What do you think of my paint job???

[Designer]

I've started modding a mini-tower case (boring beige with extra plastic bits). The only problem is i'm gonna start spraying a few bits up soon but I can't decide on the paintjob.

I tried this today on the lid of an old desktop case I had lying around:

http://members.aol.com/DesignerPC/De.../Paintjob1.htm

Sorry about the size of the picture, you could'nt really see it properly smaller than that. Remember that's not the actual case, just another one I had laying around.

It's purple/blue metal flake Plastikote paint, but what do you guys think should I go with it or not.

Also, thinking along the lines that power supplies generate a lot of heat inside the case, i've decided to mount it outside the case, I was thinking of mounting it on top towards the back ('ve already started modding the PSU caseing).
What do you think? good or bad idea?

[Redfallon]

looks good!

[Alaron]

Looks nice. I like the two-toned effect.

I don't think mounting the PSU outside the case is a great idea. PSUs have 1 or two fans inside of them to remove the heat they generate from the case before it affects case temperature that much. If you were to mount it outside, not only would it ruin the look of the case, it would be difficult to route wires from outside to the inside of the case. I would keep it inside; I've never heard of PSUs causing overheating in the case.

[mikezel]

Yes it looks very nice to me.

I agree with Alaron about the PSU. Not only do the fans dissapate (sp?) the PSU's heat, but the 2-fan models also help to cool your case. Theres a good chance that your case will actually be warmer without the PSU inside it.

But hey, you can always try and find out.

Mike

[Designer]

The other problem I have is, now i've really studied the case, the power supply won't fit as it doesnt sit above the motherboard, it mount's sideways on and would be right across the top of the processor socket, meaning that the heatsink would have to be ultra slim or the PSU's gotta be located elsewhere.

Anyway, now i've removed all the guts from my PSU to leave me an empty PSU enclosure to mod, this should prove interesting


I've thrown out the cheapo plastic bit's (like the whole front of the case). Gotta weld around the spare drive bay blanks and plate & weld all the front holes. Just finished hacking all the wiring off the front panel (like the wiring to the LED's and switches) so I can re-use it when I add my new ones.


Still trying to find a bit of a theme for the case (logo's and that sort of stuff). Any Ideas?

PS- Thanks for your opinions on the paintwork testing.

[Tin]

that is a SWEEEEEEEEEET paintjob. keep it!

[Designer]

Thanks Tin,

Glad to see your up & running again.

As mentioned in my previous post, the problem with the power supply location. I've attached a photo so you can see what I mean.

The case is quite a compact one (only 2 internal 3 1/2" drive bays), this was originally the case for my Athlon 1400MHz donkey.

As you can see, the PSU sit directly across the CPU so it's gotta be moved, just the question is where to.

I was going to put a couple of 80mm fans in the back where the PSU was, or see if I could stretch to a single 120mm.

[TwoRails]

Looks good!! Love the gradient! That's tough to do good, and your's looks good!

[Panama Red]

Another "yes" vote! Great color combos. If you can sort out the physical limitations, that shoudl make for a sweet lookin' project. Maybe a couple coats of clear over the top to give it depth?

[Designer]

Working night's this week so I can take the actual case into work and spend some time modding it. Still cant work out where to put the PSU though.

Will laquer it, can't spray the actual case yet because I've still got to weld around the drive bay blanks (got rid of the plastic front) and cut the hole for the 120mm fan and the new switches and LED's,

Now i've got an idea about changing around the fan's

I'm gonna fit a 120mm LED fan at the front, just had a thought. How about removing the LED's and putting 2 tri-colour (red/green/yellow changes depending on how you connect them) LED's in and 2 blues. That way I can change my colour scheme from a selector switch in the front of the case. I would have to wire that independantly of the fan's motor connections. How cool would that be.

Could also add CC tubes in the same colours that work off the same switch.

Even better, I can do a couple of 80mm fans for the PSU the same, while i've got it in pieces.

[Panama Red]

I like it!

[QuickSilver]

What about puting the PSU in the bottom of the case up front? Some cases have room for this, and others don't. I just thought I'd bring it up. I like those colors too, looks cool. The important thing is weather you like it or not, It's gonna be on your desk! Looks good. Good luck.

[Designer]

Quicksilver, I tried the PSU in the front of the case but still no-go (like i said it used to fit in sideways at the back, but at the front it interferes with the internal drive bays, but if I put it in the middle it will be directly in front of the acrylic window i'm planning. I've figured out a way of extending the length of the motherboard and molex leads.

PS Does anyone know how to fire up the PSU without the motherboard connected, just want that to test my new fans when they're ready. Stupidly I've destroyed the label which has all the wire colour codes on it when I was getting the PSU case ready for priming. I think it's grey for remote on but I cant remeber what to connect to it.

Additionally, I'm going out to buy the bit's shorty for the fan illumination mod discussed earlier. I'll start a new thread with some pic's tommorow when i've got it sorted.

Hopefully I can get an AVI done with my digicam and upload it to my freespace so you can see them working properly

[JPMiller]

http://www.thetechboard.com/tutorials/atx.php
real easy to do actually... just take a paper-clip and bend it into a U shape ...insert one end into the power cable where the green wire goes...and the other to any of the black wire spots...
your "green" wire may actually be grey....

[Designer]

Thanks JPmiller

OK guys I've done the fan mod i came up with earlier. I'll be starting a new thread in this forum with a link to the stuff i'm uploading to my FTP space so you can see it working (and believe me it looks COOL!!!)

[Designer]

The fan mod's done. Started a new thread for it here:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...hreadid=100334

So this one can go one without that cluttering it up, so back to the original subject.

Any idea's with what colours to go for on the inside of the case, (was looking at fluorescent paints but now I think that will look terrible)?

[Redfallon]

I don't know about colors for the inside, but I say go for mounting the PSU outside. You obviously can tackle the wiring ok, and I'm sure you can find someway to incorporate it into the "theme" when ya get one Nothing wrong with being different. And I think the PSU not being in there, as long as you still have intake/exhaust, will help the heat problem, not hinder it. a 120mm exhaust where the PSU used to be will be more than adequate.

[Designer]

Definately gonna go with the two-tone for the outside and 120mm fans (with my LED mod ) one front one rear.

If you guys liked the two-tone check out the attachment.
Think i'm getting a bit better at this two tone fading thing, but i'm going to work tih a blue/purple hand as 've run out of thinners.

[Zick Boy]

cool paintjob!

[bigandy]

Excellent work Designer (a fitting name, eh). Like others have said, you pulled off the two-tone paint job better than most could.

[Designer]

Thanks Guys, have you seen the fan mod in my other thread, gonna be going into the case. If anyone's gonna pray a case i'd definately say use that Plastikote paint, really easy to use.

Just think i'm gonna have some major polishing to do!

[Jaggannath]

For a theme, just spray paint your hand a colour that contrasts with the two you've chosen, then make a hand shape on the side of the case. Then, get a Dremel and cut it out, and it's a unique design
Would look pretty cool too....

[Designer]

Thanks for the comments guys,

Unfortunately, while TIG welding the drive bay blanks and other extra holes I didnt need i've got the front too hot and it's distorted, tried pressing it flat again but no luck, I think they still sell the same case at AUT, so i'm off on staurday to get another and start again. This way all the bits i've done so far will still fit.

[Designer]

Could'nt get the same case as it's been discontinued, so I got the Jeantech Phong (shown in the attachment, although mine's black), it's a fairly smart looking case without modding it BUT I WILL.

Anyway, more coming soon

[Designer]

Sorry, meant to change attachment in previous post, but accidentally deleted it and couldn't get it back again.

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

It looks good, are you going to use the same colours as with the other one? Should make it look even better.

[Designer]

Yeah, this is going to be modded the same because I was trying to TIG weld up the front of the old case and the front panel got too hot and distorted so it's ruined. Oh well at least I learned that thin steel computer cases and TIG welders don't mix

[Tin]

dont let it get you down designer, your work is very good. youll have a nice custom case sometime soon.

EDIT: one thing i forgot....you can use bondo to sculpt the front of your case if you wish. it works very nicely and can be sanded to shape fairly easily.

[Spartan]

Does the new case you got solve your PSU location problem? If you are still looking for a place to put it why not put it on the floor in the middle then use a clear plexi cover on it so you can see the guts? You could even put LED's in it. Since you seem to be handy with a welder you could weld up a duct that would vent the PSU out of the bottom of the case.

-SPartan

[Designer]

Thanks Tin and Spartan,

The new case is starting to come along nicely, don't know if you guys saw the attachment in my last post, but now I've relocated the front fan behind the facia instead of inside the metal chassis so it's more visible. Just cut the horrible looking filter section out with my trusty dremel. Done away with the old power switch, reset button and LEDs and fitted two illuminated buttons into the spare 3 1/2" drive bay blank as I don't intend to fit a floppy drive.

Anyway, this time the power supply will fit the case and i've found some fine wire mesh at work that will make a cool looking lid for it and i've still gotta mod the PSU fans (like the other one). Getting there slowly