Scratch Build – Complete Cygnus X1.

Well you achieved the first part - the inside is utilitarian. Like the stuff in the Museum of Modern Art!

I will be here watching.

john

 

You hit a homerun with the chassis. It's a work of art in and of itself. Good luck with the shell, I look forward to the end result.

 

Ooooh... okay. I'd heard legends about the shell, but never a real description beyond 'flowing' - which seemed to have gone out the door within the last couple pages of the worklog.

Gehry would be incredible - and so long as it doesn't end up looking like an Alienware, I very much look forward to the progress.


- Diosjenin -

 

Personally I would slant both ends of the grill, looks great though.

 

Why don't you just give it a try, instead of trying to be confident?

You don't know.

P.S. as Aslan would say you cannot know what would have happened but you may find out what will happen.

 

Yeah, you're talking to the wrong guy here, I'll try anything.
As I said I spent a great deal of time on this.

 

I just looked up your Dual PC MK3, really beatiful.

 

Can you believe I never looked at that link in your sig?!

Wow, another fantastic mod by you... gonna have to go back and read up on that one!

 

you can say that again.
it shows oldnewby's excellent craftsmanship and skill.

 

Hey oldnewby!

I have been a spectator on your custom build for a while now and am really enjoying your work on Cygnus X1.

I've anxiously been awaiting any updates but haven't seen much recently and it is primarily that reason I have joined the forums and write a response to your project log now ('til now I was just a lurker).

I hope it isn't too forward of me to offer up a couple ideas for your consideration. The first sketch I did is ...

http://forums.bit-tech.net/album.php?albumid=76

As an explanation ... your case design and finish reminded me of an old Marantz stereo I had seen somewhere at one time. If you wanted to go the simple route to finish up you could just square your case up with a frame like I've drawn and put a face over the front. If you used a combination of anodized aluminum and smoked or dark art/stained glass it I think it would give it an acceptable finished look. The shape of the louvre style fins could be cut and shaped to meet whatever suited your tastes. I just drew in plain rectangles to give you an idea. You could then make flat panels for the side out of something like dark walnut or more aluminum to finish up.

I don't really think you want to go the easy route so I am also working on a second set of sketches for you to look over.

Thanks for sharing your project with us and keep up the great work!

~M.

 

Nice project!

 

Hey oldnewb,
Happy New Year, we miss you!

I'm guessing your waiting for some progress to get done to show us, now that you've gone back to the original drawing board so to speak. Let us see, let us see!





no pressure

 

You do realize he is going to come back here and B-Slap us all with something we won't be ready for?
Man is an Artiste at what he does.

Chill all and wait!

Popcorn, pizza, sodas, beer?
We wait.

john

 

+1

 

Thanks everyone, and a happy new year to you all!
Also thanks for the props regarding Dual PC MK3, you may be interested to know that
it's gone to a new home (got an offer to good to refuse).
Very busy over xmas/new year but the break was good, I have started working on
Cygnus X1 again though but need materials of various kinds and everythings shut, so
although I have some pics it's not really enough for a post, hopefully next week or the
week after I may have something to show you.

Thanks for your interest.

 

I've sat and read through the whole thread today, I have to admit that your craftsmanship is pretty impressive (phenomenal might be a better word ) and the way you've achieved such a fine piece of work with common tools and a DIY bending brake is definitely an inspiration. The chassis you've made is way too pretty to hide. Functional? Utilitarian? Yes but with oh so much style!

Just a thought about your fan grill - have you considered going with the hex mesh but putting it behind the mounting plate you made? Alternatively, make a surround from thin plate just to clean up the edges?

I'm agreeing wholeheartedly with Cheapskate about the glass bit - found this which could look very sweet, acrylic sheet that looks like plate glass. I know it's a UK firm, simply for illustration purposes.

BTW, subbed and 5 stars

 

I have just read you whole thread and now i need a new keyboard. Drooled so much my keyboard dont work now.

Nice work with that alloy. Waiting for your updates.

 

@Grimloon; Thank you But I've worked out what the shell be made from, read on.......

@icutebluezone; Thank you


I think I've finally purged my system of alcohol and I don't want to go for a lunch, dinner or
"drinks" for a long time.
The shops are open again so I can get the stuff I need to continue with this project.




To get an idea of what the shell will look like a scale model of the chassis was made in MDF.



This was then coated in waterproof tex membrane.



Then some modeling clay and some tools were purchased from a local art store.



And I started to play around with some shapes.



Meanwhile, some hinges need to be made. I couldn't think of a good quick release design
(but I'm still thinking) so I just decided to make some heavy duty hinges as I think the
shell will be quite heavy.
Started with the part that will fit to the chassis. 12x25mm flat bar.















Picked up some more stuff from the alu shop.



Then the hinging part.





It's 37 degree's C here and everything sticks like glue.









Obviously this won't swivel so the facing edges have to be rounded.









No. Wait, I just had an idea. Be back soon.

 

Wow. And all by hand aswell!

 

Great Idea, and it's so cute!

Not that shape, please!

Uh oh...

Seriously! Looking at it, you would think it was machined by, well, a machine!

Nice!