I have started working on my second-ever mod. This will be based on the show Fullmetal Alchemist.

I should start with the disclaimer that I am not a huge anime fan (yet), although it is growing on me. The inspiration for this project came one night when I caught an episode of this show on TV. I knew as soon as I saw it that I had to see a window with a transmutation circle etch.

The plan is to modify my existing case, which is an Antec 2650BQE. Here is a pic of what it looks like right now (more or less):


Since this picture was taken, I've relocated that blue LED to the 5.25 bay area and added a blue CCL. I've also painted the interior milky white and swapped the stock 300W PSU for a 500W Ultra X-connect.

Here is the plan:

• Cut side panel out around gears
• Replace with new continuous window, etched with transmutation circle
• Polish up interior paint
• Repaint exterior glossy black (get rid of orange peel effect)
• Front bezel modification/fabrication to resemble "Alphonse"

Some potential modifications:

• Cut blowhole
• Relocate power/reset buttons (to avoid modified front bezel)
• Anything else I come up with while I'm working on it...

Here are some images that I'll be starting from:
For the window etch:


Alphonse Sketch:


The right panel (MOBO side) will also have the text: "To obtain, something of equal value must be lost" painted on.


I expect this to take a while, as I'm not in any particular hurry to complete it, and I'm not exactly flush with cash. Hopefully that will allow the creative juices to brew long enough that I'll come up with some more good ideas while I go along.

Drawing looks awsome..

and full metal IS THE SHIZNITE I love that show..its as good as trigun..

I think it's an excellent theme to base a mod on. I'll b eagerly awaiting more pictures of the work in progress.

Wow, lets see how many anime nerds came reply ina row.

Anywho, you need to incorporate some things like the philosophers stone, the homunculos symbol. But i love this anime, and am waiting for a release date for season 2.

Hmm... maybe I should get to watching FMA... >.>

I did a practice window etch, and here is the result:


Two problems: First, I forgot to reverse the template, so it is a mirror image of what I'd like at the end. This picture was taken from the "back side" of the etch, and is what the final product should look like. The second problem is that the plexi is a bit too small to cover the window.

That is a bad ass etch dude!

Pretty solid looking etch dude.
Im just wondering, did you start watching Full Metal Alchemist when it was on adult swim or did you follow it when it was still being fansubbed on the internet.

Here is my oppinion on anime in japan and america.
I believe that you are a true fan If and ONLY IF you follow the series from its premier in Japan.
If you become a giant fan when its on tv in america, you are becoming a fan after two seperate groups choose it from japan.
That just my oppinion, and thats the exact reason why i dont watch Naruto, too many people watch it and i dont get credit for being a fan, im just another american watching it.

I like the design......

Quote: Originally Posted by fatsobob Here is my oppinion on anime in japan and america. I believe that you are a true fan If and ONLY IF you follow the series from its premier in Japan. If you become a giant fan when its on tv in america, you are becoming a fan after two seperate groups choose it from japan. That just my oppinion, and thats the exact reason why i dont watch Naruto, too many people watch it and i dont get credit for being a fan, im just another american watching it.

Or watch what you like and dont be so pretentious.

Well i do watch what i enjoy, if i can download a legal fansub off the internet.
Like a new show that is airing in japan called "Basilisk".
It is more violant than the Rouni Kenshin ova (the first and good one) and it is draw very well.
I have watched quite a bit of anime.

I juwst hate when dubbers change names or whatever to match.
I would rather watch it the way it was meant to be watched than through someone elses filters.
FIGHT THE POWER, of anime dubbers

Plus the Dubs are way way way too much.
My brother had to buy a Chobits dvd for anime club and it cost him 30$ for 4 episodes.
$$$RAPE$$$

DUB = teh l4m3rs
SUB = teh tru3 f4ns

Quote: I believe that you are a true fan If and ONLY IF you follow the series from its premier in Japan.

lol dude that's such a crock. Not everyone who enjoys anime is just bent on finding out what's coming out of japan immediately and then beyond that going on about it as if they were 'Numba 1 Faaan in US!'

Sorry, but it just annoys me when people try to claim superiority over something so stupid and trivial....who cares when you see it, people argue over enough crap as it is....can't two people just agree upon it being a good show without "Well........are you a TRUE fan!?!" coming into play? give me a break.


ANYWHO back to the topic....I think the show is pretty good, yes I'm a "3rd rate fan" because I didn't see it until it was on adult swim, but on that same note, that and Ghost in the shell: SAC was basically my first introduction into some good anime shows americanized or not.

Your etching looks awesome man, very creative idea to use the transmutation circles indeed, definitely has a nice effect and can't wait to see what it looks like when it's all lit up assuming you're going to do that anyway.

Did you do that sketch of alphonse yourself free hand? Pretty damn good drawing if you ask me. Anyway, definitely a nice project you got going on.

Well if you have ever been to an anime convention, you see nerds dressed up as their favorite anime or game characters.
I dont do that, but when i went last year i saw about half the dressed nerds dressed as characters from naruto.
Thats just sad in my oppinion.
Its the second coming of pokemon, just less money involved.

Haha, just a few things to pull out the fire extiguishers before this gets out of hand...

First of all, I originally saw an episode of FMA on Adult Swim, but almost immediately borrowed the dubbed version from my buddy, which is what I am in the process of watching now. Don't know what kind of fan that makes me . I would point out my initial post in this thread, where I say something to the effect of "I'm really not a huge anime fan, I just like the design elements of this particular show"

I didn't do the alphonse sketch myself . I found it on a GIS. I am taking some screencaps from the show as I watch it for inspiration.

Thanks for the comments on the etch . That was my first real full-scale attempt at one, so I learned as I went along. That's why there are some mistakes (especially in the top-left). I'll be picking up a new piece of plexi soon to do the real deal.

I also want to incorporate (into the exterior paint job) a blood seal (like on alphonse's neck), possibly an "X" inlaid over the top of the case (like on Scar's face), and probably the symbol from the back of Roy Mustang's glove.

Still trying to figure out how to incorporate the philosopher's stone...

WARNING: IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED fma, THEN TRY TO SKIP OVER THE LAST PART OF THIS MSG, AS IT GIVES AWAY A BIT OF THE ENDING.






























Possibly something like that glow that Alphonse had when he had the philosophers stone inside of him.
Ohh and you need to do something with the gate also. Thats a pretty big key element of FMA.
Or something on the lines of the names of the Homunculi.

Anime Subs are the true pure following, anime dubs are a bit off and somtimes Way off. I love all anime and I do enjoy some dubs but I will not agree with price on those dvds these days. Shows like Naruto, Yugi o, and all those Mon shows ex: poke'mon ,Digi,Gatcha,Digger, and the list goes on have all been pushed so far from their roots that they used for profit and geared towards parents pockets. But when Adult swim and anime Network show shows they are not bad ones, they know the good but they make mistakes 'Satch Bell' cough' but its all good in the end. We all know the reason why they don't show Subs in america, because speaking english is what american viewers are used to, For some reason america does not like subs, I've talked to many fans and I run a very large anime club most people don't like subs because they don't like to read, but once they get used to them they don't want to go back.

Okay back to the real topic, I like the idea and the etch is great, I would make it like one of those contianers for the human Red stones or False Philo-stone If you could Water Cool that would be Sick.

der, I am teh dumbzorzz... I didn't borrow the dubbed version, I borrowed the fansub. Ugh, that's what I get for posting too early on a Monday morning

Well anime conventions.....lol.....that's like a whole other breed of human haha, but the chicks tend to look hot.

Zero - thanks for putting that warning first for FMA There's only what...like 50 episodes? And I'm at 26 or 27 right now, I'd hate to know the ending already haha.....looks on adult swim they will be starting to show samurai champloo next weekend as well......GITS: SAC isn't already over is it!?! That show was awesome =/ also they are showing some anime called 'metropolis'

Either way I want to see Super milk chan GONE, that's the most retarded creation on gods earth....I swear you lose IQ points watching it.

But yeaaaah, I do like watching subtitles better, because it makes you feel more immersed in the movie IMO, but at this point I'm used to hearing the certain voices in FMA, and after watching one of the subtitled ones I just had to laugh because the words, especially in the beginning are SOOOOO different compared to dubbing, damn dubbers!

But yeah like I said, normally I like subtitles, but it's too late for FMA now lol, I've gotten used to the kids voices and whatnot.

buuuuuuuut anywho....Can't wait to see how it turns out Bionic...that blood seal would be awesome especially if you could actually make it shine red and whatnot.