The doorwells are another feature you need to replicate, if possible. As for your design I would lengthen the back and add a slope to it. The headlights are a bit too much like a 'model with a computer in it'. No one said the outline of the doors had to be exactly like the original's either. That's the beauty of the Merc. People will know what car you were inspired by even if it doesn't look exactly like the car. I would put the vents near the front bottom and have the door shaped around it.
You know, you're right... The footwell and door sill of the 300sl was a very unique and distinctive part of the car. The door sill was quite far up the side of the car, and generally quite chunky and cool: It would be cool if I could incorporate that in the mod. And, given that addition, there is now more space on the side panels onto which I could place the vents! And this is for the better because the vents are no longer attached to the door, and I could use this for the practical purpose of an air inlet for fans... I don't want to make too many changes to the shape of the door, but don't worry, I'll find something... As for the shape of the case, I want to do something which tributes the stunning back: And making the case longer would indeed allow me to accommodate this better. As it is, the frame will require major modifications to make way for the gullwing doors and new floor, so why not! Not too long though or I won't be able to fit it on the desk... Naturally, once this is all over I'll want some matching peripherals. Here are my thoughts for a colour scheme: Piano black exterior, with chrome trim. Red leather and steel dash. Red leather interior padding, with chrome trim and red stitching (borrow mum's sewing machine). Gloss white mouse and keyboard... maybe some red leather here and there... And a monitor to match. Matching 360 Controller perhaps... some speakers as well... could make a pretty handsome package. Other colour schemes could be: White exterior, with polished wood here and there... Silver exterior with steel, and black peripherals... Also, what colour coolant? Would blood red be too much red for one PC? Is there any other colour which springs to mind? Any thoughts?
Ah yes, i'd mod the coolermaster gauges aswell! You just need two of them, print out some 500sl gauge faces to scale and stick them it, and mount the gauges on a custom metal/alloy replica panel. I'd definitely use metal or alloy to make the instrument cluster a good replica, and putting it on the front is ok, but... You know, you could make the case in a desktop case instead, not a tower. That way the case can be like like a "squashed" model of the car, sort of like the enzo build. It can have two opening gullwing doors, and the dash is in the proper place, with it's modded coolermaster gauges is visible through the windows when the gull wing doors are closed! Even have the chunky bits there at the base of the doors! Maybe have the mobo visible instead of the car seats tho? dvd under the hood is always nice, with a remotly located eject button, and you can use software eject. The hood get's opened and closed by the dvd tray I reckon gas struts are fine for the doors, put more effort into making the panels like a model of the car. Mdf, fibreglass, styrene, whatever floats your boat! Once it's all sanded & painted, it will look great. Maybe even curving balsa wood would be a good option for making the panels, especially the gullwing doors! All the panels can be curved single lightweight pieces!
Other colors... A black exterior with a dark blue interior would look very lush. The chrome bits would jump out more too. I'd also run the chrome bit near the bottom around the case uninterupted. You really don't want it TOO long, just enough to round out the back. You're not trying to rebuild the car entirely, after all, Just get the basic feel.
Nice One! Keep the ideas coming dudes (and dudettes)! It is much appreciated. @ mvagusta The Coolermaster gauges are a bit of a godsend. Makes the prospect of replicating the dials so much simpler.... I'll be sure to use the original's dash as a direct port of reference. Here's a picture of the original's dials: I should be able to put something nice together! The idea of a custom built desktop case is appealing, but at this stage in my modding career (1st major mod ), I think I'll be better off just modifying an existing case, producing panels and whatnot. Anything like the Enzo tribute looks rather challenging and something I'll be sure to try later on. The merc is the perfect car for that sort of build however, and your ideas, like the dvd powered flap are brilliant! I haven't thought of balsa wood up till now ... could make for some good panels... Thanks a lot for the idea! @ Cheapskate And the idea for chrome surrounds on the side is very good! It is definitely something to highlight the otherwise fairly bare panel. I might try and do something reminiscent of the protruding wheel-arch-fin object confused. I would also quite like a window in my side panels. My idea is a smoked out side window like the one on the car: lined with chrome, built into the panel... nothing too fancy... could work well. Also, since I want the gullwing doors on both sides, I think I should do something more of the right hand side of the case...? atm the left side reveals the internals but the right reveals: an aluminium tray! I was thinking: make a custom mobo tray out of plexi (visible mobo).... perhaps put it on a hinge so it can swing out for easy access? Will require a reshuffle of the side panel's current design, and might not be possible atm. Definitely increases the workload tenfold, but would make for a MUCH more interesting and practical mod... any thoughts? And thanks again for your contributions lads! My desk is scattered with blueprints. I'll start collecting parts asap, and hopefully construction should begin as soon as my exams are out the way in early June! Also, does anyone here know if I could use a PIC microcontroller to programme a simple series of motors? If so, I might have to refamiliarise myself with BASIC.... because I've got a plan...
If you can make what i see in those sketches, then i have to really urge you to get a desktop case. A cheap second hand $10 one will do, and fit panels, gull wing doors & windows/cockpit to that, instead of making panels for a tower case. You don't have to completely scratch build the thing! You don't have to do it with carbon fibre. Mdf, fibreglass, balsa, even bog/filler which are less glamourous than carbon fibre, but they are easier cheap options for an amatuer to make something really cool. The dvd tray powered bonnet opener isn't my idea, i saw it on a pc modded into a bmw nfsmw style r/c body. As for the mobo tray? meh. nice, but that sort of thing plays second fiddle to looks in my book
i took one of those coolermasters apart for my own mod. The pics could be useful to you. http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?p=1662134#post1662134 The dials could easily be detached and re-used if you know your wiring. The pcb of the controller is worthless and huge. Use it only if you have space. Good luck, looking good so far
Cheerzz @mvagusta OMG I remember that case! Rockport's Most Wanted, I think it was called. It was actually the case which inspired me to join a modding community. I still have my unsuccessful attempt at replicating it in my room lol. A link for those who haven't had the pleasure: http://www.extremetech.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=&s=26633&a=185821&po=71,00.asp And you've convinced me to look into desktop ATX cases. @The Beast. Thanks man . Thats a quick sketch though. When I get some actual modding done I'll make a worklog, and I'll make some diagrams for that. On that note, I am really struggling to get this idea on the computer. I just can't get the right curves with Sketchup (though its brilliant for looking at scale and perspective) and 3DSMAX is wielding equally unsuccessful results. I think I'll stick to hand-drawn for this one. @Xtrafresh. Cheers man . Thats probably the only place I could get a sneak preview of what I have to work with. By the looks of it, I have some extensions to solder in... The gauge is a nice idea so I'll do my best to squeeze the PCB in however I can. BTW Fresh Fusion appears to be coming along v. nicely. I'm also looking for a novel way to incorporate a power switch. The obvious one was a nice Vandal Res one, but I thought a key switch with custom fob would be nice. Looking for a momentary-on key switch in the UK atm. My wacky idea on this occasion (I have one for everything) was to have a remote control power switch, like on bond cars. It seems to contradict 'old school' but is nonetheless a nice feature. Apparently it is done with a doorbell: http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/204/1 Any thoughts? I'd quite like to discuss with anyone who has tried a remote power on. It seems challenging.
That's the bmw! The one thing that i don't think the bmw had, is an arm attached to the bottom of the bonnet in such a way, that it raises the bonnet further out of the way when the dvd opens, and the bonnet can completely close when the dvd closes. It's awesome that you are considering a desktop case! The tower will come in handy for something else The key switch is very awesome! Maybe have it located on the dash lol that would be a really cool touch i think! And remote start is awesome aswell very cool, it would be great to have both power on methods available i think. I don't see any problems with getting remote turn on to work. All you need is a compact remote doorbell, that can output a short single sound when the doorbell is triggered. You don't have to use a relay as that link suggests, you can just use a cheap transistor switch, which is a completely silent electronic option. If you want a small mechanical "tick" sound when powering on tho, then use a relay.
Voted for the Gullwing. Maybe you could go for a plastic 1/12 scale model of the car and put a itx+pico psu system in it.
WOW i just had a major blast from the past reading your post so i had to go searching This was a Musketeer Mod i did 5........yes 5 years ago Good luck with the mod modgod
I've always wanted to mod a 1968 Camaro SS. Not in the usual way, I want it to look stock but underneath, completely high-tech. 12" touch screen monitor in a center console with a frog pad, connected to a decent computer in the trunk. IR camera mounted in the grill along with RADAR front and rear. Fuel injected engine with >9.5:1 compression so it can burn hydrogen instead of gasoline.......Someday.
Well lads(and lasses), as a refresher, by this time next month I will have finished my exams, and shopping for leds on maplin. In the mean time, thanks for your contributions! They are all taken into consideration, working towards the ultimate blue print. (And thanks for the link CM). I have also been improving my 3DSMAX skills, using a number of tutorials, so I'll also attempt to put something up at some point. I'm reconsidering a silver paint job, because it just seems so right for this car. I don't know. I think its because this car was just so before-its-time that it needs a colour which reflects this side of it, and silver, back then, would have been a futuristic colour to have your car... Also, I think I've come up with a rival for the Merc. It falls in the same sort of category: The fezza 250 gto. This car was more form than function. Based heavily on the racing car, the car didn't actually have a stylist, but bits got added, simply to make this a better racer, and one of the most distinctive cars of its era. Here's the interior: Not as gorgeous as the merc, though perhaps, more influential for the automotive world, and definitely one to think about... (those three vents could make for an interesting fan grille).
