Hereby I would like to start the build log on Bit-Tech. Tried to register for about 7 weeks, but due to some (technical?) problems it was unable. But now I’m finally here.

The mod is already started a few weeks on two Dutch hardware website so I will post all those updates in this first post, after that I will just continue updates for al the forums.

Something about myself:

My name is Kevin, 21 years old and I’m a frontend/backend web developer from Holland. Building computers always was a hobby of mine, but since the beginning of 2013 I decided I finally wanted to do some casemodding myself.

The project:

The case I’m using is provided by Cooler Master, a CM Storm Trooper. It’s a beautiful case I hope to make even more beautiful! The name I picked for the project is Project Stealth. First of all because I like the name, and secondly I will be making some decent covers to hide various things such as drive bays and stuff. The colors I’ll be using are a lot between black & white (greyscale) and red for the highlights. Some common colors but the plan was to stick to the CM Storm theme.

Some pics of the stock trooper:











What hardware will be in?

• Intel Core i7 3770
• Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD4-B3
• 8GB Corsair Vengeance (low profile)
• HD 7850 RQ will be replaced by a GTX660ti.
• XFX Pro 550w Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 620W

Sponsors

The build is sponsored by Cooler Master, Gigabyte and BitFenix.

I would like to thank Marco from Cooler Master, Bernice from Gigabyte and Michel from BitFenix. Thank you guys so much for the faith for the build, the drive I get from you all is amazing!



Lets start.







I began sketching some ideas about the covers. After sketching a while I had cut some 1,5mm alu plate to the correct size.





I wanted to make the psu cover out of two parts, and put the together with a angled profile and some nice bolts. Let’s glue the angled profile to the alu part.







Looks good when put together in the case





Then I started to figure out how I wanted to place the bolts. I tried several options.







I chose to go with the last option, and drilled some holes in it (M4 size).



Then I drilled M3 size holes so I could mill some M4 size thread, here is a test piece. Worked out pretty well.







After the testpiece i tapped into the angled profile and put it together into the case.



The covers will be painted later during the build in black.

[b]Some small piece about the hardware

Yesterday I picked up the new processor, the i7 3770. Delivers a lot more power than my old Phenom II X4 965 BE.



And some pictures of the mainboard provided by Gigabyte!











Thanks to my sponsors!



Cooler Master Benelux



Gigabyte Benelux



BitFenix Benelux







Created some vinyl stickers for the build.

Top psu cover:



Side psu cover:



Drivebay cover:



Designed stickers to replace the original fan stickers:





After designing the vinyls for the covers i worked on a color layout for the sleeving:



Thanks to my sponsors!



Cooler Master Benelux



Gigabyte Benelux



BitFenix Benelux







Some covers are done, and I’m working on a custom side panel now .

I wanted to make a full sized acrylic window because I would like to see EVERYTHING of the inside without opening the case. So I took a piece of acrylic glass and cut it to the right size. And measured the holes it needed.









Measured the holes on the trooper to fit the window and took our nice thread milling set .





After al the measuring, drilling, thread milling, and sweating some the panel was on the case .









At this stage the edges of the acrylic glass lights up a little because the window is so clear. I decided to create a little frame around the window of 3 cm with vinyl sticker. So it’s still a nice big window, but with nice matt black edges.

Going on to the covers.

The first disappointment.

I painted the covers very nice with a primer and coat of the same brand, and put several hours in it. Put the vinyl stickers onto it, but then I pealed of the carrier that holds the vinyl the coat I painted got off to. I used a lot of words that sounded something like *** ******** **** ***** and I was pretty upset.

Immediately figured out how I was going to solve it, but the plan was created very quickly.

I quickly went over to a DIY store to get some matt black adhesive plastic and removed the rest of the painting of the covers, cleaned them up and applied the adhesive plastic very carefully.

Needed to reorder some of the stickers because I messed up some but then I was good to go.



























In the next update you guys see more of the vinyl i put on .

Thanks to my sponsors!



Cooler Master Benelux



Gigabyte Benelux



BitFenix Benelux







Update! .

In the meantime I finished the following things:

- Sidepanel

- Changed silver bolts to black bolts

- Vinyl on the covers

- Build in the hardware

- Opened up packages!!!



Over to the packages that came .

At first I received a new CPU cooler for the project, from Cooler Master, thanks Marco!

It’s the Seidon 240M liquid cooler.





I bought a new power supply from Cooler Master as a sign of thanks for the provided stuff. The Silent Pro M2 620W







New Sponsor!!

As you may have seen in the banner, I got a third sponsor that is going to back up the project. BitFenix.

Here is the package I received from them Thanks a lot Michel!











Because a lot happened that didn’t required more information, i just let the photo’s speak for itself.













I/O shield painted black

















Created a cover for the HDD in the same style

























That were the pics, hope you guys liked it.



Now I’m going to begin with the sleeving of the extension cables provided by BitFenix.

I’m also busy designing the front with fellow modder Asphiax. We are creating the front of the system in acrylic, with some nice features. Stay tuned



Thanks to my sponsors!





Cooler Master Benelux





Gigabyte Benelux





BitFenix Benelux

[Falqoon]

Still waiting on some tools to finish sleeving. In the meanwhile i provided myself with some candy. Bought two older HP 17" flatpanels to group with my 23" ultrasharp. Love the extra space when programming! I only need to spraypaint the bezels in black so it matches the rest



Besides the two panels I also bought a new GPU, an Asus 660Ti

Hope you guys like it and see you soon @ the sleeving update