Yet another home brewed case mod

[Artlover]

I'm working on my own case mod for handling full size discs.

You can see a few pictures of what I've done so far at:
http://naturalyartificial.com/images/gc/gamecube.html

19 jpegs at 640x480. Some are fuzzy because I screwed up with the camera. I'll retake them eventually.

Currently, only have the base shell and lower tray assembled. I still need to work on making the top, mounting the buttons, making the lid and latching mechanism, then paint.

I'm designing it as I go along. Originally I had planed to do an executer style top, with that open area in the front for easy disc access. But that was going to take way too much fab work. Then I was thinking of the "wings" design some of the other cases used with access from the top. Ultimatly, what I kind of decided on was to move the door/lid open button to the front instead of the top. This will let me open up the entire right front corner that will give plenty of thumb access. Of course, door latching and open button are off in the distance as I plan on the top being a manual fliptop at first till I get around to adding spring loading and latching

The specific design of the top & lid will allow me to later change the frame design. IE: the lid will be designed with having the executer type style of front in mind, so I can still do that later without having to alter the top/lid sections.

The grill on the vents is a self stick aluminum drywall patch that should be avaialble at any home building supply store (I think even walmart's might carry them). Just cut it size, clean the glue off, bent it to shape and glue in. I formed the vent grills to be flush with the case sides. When it's painted, it will have a very clean look & feel. I give special mention to this because of the fact that the materal is absolutly perfect for stuff like this. Having spent several days wondering how I was going to do the grills, not finding any thing that was even close to what I wanted, I stumbled apon this stuff by accident. Thin perforated aluminum metal sheet. Open unrestrcted flow, but safe and visualy very solid. If only they simply sold big sheets of this stuff. As it stands, the drywall patches only come upto 8"x8" at $4.50 a piece. It would make a great speaker grill too I think.

I have no time line. I work on it when I work on it. I hope to have it finished before the end of May. Thats about all I can say about that. :p

[Sextreme]

I think it's very... very... interresting? :o



:p :p :p

[puddwakkr]

Looks nice man. Is this gonna end up costing much more than the Xecuter case? I like doing my own work too, but I'm cheap.

[Quantumsource]

I'm just wondering , What the heck is all that white stuff, that dosn't look so nice. Ins't the 2nd point(1st being able to us full size DVD) actually make it look cool, like a mod, ie like when modding a computer case, or a car. I don't mean to dis your efforts in anyway, but it looks like it could use some cosmetic work.

[Artlover]

Originally posted by Quantumsource
I'm just wondering , What the heck is all that white stuff, that dosn't look so nice. Ins't the 2nd point(1st being able to us full size DVD) actually make it look cool, like a mod, ie like when modding a computer case, or a car. I don't mean to dis your efforts in anyway, but it looks like it could use some cosmetic work.
It's still a work in progress. It's only the base shell and lower assembly. I still need to fab the top and lid, then paint it.

The white stuff is Super Gule Plastic Fusion epoxy. It's what is holding it all together. :p

Once it's painted, you won't see any of that.

What I'm thinking for paint is a two-tone combo. The case itself painted with Fleckstone (gotham gray or rose quartz) and the lid itself painted glossy black. Tho the Fleckstone will be later, at first, it will be all glossy black.

[Artlover]

Originally posted by puddwakkr
Looks nice man. Is this gonna end up costing much more than the Xecuter case? I like doing my own work too, but I'm cheap.
Don't know to be honest. I haven't had to buy much since I already alot of the materials laying around. All I've had to buy was the material for the site grills and an extra tube of Plastic Fusion. So I'm looking at $8 so far. :cool:

[Quantumsource]

OMG, I'm so sorry, i didn't realize. That sounds pretty cool, are you planning on producing more of them, perhaps for other people to buy. Your color scheme sounds awsome.

[Artlover]

To be honest, no. I'm just building this one for myself.

Mostly, because I know it's going to need to be done as I believe 2 disc game support will come, and I'm too cheap to buy a ready made case. :D

That and to test my skills at building it.

[ROFLMyWaffle]

Page doesnt load for me. Can you attach some pics?

[Artlover]

Originally posted by ROFLMyWaffle
Page doesnt load for me. Can you attach some pics?
Can you try the link again. My site was down and I didn't know it till you mentioned it not loading. It might be a bit slow loading up at first, but it should be up now.

If not, I'll resize some of the pics and post them.

[ROFLMyWaffle]

Ok, see em now. Thats pretty cool. Are you going to sand and polish it when finished so it's completely clear? It looks ick right now. But cool design.

[Artlover]

Originally posted by ROFLMyWaffle
Ok, see em now. Thats pretty cool. Are you going to sand and polish it when finished so it's completely clear? It looks ick right now. But cool design.

At first I was thinking of leaving it clear, except after I started futzing around with little bits here and there, there wasn't any good clean way to do the glueing. So I'm going to paint it all glossy black when I'm done. Tho the final paint scheme is just the lid (still to be built) painted glossy black and the rest of the top painted with fleckstone.

But this is a ways a way. I still got to fab the top part of it, and the lid, and working out the button mounting & guides, and working out a lid latch/open button.

Then I can worry about paint and all that. Tho I'm going to try to finish it up sooner then later because of cobra 1.2.

[ROFLMyWaffle]

ok. That'd be cool

[Artlover]

I'm finally done! :D

Here are some pictures of the final product.

http://naturalyartificial.com/images/gc/left_front_closed.jpg
http://naturalyartificial.com/images/gc/left_front_open.jpg
http://naturalyartificial.com/images/gc/lid.jpg
http://naturalyartificial.com/images/gc/power_on.jpg
http://naturalyartificial.com/images/gc/inside.jpg
http://naturalyartificial.com/images/gc/dvd.jpg

[thecheekymonkey]

now thats pretty cool, lot of hardwork gone into that methinks


great stuff ;)

[gulliver]

Great job bro. I can tell you put a lot of work into it.

I also have to say, I like the scotch tape you got that's holding your viper in place - lol :D

[Artlover]

Thanks for the compliments guys. :cool:

Originally posted by gulliver
I also have to say, I like the scotch tape you got that's holding your viper in place - lol :D
LOL. :D Yeah. I did that long ago when I first got my chip, and it just worked so well that I never even thought to change it. :)

One day, I'm going to redo that original gamecube page link I posted. Put all my pics up in an organized mannor. Following the progress start to finish. One day being the key words. :p

[gulliver]

Originally posted by Artlover
LOL. :D Yeah. I did that long ago when I first got my chip, and it just worked so well that I never even thought to change it. :)

Hey man, if it works it works; that's all that counts;) Lol - I didn't even think of it, but when I put my clear-green ps2 case together, there was no way to screw the eject mechanism back on so I put a little scotch tape on it to hold it in place and it hasn't moved in the 6 months it's been like that. So I guess I have no room to talk - lol.

[Artlover]

Well, I redid my gamecube case page. It's now nicely organized with thumbnails, and has all the relevent pictures from start to finish.

http://naturalyartificial.com/images/gc/

You can also use the original link at the top of this thread, as it will redirect. Let me know if you have any problems with the page. Besides e-mail that is, which I already know doesn't work. Waiting for my domain host to get it set up.

[des]

nice job...the best casemod i've seen fo far...the page rocks too!

[ROFLMyWaffle]

Looks good! Best home made one I've seen, but still doesn't reach the professional level. Not saying its bad, its excellent, but it seems you put quite a bit of work into it for an product that may not seem worth it. Me personally, I'd buy an xecuter :D. But that's me. Cool page too.

[Artlover]

Originally posted by ROFLMyWaffle Looks good! Best home made one I've seen, Cool page too.
Thanks. :cool:

Originally posted by ROFLMyWaffle but still doesn't reach the professional level. Not saying its bad, its excellent, but it seems you put quite a bit of work into it for an product that may not seem worth it. Me personally, I'd buy an xecuter :D. But that's me.
Yeah, there are various issues like sanding marks, paint texture differences where filling was done, ect.. Like I said, I wanted to test my skills, and had all the plastic laying around doing nothing. I always like doing things myself when I can. Cost wise, this was maybe $15.

I'll say this tho, I like my top better then any other for one reason: A lot of finger room, so it's insanely easy to get full sized discs in and out from any angle with either hand. Those other cases all seem too limiting with access. First, they try to keep the original lines and then have a round tray just barely bigger then a dvd with nothing more then either a thumb scoop in the front (which looks really nice), or two goofy wings on the sides (which means specific hand positioning). Either way, you have limited disc access. But since I ended up going with a flip-top, doing away with the whole eject assembly and keeping the top rails and trim as thin as I was able to produce with the tools I had on hand, there is just a load of room in there. Plus, with my case having that lower tray instead of a suspended cup leaves the top tray/trim floating, so the disc can slide under (without any concern of getting stuck/lost or scratching anywhere the gc can physcialy read) giving you even more room to handle the disc. So there! :P :D

Any who, the Xecuter's case is nice. If I was going to buy a case, that would be the one. As a matter of fact, I was originaly going to try and duplicate their lid style with that front thumb scoop. Too much fine detail work. Never would have happened. What I built here took me to my edge of patience. :o ;)