Project Red HL2 [UPDATED DEC 24 - 100% COMPLETE]

thanks a lot, now ive got drool all over my shirt! its coming along quite nicely. one question though, who makes that smaller computers case? i like it, its clean and sleek.

 

I was repairing it for my friends family - paid me £100, , but I remember it being an Advent computer (surprisingly powerful with a 3.8GHz P4, an x800 graphics card and 2 gigs of RAM). Its got AIRXL on its side. You could try google but its probably made by Advent (Which I think is part of the PCWorld group so you might not find much).

 

I have chosen design 3 and the JPEG is 50MB!!! However PolyGFX cannot do international orders until the end of August, so that'll have to wait. I've ordered some more stuff, so hopefully I'll have them ready for 2 weeks time.

I will be on holiday for the next two weeks. So won't be online, but feel free to comment!

 

Ok, yes I'm on holiday, but need some advice!

I want the plastics I need to be ready for when I get back to England however I can't seem to find good prices for them, so where can I get:

18" x 18.5" clear 5mm arcylic - I can get a huge sheet for £15 at B&Q though

and

14" x 21" black 5mm arcylic - the cheapest quote I got was £55, including a 40% discount cos my dad works at Southampton City Council who has a contract with them

Thanks.

 

Try local industrial estates for a small plastics business. I got a window sized clear piece and a front panel sized smoked piece for £3.

 

looks like is going to end up looking like this one

 

This is lookin good, dont no bout acrylic, have you considered Plexi?
Oww my hand still hurts dont try this at home.
You can order the Skin now from PolyGFX its teh end of teh month
Lookin forward to seeing it on.

 

THREE!

 

I have decided on design 3 anyway, I have done some modding so far, and hopefully I can get my three holes at the top cut in a few hours time, my dad forgot to bring the holesaw home yesterday .

The LCD and car adaptor works fine, which I'm pleased about, got some photos which I will put up later tonight, I can't get the window cut until I get the caseskin sorted, and the guy said international orders will be available at the end of august, thats today, so I'm waiting for the site to be up again, its been down for about 3 weeks!

As for the plexi, clear plexi is cheap at B&Q. Black is a nightmare, the cheapest I've found is £55, most expensive is £800

But I may have found a cheap supplier, waiting for a reply from them! If anybody has got a small sheet of black plexi I can buy (or have ), I'll be grateful!

 

Your case skin has inspired me to get one when I next update my case - though as you say their site is down. If you end up ordering it post back and inform us - I'll be watching this progress, very nice plan and kinda unique.

 

Finally, let the modding begin!

So after a couple of foriegn holidays and two setbacks, I've finally started the first stage of the modding.

I was having problems finding plexi at a reasonable price and now found a site here and should recieve my plastics tomorrow!

I can't order the case skin for another 2 weeks (according to the guy at PolyGFX) so thats a setback here.



Spending hours doing up the skin design on photoshop


The LCD


W00t, it works - just checking


Tools and instructions


Ooops, my finger slipped, warrenty viod


Wiring is a nightmare, but I tested the LCD along with the car adaptor mod on my parents computer (modded too!) and I'm please to say it works!


Some of the kit


Wiring up my fan so that I can control the LEDs with a switch without affecting the fans, had'nt anything else to do as I didn't have the powertools for the cutting of the case!


My dad cutting one of the complicated holes for me, he is a carpenter so has a lot more experience than me! Due to the design of the case there was a bit of damage to the metal:

But you won't see that when the caseskin is on


Well, I think we did a good job with the holes

Metal Remains. RIP


Cut the dome thingy that comes with the case, a good job on that too


This shows the perfect alignment of the holes for the fan grill, and the supports for the dome thingy, cool!

A psu mod tomorrow. Just realised a dilemma though, the PSU fan will be fixed onto the case (under the dome thingy) with the screws coming down from the top. However the screws to hold the dome thingy in place is under the top of the case, right where the PSU is. So effectively, I can't screw in the dome thingy and the PSU fan at the same time :S

More updates tomorow.

 

Can you attach the dome thingy via another method - double sided tape or something?

 

For the plastic, are you friendly with anyone at a local school? The technology technician would know exactly where to go, if they didn't have the stuff there already.

 

Just to let you know, I think your case would look better if you didnt cut a jagged edge for the side window, It looks alot more proffesional if you do a nice square or atleast smooth round clean cut, I think jagged shapes make it look a bit cheesy.

 

sweeet

 

I've changed the window design anyway, it is going to be straight edges, except for the place where that guy it, the window will go around him.

And could a mod put this into project logs?

EDIT: I will change the 3D designs for the new skin!

 

very nice willy... top stuff...lucky that ur dad is giving you a hand....

i was gonna order the ocz psu that you have but decided against it as it had lights....but still a good psu tho...man seems like ur case is gonna light up like a christmass tree!

 

I'm planning to mod the PSU and change the fans to the red ones I have. Cut off the fan controller and connect that fan to another 2, with a switch so that I can turn off the LEDs. Noise doesn't bother me at night, but light does!

Its a nice PSU with plenty of modular connectors and its made out of titanium!

Thread here for the LED switches, still waiting a reply to see if my plan is right!

 

Uber sweet design. Look forward to more progress

 

Because I only have 2 pci slots - the mobo is the DFI lanparty PCI-e version, I will have wirelessness internal to save USB space and not require the use of a PCI expansion. So I have a plan:



I am doubtful that three wireless devices (Wi-fi, bluetooth and IR for my kb & mouse) on one hub would have enough power, this is why I am going to mod the hub power and connect it to the 5V PSU supply. Would this be enough power?

The hub is this one, specs here (I assume they are the same specs).