Scratch Build – In Progress Project: Metal Gear Mk. IV Case (Update Oct 07- Final Construction Shots Posted)

Here's a final render of the concept, all ready to go design-wise.


Check the latest posts in here by me for progress reports.

Original Post

First off, I go by Aceanuu on the internet, but my actual name is Chris. I'm 18 and headed to study architecture at UT this fall after graduating high school this Spring down around Houston. But enough about me, (except that I am a long time Metal Gear Solid fan, way back since the old MGS demo on my Pizza Hut PS1 demo disc) on to the case concept.

Well, I've been jonesing to make a custom case for a loooong time, and now I've got an idea, got the money, got the time, and got the concept, or at least I think I've got a concept. I'm looking for any and all feedback that I can get on layout, airflow, components, construction: anything. Obviously, I've never done this before. I've built probably a dozen or so custom PCs for me, family, and friends, but I've never actually done it from scratch. So, I'm planning on building this out of 3/8 ply (from a wood shop, so it will be fairly decent quality) and perhaps a decent portion it outa MDF board (at least the mobotray I was thinking). Anyways, without further ado, here's a look at my concept. (I'm gonna paint it, but since its wooden construction I left it wood colored in the renders).

Be sure to check my latest posts and see the updates and additions, these pictures are getting outdated fast, heh.











If you've played Metal Gear Solid 4 (heh... I marathoned it with a friend in a 17hr:20min nonstop session) its the Metal Gear Mk II, basically its a little scout robot.



Since its a scout bot, I'm trying to make it as quiet as I can as well, so I'll be trying to stick to quiet fans and the wood should help pick up most of the excess sound. I've taken about 30 pictures with my own camera of close-ups of the model for the Mk II in the game's model viewer, so I've got a lot more detailing and minor adjustments to do to the cases body, but this is basically it sans-details.

I'm going for the same look, and I hope to design a custom webcam/mic head like the one on the actual robot. Also, I'm really hoping to use a slot load DVD, but I cannot for the life of me find one thats not a laptop drive... but it seems like that will work, but I'm also considering mounting a standard 3.5 dvdburner with a tray if I've got to. Now, the finale that I'm still trying to manage, is that I'd very much like to mount a 17in widescreen LCD in a customized body that folds into the side of the case just like on the MK II. I've got some ideas on making that work, but I'm always open to any and all suggestions. And finally, yes, I am aware of the fact that the weight is mostly in the back with the PSU, I'm workin' on balance, but the fact is that there is a little hemispherical joint in the actual (ingame) robot at the place where the I/O on the mobo is located. This would be an ideal place to turn into a base, I just haven't added it. Lastly, the fans I've got in the render aren't the type i'll be using (at least thats the plan at the moment). I'm planning on using some of those Arctic Cooler fans with the little rubber washers (always been very pleased with those), and just cutting an 80mm whole in the wood.

As you can see, this design I'm posting is missing a few parts, but the critical components are there, so I'm really just looking for feedback.

Thanks,
-Aceanuu

 

nice design! not a huge fan of metal gear solid (the fact that ive never seen it is a big factor!) what's up with the strip on the top thats over the two fans? could create some turbulence. is this going to have a stand or something, because in that position, id imagine that cables would have crazy bends on them, and the case would lean back and be like WTF? TSFU!

Most slot load DVD drives are for the laptop, but you just use an adapter thing that converts the laptop to SATA, or PATA

 

I've been workin' away at the model/design of this basically nonstop today, so its already evolved a good bit from the current post (but the basic shape is obviously maintained). With each passing moment I'm wanting more and more to take my current rig with some upgrades and stuff it into this build instead of buying sub-gaming quality gear... swap out my massive dualslot-cooler 8800gts with perhaps a smaller 8800gt and then swap from 3gb of ram across 4 sticks to 4gb on two on a microATX mobo. I can fit my quad in there if I change the mobo I use (I've actually got a decent microatx mobo that I've never even used, that kinda also was a catalyst for this project, heh), but then I doubt that a microATX psu can push a quad and 8800...

*sigh*

Decisions decisions...

 

you can use a normal ATX power supply you know

 

Well yes, but I'm already having a hard enough time trying to cram the little on in. However, I'm gonna see what I can do if I fandangle an ATX PSU in down where the HDD is and perhaps move the fans and disc drive...

*checks time*

Hmm... looks like another late nig- er, early morning... (click for a bigger render)



Now have mesh, socket screws, and arctic cooler fans.

 

I've never played any PC games (or console for that matter) but I like this design a lot. Not the traditional square box. It's nice. Do this and show us your progress.
John

 

The HDD looks like it is going to be in a very hot airpocket without any flow. Maybe switch it around with the PSU? That way, you'll have more room for the PSU too

You'd have to run the power chord for the PSU inside the PC that way.

 

Well I dont have a rende but I think I've got a PSU/HDD set up so that the PSU is down in the front and the HDD is back over where the HDD was. I've also got the little cylindrical stand almost worked out too. Anyways, time to go to work... but when I get back: more updates.

 

I think you should go ahead and add the neck/turret mount and use it as the base. It will center your base a bit. Reproduction mods work better if you use as much detail from the originals as possible.

 

Ok, revision time...

Again, this case is still a WIP, so all input is welcome. I've stopped myself from component shopping/browsing (its so much more fun though, heh) and I'm temporarily ignoring the component layout stuff in exchange for finish the case design. Now, on to the matters at hand.

The new case pics are below. Again, its not finished (I'm still working on what exactly will open (I've removed the front panel in the renders, at least that panel if not the bevels around it and in front/below it will all open up with it, and I'm thinking like that opens and then some of the side hinges at the back to open like a door, idk, thoughts guys?).





The big rectangle thing is a 17in monitor screen. I've made it two inches thick... but I've never worked with remounting an LCD before... so I was thinking I'd try to just remove the stand of a 17" widescreen acer and reroute the buttons while leaving most of it in its plastic casing. But, if someone has a link to some sort of guide or anything really on custom LCD screen remounting. I've still got to work out how that will work, but I've got the motivation, so I'm pretty sure I can get that done.

Here's some reference of the robot (I've got a bunch, but I had to just take pictures of my TV, sorry). The purple lines indicate the rail along which the black hinge assembly mounted to the bottom of the screen slides on.





The only real concern I've got is hinging it. In the MkII robot, there is only a hing on the bottom of the screen (nothing on top) that slides along the bottom of the monitor. This allows the hinge to be centered on the side of the robot, instead of in the back, so all that happens is that the hingemount on the bottom of the screen slides to the right (towards the back of the robot when its folded in) on a rail and then flips out. So the screen appears to slide forward in relation to the case, then flip out. So, I'd like to preserve this motion, anyone have any ideas? I know a company called Igus makes some pretty nifty rails that might be able to pull this off, but they're pretty expensive. My old robotics team might have some I could buy. Idk. And about the hinge... I'm pretty sure I'll need one on top as well (I'm fine with that), the markings in red are where I'm gonna add the top hinge, and the purple lines outline the hinge mount (and that little part on the left of the hinge is kinda a short cylinder that it mounts onto.



I'm sure this will do hell for the balance, so again, don't worry, the cylindrical stand is coming for this case, I'm still workin' on it. Hopefully I can make it balance via that. Otherwise I'm not above making a little pedastal/bipod that folds out from the bottom of the monitor when its opened to balance/support the case/monitor.

I'm rambling, yes, sorry, but its nearly 3:30am... and I've got work at 8. So gnite, I look forward to your inputs.

 

Work is happenin' atm on the case. I've got the panel where the LCD will mount as a large 3/4in MDF board, so that should be strong enough for the screen mount. The interior of the case will not be beveled, it will simply be the MDF board that is beveled. This will simplify a lot of the woodwork. I'm trying to figure out how to get the multifaced other side down to a couple of boards...

Back to work! And I've got the thing drawn up in sketchup just for conceptualizing, nothing is actually to scale like this inventor.

Renders later tonight.

 

Ok, well addition renders/progress/layout update. First up, the pics.







As you can see, on the last one, the layout has evolved. There is now only one bottom intake fan (adding another beneath the motherboard somewhere too) and of course there is a stand. Additionally, the PSU is full ATX sized and is down at the front of the case. This will shift the CG forward and down and make the case much more stable (If I have to I'm not adverse to adding feet at the front of the case). Now, the main change here is the Motherboard is at an angle across the case. I'll design a mobotray and bracers to fit this. Now, the only issue I have is that since this current mobo in the model is a Full ATX, the massive dualslot 8800gts that i've got will simply not fit unless I know out the side of the case. However, I've done a little research and found that it is possible to aquire PCI-Express extension ribbon cables. Basically lets you put the GPU wherever you want... and then just bring the bus to it via ribbon cable. Very cool. But, has anyone ever heard of this? Would it affect performance?


http://www.adexelec.com/pciexp.htm

If I can't use something like this... I'll have to drop down to a Micro ATX motherboard (which really just means I'll have to buy new RAM and a new Mobo and deal with the fact that I've got perfectly good ram and a motherboard now useless). Next revision will have my take on the monitor holder.

EDIT - I forgot to mention: the hole that is in the center of the black "eye socket" type thing on the outside of the case is possibly going to be where I'll channel the "exhaust" of the graphics card.

 

Well, I'm still pressing on, and I'm there almost. Got a big parts list done, got the layout, got the will, got the money... now just the time!

From here on out I'm just figuring out a way to hold the PSU in its place, mount the HDD (its in a HIMURO cooler shell), and mount the mobo. The mobo mount is on the opposite wall as the monitor mount will be. However, to make it so that case can be opened, I'm going to have the mobo tray (aka 1/2in MDF board) hing down and out when that side is take off. The only thing that is left is to make cable paths for the USB, PS2, Ethernet, and 6 audio plugs to go to the back of the shell. The 6-ray star shape behind the mobo is how I am going to put my USB ports. I think this will allow all of the USB to be easily accessed, and add a cool design to a mundane feature like USB ports. The PS2 hole will be in the middle (since I'll only use it during setup, my keyboard is USB and there is no PS2 mouse plug on this mobo).

Anywas, as always, input and nit-picks are always welcome.






I'm also considering putting another large 140mm fan on the back side. It fits with plenty of room left over. I'm only a tad concerned with structural integrity, but I figure I'll add some additional supports for the room anyways.

 

do you have the hardware yet?

because i'm actually trying to sell 2gb of DDR2 800 patriot memory

 

Wow, if that thing can be built and made functional, it will be extremely cool.

 

dude, this is getting better and better, im sure once its built the case will be sweet!

 

Does anyone know of a good link or guide to setting up a laptop optical drive to a PC? It would be a great help. Another render coming tonight... lotsa improvements.

Oh, and is it a really bad idea to reverse the fan on a psu so that it intakes with my intake instead of fighting against it?

 

Ok, well I'll be gone until Friday evening, its time for me to register for classes/orientation/etc at UT this week. So, last post for a while, but don't think I won't be checkin' and thinkin' about this.

Click for larger versions.






Thats the Zalman 92mm cpu cooler on the q6600, a 120mm exhaust fan, a 140mm intake, two 640gb HDDs in wooden side brackets with crossbraces. There are also some braces in back and some wooden shapes to hold up the PSU and some crossbraces to support it. You'll also notice there are spots in the back bottom now for the DVI, ethernet, PS2, 6 USB, and all the Audio. I'll be placing the two power plugs there too, one for the PSU and one for the monitor. I'm still lookin' for advice on how to mount the monitor on some sorta swivel hinges. As in, the monitor needs to rotate 90 degrees from the top and bottom, not the side, so I can't just use a hinge.

Again, any input is welcome (ie, encouraged strongly). Wish me luck figuring out what Arch classes to end up with and such. I'm lookin' forward to getting back to work on this... but good news is there is a full machine shop/cnc lab with practically free usage (and 3D printing) so I'll have some seriously interesting mods within the next year...

Peace and Thanks for Lookin.
-Aceanuu

 

for the optical drive from the laptop, you just buy an adapter for SATA or ATA like this stuff

yeah and its all good to flip the fan around and stuff.

the hinge style things in the school desks that sort of swing up then fold down would be highly practical for this I think? i was sitting in class today and started swinging the desk bit around and im like WTF, this would be great for that render ive been seeing in the BT forums!

 

Yeah, I was thinkin' the same thing. We moved offices at work, and the old office depot build-it-yourself POS desk that I had was a bit damaged during the move. Well, what better time than that to tear it apart! Me and a friend at work broke it down and salvaged a ton of right angle two screw connectors, 4 pretty decent handles, various short wood screws, and of course the two hingeds on the keyboard door. I've also checked out Home Depot and there are some pretty good options there.

Anyways, off to Austin!

Btw, I don't suppose you've got any links to US-based shops with that kinda converter?