As some of you may know, this case has been in the makings for over 2 years now. I first took it to MML3 with the window etch, water cooling, and skulls around the base. Well, MML5 is coming up and it is time to get the beast together with updated hardware and additional mods.

First, let us do a little recap. At MML3 the case looked like this....









It had an MSI 875 board, 3ghz P4, and X800XT for video. I don't even remember exactly what water cooling was in there at the time, probably the original PolarFLO stuff.

Around the same time as I completed that case, Megadeth released their newest album. And I loved the artwork, so I had some it painted on it by MNPCTech and you can see the picutres of that on Page 15 of this thread towards the bottom (or watch my avatar). Even though those panels were done months ago, they have yet to be put on the case.

Now it is time to update the hardware, water cooling, and the mods. SO let us start with "The Plan". THe new hardware will be:

ECS KN1 SLI Extreme
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+
2gb OCZ Gold PC3200
(2) BFG 7800GT OC Cards, SLI
(2) WD Raptor HDD (36gb)
Plextor 16x DVD/RW Drive
Matrix Orbital LK-204-25PC LDC
ThermalTake 680w PSU

Cooling will be handled by the following setup.

CPU: PolarFLO TT Chrome or Swiftech Apogee
GPU: (2) Swiftech MCW60 for SLI *or* Danger Den 7800 SLI
Chipset: unsure
Radiator: HWLabs Black Ice Gen2 Tripple Rad *or* Thermochill PA 120.3
Fans: Panaflo M1B 120mm
Pump: PolarFLO TT Chrome
Res: Primochill 5.25 Bayres
Tubing: Primcholl PrimoFlex 3/8ID Red

The first phase is to strip down and clean the chassis, which I am doing now. I will be adding some casters and re-wiring the lighting and trying out a few little visual tricks that you will find out about as I get to them.

I am also planning on how to mount that tripple rad, and that is where my friends butress and Bellerophon come in. The PDF file shows my plans for an external rad box design that can hold a variety of configurations of fan/rad. butress will be making a dxf file for me that Bell will then laser cut and bend. I can't wait.

THe design can hold several different combinations of fans and rads such as 25 or 38mm fans and rads from 25mm to 60mm deep will fit. Heck, you could put a push/pull fan combo in there with a thin rad. The sides, where "megadeth" is will have plexi behind it and be lit up.

I will have some progress pics to post this weekend hopefully, if the weather cooperates.

Sweeeet CASE!!!!!

I remember back in the day when you were making the small skulls for that project.

Quote: Originally Posted by THRASHER2 Sweeeet CASE!!!!! I remember back in the day when you were making the small skulls for that project.

Seems like it was a lifetime ago, eh? Well, they will be back.. I promise.

Looks good right now .. cant wait until I see some of the new stuff you add to it.

This is gonna be awesome. I love Megadeth! Saw them at Gigantour


IN THE EYEE OF THE TORNAAADOO!!

Well, between carpal tunnel surgery, business travel, and life, I was able to get some of this done before Million Man Lan. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures 'cause I was in a arush. I will take some this weekend in KY and post them.

Basically I have the rig together, lighting done, and air cooled. I have almost all the parts for the water cooling except for the rad box that VoyuerMods is making for me, which is why the machine went to MML air cooled. Once I get that I will put together the water and take plenty more pics as I go.

The final specs on the water cooling will be:
- Swiftech Storm
- Danger Den NV-78 SLI
- Swiftech Micro-Res
- Danger Den Fillport with res
- PolarFLO TT Chroms Pump
- HWLabs Black Ice GT Stealth 360 Rad (new tripple)
- 3x Panaflo "High" 120mm Fans

wow nice hardware ur putting in. How much more can u mod that. Cant wait to see this project get started.

Well, MML5 has come and gone. The case got put together about 80% for the LAN if you do not count the water cooling, which is not in yet. There are a few touches missing still, but here are some pics from MML that Digital2D took. I will have some more soon.

The paint job is based upon the artwork from the Megadeth albume the system has failed and was done by MNPCTech.

The window was done by VoyeurMods based on a composite that was primarily done by a GruntvillE members wife.


Clcik for HUGE pic


Clcik for HUGE pic


Clcik for HUGE pic

Got some "Wicked Modz" goin on there for sure, awesome paint and window...and some damn fine gaming hardware to "Boot"

I didn't see the skulls return..did i miss them, or were you reffering to the paint job?

EDIT: Nice matching Avatar BTW!

Awesome work DN It was great watching Megadeath's progress! Woohoo it's almost done!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by JessAlba452 Awesome work DN It was great watching Megadeath's progress! Woohoo it's almost done!!!

Thanks Jess! By the way, how come you never made it to MML? I wanted to meet you, the 2nd Girl Modder that I know.

Quote: Originally Posted by $SOLID$ Necro I didn't see the skulls return..did i miss them, or were you reffering to the paint job?

The skulls will be back, like I said it is *almost* done. There just won't be so many of them. I will put smaller "piles" to cover the wheels on each corner and probably one on either side in the middle. I am still debating about the big one in the front.

Quote: Originally Posted by DickNervous Thanks Jess! By the way, how come you never made it to MML? I wanted to meet you, the 2nd Girl Modder that I know. .

Just started my job here when I moved back to ATL and couldn't get the days off. I will definately be there for MML6

Looked like it was lots of fun too! Sad that I missed out!

I finally got a chance to take some more beauty shots of the case without the water cooling, still waiting for the rad box. Here it is up and running and all lit up. Click the small pics for bigger ones.

Window all lit up...



Close up of the window and paint job....


Two shots of the front with the Aerogate in it.


Mobo side with the flaming skull...


Some shots of the top artwork....


Looking down on the front and a close up of the flames..

You are never going to believe this, but I got a chance to mod this week! So here is an update on the status of Megadeth.

The last piece of the puzzle, or at least big piece, has been the water cooling. I designed a "rad box" to hold a triple rad and fans about 2" apart. It was to have "Megadeth" laser cut in the sides so I could put a piece of plexi inside and light it up. Well, I didnt do a particularly good job of designing the piece and the person who was making it for me did not think to alter my design, so it did not quite work. So instead of a U-shaped piece with Megadeth cut in it, I had a \_/ shape and needed to bend it more. Except it turns out the aluminum was a little to thick. So on to plan B.

First, out to the shed aka Workshop





I trimmed the Megadeth pieces out





and then used some power tools to clean up the finish







put a coat of black primer



2 coats of black gloss





sanded that down, put another coat of gloss and then 2 coats of ClearFX to get this





here are the paints used



The plan is to mount these on two pieces of plexi that are bent and drilled to hold the fans and rad.

While I was waiting for the paint to dry I cleaned up my workbench so I could take a picture to show you





Behind me are 3 shelf units with boxes of stuff and all my power tools in their cases. You know, the jigsaw, mouse sander, circular saw, sawzall, etc.

and then started stripping down the case





I figured since I was doing all this I might was well give it a fresh coat of paint and clean it up. There was a good deal of dues in some of those corners. I am going to re-do all the lighting and electrical stuff in the case as I put it all back together. Here is what the chassis looks like after a coat of the Duplicolor primer for the Metalcast and 2 coats of red.

Today I got about an hour to work on Megadeth, so I finished up bending the plexi for the radbox. Here is what went down....


First a shot of my 30" bending brake, with the plexi in it. I had to order this from eBay 'cause none of the stores around here had one this size. Go figure.



Next up is the trusty Milwaulkee Heat Gun. I have had this for several years now and while it doesn't get a lot of use, it is worth it's weight in gold when you need it.



So I take the plexi to be bent and situate it in the brake. Since I need to heat the plexi I don't use the actual brake to do the bending 'cause I wouldn't be able to heat it if I did. So I take a piece of 2x4 and cvlamp it to the plexi. This is for two reason. First, is to make sure I apply even pressure all along the piece. Second, to let gravity do most of the work.



Apply liberal heat moving the gun back and forth at a slow, steady pace...



.. and about 2-3 minutes later, viola! bent plexi.



Next up, a test fit with the Megadeth plates, rad, and a fan. Side shot...



Rad shot. This side will probably face the PC. I am stiull debating which direction to have the airflow go.



And the fan side. Only one fan i splaced in there to see how it fits.



And the same shot from a little further away...



Next up is to get this stuff cleaned, polished, fitted, and mounted. Hopefully I will get some time this weekend to do some of it.

That looks AWESOME! Are you gonna update it for the new album?

Looks damn good DN! Keep us posted!
I especially like the mnpctech paint job and your custom rad enclosure, awesome work bro

Thanks guys!

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex That looks AWESOME! Are you gonna update it for the new album?

I have been trying to think of a way to include something from the new album in it, so I want to , just not sure how.

Awsome, your METAL inspired mod makes me want to make my TJ09 a Rammstein case. I wish i had the skills man.
anyways keep up the sweet work!

The Megadeth plate & acrylic looks fantastic!