[build log] Elements of Fortune, scratch build

Hello everybody of XtremeSystems !

Let me introduce myself First. My name is Tom and I’m new to these forums. I’m almost 18 years old and I’m casemodding for 2 years now.
I joined these forums because some people (especially “nigelke”) said I had to post my project on the XS forums. He said people there liked extreme stuff and as I am making a … well extreme casemod, I thought by myself I could post my log here as well.


Well let’s see … What have I done before?
In april 2006 I started to look at those magnificent pieces of art, so called Casemods. I’m creative and handy, so I started to make my own. The first one never finished, because I was not happy with the result I had to make another one, a better one.

First of all: sorry for my English, I’m trying to do my best writing English ;)

This is what happened after a year of modding:
My project “HELGHAN” was finished in November 2007. Based upon the Killzone2 game for PS3. With this casemod I won the Benelux Casemod League and I got a lot of cool prices.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/DSC04832.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/DSC04822.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...8-IMG_2372.jpg

After this, I was sure to begin a new project. A very big, extreme project :D
Normally, I started with this project before “Helghan”. But I was not experienced enough in the beginning.

Now I think I am, so I’m proud to present my new casemod / caseconstruction: Elements of Fortune

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...E/reclame2.jpg

The ideas of making this case are from the wheel of fortune slot machine, standing in casino’s all over the world. I want to rebuild it, based on pictures and my own sketches.
This case will be about 2 metres high and probably it will take place in a local hardware/modding store when it is finished. I hope to go to some LANparties as well.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...c3511cde9c.jpg

I got loads of pictures of sketching with hand and with sketchup. The first designs in sketchup looked like this:

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...etchup12.1.jpg

A while later, I made a better model:

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...NE/render2.jpg

As you can see, this case will be huge. It will not only contain computer hardware, but also a lot of casino-like stuff and sweet eye-candy.

I will start at the beginning of the mod, and that’s the base/ bottom
After that the level on top of the bottom and so on … In total, there are approx. 5 layers.

Bottom:
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...NE/studs33.jpg

Layer1
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...NE/render3.jpg

During the progress of modding, some things may change of course.
Because I already did some work on the project, I will summarize it.
So first the bottom, I’m going to make it with wood (MDF), 12/18mm thickness.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05072.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...DSC05066-1.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05092.jpg

To make it strong, I added another 18mm sheet of wood (white)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05076.jpg

And to move the case for a small distance, I added some wheels

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05111.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05125.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05134.jpg

Then I already began on the second layer, as I like doing several things at once.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05138.jpg

A side panel:

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05138.jpg

To make it a (little) bit lighter, I made some holes inside the side panel.
Don’t worry, you won’t see a thing of the woodworks when the project is finished ;)
I you look closely, you will see that I made some cuts inside the wood, but they are only sawed half way in the sheet of wood. I will use these cuts to attach my motherboard panel, false bottom panel …

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05149.jpg

Here you see what I mean with “false bottom”
Beneath this bottom, there will be a plexi reservoir, filled with water and cogs (gears) to make eye-candy. There is no meaning for the reservoir for the other hand, just eye-candy… but you will see more later about that :)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05156.jpg

Here you can see the motherboard panel:

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05160.jpg

And how it fits together, the “false bottom” is standing vertical, as the sidepanel is laying down the table ;)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05165.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05179.jpg
(not the final motherboard, just to give an impression)

The other side panel, and front panel with a large window.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05240.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05224.jpg

Hard drives will be attached in a special casing, and that casing will be placed here:

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05241.jpg

As you can see … another false inside wall that will hide power (12v) and Sata cables coming from the hard drives.

The rear panel. The small window is supposed to get the wires to the monitor and keyboard and USB peripherals ;) The big window will be a window for some artwork I will try to make.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05293.jpg

Like here you can see the Motherboard I/O panel, and behind the motherboard tray there is still some place to make something special. This is what I want to make in polyester. (or plastics)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...E/DSC05517.jpg
(in 3D, and I also want to make the cogs (gears) to spin around :p )

Okay, you remember the bottom sketch? You have seen a lots of white rafters?/shingles? and struts

Now, there is a lot of work to make the struts, each one is made out of 4 aluminum struts, and 2 blue plexi. Those are glued together and after that they will be enlightened with LEDs.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05342.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05354.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05363.jpg

And the acrylic / plexi ones too

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05429.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05373.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06151.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06159.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06160.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06224.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06185.jpg
Ready to glue ...
This moment (12th of may) they are still being glued, it takes a lot of time… but I already got some ready.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06328.jpg

To check if they give good light, I tried something.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06346.jpg

Together with the struts, I also made the with acrylic rafters.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05438.jpg

After sawing with a circular saw, I have to sand each rafter by hand… but it’s worth sanding it ;)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05441.jpg

Technique of sawing is like this:
Marking the plexi on 6mm.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06356.jpg

Using a detailed circular saw

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06348.jpg

Tadaa ! :D now the sanding … ugh xD

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06357.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06332.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06331.jpg

There still needs to be holes in the struts, then they will fit correctly like this.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06339.jpg

Let’s head back to do some woodworking. Every classic slot machine got a payout container with the chips in it you have won during gambling.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05617.jpg

I sand and file the etches, so you don’t hurt yourself :D

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05620.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05623.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05622.jpg

The container won’t be empty of course, I made chips myself. Here are some pictures how I did it.

I made chips out of a orange-acrylic sheet.

 
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05690.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05689.jpg

After that I made a mold out of aluminum.
Because the holes and details are so small, I had to make holes with small nails.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05709.jpg

Result:
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05714.jpg
I took a white bus of paint and sprayed some chips by placing them inside the mold.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05735.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05739.jpg

They are certainly not perfect, but because I don’t want to spend a lot of money on them, I am happy with the result ;) (I’m still a student so the money doesn’t grow on my back :D)

Behind the chips, the air intake will take place.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...airintake2.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05762.jpg

I had to bend it, using my hands – a hammer and some grips.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05789.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05812.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05874.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05882.jpg

It still needs to be polished and painted, but because I don’t have the tools to do that on a good way… I will wait a while.

So I started on the hard disk drive casings. 3 hard drives will be attached inside a acrylic / aluminum casing.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...TUNE/hdd23.jpg

Sawing the acrylic:

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05938.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05957.jpg

To bend the acrylic, I made a mold out of wood (maybe I should say “lumber”, I don’t really know ;) excuse me for that)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC05971.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06003.jpg

You also see a gap. The hard drives get a cold breeze because the acrylic is not totally closed ;)
3 HDD casings, with 3.5inch hard drives

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06012.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06029.jpg

LOADS of work on the hard drives… I’m not going to post all of that because I don’t think it is very intresting :p

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06055.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...DSC06133-1.jpg

2 more to make … but I’m out of aluminum, and I don’t have good transport to get it for the moment ;)

In the beginning of this project log, I said that there will be an acrylic reservoir. Inside that reservoir will be spinning cogs (gears) and water/fluid
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06205.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06255.jpg

You can see where the reservoir will be in the following 2 pictures

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06238.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/DSC06284.jpg

To calculate the cogs and … I searched Wikipedia.org for more info – and yes I FOUND INFO :p

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06299.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06301.jpg

Yes, this is wood, only to test if the cogs will do their job.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06309.jpg

Until here … next update is coming!
Feel free to ask, comment or criticize ! :up:

that's it... i quit...

damn... that's impressive!

This was my first reaction:eek::eek2:

Amazing work:up:

:eek2: nothing more to add...

Obscene...........
PRON

quit it, you damn ........... damn..........
( drool)..............

WOW is all i can say lol

Holy cow...you are only 18. That is so impressive, I want to just make a desk with the computer built in, this is way beyond anything I could fathom. Keep it up!!!

Subscribed!!! Sweet Build!

Incredible skills and resources! Absolutely amazing! :clap:

holy crap! :shocked:


subscribed!!!

waw ! thank you all very much for the kind comments ;) ;)
I'm calculating the volts and amps for my LEDs now ... that's a bit of a slow work for me, because I don't know a lot about electronics :D

V/R = I ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm's_law

Keep up the good work, really interested in seeing the final product.

:eek2: amazing quality.. keep it up:up:

Fantastic, jaw-dropping stuff here. Definitely will keep an eye on this thread.

Wow, just wow! Absolutely amazing stuff. Keeping an eye out for this one.

really nice stuff.

yet again someone on XS comes up with something so totally extreme it blows me away.

the Xtreme machine never stops........
:D

That is intense, looks like you'll fit right in.

HO LEE CHIT man!! That is insane. :clap::clap::clap:

Very impressive and nice details, glad to see you have the knack and the eye for something completely different. :clap:

and i thought that the WALL-E case was awesome...this is gonna be whole nother level

man, this is VERY interesting. im getting alot of build ideas from this. NICE!

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/745...autiful.th.jpg

Oh my god! :eek::eek::eek: what the h*ll on earth with that architecture?:up::up::up: