I started my first complete case mod today. I am modding an old AT case for a friend, I built a computer for him, and the case I used was falling apart. It being an old case, it has the one peice cover, lol. Not the easiest thing in the world to work with, I'm sure we have all delt with these cases, and I don't have to explane that part any more.

Anyway, He plays bass guitar, it is painted a color a little lighter than john deer green. I will probably use a metalic aerosol paint. I'm putting a windowed HDD in the front, and I am putting a sorta L shaped window, showing the PSU, the motherboard, and right underneath the HDD cage. I am also planning on windowing the PSU also. I will paint the interior of the case a slightly-darker-than royal blue. Also, I will be putting Blue cold cathodes in it. I'm assuming that the old AT power supply will have enough power for 3 extra watts of drain with a CD rom, 2 HDDs, the motherboard and a floppy drive. I'll be rounding the ribbon cables. That's just about it, unfortunatly, I do not have a dremel. Fortunatly, my dad said that we could get one soon, as soon as he gets the money. I don't think I'm going to be able to cut my window with my jigsaw, too difficult to do a straight line.

Yeah, that's my plan. I'll take some pics and post them later. (like a few days) lol.
Input would be great.

I realy don't know how much input there is to give until you post a few pics...

Sounds like you have a good plan, I am pretty sure the old AT PSU will handle a CC or 2.

Good luck with your Project!

my next (technically also my first real mod) will be a bass themed mod. just out of curiosity what kind of bass is it (brand) this could help with things to do. for example if its a fender theres tons of little things you could throw on there, logos and such. im actually hesitant to give away most of my ideas for this kinda mod cause i wanna save them for mine when i get around to working on it (or having mnpctech make me a professional rediculously amazing one, but that wont be for a while). im all into bass tho and i cant wait to see a bass mod!

ok here is some pics, thanks imageshack.us



The sharpie lines on this one are for where I am going to cut.


the lines that are almost invisable is where I am planning on cutting.


the entire case dissasembled.


the front before I sanded and masked it.


Again, sharpie lines = cut lines, this will be my windowed HDD cover.


the frame, only a little bit of cutting will be required.



That's it, all the pics I took. Anyway, more to come after I do more to it.

Oh yeah, I need a little help with the frame of the case. Should I put a base coat on?

srry, painting newb here.

Careful w/ that HD mod, its not for n00bs if you dont know what you're doing, and it also doesnt work on drives bigger than 40GB.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cyno01 Careful w/ that HD mod, its not for n00bs if you dont know what you're doing, and it also doesnt work on drives bigger than 40GB.

Yeah, I know, it's not really for newbs. I can do it, I'm doing it on a 1.5 gb hdd, so big deal if I screw up.

Quote: Originally Posted by madxmodman Yeah, I know, it's not really for newbs. I can do it, I'm doing it on a 1.5 gb hdd, so big deal if I screw up.

Ah, alright, good luck with that then.

wait cyno01 why would it not work on a hard drive bigger than 40? its just the cover, thats not any different on hard drives bigger than 40gb... right?

It's not nessecarily that it doesn't work it's just that nobody has ever done it. The higher the capacity of the drive the less tolerant it is of any little fault.

Quote: Originally Posted by 4rm4g3dd0n wait cyno01 why would it not work on a hard drive bigger than 40? its just the cover, thats not any different on hard drives bigger than 40gb... right?

Something with platter density and acceptable tolerances on the center spindle...

Quote: Oh yeah, I need a little help with the frame of the case. Should I put a base coat on? srry, painting newb here.

This is really my only question at the moment. I really need help with that part of it. It appears to be aluminum. How should I prep it for paint? Do i need to strip it in some way or what?

Yay!!! I got it!! take a look at my new toy!!! hehehehe!



Yes, that's right, a dremel 400 series XPR. 41 accessories and 4 attachments. Ok, yeah, I'll get to work cutting now.

Alright, I did some cutting with my new toy. Here are the pics, I still have to cut the side panel, that will take a while.


This is the cut frame, only a little bit had to be taken off it.


This is the front panel and the HDD. Lol, the front pratically melted due to the heat from the friction of the cut off wheel. The HDD case was a pain in the rear to clean after it was cut. Too many metal splinters, but I got it to where it won't be a problem.

Anyway, I should be able to get the paint tonight, if not tomorrow, so I'll post the type of paint I get as soon as I get it, but it will probably be duplicolor paint. I still need to know what to do with the primer for the frame, and it isn't aluminum, it's steel. Anyway, I'll keep updating.

Oh, and I'll have to finish polishing the HDD cover, after I get it done, it should be mirror-like. You can see it in the pics, it's the darker part of it.

MOD ON!...............
Sweeet new project....Keep up the Great work.

Well, I polished the cover of the HDD... I think it's darker than it used to be... I'll probably try again later, either tomorrow after I've started painting or later tonight, which isn't very likely, considering it's almost 9. Lol, we were about to go to the auto parts store so I could get my paint, but there was a series of storms that blew through the area, the power was out at both the auto part stores, advance and autozone. I guess I'll go tomorrow after violin lessons. I'll keep every one posted.

Well, all I've done today is collect supplies, I got the primer, the cleaner, the tack cloths, the bondo for the front panel. Anyway, that's all now.

Quote: Originally Posted by madxmodman Well, all I've done today is collect supplies, I got the primer, the cleaner, the tack cloths, the bondo for the front panel. Anyway, that's all now.

looking good so far man, i thought you were leaving the round parts on the front bezel, that would've looked cool

i'll check back later

Well, I repolished the HDD cover, it does look more mirror like in person, but with a camera, no difference for some reason... I guess digital cameras just can't capture the reflection like it is. Anyway, I started cutting out the window, I'm only 3 days behind on that part, oh well. I'll keep every one updated.