Case Mod - In Progress Project: Machine Revolution (Updated Aug 10th)

This started out with with one on my friends rescuing an old case at at the side of the road. The case was too big and my friend decided to give it to me. As soon as I saw the case I immediately knew that I wanted to use it in the new computer I am planning on getting. The case has a pull out handle at the back and wheels at the front so it can be pulled around a bit like a suitcase.

I was working on a sketchup design but I decided not to mainly because the mod is going to be simple. Here's what I plan to do:

-Add a window on the side panel
-Convert the case from AT to ATX
-Sand it then paint it black
-Cut a 120mm fan hole at the front
-Replace the DVD drive faceplate with a 5 1/2" floppy drive faceplate
-Paint a large stencil on the other panel.

Here's what the case looks like. It's a tad over 2 feet tall:


As you can see I will need to convert the case from AT to ATX. This shouldn't bee too much of a problem, just cut a hole at the back for the motherboard plate and drill the necessary holes for the motherboard standoffs:


Here's the inside of the computer, that is the largest computer PSU I have ever seen in my life:


Measuring the hole I am going to cut for the window. The CD was left in the computer's CD ROM drive, its Much Dance 1997 . At lease it was good for something:


Here's the case after it's been gutted:


Started cutting the window. My friend Steve brought his dremel, unfortunately his cutting discs weren't very good:


A half hour and 20 cutting disks later I get a pretty good looking window:


My friend Steve is cutting off the hinge for some silly metal arm what was used to attach the harddisk to inside the case:


Need to sand the case now, I got some of this and it works really well:


Finished sanding the case, here's just one panel:


Sanded the front panel, those plastic grills were a hassle to sand but in the end they look very good:


This case is seriously lacking fan holes, so I decided to cut a 120mm fan hole for the front:


My friend Kyle brought over his dremel, his cutting disks are great for cutting metal. Here's me cutting the 120mm fan hole:


Hole is looking pretty rough but it's not going to be seen anyway:



That's all for now, today I am going to go out and get primer, spray paint, etc.

Any questions, comments, suggestions?

 

Just edit the post (go to advanced mode) and change the title there.

 

I love the old cases, and i cant wait to see what you have planned for this one.
also, do i see rolling wheels in the bottom pic?

 

Thanks for the info.

Yeah, it also has a handle at the back so it makes it very easy to lug around when going to LAN parties.

 

do i spy a keylock for the sidepanel
nice idea i love those old cases

 

I'm now painting the case. I picked up these from Home Depot:


Did a few layers of primer:


It took a while for the final coat of primer to dry, I only had time to apply one light coat of black paint. I'll leave it overnight to dry then I'll apply more tomorrow:


Anyone recommend something to protect the paint from scratching? I know I need to put some kind of finish on it but does anyone recommend a good brand or technique?

 

I actually prefer using a spray gun/airbrush rather than cans of spray paint. It gives you more control and makes it easier to achieve a nice smooth finish; with spray cans quite often you get too much paint and it runs.

 

I am using very light coats to ensure that the paint doesn't run. I've never really used spray paint to this extent so I'm kinda learning but I'm being careful at the same time.

 

you should try to keep the turbo button that was on the case

 

well, for most of the paint that i dont want wearing off(i.e. my mouse) i just put on a few layers of clear coat.

 

I certainly will, I'm thinking of using it to control fan speed.

Ok, I need to go out to get more black spray paint tonight so I'll get some clear coat then.

 

Another update.

I'm almost done adding the coats of paint:


It's starting to look nice and shiny now:


However I am having a problem with the paint, after I'm done adding another coat little bits of dust and whatnot land on the wet paint and they make it look a bit bumpy. Does anyone know the solution to fix this?

 

Sand it.

i'd say for a high gloss look start with 600 grit and work your way up to 1200 or even 2000