The name says it all, this will be a very simple mod. The case that is being abused and put under the knife is the antec aria. I almost swapped to the aspire sff case that seems to be so popular, but i descided that since ive already got the case why not butcher it and save the dough for some new goodies.

The mods that i have planned and have already started are all pretty simple and will most likely pale in comparison to anything our hardcore modders have done, but just the same i think it will look good. To start off the list:

1) Wire sleeving-a must for any case imo, but especially this one due to it being a heat house. Ive already completed this stage but input would be appreciated if there can be anything else done.

2) Windows on both sides-seeing all the way through this case i think would be cool, and i almost opted for modders mesh but descided not to due it already being done by Lokie--which looked pimp btw.

3) Paint-Im thinking about going with gloss black but have not totally descided yet due to my lack of artistic inspiration and talent.

4) Etch-Both windows need to be etched, or at least thats what i was thinkin. I wanted to do a AC/DC tribute or a Metallica tribute but cant descide, so if it comes down to it i might put the AC/DC logo on one side and the Metallica on the other, but im not too sure----Help please!

5) Front Panel-I plan on cutting out the memory card reader slot and installing a 5 1/4" bay voltage meter setup, than bondo and sand down to mask its installation and to give it that manufactured that way look. I think ive seen this done once before and it looked pretty swag.

The components to be used are as follows

-ASUS A7N8X-VM/400
-AMD 2500+ XP
-Corsair CMX512-3200C2PRO
-Western Digital 80GB IDE
-DVD-R 16x 3520A BK
-Dynatron BH-610 60mm Ball Cooling Fan-she's a cheap all copper hsf....we shall see

As you can see ive already got one window cut and i plan on cutting the other side exactly the same. I have the psu sleeved and ready to go but im not quite sure yet if i will be painting the internals.

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Sorry for the double post but does anyone think or have an opinion on painting the frame and the drive cage? I think it might look nice with the aluminum finish it has, but maybe something else might look better. Ideas?

I have not seen a Sweeet Chrome Paint Job in a while...
Here's the Gauge that would go great in the front.....

Nice sleeving job Sparky. I like the window shape, and windows on both sides will look nice. But, that means you have to be especially careful with your wires. I don't know about a band logo etch, as that only really looks good if you have a theme going. IMO, it will just kinda look "put together". I think identical flame etches going to the back of the case would look nice with those windows. I can't wait to see what you do with this, good luck bro.

That guage looks perfect Thrasher, thanks buddy I can see what your saying about the band etches, you might have somethin with the flame etch though. Ive never been that big of a fan of flame jobs but etched into a window would be pretty slick, especially if it was done with tribal flames. Got an update coming but i gotta whip out the camera. I ll have it up tonight sometime.

Holy Crap!..........DEAL OF THE DAY!.... $9.99
http://www.xoxide.com/musketeer.html

Done and Done. Thanks Thrasher, great find. Im gonna have to mod that sucker to shorten her up some, but hey thats what were here for right. Anyways rep for ya thrasher for such a good find.

Quote: Originally Posted by Sparky Done and Done. Thanks Thrasher, great find. Im gonna have to mod that sucker to shorten her up some, but hey thats what were here for right. Anyways rep for ya thrasher for such a good find.

Sorry for beening loud in my other post.......I get about Deals
I bought two black ones and one Silver one

MOD ON!

Thanks thrasher... you really got me excited there.. till I realised I can't pay by MO.

dang.

And I wanted that too.

Quote: Originally Posted by TiZakit Thanks thrasher... you really got me excited there.. till I realised I can't pay by MO. dang. And I wanted that too.

What color......?

~Update~
I finished cutting the other side panel and have just gotta do some finishing touches with some sandpaper to clean them up. As for putting in the plexi thats gonna be a tough one due to the side panels being 1/4" thick and i dont want a huge gap between the panel and plexi.....any ideas? Also ive gotten the whole case stripped down and am getting ready to prime the internals but still not sure what color might look good. Any ideas there would be appreciated!

The color scheme will have blue lights with a black exterior all the way around but cant figure out what color the guts should be.

I ordered 2 4" cold cathode lights along with the volt meter that thrasher found for me, and a couple of blue fans for the side panels that will be mounted in the plexi.

Enough rambling, heres the money shot!

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I like your windows. The design is simple yet interesting. Sometimes a window doesn't *need* to be a showcase for someone's wild-mad Dremel skillz.

Thanks Coel, but i have a problem that i cant seem to figure out which way to go. The panels are thick as hell, and i cant figure out what would be the best way to mount the plexi. I can either cut a groove in the panel cut and hopefully be able to pop the plexi in there and follow it up with some u-molding. Or i can mount the plexi behind the panel and cover the cuts with some u molding, that would be stretched as all hell to be able to fit over that thickness of panel. Any ideas? Ive included some pics so you know what im dealin with.

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thrasher.. YGPM

Sparky, I don't know how you would do it, but you could somehow cut away the width of the panel from the plexi, so that its recessed a bit. But... hmmm.. I donno if thats gonna work... I guess maybe try and get some bigger molding?

Ya im stumped on what to do but i might end up making some groove along the window cuts to insert the plexi into but that may prove to be a pain if my measurements arent exact. Anyways ive moved on to the front bezel, and made my cuts for where the meters will sit. Anyone have any color ideas for the internals yet? Heres the front bezel for ya.

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Quote: Originally Posted by Sparky Thanks Coel, but i have a problem that i cant seem to figure out which way to go. The panels are thick as hell, and i cant figure out what would be the best way to mount the plexi. I can either cut a groove in the panel cut and hopefully be able to pop the plexi in there and follow it up with some u-molding. Or i can mount the plexi behind the panel and cover the cuts with some u molding, that would be stretched as all hell to be able to fit over that thickness of panel. Any ideas? Ive included some pics so you know what im dealin with.

Those are some seriously thick panels! How about a trip to AutoZone or O'Reilly for some fender/door molding? That MIGHT be thick enough, and it's usually available in black or chrome. You could also go with technique #3: Find another couple of thin panels to cut out "frames" for you windows. Mount your windows flush with the face of those panels, and attach them via the frame with cementing or rivets?

Like this, with the panel being the blue, frame gray, window inset in white.

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Or you could use a router and put a relief on the plexi (you would need to use 1/4" to 3/8" plexi)......

Just an idea..........

Hmmm thats good thinkin Hp i might have to do that, it might even work with some different colored plexi as the backing, but we shall see. I have a feeling that this is going to take some hands on experimenting to see what works just right.

On a sidenote i got the rest of my hardware in from Newegg today before i left for work at about 2pm. This amazes the hell out of me cause i ordered a dvd burner, rounded ide cables, harddrive, and hsf on sunday night at about midnight. I love Newegg.

I have another option you may consider. Buy some epoxy putty. Mold it along all of the edges, so instead of a 90-degree straight cut, you have a 45-degree angle. It will kinda look crappy at first, but if you sand it all smooth and paint it, it will make the transition to your plexi window much less dramatic. Were you planning to paint the outside? If not, then scratch this idea. Hmm, that's an interesting situation you got, there!

I'll be dealing with thick side panels in a month or two (next mod), so I'll be watching this one...

In the meantime (and I'm sleep-deprived = loopy), what about:

1. Sanding and polishing the edges of the cutouts, maybe even at an angle near the top edges
2. Drilling the side panels/plexi (carefully, now)
3. Finding some flexible low-profile window molding, install it around the edges
4. Use fasteners of your choice (rivets/nuts/bolts/etc) to secure the window(s) to the side panel(s)