Case Mod - In Progress Project BIO-A10 by E.E.L. Ambiense - Completed

Log Update #25

Update time! I'm trying really hard to censor out some things on purpose, and it's getting more and more difficult the closer we come to the end of this project.

On to the update.

I didn't get a whole lot done, but some.

I began final assembly of the top I/O port/system power control/lighting control area.



I needed to beat up the acrylic a bit to make it a little "aged" so shiny new acrylic isn't shiny new acrylic. Although it's new. ...Such a conundrum.



Nothing new; just the typical steel wool and sanding foam method I've been following.



I also got around to de-pinning and sleeving the cables from the stock top I/O; USB, Firewire and Audio leads. I came across some really horrid heat-shrink I had in a supplies box that I obviously never used because it has all this technical writing in bright white all over it, lol. Fits in perfect!



I also got around to finally soldering/wiring/sleeving the blasted latching switch for the lighting controls. I hate wiring those things! But it's been a little while so it actually felt kind of cathartic to do it, you know?



A quick test with the lights dimmed...



Works perfect! That pic looks horrible though; camera didn't like the light levels apparently. You get the idea of the look though. Orange!

I also finished up the power switch too. A little easier to wire since it's a momentary. Thanks for that. Whew!



I'm still working out the logistics for the fillport, so let's move on to something else now.

I finished up assembling the rest of the non-rad system fans. A rear 120mm intake and a top 140mm exhaust; both have been de-LED'd (is that a word? It is now!) and I wasn't planning on adding LEDs to them afterward; as I stated before the internal lighting will be enough.



I used the same, matching buttonheads for installation. A little more of a pain, but it works fine.



A shot from the back so you can see the weathered mesh over the fan...



And finished! Looks nice.



Finished up on installing the top 140mm... Same mounting method, but with different mesh for a little more airflow. Personally, I like the look of the hex more myself.



I need to start working out the plumbing in this pig, so let's start with a passthrough bulkhead fitting, shall we? Holesaw does the hard work; nice that the scrap I used for the midplate is thin!



Installing the bulkhead fitting...



Installing compression fitting...



All done! Easy-peasy. I need to do one more of those for both lines to/from the rad below, or else the watercooling won't be as effective.



I'll be back soon and with some more poop to fling! Thank you for tuning in!

 

now You have to "age" cable sleeving, fittings and tubing

 

Now I can start my day.....and Luv the "eXtra CRispY" Rust effect on mid plate dude

 

Been some nice progress, since I last popped in! Always good to see!

 

Log Update #26

Mini-Update time!

I've been diligently working on things... I just can't...well... let's just say I can't. Yet.

So here's some table-scraps. Enjoy. Like gnawing on leftover pizza-crusts you found in between the couch cushions, or even better, the last couple of pickles left floating in that jar you found toward the back of the refrigerator that don't look quite right; they're a little small and deformed a bit, but they still kind of taste okay once you get over the initial fear.

Continued final assembly of all the puzzle pieces on the project. Finishing up installation of the outer plate to hold things in place...



And I finally worked out the issues with the fillport situation. Whew. LOL. I had to dig into the "fittings I don't really need or perhaps abandoned because of going in some other direction instead" bag, I was able to finally get things hooked up correctly. And man was it close. It's an amalgamation of d-plugs and extensions.



Yeah. It doesn't look all that hot, but it works. Here's a shot through the 5.25 bay's holes so you can see the clearance...



That's why I hate "shooting from the hip" when it comes to designing stuff when I don't have all the information needed in order to make sure there won't be any of the "dynamic variables" as I've called it before. I don't like surprises! But it will work out just fine, so all's good.

I finished up on the LED wiring and getting the rad-assembly taken care of. I didn't care too much about wire-management on the rad since you really won't see it other than the glow, but I did sleeve stuff a bit.

I was more worried about making sure all the LEDs were soldered correctly and everything's electrically-sound, but a quick test and it's perfect.



Time to slap this thing in the case so I can start plumbing things. I just spoke with my best friend at his folks house for a 4th of July celebration thingy earlier today and I'll be getting the h/w that's going to be housed in here soon so I can finally stop doing these little dances around things and stuff. It's getting annoying, and I'm whiter than snow, so I definitely cannot dance.



I was going to use some typical solid old-school LiLi PCI slot covers, but I dug around a bit and found these...

I think they look pretty cool! I don't recall where they came from but that doesn't matter. Looks like one of them is slightly different from the others too. But they should work fine. And they will lend a little more to the look I believe. Let's get them in line with the rest of things.



Quick sanding, sprayjob and weathering followed by some clear and we have this...



I finished up on assembling the left panel's intake vent...



Man, that rust looks really gnarly in there.

I also slapped the window panel on there too, but I can really only show this. I'm sorry.



Alright, hopefully that will suffice for now. I'll be back soon with some more shtuff and things to show. Thanks for tuning in and see you soon!

 

Your post make me smile...

Is that weird?

 

Not weird at all. Atleast not in my book...

Nice work Jeremy.

 

the half gone grill with the yellow underneath reminds me of a couple "Dog proofed" screen doors we had as a kid growing up. Your weathering and aging tactics are in a league of there own I must say.

 

Brother that looks really nice, I love all those painting techniques you are using, keep on modding

 

Spent the last couple of nights reading the worklog.
This is my first following an E.E.L. worklog. It's not going to be the last - by far.

 

Your post makes me smile too. Is that weird?

Thanks!

Thanks, Crunch!

LOL, thanks man!

Thanks, Alex! I appreciate the kind words, bro!

Geez, I hope it didn't scare you too much. You're starting down a path that shall lead you to the Dark Side of the-- ahhh, nevermind.

Thanks, man! And welcome aboard!

 

Log Update #27

Mini-update for that light-on-caloric modding fix.

Alright, let's dive into it.

More of the kindly-provided supplies from Performance-PCs, I grabbed some of the new Mod/Smart CCFL bulbs.



Now, on a personal level, Tyler (Mod/Smart, Primochill) and I don't mix well. We keep our distance from each other and for good reason. I won't go into specifics, but let's just say...we don't mesh well and leave it at that. But with that said, these CCFLs really are quite nice.

Also grabbed a G-Vans inverter box; hopefully I won't have a fire.



Seriously, I generally stay away from G-Vans stuff myself as well as the brand they used to make stuff for, Lamptron. I don't like it when companies steal other people's work, you know? Just seems...a little unprofessional and stuff.

I also crimped and made a quick little power lead for the inverter box, as I didn't need a rocker-switch relay since it's going to be hooked up to the master lighting switch. Plus I hate really short power leads for stuff. It sucks for cable-management.



A quick little poopy shot of the 4" unit snuggling up to the fillport line up top...



Moving on to the front grill. I needed to get most of it done, although I ran out of the screws for it. Go figure.



I have like a million screws out here and I don't have the size I need! That's always the way things work, you know? It's like losing the remote for the TV. I have no idea what the hell I meant by that. Nevermind.



Now, to make things look a little more "finished" on the inside of the front door, I went ahead and doubled up the acrylic frame inside as well so it would cover up the otherwise-bare modder's mesh right there. Looks a little more clean this way.



Moving on, I needed to finish up on the front optical drive's work.



Some quick weathering and sanding to make it "fit in"...



Some "tape of the gods"...



I made a little eject button out of some scrap acrylic and some sand-paper. Works perfectly. I also sprayed a layer of acrylic with a couple coats of the orange I've been using to make it contrast against the acrylic...



I'll be back soon and with some more stuff! Thank you for tuning in!

 

Just showed this log to a colleague at work and he loved it. Re-reading it reminded me why I always enjoyed your mods and missed you during your recent absence.

Really glad you're back, man

 

UHHHMMMMM where is said cathouse? I didnt know they brought in new girls!

Just joking of course. Nice progress BTW. Just a warning I'm still seriously considering a stop by to raid your old parts pile.
I always enjoy reading your logs not only because of the awesome work but the humor you include.

 

Looks great so far. I wouldn't eat off of it, though. It looks like its covered in tetanus and doodoo.

 

Wow, that's a great compliment, man. I appreciate the kind words. In all honesty, I really only post stuff because of you guys. It took a bit of prodding to get me to do it in the first place, but I'm glad I did. I'm glad I'm back too!

Hahaha, well access requires a poker chip with a One Eyed Jack's logo on it, and--- wait...no that's not correct; that was from Twin Peaks. Nevermind, sorry.

I appreciate the kind words, man!

I try to include some kind of humor for the reader because what is life without humor? Vanilla ice-cream, that's what. Yeah, not even the French vanilla, but the imitation vanilla-bean cheapie house-brand stuff from the grocery store. With the specks in it too. Yeah. All cheap and bland. And you have to eat it with your fingers. And nothing sucks worse than eating imitation vanilla-bean cheapie house-brand ice-cream without a spoon.

That's life without humor.

Thanks, man! As a matter of fact it is tetanus and ! I just didn't think that name would roll off the tongue as easily.

 

roll off the tongue...
roll off the tongue...
..........

I was hoping you would avoid putting that image in my head. Now everyone must suffer.

 

Oh, God..... take cover!

 

Dayum...Fantasikal build!!!! Sorry bout the economy hit man. Got nailed as well. Keep faith and eyes on the horizon.
sub'd

 

ooh yees....lovin the color scheme man...