Project:- Modzart

[G-Dubs]

Vote for Black outside Copper inside here

kd

Noted Matey and thanks for helping with the decission.

Where abouts in Naaaarwich are you? Spent many happy years there.

i'm definitely gonna sub this....looks like a fantastic build!

Cheers Jamiman, always like to give special thanks to a sub.


So quick question to any in the "Know"

So far i've been sanding down my ally as I would bare steel prior to etch prime. Although it is appreciated this will do no harm, is it strictly neccessary?

Reason I ask is that if it's not it will save me a shed load of time on the main body of the case.

 

[G-Dubs]

Got a third option

I like the thoughtof the copper on the inside as it should give a nice glow when lit up.

Also like the idea of the copper on the outside as it will be a change from black, and can be broken up by the large areas of dark tint from the windows and roof,

So how about copper inide and out????

And hey VOoDOo, good to hear from you matey, hows it going in Texas?

 

[G-Dubs]

Lots of progress today (all thanks to a hangover free Sunday).

First job was to make good a few of the edges where the Dremel got the better of me.

And a bit of a dint that was there when I got the case.

Turned the case upside down for the first time. Man those feet have to go.

one of the last outings for the Dremel on this project was to remove to annoying little lugs on the mobo tray (Haven't a clue what they do so lets hope it's nothing important.

Cut off

And all tidied up.

Although I'm using etch prime I took the added measure of keying all the Aluminium surfaces in preparation for their painting. Gorgeous day outside today, so took advantage and after washing all parts following sanding I left them out to dry nice and quick.

And the door panels get a little rest on Mrs Dubs Swing seat

Then inside for the night

Major event of the day was getting the first coat onto the main section of the case.

Hopefully the last we'll see of this chap, but knowing me I'll find something else to chop up.

 

[G-Dubs]

Fingernails are now gone in anticipation to see the color scheme!! Nice prep work G, Its hard for me to hold myself back long enough to sand and prime the right way. Kudos to you

P.S.- Texas is hot and humid, it always is!! Our atmosphere is not kind to painters

Cheers my friend. The colour scheme is now decided but all will have to wait and see. Odd story behind how I finally made my mind up, but will share as we go along.

Damn! Want to steal your lawnmower!

Nice work though

kd

Lawn mower is 16bHp of awesomeness. (It will actually pop a wheelie in 2nd). The thing has 5 forward gears but under-steers like a Sierra on a damp road on anything higher than 3rd. Genuinely haven't been brave enough to try 5th yet. The steering is vague at best and random at worst and the when you press the brake pedal you might as well be sending a post card second class. But God do I love it.


Back to the plot though, the Build. The Project if you will,..The thing that both keeps me out of the way of Mrs Dubs while simultaneously getting me in her bad books.

Having spent much of my energy focused on the main body of the case I've now turned my attentions to the front fascia. It's machined out of a very nice thick billet of aluminium, presented in a very nice machined finish.

In the picture below you can clearly see the milling marks left over from manufacture.

Job for today was very simple, remove the front mesh section. Lots and lots of really fiddly little screws.

I'm getting to the point with this case where I really hope I can remember how it all goes back together.

Seriously, I'm more than a bit worried about all the bits and bobs attached to the front panel. I can't even remember where I put the power reset switch assembly.

Regrettable though it was I also had to sand back the front fascia to a smooth yet keyed finish to accept paint.

So off with the Thermaltake and Mozart Decals (very stubborn indeed)

Less objectionable were the Intel stickers indicating what used to live in this case.

Got the day off work tomorrow so will be cracking on with things so if you're about stay tuned and I'll try to get a few updates up.
Mod On Guys.

 

[G-Dubs]

As promised I've been cracking on with things today.

Front fascia is now sanded, washed and etch primed.

The rear IO panel has been sanded and washed ready for etch priming (I've run out of Primer, and also grey normal primer so a quick trip to the auto accessory shop is in order).

front Fascia relaxing on the bench follow a vigorous exfoliation and shower

What's left of the Thermaltake logo on the base of the case

Rear IO panel putting chilling on the BBQ

Main section inside having a coat of normal grey primer/undercoat over the etch

Front fascia having had a coat of etch applied

Roof section with white undercoat

 

[G-Dubs]

Loving how this is going I didn't realise how huge the case was though until you see it stood next to something. I agree the acid etch stuff is horrible stuff to breath in, but your painting seems looks really good. Proof that patience pays off, keep up the good work

Cheers matey, yeah i've learned the hard way that 95% of the time should go into prep and that "patiently" is the best way to paint.


Thought I was nearing the end of the sanding and etch priming, but then I found a few more bits.

The Mesh won't need to be etch primed but has been lightly keyed to take some standard primer/undercoat. Not sure how well it will take the paint without the holes clogging, certainly going to have to be really light with the coverage.

HDD bay. Not 100% that this will be going back into the case yet, but will give it the treatment just in case.

 

[G-Dubs]

Getting closer to the sexy stuff, but still more undercoating to be done.

If I rush this the whole paint job will look pants, and pants is not my aim.

The mesh will only get the lightest dusting of paint as i'm wary of the holes clogging.

Thanks for stopping by

 

[G-Dubs]

Looking great G-Dubs!! Camera skills are looking great as well!

cheers matey. i think that camera wise sometimes i get lucky in that what i want to acheive actually works.


should be getting some top coat on this weekend all being well. still trying to work out the plan re which colours to lay fist as they will then have to be masked.

 

[G-Dubs]

I hope you can remember where all the bits go Mr Dubs!

Great work, as usual.

Errr No, which although not a problem right now will be quite soon.

Now lets see some colour! Eagerly awaiting this G-Dubs

Last of the undercoat went on this evening (God I hope so)

Should be laying down some colour over the weekend.

Still not sure whether to lay copper first then mask and lay black or vice versa.

 

[G-Dubs]

Ok the first of the copper has been layed. Pictures to follow (just as soon as the copper coloured fog in the workshop clears enough for me to take the camera in).

Gonna have to take a trip into Grimsby as not got nearly enough paint to get me through the day.

Also can't find the right colour of anthracite for the outside so will most likely be going Matte black.

 

[G-Dubs]

As promised some pictures of the first copper coat.

As this is a "project Paint" rather than an auto paint it is much harder to achieve a good finish. It just doesn't flow out of the can as well and has a tendency to spitter.

 

[G-Dubs]

Yesss!!!! That really looks like copper, very nice Mr. Dub!!!! But me wants more!! I think we need to get you a gun and compressor.

Cheers my friend. I gave serious thought to getting a comp and gun set up prior to starting the build, but spent the money on the new camera instead. I'd love to have a go with a proper painting set up, but not sure I could be doing with all the cleaning etc. At least with a rattle can when it's done you bin it.

 

[G-Dubs]

Well I've just put the first top coat on the main case itself.

I'm quite pleased with how it has gone so far, the colour is very close to actual copper sheet.

And not forgetting the Matte Black exterior!!!

Many more coats to go on each yet (another 3-4 at least)

 

[G-Dubs]

looks awesome g-dubs

Cheers matey

That paint is looking spectacular G. With your skills I guess you don't need a gun and compressor.

If we learn by our mistakes that tell me I sure as heck have done a lot of learning

Your actually a legend mate, the copper looks absolutely superb. When i was reading through the 1st page and saw that copper colour you had used when you were comparing the three, i knew that was the colour to go for. It's really annoying though, i wanted to do a mod with this colour but have never got round to it, i can't do it now because of you.

....maybe i still can though.

Course you can matey. Just remember you'll have to pay royalties though

Seriously though, there's very little that hasn't already been done along the way at some point. So go for it. Can't wait to see it.

 

[G-Dubs]

I wonder how your skelly would look painted like this

Seen one done, and it does look nice.


Mmmm maybe re mod that green one.....

Did you manage to sand down that drip/run on the HHD cage ok?
It time consuming with auto paints - what are the 'craft' ones like pita or ok?
(makes all the primer prep well worth it when you need to sand runs)

Enjoying the build so far - looks like another epic and well considered masterpiece

cheers Shadow. yeah I got the drip ok and your right about time spent in prep. I think the number of pictures I posted of me priming and undercoating damn near killed the thread

These paints seem a bit hit an miss, no consistancy in the nozzles can 1 was shocking, can 2 really nice and can 3 (the can I started and finished tonight) about 1/2 way between the other 2


Thoughts are now turning to rads/pumps and res's

What to go for????

Get anything else done today mate?

Oh you know, a few bits and bobs

Had a cracking Sunday actually, but maybe got a bit carried away.
Mr's Dubs not too happy i have started another case mod, and she doesn't even know about the monitor

 

[G-Dubs]

you should, bought myself a white one new for £106 delivered, couldn't wait and also didn't want to wreck that paint job as I want white and orange anyway

Welcome to the Club KiiYzOo. Stick a few pictures up in the case section won't you.

Also the "bring your Skeletons out of the Closet" thread is making a return.

I always said that case was before it's time.

BTW white and orange sounds great. All white but with orange cowl??? I can highly reccomend VW Brilliant orange.

 

[G-Dubs]

And so the painting continues. Really starting to make some progress with it now though.

It's so tempting to rush the prep stage to get to the good part where you lay down the top coats. But rush it and regret it.
A few pics of the Black going onto the doors. Had to spend 2 hours masking the copper of the doors, but i've spared you all the pictures of that. Fingers crossed the tape comes of clean and doesn't take the copper paint with it. If it does then I guess the etch prime didn't do it's job and the whole lot will go in the Bin.

Copper parts have now had their last coats. 4 coats in total. I won't be using a clear top coat as I detest the stuff.

 

[G-Dubs]

Looking really good, but hope you used low-tack masking tape

I did yeah, but even the low tack can be a pain. I think it will remove a bit of the shine from the copper paint when it pulls off, but i'm not too worried as the inside of the doors are going to have the tinted windows attached to them anyway.

 

[G-Dubs]

This looks great, the black and copper are going to go really well.

You thought about using copper pipes instead of traditional tubing for the WC?

Thought about copper pipe, but it's a lot of hassle and a real ball breaker when you want to change something.

I've actually got a chap working on a Pearlescent copper coolant especially for the project.

Really impressed with that copper paint job G-Dubs. Will look awesome with the black doors.

Many thanks

You never really know if the colours are going to go well together until you get to this stage, and by then it's all too late.

 

[G-Dubs]

With the quality of that copper paint I think it'll turn out really nice

Cheers my friend Fingers crossed though

Mr g-dubs i saw the first page and though how on earth is he going to make this case look desirable.

Well the copper paint looks amazing and can not wait till you put this together and hopefully the pearlescent copper coolant turns out well.

It's always a risk choosing colours, and if you have a good read of the thread you'll see how many times I changed my mind along the way.

Long week at work but it's the weekend now so I've been able to get on with a bit of modding. Been taking the opportunity to get the top coat sorted on the front fascia which is now done, as well as paint up a lot of the smaller brackets and things (which I won't bore you with.
They're also Harvesting in the fields around me at present so Dust is a real problem. So when I haven't been able to paint i've been chopping holes in things and cracking on with the other project I have underway at present which is Project F M J
Anyways a pic of the front of the case now that the final coat is on.

The doors are also finished, but unfortunately when I took the tape off it's left a slight residue on the copper. It's hardly visible, and won't be seen, but for me it's not good enough so I'm going to need to see what I can do with it before I show any pictures.