Project: Chameleon

This is a ongoing project.
This will be replacing my current Aspire X-Cruiser case.


This is a case from December 2003, I pre-mod it it in 2005. Pretty much there is all I have for now, along with my X-Cruiser. So... the case shot.


Back shots, what else? Notice the restrictive back exhaust port.


Ok, the reason I went with this case...
1. Notice the appalling color of blue, black white and lack of gray.
2. Notice the audio jacks? They are made to be go through the case to outside and plug in one of sound card, which it is ridiculous.
3. Look closer at the bay, not enough of black.


All explained in #3


I know this is stupid, but this is only way My dad and I can go. "No More Nails!" epoxy. Blah.


Took the front panel off. Again, notice the audio jacks. They will be replaced, because they are cluttering up the space =/


Decide to remove this wine colored panel off the front panel. Just had a idea. Lose the switches, LEDs and panel, replacing it with honeycomb/hexagonal mesh, along with momentary switch.


Complete front panel disassemble.


Notice the bad paint job? Bubbles and cracked paints. Lot of them. I guess too much clear coats.


The visual damages. Will repair it. Bondo, or primer... Haven't decided yet.

Ok, so far so good.

I need to determine for the location of new fan intake. I looked back and realizes that I removed the wine panel, allowing the air comes through.

So, this is a simple mod of making the new blow hole and cutting the restrictive covers.
The back exhausting area are very restricted. So i jigsawed it outta here.







Fan mod done for now.

Now, I'm working on adding the honeycomb mesh and momentary switch to replace the oinky wine panel.

For now I'm done for a day.

More to come...

looks good. i used a vinly mesh calld guttergard i picked up at a hardwhere store and i used hot gule to atatch it then used a upsidedown can of dustoff to freeze the gule so i dident have to hold it till it dryed. if you use steel mesh you can layer it a bit too for a more 3d effect

Nice idea on the honeycomb and momentary switch instead of the panel. Are you going to do anything else with that? Some light, painting the chassis or does that depend on how much can be seen through the mesh?

DraQla, thank you for the response.

I plans to shed the white lights inside the light, because I'm considering to paint the case ( Both interior and external ) the combined of bright blue and deep blue, almost moonshine blue. They will be either semi glossed with clear coat, or gloss paint with clear coat.

The white light will increase the visibility inside the case, therefore, makes the paint to gives off it's own natural color.

I'm planning to get the dual blue CCFL fans, so I guess the overall will be better.

To be noted, the template has to be changed, because it is plain. So far I'm planning to have the extensive painting, including the characters and the history of maple leaf.

I guess that covered it all, thank you for your response.

Brokenspoon, I'll consider about that one.

This project plan was changed. Mother don't want the computer and wants the laptop instead.

So I opted the Project: Chameleon instead.

Stay tuned!

Back for now.

Next steps. ^^

I'm pretty pumped, but I need to take some time, because I assume I can finish this project before I could afford to buy some parts, including some new memory along with the copper heatsink for memory. -_-

ANYWAY.

I decide to mock up things. Notice the MB and the drive bays are not riveted yet. You'll get the idea anyway.
I decided to paint :
Internal = Gloss / Mirror black or chrome.
External = two tone color ( Sensitive to light ) similar to Chameleon.

The paint may be semi- gloss or fully glossy. I haven't decided yet.


Mock up, after sanding. The silver sides haven't sanded yet, I'm afraid the rust will forms because of the storage in the basement, so i decide to leave it there for now. I scraped the 90% of paints off. Quite a mess.


Another mock up. Notice the back restrictive cover of fans? It is removed now.


Decided to tape out the area to be cut, so i could use it as full screen with acrylic cover. Sounds good. So far so good.


I'm finished for now. More to next...

Just a short version.

Had a some of time, so i was bored.

I had a closer look at the intake and exhaust... need some trimming.

So.. I trimmed it away.



Trimmed the sides to look cleaner.



Much better.



Front, looking even better

Trimming the rear, a lot better looks. Here is the after trimming.






A quick shoot before sanding and priming.

That it! Stay tuned!

QUICK QUICK VERSION!

Sorry for all posting today, i saved this logs, and forgot about pc apex.

Anyway, did a quick cutting, sanding, and primed it. Haven't wetsand it yet. Will do tomorrow morning or afternoon when my parents is not around.

Here is the pictures. Hope you like some of them ^^



I used the spinning wire brush ( for rust removal ), did a holy loads of messes. Hey, i got it all clean!




Just cutting and straightening the line, look darn good.



Sanded the edge, and deburring the edge.



Posture before priming... yes they are 220 grit sanded!~


Priming - Just overview.







That it for tonight. Sorry for ranting, but I need to catch this up.

Stay tuned!

Just stopped by for a quick update.

So far so good...

The paint inside look damn sexy already... but you may noticed some mistake here.. notice the discolor, ridges, bumps... I have to fix some of them, and i'm thinking about re-do the few parts...

Hope you like it, and I'm interested to hear your opinions.





Sorry for the dark pictures, but, hopefully the some blue / white LEDS will brightens up this.




LOL, i had to fasten some of them using the screws.., but hey, i got it up for some poses.. lol.

Anyway, I'm going back on this project and try to wetsand some of my mistakes and respray it before spraying on the outside of the side....

Also, I ordered the honeycomb mesh, they should be here in few weeks! \o/