OCM Mod Comp: h0b02g0

[hobo man]

This is the worklog of my modding project entry for the OzCaseModz (http://www.ozcasemodz.com)...
OCM Modding Competition 2007/08 (http://forum.ozcasemodz.com/viewtopic.php?t=1644)

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If you are an Australian resident, you're welcome to join in (http://forum.ozcasemodz.com/viewtopic.php?t=1644)!
Note: The inclusion of the above sponsor ads and link to the OzCaseModz 'official' competition page are a condition of entry. Failure to comply could result in disqualification.

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Well seeing as I had a lot of crap that I couldnt get for The invaders project (and the case got a dent in it :( ) I decided to start anew, this time with a scratch built case.

I decided to base it on the mountain mods h2g0 (see http://www.mountainmods.com/computer-cases-h2go-c-21_81.html?osCsid=1jfmnlrrp948nisjf6a9agfhf7 and http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=160216&highlight=h2g0 for more info). Here is where I am at after a days work:

the bare case (with mobo tray, note area to be cut out):
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0264.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0263.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0261.jpg

With a brief component mockup to make sure my psu will fit etc.
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0259.jpg

My uber power button (local electronics store ftw!!!)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0266.jpg

more soon

[Penguin463]

looks good so far :up:

definitely post any progress

[hobo man]

looks good so far :up:

definitely post any progress

thanks :)

A brief update:
Front (No fan holes yet):
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0267.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0271.jpg
(notice the cracks in the last pic... hopefully I can hide em with bog)

My next dillema is this:
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/Slamexplainhelp.jpg

Slamaa has thought up the idea of using mobo standoffs to keep the side flat, but any other ideas would be appreciated.

[SparkyJJO]

ooo I like custom case worklogs :D

I think the standoffs idea might work best...

[Nate P.]

Nice!

[hobo man]

Nice!

lol makes it better knowing you have an official h2g0 :)

Fans!!!!
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0272.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0273.jpg
And a size comparison with my Clive Cussler book collection:
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0274.jpg

[hobo man]

UPDATE:

We have a back panel (made of the side of the mod case :) )
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0278.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0277.jpg

Button is also mounted on the front, but its a bit flexy when I press it. hopefully the fans will add rigidity to the plex.
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0276.jpg

[Navig]

Nice looking project. Having made a few aluminum frame/plastic panel projects, I've run into similar problems.

To mount the side panels, which aren't flush to anything, in the past I've drilled out holes or countersunk holes at the locations of the rivets, so that the panel will be flush to the front and back frames. This still leaves a 1/32" gap from the lengthwise crossbars. I would just make up the difference with washers/spacers at several mounting points along each cross bar.

As an example, compare this pic (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/SpacemanSpiff/Offbackside.jpg) and this pic. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/SpacemanSpiff/Offtrapdoor.jpg) To get my trap door to close flush, I drilled several holes at the location of the mounting screws.


To make the power button have a stiff press, I'd use some aluminum angle to make a bracket based off the top off the hard drive cage. I don't think the fans will add enough rigidity, altho they might if you link the 2 fans together with an aluminum angle brace. My button cluster here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/SpacemanSpiff/Switchpanelinplace.jpg) had the center wobbles, so I made to small angle brackets and secured it to the pillar for the 5.25 drives just next to it.

navig

[hobo man]

Nice looking project. Having made a few aluminum frame/plastic panel projects, I've run into similar problems.

To mount the side panels, which aren't flush to anything, in the past I've drilled out holes or countersunk holes at the locations of the rivets, so that the panel will be flush to the front and back frames. This still leaves a 1/32" gap from the lengthwise crossbars. I would just make up the difference with washers/spacers at several mounting points along each cross bar.

As an example, compare this pic (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/SpacemanSpiff/Offbackside.jpg) and this pic. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/SpacemanSpiff/Offtrapdoor.jpg) To get my trap door to close flush, I drilled several holes at the location of the mounting screws.


To make the power button have a stiff press, I'd use some aluminum angle to make a bracket based off the top off the hard drive cage. I don't think the fans will add enough rigidity, altho they might if you link the 2 fans together with an aluminum angle brace. My button cluster here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/SpacemanSpiff/Switchpanelinplace.jpg) had the center wobbles, so I made to small angle brackets and secured it to the pillar for the 5.25 drives just next to it.

navig

heh thanks for the advice. I have used it.

Woot Mini Update!!!! (crappy camera phone pics :) )

I got some stuff to go in/on my case :)

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/Picture0035.jpg
GRILLS YAY!!!!! (these were a pain in the ass to get, Thank god the Local electronics shop could get em. took 2 damn weeks to get em in)

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/Picture0036.jpg
Split corrugated tubing stuff to sleeve my psu!!!

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/Picture0037.jpg
And Paint :)

[hobo man]

SIDE PANELS!!!!

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0281.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0280.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0279.jpg

[hobo man]

Heh I have finished it now:
PICS!!!!:
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0282.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0283.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0284.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0285.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0286.jpg

Ill get some pics with hardware later this week :)

[nzbleach]

looking good _b

[hobo man]

Better pics: More like what it actually looks like (damn flash making it look grey and showing up nonexistant smudges)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0287.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0288.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/IMG_0289.jpg

[Yeknom]

Looks nice :up:

[k0nsl]

I like the clean style of your project. Good luck in future endeavors!

[hobo man]

Hardware

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/0227081943-00.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/0227081944-00.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/0227081945-00.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t151/mystichobo69/0227081946-00.jpg

[[XC] NetburstXE]

That is one awesome setup. I like all the mods you did to the case. And the red lights are killer.

[Navig]

Looks awesome!

One additional step I might recommend (not to nitpick), but I might indirect light the cold cathode mounted to the clear top top panel. Most of the time when you are throwing cold cathodes in the inside of a case, you are trying to light up the inside of the case. If you mount a cold cathode onto a clear panel, half of the light is shining thru the window, really doing nothing but blinding whoever is looking at the case. Unless that's what you are trying to achieve, generally I find it annoying and migraine-inducing.

Its very simple to create an indirect light effect. Simply take a strip of black painted aluminum and make a lamp shade. Double stick tape it between the cold cathode and the window.

See how I've got a lampshade on my big 15in white cold cathod. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/SpacemanSpiff/Offopenbackside.jpg)

Lights up the inside without blinding you. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/SpacemanSpiff/Litlidded7.jpg)

In this case I used that corrugated cable loom, cut away a third, and taped them to the cathodes to create indirect lighting. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic%20Tall/Risingupccondark6.jpg)


This is sort of a modding pet peave of mine, but I think it helps take a project to the next aesthetic level!

navig

[Crazy Chuckster]

Very nice cube :up:

[RealRedRaider]

Well you know how the old saying goes..."IMITATION is the greatest form of flattery".

BEN should have a smile on his face. But I fail to see how this would be less expensive than buying a Mountain Mods... Especially when you factor in all the material, tools and labor (my time has a value).

Nice job though...