Well, I have decided to start a new project. The canvas case will be a SFF XPC SB81P (http://us.shuttle.com/specs2.asp?pro_id=509) which will be modded and detailed. The theme is this... The case contains vast amounts of evil power which is contained via glyphs, symbols, and runes of protection and power. The great evil within is used to smite my foes on the electronic battlefield. Neat huh?

To pull off this theme I plan on this...

- Custom cut windows in the top and sides of the case but leaving a place for a handle on top for easy transportation.
- Custom etched lexan windows using Kayin's etching technique that will contains various symbols and runes.
- PLENTY of red LED lighting inside the case as well as underlighting the case itself.
- UV Lighting which will make the insides appear to pulse with power via a regulator that will make the light increase and decrease in power.
- Custom fabricated grills all around the case using Lunamods upcoming tutorial (even replacing the stock grills that are part of the case shell).
- Customized case interior
- Modded DVD Burner by painting the shell as well as adding a top window
- Stenciled and detail painted runes, glyph, and symbols from old celtic, egyptian, and pagan/wiccan religions (the idea is that all manner of protection is needed to contain the evil within)

Here is an idea of the runes and symbols I will be using throughout the theme of the case.
http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptsymbols.html
http://www.earth-dancing.com/bindrunes.htm
http://www.bewitchingways.com/runes/magick.htm

I have already cut the side panels and will have pics shortly.

This case will be my lanpartying case so I intend to do a great job on it. Unfortunately, I do not yet have an airbrush and I need to try to save some cash to pick up a new one to start working with.

I want to see how you replace the stock fan grills. Sounds like a good mod. Do you have any sketches or drawings of what the completed mod will look like?

I like the idea a lot GK, just a word of warning. Be very careful in the order in which you place those runes in relation to the others.

Spectrum - I will soon.

Godfoot - hehe yeah... during my research I was pretty entertained by the reading I ran across as well.

I added another thing I planned which I forgot. I am going to also put in some UV lighting (probably a 6" or 4" cold cathode) that want to fade in an out of brightness to give the illusion that it is pulsing with power. It will make a good accent color for the red (See DuckWarriors Romeo Case to see ).

I know I have seen regulators for Cold Cathodes that do this somewhere. Anyone seen one lately that is compact?

Sounds like its going to be a killer mod GK. You always do good jobs, at least this one wont have to be rushed like your last one

Wow, this sounds like a great mod. What main color will the exterior be?

Quote: Originally Posted by gorked Wow, this sounds like a great mod. What main color will the exterior be?

The case itself is and will be black. Some of the insides will be painted red with Red UV accents. The runes on the outside will be a dark, coagulated blood red with patches of darker red with a black partial outline. over that will be a faint UV Red outline which will barely be seen. Just enough to notice when looking at it good.

Here is a REALLY rough sketch of the case layout. Most of you probably won't be able to read my chicken scratch. =]

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Sounds like a hell of a project, GK...

A thought, dunno if it works, get / make a sound activated one and dial it so its pulsing from your fans vibrations? ...prolly too big, though. Hm..

Great idea.

Here are some hyrogylph pictures I took. Maybe they can help you out.



That last link means give life - The ankh and the delta symbol - so you might want to keep that combination of your case.

I went to the valley of the kings where you can see the book of the dead inscribed on the tomb walls of many of the former pharaohs. Unfoutunatly photography was prohibited. Good luck on the mod. Great medium by the way.

Maybe you can add the Charm of Making in there somewhere too.

ana:l nathrakh, u:rth va:s bethud, dokhje:l djenve:

Quote: Originally Posted by godfoot Maybe you can add the Charm of Making in there somewhere too. ana:l nathrakh, u:rth va:s bethud, dokhje:l djenve:

That is it verbatim? I like the latin I have under my avatar alot: "Oderint Dum Metuant" = "Let them hate, so long as they fear"

But for the text along the bottom of the fron I want some kind of warning regarding the power within... If you guys find links to other cool symbols and runes then please lay them on me... no restrictions on faith or timeperiod here. I mainly am wanting to put things regarding protection, power, energy, binding, etc.

I should have the top shell cuts done really soon.

That is the version from Excalibur. Here are the closest translations:

In Old Irish
Anál nathrach, orth' bháis's bethad, do chél dénmha

In Modern Irish:
Anáil nathrach, ortha bháis is beatha, do chéal déanaimh

In English:
Serpent's breath, charm of death and life, thy omen of making.

Quote: Originally Posted by GlitterKill I know I have seen regulators for Cold Cathodes that do this somewhere. Anyone seen one lately that is compact?

Bit-Tech's got a guide for a DIY throbber that's pretty compact. It'll either throb one or alternate between two (one fades as the other brightens).

Near as I can tell, the PCB is 2"x2" and just taller than a power transistor. Here's a pic for an idea of the size...

sounds pretty cool GK, though I would stick to one set of runes for continuity's sake; Another idea is to etch the runes lighly into your windows, but have the latin under your av &/or the irish that GF suggested skirt the bottom of the case. I'll do up a pic...

You can get a vinyl sign company to do a mask in 4-mil vinyl that you can use to paint the letters on there and they would be absolutely perfect. You can paint it in the subtle UV red like the line you mentioned earlier...then if someone asks (and you know they will) they will know...

[edit]

Another idea is to maybe make the handle on the top out of lexan or acrylic...that would be pretty cool too

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Sounds like a great mod, GK.

But with all these great looks, we gona be backing great LAN performance?

If you are gona use that fast Intel chip and your other kick but parts, I would like to see a water cooled SFF system...I know Frozen CPU offers one, but I was thinking something along the line of a regular sized kit, cramed into this small, portable case, that packs great overclocking ablitiy.
Maybe I am strange, but I always wanted to see a danger den block with a huge radiatior and 2x120 mm fans half inch tubbing, and all the other water cooling parts in something that small. Does not all have to be stuffed inside the case of course, but it would still need to be easly lifted and portable, unlike like the moutain mods beast of your other PC!-ya, i am still jealous.

Quote: Originally Posted by FunkyFresh Bit-Tech's got a guide for a DIY throbber that's pretty compact. It'll either throb one or alternate between two (one fades as the other brightens). Near as I can tell, the PCB is 2"x2" and just taller than a power transistor. Here's a pic for an idea of the size...

I like that throbber, i might just make one for myslef!

Looks like a cool theme GK, and that you have it pretty well planned out already.

Good linkage on that throbber there Funky,
Cool idea on the handle PJ, and something I was thinking myself earlier. Maybe an LED inserted from the bottom somehow to illuminate it as well.

I had a minute to play in PS a little this morning. Maybe a little like this?

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A couple of ideas ... could you make the windows really thick (like 2 layers of 1/4" plexi) with mesh in between for "reinforcement" .... + don't use wussy little rivets anywhere - use really big bolts (M8 acorn nuts or bigger).

Oh, and see if you can find "The Keep" on VHS/DVD somewhere, for evil-containing architecture tips

Well, looks like I have let time get the better of me on this project and if I want to be able to show off this case at Stompfest is some kind of capacity (even if not 100% done) then I need to get crackin'.

Here is the grill I have been working on the last two days that will replace the long thin grill of circles on each side of the case. I am using an Alumilite Super Casting kit which I got from HobbyTown ($70 freakin' bux!) and am molding the grill from scratch out of clay and then creating a mold around that in order to create two duplicate grills for the sides.

First pic is a sketch of how I wanted to do the grill layout. Second pic is the casting kit and some of my tools I wil be using including some wood carving exacto blades/handle, a needle tool (to cut the design in the clay) and a set of needle files. Third pic shows when I was close to finishing the design . The next pic is the finished design. The fifth pic shows a nice masking tape border to create a tray for the RTV silicone mixture. Since I was doing my part time work as a house-call PC tech in my apartment complex for part of the day (goes towards my rent) FroggieGirl was awesome enough to build this tight litle tray around my clay grill. She did a better job than I would have on it. The masking tape walls were sealed at the joints with a hot glue gun to make sure there would be no leaks. The last pic shows the filled mac guyver-esque tray and I now have ot wait until 10pm central for the silicone to cure. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

To answer some questions ahead of time... I know that the grill will look pretty rough. This silicone mold is made for VERY detailed work and will pic up every tiny bump and groove. This rough look actually is to my benefit. After I pour the two resin grills and let them set and cure I will be filing them to look how I want and then painting them to look like they are made of aged wrought gold. I will be able to do this with a nice black/gold basecoat and some snazzy dry brushing. (My Warhammer 40,000 figure painting skills will come in handy finally!)

Next I will be making two identical large grills with the "Eye of Ra" symbol taking up the entire grill. I will surely need to order more silicone mixture in order to complete this project. I also need to do 3 rear grills and I have an idea for some nice decorations to fabricate in order to decorate the handle I will be installing.

Wish me luck with the mold! I am hoping the mold won't fuse to the clay... it came with the kit so I am assuming it is kosher to use.

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