New Project

Kckazdude

Kckazdude

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jan 4, 2002
Messages
1,763
Would love to hear some thoughts negative and positive on it. This is a Cheiftec Dragon steele case that I am starting out with. Heavy and ugly are the first thoughts that came to mind. I dont really have any set ideas in my head as they are just coming to me as I get there. The theme I have decided to go with is a Harley-Davidson type case. Hopefully when completed it gives an impression of a modded H-D. So on with the pics.

Fresh out of the box and creating a hell of an eye sore

CT-PC4.jpg


First thig to go is the door. Looking at what I have to work with to get rid of the finger holes for the drive rails.

CT-PC2.jpg


Finger holes, hinges, and latches holes all filled in and bottom center cut out.

CT-PC6.jpg


Since the finger holes also allowed the rails to slide in and out I had to devise a way to mount the optical drives. Disassembling the rail mounts themselves gave me the soltion. Had to remove and cut holes in the cage mount to allow for mounting.

CT-PC7.jpg


Now back to work on the front bezel. I knew I wanted something to allow as much airflow as possible and I wanted a window on the bezel.

CT-PC9.jpg


CT-PC10.jpg


Next was to make some mounts that would allow me to mount some lights onto the front along the CD drives.

CT-PC16.jpg


CT-PC17.jpg


CT-PC18.jpg


CT-PC19.jpg


After getting this much completed I decided that the front window/opening has been done a few too many times. Looked a little too used. So a redisign was needed.

CT-PC20.jpg


CT-PC21.jpg


CT-PC22.jpg


Thats it for now. Am working on the side window and getting the window cut and shaped for the front.
 
I still don't understand all the case door hate going on, it seems like the first thing to go on all the Antec/Cheftec type cases :(
 
i like what u've got so far, keep us updated :)

as for the door hating, i can understand that b/c so many ppl are having doors and sometimes u just wanna be different :p
 
Ya the door hating comes from just too many years of the Cheiftec/Chenmeng, Antec etc clones and looking all the same. I mod them to look different and stand out in a crowd. Also to me the door says "I was too wuss to paint match my drives" :) .
 
Did you use epoxy or somethign to fill all the gaps? Good idea with optical drives too
 
n64man120 said:
Did you use epoxy or somethign to fill all the gaps? Good idea with optical drives too
Click to expand...

Fibergalss base with bondo body filler to smooth it out.
 
becuase doors are gay, In my project black lightning I actualy used the door for the bottom half of the case as I hate the slants at the bottom too. Realy i hate chieftec/antec cases altogether, mabe that is why i have no problem hacking one up.

This case is starting to look better, i like the bottom.

JEEVES
 
Yes I can't stand those dam doors. Even If you decide to keep the thing you can guarantee it will break sooner or later. I will post some picks of my rig and what I did to make it go away. Die case door die!!! :D

I like what you've done so far. Be interested to see the finished product. Keep up the good work.
 
Seems like you screwed the front of the case and you dont know how to fix it :(

OldMX
 
OldMX said:
Seems like you screwed the front of the case and you dont know how to fix it :(

OldMX
Click to expand...

How so?? Right now I am waiting on some parts and more money for paint. I have almost finished drawing everything out on the case the way I want. I just chose some really expensive colors to paint. Looking through the House of Kolor catalog didnt help much either. :D
 
everytime i see that new front, i see 4 ovals int he corners, not the cross im sure you were going for :(
 
Actually there are a few variants of the Maltese Cross. I just chose one that isnt as abused as the others.
 
3N1GM4 said:
everytime i see that new front, i see 4 ovals int he corners, not the cross im sure you were going for :(
Click to expand...


Good point, but that may change once the paint is on and it is up against something. Perhaps even a light would help. He can always bulk up the ovals if needed. I didn't even know it was a cross till you pointed it out. Good idea, like to see the finished project.
 
Question here. Is that puddy you'd use to fill the cracks and holes found in dry wall? I can't believe I never thought of something like that. :(

That would enable me to get rid of a door on those type of cases though! I hate doors.
 
Nuitari said:
Question here. Is that puddy you'd use to fill the cracks and holes found in dry wall? I can't believe I never thought of something like that. :(

That would enable me to get rid of a door on those type of cases though! I hate doors.
Click to expand...

Its Bondo body filler and Bondo fiberglass for the base. Sheetrock putty will never hold in the amount I used here.

titan151 said:
Good point, but that may change once the paint is on and it is up against something. Perhaps even a light would help. He can always bulk up the ovals if needed. I didn't even know it was a cross till you pointed it out. Good idea, like to see the finished project.
Click to expand...

The plan is to use a combination of modders mesh and a blacked out window over the cross cut-out with a 4" red backlight. My minds eye and inner child swear it looks killer. Havent decided on which mesh to go with yet so I dont have it all worked out just yet.
 
Yeah the light will be dope. I tried to do this once where i used bondo to make a 120mm port for a fan. It worked but I fractued the plexi on the rest of the case. Also takes time to get it all smooth.
 
Another issue I seem to be having. The handle on the side, to me in needs to go. I am having a problem figuring out how to fill it in. I cant cut a window to its edge because the chassis is there and would be no way to mount the window on that edge. Fiberglass/bondo wont work becuase of the chassis as well. Everything I hve tried so far has pushed the panel off the chassis. If anyone has expirience or suggestion please let me in on this. I have almost resolved to keep the handle that I do not want.
 
yeah i was trying to figure out a way to remove it, but gave up. Now I kinda like the handle, it is going to be the only thing that lets people know it WAS a chieftec/antec.

JEEVES
 
I know its been a while since the last update on this page so maybe you already figured out the handle problem but here's a suggestion (since I'm currently looking for a decent solution). trace the cutout onto a piece of sheetmetal and cut that out so it fits perfectly in there. strip the paint away and take it to someone that can weld. if you don't have a friend with a welder (like I don't) I'm sure a metal fabrication shop or possibly even a muffler shop would be willing to weld it in for you for a few bucks. make sure they only do like an inch at a time, letting it cool in between so it doesn't warp. then take a grinder to the welds to even the whole panel out. after paint no one will ever know....typical patch work type stuff done on autobody
 
Well, this hasnt been updated in a long while. Just let everyone know, I have recently been working on it but was putting off taking pics for the time crunch. Had to put the project on the back burner due to other life issues.

Since last updated, I have welded the holes for the handle release and case fan on the side panel. That created one hell of a mess. The panel was all warped and scorched because I could not for the life of me get a good temp out of the welder. So after the weld job, I was left with a severley warped side panel that looked hopeless. After much beating with a 5lb hammer and lots of heat from the torch, I finally got it flat again. Then moved on to cut the window shape and 120mm fan hole out. I have finally finished the paint prep and laid the first coat of paint down this evening on the outside panels. Hopefully I can get some pics up this weekend of it. Still need to prep and paint the chassis.
 
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