[Note: This build started last winter, but didn't get completed until now, I hope it's ok to post it since it's written as a log. Also, the original log can be found at www.nordichardware.se forums (Swedish) ] Well, it’s time for a new serious build for me I’m building this case as a ATX case. It would have been better and smaller, to use mATX, but it’s a bit to expensive for me… You might think that I’ve been influenced by all the other great game-cases, but that’s not the case, I’ve had plans for about 3 years or so to build this. This is my project work for last year in high school (the Swedish equivalence that is). The design will be based around Temple Of NOD from the excellent RTS game C&C Tiberian Dawn The colours are a bit bleached due to *.jpg not fully supporting the overlay or something… I started by doing a lot of sketches and a pair of models. I had to decide how the Temple would look like, since Westwood had a problem to decide that themselves… (There are about three different designs in just the original C&C game.) This is the second model produced, to get a hang of the size. The first one got way to big, so I had to optimize to get it a bit smaller. It’s still large though I had to make it so wide because I didn’t want to screw up the dimensions. MK2: It’ll be a bit larger than a desktop. I’ll mainly use aluminium-plates and transparent and red acrylic glass for the case. I will also do some engraving on all the acrylic glass, since that delivers a cool effect. I’ve bought 1000 bright red LEDs to use as well. Next I started with the sawing phase. It didn’t work out well at all. The blade got to hot, and melted the acrylic back together again… I worked a few hours to separate the two plates: Then I tried to saw the plates one at a time, which worked much better. The front of the original Temple: The front as I’m sawing it out: I continued with the acrylic glass, and sawed out the parts that are going to be between the two plates at the bottom. The front with the opening for the DVD: A sketch of the front: I decided that the engraving will be like this: Inner side of the acrylic spraypainted black, cuts made with dremel-wannabie on the inner side in a kind of triangular pattern, and on the outside, I’ll engrave the wisdom of Kane: HE WHO CONTROLS THE PAST, COMMANDS THE FUTURE. HE WHO COMMANDS THE FUTURE CONQUERS THE PAST. Something like this on the sides: And then the Dremel-wannabie broke
Project: Temple Of NOD [Part 2/5] The back of the case, first of all it’s time for some drilling: And then some sawing: A few holes for the expansion cards: Some welding to be able to fit the cards... USB+FireWire Rear side pretty much done: And then I started with the front: Something like this, with some modifications of course… Templets for the text were made at a commercial company. The font is from Tiberian Sun, but that’s the only one I know of that has anything to do with C&C, so it’ll have to do. A nice templet, about 32$ though :/ It’s a lot more precise than using a felt tip marker on 2cm acrylic. Where I’ll work with the engraving. (In my dark cellar ) I’m pretty satisfied with the results, ok for almost fist time engraving. Spraypainting of the inner sides, so you won’t be able to se into the case, I hate it when you can see all the dust inside acrylic cases… Unfortunately, the text doesn’t light up as much as I wanted, but it’s better then nothing.
Project: Temple Of NOD [Part3/5] The final results of the engraving: In the dark... Still looks better live though. Engraving of the front: This is how the engraving of the bottom plates will look like: Some parts fitted together: Finalization of the back to reduce weight and size: Brushing the aluminium with a drilling-machine I made arcs to hold up the roof, and a few other small things for the front: Assembly of the arcs and the bottom For some strange reason the acrylic glass crackled a little during the night, I find it strange and unfortunate. I can’t change it now when it’s put together with the other parts
Project: Temple Of NOD [Part 4/5] It was time to make the large thorns for the roof... Sawing through 5mm aluminium is not that funny no. About three hours and a lot of hot metal later this is the results: Some smoothing and brushing later: The roof and holders for it took its time to fix. The thorns and the roof when I got them back from the welding company. Pretty neat huh? After some brushing for a better finish: The progress so far: The tower back from rolling. I fixed the small thorns for the tower: Prospective HD-cages: The tower back from welding: Now, it was time for some serious bending… of acrylic glass. The recipy is 150* C in about 5 minutes in the middle of the oven. The front turned out good (it’s a new front since I broke the other one): The roof was easy to bend, but it wasn’t easy to get it in the right shape, so I had to get a pair of plates to put the acrylic in between. That worked It’s starting to take form: Sawing the hole for the tower is a bit tricky, since the glass is bent and in different angles.
Project: Temple Of NOD [Part 5/5] Holder for 5,25” unit completed: HD-cages with vibrationreducers: A holder for the fan in the front. The internal parts that are going to be painted: The acrylic bottom with all protecting tape removed: Engraving of the new front: Internal parts: Now, its time for a pretty boring part, drilling of holes for LEDs and installation of LEDs: 1000 bright red LEDs =D A 10 hour assembly of LEDs uuuuurk... DVD with external eject and LED: Some LEDs in action... (they’re red not pink, I assure you) Last work on the front: A HDD installed in a HD-cage: Aluminium-stripes for the roof (forgot to take pictures during the assembly, sorry) : [EDIT: Pictures of completed mod are a little bit down at page 4 to ease up load of 1st page... EDIT]
I'm sorry about this army of pictures just popping up, If I get enogh replies, I could put the last pics on next page, so it won't be so hard on those witohout a fast connection.
This log is translated from Swedish, so if there's anything that doesn't add up or something thats wrong, notify me and I'll try to change it. The pictures of the final result will be posted on next page. Thanks to: [NH]Noddan dfhaii star882 DarkInferno cpemma Dgephri davew who all helped me with some multiple HD-LEDS
That's absolutely wicked! The design is complex and you made it perfect. Very sweet work man. PS. I love that game!
The models and scetches were done last autumn, since I had it as a project work, I din't really stress that much at the time, but I guess it could have been done in a week or so. The building part is hard to count, but I started in January, working most weekends and holidays. It was 95% completed when I got my grade in June, and the last 5% wich is the final touch had to wait until last week when I finally finished it. It's hard to say, but I guess it took about 200hrs or something... including the work on the last things I haven't posted yet that is.
Final Pictures Part 1/2 MOVED [EDIT: Moved pictures a little bit down at page 4 to ease up load of 1st page... EDIT]
Final Pictures Part 2/2 MOVED [EDIT: Moved pictures a little bit down at page 4 to ease up load of 1st page... EDIT]
damn nice job man. respect! one of the best mods i have seen in a long time. do you have plans for watercooling. seems you have a lot of spece left with the tower and stuff. keep it up!
It's pretty crowded as it is actually, it's not easy to fit everything since it's shaped the way it is. Thanks for the feedback everyone
