The "NOTalis Project" Silverstone SG05 ITX case

[Bill Owen]

The NOTalis project was the result of E.E.L. Ambiense's recent 4 day visit to Minnesota. We've talked about getting together for the last couple of years. We both agreed that a Mini ITX project wouldn't suck up too much of his 4 days. He suggested the Silverstone SG05. E.E.L. made some conceptual drawings from home so we had a plan. The SG05 arrived 2 days before he did. I brought it to the machine shop on Thursday to mill a new bezel design. E.E.L. was inspired by the Nautilus submarine's window from Jules Vern's 20,000 Leagues under the sea (disney movie 1954).

We titled the project "NOTalis" because it sounded funny.

The both of us had always talked about experimenting with instant rusting techniques and products. We're both fans of Piloux's Blackmesa HL2 case mod. A historical chapter in case modding. We planned to use the same product Piloux used. I believe we found the current version by Sophisticated Finishes. Piloux never explains his application techniques in detail which forced us to experiment a lot. It can be a little frustrating to use this product because you must wait for the results. You just learn to keep busy with other things, like sleeving a PSU or cutting a 240mm fan grill. We discovered on the last night that a heat gun sped up the rusting process.

We only spent two evenings working on the project. We were both amazed we didn't need more time, but we work very efficiently together.

Since it was E.E.L.'s first time here. I brought him to some interesting local businesses and eateries. We spent a great deal of our time just talking shop. So this get together was historical for us. We made a point to record everything knowing it would be shared here with you.

We'll be including these PC Cable management clamps with the case
http://www.mnpctech.com/CableClamp.html




Silverstone SG05 Mini ITX case





OEM 120mm fan location (modified to 140mm)






3/4" thick block of 6061 aluminum


140mm intake design inspired by "Nautilus" submarine window from Jules Vern's 20,000 Leagues under the sea

[miahallen]

Fantastic ...where is the rest

[Bill Owen]

Thank you miahallen. Iron Mods is awesome. The 240 size Steampunk acrylic radiator grill is a good fit for the SG05. Keep in mind the SG05 has a one piece cover. You will have to modify the rear chassis pillar to clear the grill's mounting screws. This mirror finish won't exist much longer..heh



The SG05's rear slot covers and Mnpctech
80mm "Gear" style acrylic fan grill were getting their first application of Duplicolor brand automotive sandable primer. The Brown primer is a great base coat color for the rust effect we applied later on.

[Boulard83]

wow, I want to see the finisahed product !

[Bill Owen]

I'm deciding whether the 240 steampunk radiator grill's fasteners will clear the chassis support beams without any modding. Modding commenced soon after



E.E.L. starting dissecting the 300W FSP PSU that was included with the SG05.











E.E.L. removes the warranty sticker, yay!

[neonblingbling]

[img]http://www.mnpctech.3dpixelnet.com/picture_library/silverstone_SG05_mini_itx_case_mod_mnpctech1.jpg[/img

Dang! I wish I could mill out what ever I wanted out of aluminum. That looks sweet.

[Bill Owen]

Thanks for the comment! I taped off the shell with 3M 233+ tape, I make the initial cut with a dremel and reinforced dremel cutting wheel before using jigsaw with 18 TPI cutting blade.









I will use rounded side hand file to refine the cuts

[Anemic]

Wow, this looks REALLY awsome. Can't wait to see the fisnisht build!

[LogAn'sRun]

Bill - some advice for you - I love this project and follow it over at BT, but I think you would get more traffic if you moved it to here or here if it involves water on XS. The sub-forum you're in now really doesn't pertain to what you're doing and the people that follow case mods look in those 2 sections hourly. Trust me, you'll get a lot more traffic there. Just ask a mod to move it for you.

[Bill Owen]

Thank you Logan!

will do

[Kaldor]

Looks really cool. Love the CNC work. Mega dollar, unless you know someone. Ive been hoping someone would do something with the ITX Silverstone case for awhile now. This going to be water or air cooled?

[shazza]

Fun project!!! Looking forward to seeing what you guys do with this little guy.

[Bill Owen]

Thanks for the comments and waves @ shazza.

Using this angle grinder to give the 2x120 steampunk grill look more delapitated. These are professionals, so please don't copy the grinder in the vice trick at home






Sanding it with Medium grit sandpaper before applying primer and instant rust



Heres the page link for the Steampunk radiator grill we used that was designed by E.E.L.

http://www.mnpctech.com/Steampunk_Bl...or_Grills.html



After an hour our steampunk grill looks like this





E.E.L hits the PSU's housing, he removed the stock stamped grill from and base unit as well...



Heres the Sophisticated Solutions products.

Video Guide to using Sophisticated Solutions Instant Rust



E.E.L. first applies the iron solution to the surface



Here's what it looks like in the middle of corrosion...



E.E.L. masked off the base unit with Scotchbrite green tape and did the same thing to it...

[Origin_Unknown]

wow - alot of care and planning gone into this!

[weston]

wow I've seen an airbrushed antique look, but using actual rust is probably a first. Looks pretty good so far!

[Bill Owen]

Thank you for the comments!

[omaryunus]

good stuff bro

[punkrockpolak]

Looks awesome! That intake cover is especially cool.

[Bill Owen]

Thanks for the comments everybody! Here's the front cnc milled panel after applying SEM self etching primer.







Iron Metallic Surfacer is applied over the SEM primer coat





E.E.L. is rawking along with the PSU and also applied the instant rust effect to the 80mm laser cut Gear grill





Cool, oversized case thumb screws get transformed as well





These XL size thumbscrews used to be included with the Thermaltake Tsunami case, I save them



Cheers to a great PC Mod Jam Session!

[illidan]

awesome!

great paintjob as always

[mojododo]

As usual, a ridiculous amount of detail in the builds. This is really taking hold now and is looking amazing. Cant wait to see the next set of progress shots.

[_Billa_]

Very nice project, i loved the "old and rusty iron" paint, amazing job. Keep posting!
Oh man, i wish i had access to an cnc T_T

[cobra_kai]

Wow, that instant rust stuff is really cool! Looks incredibly realistic

[Bill Owen]

Glad you like it! Thank you for the comments!

[ridney]

wow amazing mod as always!