ABS/Tagan Black Pearl - evolution of a water-cooled rig

I feel for you moving to Florida. My dad lives near Ft. Lauderdale. My wife and I went down there 1.5yrs ago when he had open heart surgery, and I can truly say that there is nothing in Florida that I have seen that would make me want to live there. I've been to Pensacola and Orlando before also and came away with the same conclusion. The humidity alone is killer.

Those pics of your block are enough to make me want to stick with distilled. That is nasty.

As for the drill press, I don't know what I would do without mine. I really need a full size floor model however as the tabletop I have like yours simply doesn't provide enough depth, and I've ended up having to drill a lot of stuff by hand when it would have been a lot easier and cleaner to be able to use a press.

What I would like to know is what you do with all of these rigs you build? How many rigs can any one person use? I've still got to clean up and hopefully sell my last case as after all of the time/money that went into it, I don't want it to endup as a doorstop.

Florida = humidity :(


Although Daytona was very nice :) Hope your dad is doing well by the way :up:

LOL - Voights sounds like my husband. I actually love Florida - just not the moving process.

And, what do I do with the rigs? Generally only have about 3 operating at a time - all set to crunch 24/7. They do get recycled to family members in one form or another. And, I've been known to pass on water cooling parts if I've got something someone needs.

Just got confirmation the moving van arrives tomorrow - so off I go to make space for the stuff.

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Originally Posted by shazza

LOL - Voigts sounds like my husband.

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In that case, your husband sounds like a smart man :yepp:

I imagine that when/if you have grandkids, they would get the most unusual gifts from their grandma in the form of tricked out rigs. I can see it now.

-Where did you get that cool rig from?

-Oh, from grandma.

-What!!

Stocking stuffers from Shazza this year...

Feser Monster Rad for the 5 year old, Swiftech Apogee GTZ for the 3 year old... :ROTF:

i <3 florida too :) even tho i havent been to many places outside of florida but i still love it..how many places can you go to the beach in December without freezing ? :)

hope the move is going well shazza!! :)

I have a question to ask you, do you know where to get the rubber edges, that go in the small watercooling holes up top, I dont want to cut up my case so going external and lost mine so yeah is there another material, or something i could use? I thought if anyone knew it would be you :)

Wow!!! I have just sat down and read this entire thread and I have to say that I have learned a lot. I am looking at a Lian Li PC-V2100, essentially the same thing as you have and was looking for ideas. Simply amazing work you have been doing. I do have a couple of questions when you get a moment.

1 - When you do the painting, if I understood correctly, you did it in these steps:

light sanding - cleaned - self etching primer - then high build primer - wet sand - paint - Sound about right?

I suck at painting, but plan on doing it with my next build.

2 - You seem to be the "New Photographer", are you using a DSLR? If so, which one? Have you found it difficult? Any suggestions?

I am buying a DSLR and have information overload right now, I actually think I lost some memories, course that could be age too. Anyway, I know it's off topic, but your photo's are friggin amazing, so I thought I would ask.

Anyway, loving this build. This case may make me go back vertical from my MM case, but we will see. :D By the way, glad to hear the trip went well. Loved South Florida when I lived there, Tampa probably the best, but maybe the Keys are slightly better. Anyway, enjoy.

Hey all. A small, very small, update. But first - as for your question, James, I'm not sure which pieces you are talking about - I'll try to take a look at the case today to see if I can figure it out.

@ Utnorriss - that's pretty much the painting steps I used, although I didn't use the high build primer on everything - only where I used the bondo. Main thing is to apply very light coats - multiple sprays are better than a thick glob (hard for me to master). As for the photography - I've only been using the DSLR for the last year plus a bit. Some musts for me include using a tripod, and experimenting with lighting to keep reflections to a minimum. I use Lightroom for processing, and try not to overdo it, unless I'm just goofing around. Currently using the Canon 5DMII camera, although I think lighting and a steady hand/tripod are more important than the camera. Lots to learn, that's for sure.

OK, my tiny update:

The moving van arrived last week, and everything seems to have survived the trip (although the packing was less than stellar). A pic of the first crate coming out of the truck (these snapshots taken with the Point & Shoot, as the camera gear was packed):


http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...51_WLXL9-M.jpg



My work-in-progress - guess the exercise room may become a computer work room (what's more important, my health or my GHz ???):

http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...52_w3rZX-M.jpg




More boxes in my office:

http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer..._ctjDC-M-2.jpg




Oh yeah - that large crate was not for my computer stuff - that was custom built to transport the precious train layout (which of course gets its own room in the house :rofl:)

http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer..._42MjG-M-1.jpg


I've made a lot of progress unpacking books etc., but not much with the computer stuff - still trying to figure out where it goes. And, busy doing other things - driver's license, new car, etc. So hopefully some actual progress this week. This has been a heck of a Speed Bump, that's for sure!

Glad to see you're settling in Shazza!

One question though, that can't be the only section for the trains... there has to be more. Can we see the other half's creation please?

That's the main piece that he brought from Arizona - it's a 12 foot layout. He's got others ready that circle around the room. It took over a year to do the big piece (which is why he brought it). Most of that time spent laying track and doing all the electrical work - it's entirely computer controlled - and you can see the wiring under the platform. Will share some pics when it's all put back together. Hard to see the detail because it's built for his working level - at 6'6" that puts it out of my reach ;)

haha, I've thought that big box is new parts arrived for your project :rofl:

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Originally Posted by aka_GK

haha, I've thought that big box is new parts arrived for your project :rofl:

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:ROTF::ROTF::ROTF:



Good stuff Sharon! Now the dreaded unpacking...

Have fun with unpacking. Looking forward to more updates. :)

Ah, the trains....

About a third of the basement in my parent's house has been taken up for as long as I have been alive (or longer?) with my dad's unfinished layout. So sad....

Gratz on the move!

Haha! I thought the same exact thing when I saw the huge box. I was like holy jesus is that all of Shazza's modding stuff?

Glad to see you and everything made it safe to Florida Shazza

Sharon in Florida, wooohoooO!!!!

Oooh! Blast from the past - I see your first brushed MM! I'm familiar with the "Speedbumps" of moving. (Going through that myself, ATM.) I can't stop starring at the pic of the train set while telling myself I do NOT need another billfold thinning hobby...

Thanks for the response Shazza. Picked up my case today for $40, wooot!!! Now the fun begins. Anyway, get the computer stuff unpacked and take some pics, I need some ideas. :D

Good to see you have arrived in Florida nice and safe Shazza.
Looking forward to your next update in a week or so, humm well earlier would be nice as well.

Have fun unpacking Shazza and don't hurt your back lifting boxes.

i think imma have to go by and help Shazza unpack so we can get a nice update on the rig :)

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Originally Posted by InCredible

i think imma have to go by and help Shazza unpack so we can get a nice update on the rig :)

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Count me in :up: I'm getting impatient :rofl:

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Originally Posted by shazza

http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer..._42MjG-M-1.jpg

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Don't mind me. Still starring.

lol - ok, ok, already. I actually am making some progress, just nothing picture worthy. Mostly still organizing and setting up my workspace ( a bit difficult since we only have a small car at the moment, making buying supplies like a table top, etc. a bit difficult. Next week should be better. I've also been acting as TV-repair person, trying to get cable going again ... pita when you switch between houses. Almost there.

I feel for you, Cpt - moving 3 blocks or 3,000 miles is still a pain. I am currently sorting photos and stuff from 1980 !!!! (some real winners there). And yes, that's the brushed AL MM case - I'm thinking it might be perfect for my AMD build.

Any updates? :) Black Pearls are back at the Egg for only $99 and I may get one but really curious how this will turn out...