This computer is for my sister, for her bday present. I'm not doing a big write up of everything as its all fairly common mods, pics will tell most of the story. Bought this case off the OCAU forums. The previous owner started removing the fan grills and did a real hack job :S and he's also used paper to cover any vents or fanholes not being used with fans for some reason. The case panels have an interesting design. The top panel is secured with one screw, you remove that and then slide the panel off. The side panels are held in place using the normal side panel slide mechanism things, except in this case it is made to slide vertically, so the top hold the panels on the case. Onto the Modding.... I marked out the front fan holes to be removed. Unfortunately I forgot to get a pic of it cut out. But here is a pic where it has been cut out, and I have marked out the next cut, to make room for the front 92mm blowhole fans to fit. Now for the front panel I planned for 3 x 92mm blowholes. First hole was cut using a variable holesaw. This was a bit too aggressive for the plastic so I decided to dremel the other two holes out. 90mm pipe is cut to rough size using a dremel, and positioned in the front panel. Some all pupose glue is used to hold it in place for the time being. Then as things are all going smoothly, I start to cut the pipe flush with the bezel, then all of a sudden my dremel clone dies on me. I open it up and with a bit of fiddling i seem to have fixed it, but it wouldnt fit back together :S So being in a rush, my dad bought me a dremel multipro. Using my new dremel, I finished off the cuts to make the pipe flush with the bezel. Bondo is used at the back to secure the pipes strongly. First layer of bondo after a little sanding. Second layer (I think my bondo skills are improving) The Back Panel has restrictive fan grills, and an ugly little grill and these old port space things on it, all to be removed. Marked for cutting, and the mesh I plan on filling the holes with. MAD, your mesh has proved to be extremely helpful, ty mate! Forgot to take a picture of the completed cut, DOH! Anyway, here is the case unassembled, ready to be painted, you can see the finished cuts in here. I need something to mount that front blowhole fans to, so I got a sheet of plexi marked it out and started cutting, The side panel was taped off, and marked for cutting of the window. Halfway through cutting I scrapped the design and just made it into a square rounded window. There will be more updates coming real soon.. All comments are really appreciated and I love feedback..good or bad. I would like to thank Iridium Technologies for hosting my photos! http://www.iridiumtechnologies.com.au/
Pretty sweet. But I am confused the front panel with 3 92mm holes is the same front panel where the 4 80 mm holes where before you cut them out? w/e Looks pretty cool and it's nice of you to make something nice for your sis. And coolio you got the real dremel deal.
yes, it looks like that in the pics. It's an old case with a lot of 80mm fan holes but zero vents. A perfect piece to mod. Nice project, and nice present. Good start.
I second that This is indeed a kind of weird way to take of the sidepanels... but I've seen worse (my old packard bell wanted me to pull off the front cover before unscrewing the sidepanels, which makes the sidepanels slide forward started casemodding this one, once, but didn't get very far because of the stupid front panel design. This case sure looks good to mod dremel on
Second layer sanded, getting a nice shape. 3rd layer on. 3rd Layer sanded. A black guide coat was sprayed on and then sanded to show up the lower areas better. All the lower black areas have bondo smoothed over them. Sanded back smooth. The top was bondoed at the last minute when I realised the removable part of the bezel was not level with the actual bezel frame. ****** photo sorry guys. Picked up some things at bunnings to use for the fans. In the shop they seemed perfect, and I was going to cut down the one on the left at the base of the actual cone part. But once I put them on the fans, they seem way too small. There was nothing bigger at bunnings and being too young to drive, I can't really go around to different shops looking for the right thing so these might have to do Prepping for Paint. I bought some new rolls of sandpaper and sanded back the panels. Completely sanded with 80grit. And since quite a few people from different forums have asked me what colour it is going to be. I'm using this Metallic Blue on the outer panels and bezel, and flat black on the inside. I've already finished painting the inside flat black, and I will most likely have another update later tonight of the case internals being assembled.
Yep, looking good. Will need to get some of this 'bondo' stuff too. Anyone know where to get it in the UK?
Get hold of some P38 and P40 filler from Halfords. It does exactly the same thing, as Bondo is not sold in the UK. I purchased both products in a twin-pack for under a tenner a month or two ago.
P38 and P40 -- Well known to anyone who's ever owned a Vauxhall! Think this is going to look fantastic, good start and already a lot of work gone in!
