MasterCase5 MOD: Project TRON

[deblow]

Hi all,

I'm very happy to be doing this MOD, Its something I have dabbled with in the past but not on a big scale.
My very first PC MOD, around 2003, was inspired by the original TRON movie, I loved the movie as a kid,
and with the help of some other movies like Blade runner and the Terminator, I was hocked on futuristic tech and sci-fi.

Here is the 1st MOD to give you a good idea how the EL wire will look.

So when CoolerMaster kindly offered me a MasterCase 5 I jumped all over it, the case is fantastic,
for anyone that's seen my project: Alternate desk build, you will already know I love the
sharp looking designs and it fits perfect with the Tron theme.

Moving on to the colours, I couldn't decide if to paint it all gloss black or white, so I'm going to paint the inside white and the outside black.
I think it will look cool but should I be wrong I might do a last minuet change to the white interior and go with all black.

The lighting is going to be a nice blue and I've also got some white,blue and UV dyes to play with for the cooling.

As always, please do let me know your thoughts as I progress.

SPECS:

Case: Cooler Master, MasterCase Maker5
Sound: Creative Sound Blaster ZXR
Storage: Crucial, MX300 750GB SSD
RAM: Crucial, 32GB kit, DDR4-3000
PSU: Cooler Master, MasterWatt Maker 1200

INCOMING:
GPU: Nvidia gtx1080 Founders edition
Motherboard: Gigabyte x99 ultra gaming


COOLING -
RAD's: EK, Coolstream SE 240 and Coolstream PE 360.
Pump: EK, XTOP Revo D5 PWM
GPU Block: EK-FC1080 GTX
CPU Block: EK, Supremacy EVO
RES: EK-RES X3 250
EK Hard Tube, compression Fittings and dyes.

LIGHTING -
EL Panel and Tape kindly provided the EL lighting for the project.
Drivers
Extensions & Splitters
EL tape's
EL wire




Big Thank You to all my sponsors and followers

Links.

Time to crack on!

 

[deblow]

The MasterCase 5's I have, One is the Pro and the other is the normal Master 5.
CoolerMaster have sent me some other accessories so I can transform the Pro in to a MasterCase Maker 5.

I will add a link to the video I did showing some differences between them and some of the accessories.

Vid: https://youtu.be/IyvwAFHSH38


MasterWatt Maker 1200, The biggest and most powerful PSU I've had to date.
This will easily power my setup and be ready for when I go SLI.

The PSU also comes with this Bluetooth adapter so you can monitor and change setting via the smartphone app.

 

[deblow]

For the sound I have a Creative Sound Blaster ZXR.
Although this looks great, along with some other components it's going to need some white paint.

I need to get the painting done asap, especially the gloss black so it's nice and cured before the 27th of this month, If completed in time the case will be going to the NEC for the i58 show.

For the lighting I will be mainly using EL, its very effective and a must for any tron mod

I have Tape, Wire, Splitters and Drivers.
They should all run fine via the 12V PSU lane, during testing I'm using battery packs to make thing easier.

Work has started on the case, I will try update the log daily until it's up to date.

 

[deblow]

Looking forward to seeing more of this project!!

Me also, Thanks for the reply

As a huge Tron fan myself I am looking forward to watching this build take shape.

Wulf

Nice! you are the man I need to impress most then

Going to look great!

Hope so, Thanks

Had an eye on this on Facebook, gotta love EL panels. Was going to use them myself for some light panels but I can't hide the inverters anywhere in my restructured In Win 901.
Love me some Tron.

The EL panels are great, I have done lots with RGB, LED's and some other lighting, but you can never get as good a even light and it really pops!
Wont be too hard to hide the drivers in this case, but I can see how you might struggle. MSG me on FB if you want and we can try find a way to hide them.

 

[deblow]

For the storage I will be using a Crucial, MX300 750GB SSD

RAM Crucial, 32GB kit, DDR4-3000, This along with the SSD will be painted white.

 

[deblow]

Now for the watercooling, I ordered the white versions when possible to reduce the amount of painting needed.

EK, GTX1080 Water Block, I don't have the 1080 yet so unable to show it fitted for now

I have some EK, Pastel white and blue, along with some UV blue. plan is to have a mix with all 3 and try get a nice shade to match the build.

Vid showing them all unboxed: https://youtu.be/BcoN__V-AxE

 

[deblow]

EK-RES X3 250

Water Pump: XTOP Revo D5 PWM

For the RAD's we have a Coolstream SE 240 and Coolstream PE 360.

CPU Waterblock: EK, Supremacy EVO

 

[deblow]

I have just received the X99 Ultra, cant wait to get this up and running, the lighting on it looks great!
Some parts are already white on the board but the red will need covering or re-painting.

I'm only waiting on the GPU now, until it arrives I will just keep working on the case, I'm also doing some
unboxings for the Tube, have lots of appointments, the i58 at the end of the month and my Birthday on the 16th,
so this is going to be a busy month.



Most of you will have seen one, if not all of the Mastercase range, fantastic cases and almost perfect for 1st time modders
and the pros.
Very solid build when compared to some of the older cases, its taken a bit more effort to make cuts in the frame for some
wires to feed though.

This is a Pro case that I have changed in to a Master Maker case via some accessories, new front and top cover, new control bay
at the top and I have a clear side (plexi), and this shown in the photos, Glass.

The glass looks best I think, however it has a slight tint to it.
Should it make things look a bit of when completed then I will go back to the standard side panel.
I think It should be fine though, but we wont know until almost the end

This is how it looks with all the removable parts take of, apart from the back covers.

 

[deblow]

Such lovely kit ready to go in.


Cheers for the offer, next time for sure. The 901 project has been in the drawing and planning stages for over a year and it's been tough enough getting a DDC in given how I'm reworking the internals

LED strips and heavily frosted acrylic is good enough for now given I'm only doing lit edging underneath aluminium facias.

Not a problem, and funny you mention the frosted acrylic, I ordered some before I got the tape and was going to use that for most of the
lighting effects.

I also ordered myself some white for the back of the ZxR that I can see Pete has mentioned
Looks like we are all on the same wavelength

Consider backplates for the ZxR. I had one commissioned for my build and it really helps with the finished look.

Looking great btw, subbed.

Thanks Pete, as above, I have some white acrylic ready to try make a decent plate for the ZxR.
Will be my first time but im sure it will workout fine.
Its a shame that the best looking parts of the PCIe cards are almost always facing down

 

[deblow]

All the edges that you can see on the case and this front cover will need to have cuts made for the
EL wire to fit in about half way for a more clean look.

The sound proofing was quite easy to remove from the back of the front cover.

When the proofing was removed it reveals some holes that you can stick a screwdriver in to remove the case badge.

 

[deblow]

For the EL wire to sit nice I started of cutting the groves freehand, might be a faster and better way to do this
but with only a couple of slips repaired with some filler, it worked out ok in the end

I wanted to do a Tron disc in the center of the case and in doing so will allow for me to make a nice new
hole in the center of the disc to allow for a bit more air to get in and add to the overall look of the case.

Not the best hole I've ever made, just needed a quick sanding down.

This is to show you all where I plan to have the disc, if all goes to plan I will be airbrushing around the disc and blending in to the front of the case.

The top, sides and front have all had the groove treatment, took some time but worth it
You will also see that all the parts have been sanded down ready for primer.

 

[deblow]

Oh so jelly right now. Gonna be awesome.

Thanks, I hope so

 

[deblow]

Some of them slip-ups filled in with plastic putty.

Hole prep ready for when the EL wire is attached to the case.

As I mentioned before, need to get the paint down asap as the primer needs 24hrs to dry, 1st base coat 24hrs, 2nd base coat 5 to 7 days before a final sanding, then the 1st clear coat 3 days and more sanding, and finally the top clear with around 7 days before a final sand and buff in order to get the best shine possible.

You will see some parts are in the grey or white primer stages, the inside parts will be white, outer black.
Don't think I will be using the fan, but did it anyway just encase lol

2nd coat of primer done, forgot to mention that. so add another 24hrs

As the case was in the 24hrs stage I moved on to the components, SSD, RAM and sound card.
Forgot to upload the sound card photos so I will add them when I next update the log.

1st coat of white plastic-dip.

The covers are now painted white, not sure if I will be adding gloss to the inside, I will see how it looks later in the build before deciding.

1st coat of black has been done, I now need to get them all sanded down and add a 2nd coat.

 

[deblow]

It's been a bad couple of weeks
Contracted Sepsis last week so was taken in to hospital, just in time they said.

I was really looking forward to maybe getting this build done in time for i58, but the chances are very low now,
I'm also still awaiting the GPU so that will hold me back.

The setbacks are not all bad though, this means I can spend a bit more time on the build and try something
that I was not going to attempt if the build was defiantly on track for completion in time for the show.

Had done some more paint work before my trip to hospital so I will upload them photos for you in the next update
along with some work I did yesterday.

I've also setup the components I have to check there all working as intended, so I'm happy to report the CPU, DDR, MB,
PSU and water pump are all running fine.

The MB looks beautiful!
But the red will need to go and I plan to make a cover/covers for the MB.
I did get myself some white plexi, however I think I will now be using clear so the LEDs on the MB can still be seen,
if I paint most of the cover white and leave the parts covering the LEDs clear it should workout fine.

 

[deblow]

Sepsis? Holy hell dude, hope you're on the mend

Thanks, yeah i'm feeling much better now
it was like man flu x4 lol

Wow sorry to hear about that mate, hope your ok. The build is shaping up very nicely love that your using el wire, popular with Tron cos players. Watching eagerly, very interesting build.

Best

Wulf

Thanks mate, yeah Im feeling better now and just need some blood tests to confirm the meds worked
If I still had my motorbike I think Id be making a cos suite
Republic of Yorkshire lol, im gonna have to use that one
I'm in Huddersfield btw.

Sounds good, looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Thanks mate

 

[deblow]

Only needed to paint the edges here as all the other parts will be covered.

Most the panels with the 1st coat of black.

A quick wet sand ready for the 2nd coat of black, this will help show any high spots and imperfections in the
base, you will notice most of the edges are high due to the case design and primer buildup.

2nd and final black base, this was also sanded after it was dry before adding 2x top coats that will need a week
to harden before I can sand and polish, I hate orange peal on paintwork so its a must
When complete I'm hoping the black will look like glass.

 

[deblow]

I feel your pain mate, had to sell my V-Max cos wife says I've got be less mental now with having kids and all that lol. Not far from you just down the M62 near Leeds.

Best

Wulf

I'm not allowed another bike, both my mum and wife said they will kill me if I did lol
and your not too far from me then, most likely pass you once a month on my way to LGI

Will update the log over the weekend, been busy sorting things for i58 (NEC)

 

[deblow]

You can tell a dedicated modder when the problem with contracting sepsis is that it gets in the way of finishing the paintwork! Glad to hear you made it though!

Gloss panel looks good. What did you sand and polish with to gloss it up?

lol thanks mate

I was, and still will mention the paintwork in more detail later in the log, but for now I will let you know as you have asked.
Used cans for most of this case, I don't normally use them as they don't tend to be as good as airguns and proper car paints,
take longer to dry and even longer to be hard enough to polish without scratching or warping the paint finish.
also tend to get more orange peal with the cans although even the profecinal way gives some orange peal like on most factory painted
cars.

The top coat is clear/gloss and in a day or so it will be hard enough to sand and polish, all I have done to date with the panels
is buff them with some T-Cut to see how it reacted.

I have some 600 to 6000 grip paper I will use to flat the topcoat down with before moving on to some cutting paste then finer paste
before finally using some finishing compound.

The results from that wont be posted for at least a week or so as im waiting for some new buffer heads to arrive and the paint still needs
a couple more days to harden as I said.

Finger crossed, I will get a nice mirror black finish that will blend nice with the tinted side panel

 

[deblow]

Ok im back to work on the build after having a great weekend at the i58 event with some fellow modders and friends.
I even got to meet OCUK's 8pac

I've been doing bits here and there on the case as I'm waiting for painted parts to harden.

The base of the case is where I'll be having the pump, I decided to cut in to the PSU cover rather than
totally removing it as it will help keep the case strong and be a good support for the pump and other bits.

I made some templates for the bottom and side that will be used to make some covers out of plexi, this will also be painted or wrapped in white later down the line.

Heres the panel cut to shape, all that's needed for now is a hole for the pump to sit in, some other cuts will be made after testing the layout.

Now for the motherboard, its originally white, red and silver.
I removed all the parts I wanted to paint and covered the red with some white wrap, the white did't match good enough so I went all out and painted the parts white.

I wont be using the whole southbridge cover, but I've kept the G1 silver part should I decide to use it somewhere later.

The motherboard is looking nice and clean, the white should look great with the light blue lighting once completed.
I've also painted the RAM and some other parts like the EK waterblock shown in the photo below.
I will get some more photos of them and the other parts posted in the next update.

 

[deblow]

Looking good with the paintwork. Will have to bring you my car next time you're bored!

No problem! I'm working on my wife's car also, interior and the body .
She loves to scratch the paintwork with her rings and baby bag