Yet another home brewed case mod

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.

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



[spoiler] [/spoiler]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

That and to test my skills at building it.

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

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.

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.

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.

ok. That'd be cool

I'm finally done!

Here are some pictures of the final product.

http://naturalyartificial.com/images...ont_closed.jpg
http://naturalyartificial.com/images...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

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


great stuff