Uber Commie Case

Snobok · Oct 30, 2004

OK, I've been wanting to do some case modding for a good while, but have until know not had the inspiration or proper case to mod. Recently I replaced my case with a chieftec dragon/matrix case from tigerdirect (OMG, the service was good!

Its a miracle. ). For a while, I have been thinking of doing a USSR-themed case, but have fought over it since I hate the USSR and what it stood for int my view. So I finally have a reson to do the mod anyway. Since my former case was clearly designed by a nazi due to the poor quality, bad airflow, and annoying features , I decided to use it for the Soviet case mod. Also, since this is a cheap case, if I screw up and have to throw the thing away , it won't be a major loss.

Here is a link to a case very similar to the one i bought. Same annoying bubble lights, same bad layout, window(mine didn't have one).:

Linkage

Note: School has been pretty busy, and I don't have much free time. Thus, updates may be coming in long order.

MONST3R · Oct 30, 2004

thats cool, ill watch for your work!

Troney1169 · Oct 30, 2004

Me thinks that this would look nice and clean if done right. And GOOD service from tigerdirect I haven't had that happen yet, well at least from the .ca version. But they have better prices than most places that i've seen so I keep ordering. Good luck with the mod.

Snobok · Oct 30, 2004

Thanks for the encouragement. O'm new to modding, but I'm trying to make this thing look good. I'll post pics later, but wont be able to work on it today since I have a French project to work on thats due Monday.

YellaT · Oct 30, 2004

Hey, I'm excited to see how your case turns out!

however: A: the USSR and DDR wern't all that bad. Just ask the people who lived under the government, things worked for them, and they got along just fine. Those are the most humble people I've met, and I'll be damned if I'll let somebody put them down. B. The Nazi reference was a bit ... tactless.

Awaiting the results though! I've got tons of photos of authentic USSR and DDR built things if you need some inspiration.

Snobok · Oct 30, 2004

DDR? BTW, I''m not saying I don't like the people, just the system of government that they lived under. The reference was only due to the fact that I think most of the features of the case I'm using are annoying and its flaws. AKA, I'm not trying to be tactless or put people down.

Also, the theme it self, is more of a rusted out /broken USSR theme to symbolize the downfall of the communist system that I am not fond of. The theme may change over time as I get under way. My first objective is to mix some of the problems I find in the case such as the top fan hole being so close to the power supply that one has to remove the fan to install/remove the PSU. The stamped fan grills are also a problem since they restrict air flow and collect dust easily, so they will get cut out.I'll need some better front intake, so I plan to make room for a 120mm fan instead of the 2 80mm fans that would be in place. I was thinking of remaking the front of the case so that I don't have to see the drives at all

robberbaron · Oct 30, 2004

The best feature of this would be a broken powersupply so that the system would never work, just like socialism.

Snobok · Oct 30, 2004

Ironically, it came with a cheapo 350w PSU, maybe I should mod it. I have yet to decide a use for the case after I'm done. maybe it can house my dad's computer (How he can like using a 1 ghz slot A Athlon with 256mb PC100 and a Radeon 9500 Pro is beyond me).

YellaT · Oct 30, 2004

can we see some pictures of the case?

Darth_Fluffy · Oct 30, 2004

Snobok said:
OK, I've been wanting to do some case modding for a good while, but have until know not had the inspiration or proper case to mod. Recently I replaced my case with a chieftec dragon/matrix case from tigerdirect (OMG, the service was good! Its a miracle. ). For a while, I have been thinking of doing a USSR-themed case, but have fought over it since I hate the USSR and what it stood for int my view. So I finally have a reson to do the mod anyway. Since my former case was clearly designed by a nazi due to the poor quality, bad airflow, and annoying features , I decided to use it for the Soviet case mod. Also, since this is a cheap case, if I screw up and have to throw the thing away , it won't be a major loss.

Here is a link to a case very similar to the one i bought. Same annoying bubble lights, same bad layout, window(mine didn't have one).:

Linkage

Note: School has been pretty busy, and I don't have much free time. Thus, updates may be coming in long order.

So, what exactly do you think USSR stands for?

Snobok · Oct 30, 2004

Pics-wise, i gotta find Dads camera. I just got done doling out halloween candy (which were really coupons for a free small frosty at wendys), so I may get som pics up tonight, but may be not.

USSR= Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

I will try to get som pics of the case up before I go full tilt into modding it.

apHytHiaTe · Oct 30, 2004

I think he was getting at something deeper than merely an acronym.

Snobok said:
I hate the USSR and what it stood for int my view

Snobok · Nov 1, 2004

I finally took some pictures of the case while it is int my room for the time. These are just some pics of the case skeleton at stock. I have yet to do anything other than some drawings to collect my thoughts. I may post those. Also due to the fact that I have yet to fully get used to photoshop and posting pics on forums, my first few may not turn out so great.

the case as a whole:

Problem area / Annoying thing:

Future ducting area

At least I found out that the case does have a removable motherboard tray that I never knew was there.

Snobok · Nov 2, 2004

Update: still not much done on the case. At least I managed to get one of the stamped grills cut out of the case. It felt a little wierd working with a dremel like tool for the first time. The edges of the fan holes will later have a molding put on them so as to keep one from cutting one's finger on the still rather shap edges.

First: an original grill.

Tonight's work:

Implements of destruction:

Work area in general (It's so small!

):

My work may not be too good by normal standards, but its my first time even using the dremel, well Black&Decker wizard-dremel knockoff.

Snobok · Nov 3, 2004

Well, I managed to get some work done today. The other annoying fan grill has been cut out. Luckily, I have gotten used to the Dremel-thing, so it took me no time at all comparitivly . It also looks like the cuts came out smoother. I'll still eventually cover the edges though to prevent finger cutting on the edges.

Also, I did find another good surprise. I found that my front bezel was made up of a buch of snap-in components and switches. Thus, I removed them and discovered that it opens up a wide open expanse in the bezel. This is good since now I dont have to cut through 10,000 layers of crap to get that fan duct in,saving time and labor.

Perhaps my case was not designed by a complete idiot after all. If you want to see what the front bezel of the case looked like beforehand, I'll post a link to a case as close to the original as possible as I have yet to find the exact case I ordered off of Newegg.I suspect that they do not carry it any longer.

Link:Similar case

Also, I removed those darn bubble lights on the front of the case (insert cheers and victory parade here). I'll have to fill in the space that they took up but, I was thinking of bondo for the job. I'm not sure what to make the filler that I want to use to fill the open sapce in the bezel out of (I have some acrylic lying around.). Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

Snobok · Nov 3, 2004

Whew, I finally managed to get some more work done tonight (I guess it was luck that I didn't have any homework.) I drilled out some those annoying pop-rivets that hold my case together so that I could take out the 5.25" and 3.5" drive bays. I will build something for my drives to go in to later. Also, I cut out the area for the 120mm fan up front, which was tricky since I didn't have a cutting wheel to use with the B&D Wizard. The hole is a little rough, but I cut by sight following a pattern I drew on the masking tape that was covering the front (I put it there earlier).Fortunately, the roll of masking tape itself served as the pattern to trace around. The diameter of the fan is roughly 4.7" and the diameter of the roll of tape was 4.5", so it worked out pretty well.

Pics from tonight:

former case feet:

Front: with hole:

Side shot:

Removed stuff:

Thoughts? comments? Suggestions so far?

Snobok · Nov 9, 2004

Ok, I have not done much work lately, so there is little progress. I am in need of some suggestions for a problem of mine. I've cut a 4.5" diameter hole int the front of the case for a front 120mm intake fan. Only thing is is that I need to fill the empty space between the case skeleton and the front bezel hole so that it becomes more of a duct. I have a 5" diameter tube that I can use to fill the space, but the prospect of drilling more in the case is frustrating. The Lowes and Home Depot only seem to carry tubes, pipes, and ducting in 4" or 6" diameters. Thus I am at a loss; anyone with a suggestion?

starhawk · Nov 9, 2004

(1) that hole needs to be 4.72" in diameter.
(2) look online for some aluminum tube. online metals is a good place.

Snobok · Nov 11, 2004

Thanks for the note on where to get the metal tubing. I found some aluminum tube with a 4.75" inner diameter that should be close enough . It's got a 5" outer diameter so I will still have to do some cutting, but that won't be a problem.

BTW, sry it took me so long to get around to posinting. It's been busy here lately and I dont work very much at a time, so there is not much to report. I still have to order that tubing, perhaps next week sometime.

Oh yeah, also I would like some suggestions for a good PSU for everyone. I have a unlocked Athlon XP 1800 lying around that will eventually be the chip in the computer. I plan to buy an Abit Nf7-S sometime here and some good ram. I don't plan to watercool the machine since this is going to be a media center for myself. The vid-card will probably be my Radeon 9500 Pro out of my dad's machine or a cheap card off newegg. I don't care vid-card-wise since I don't have a big TV to hook it up to to play games on. Heatsink-wsie, i was thinkin of the Thermalright SP-97 and Artic silver 5 with a silent (or whereabouts of silent) 92mm fan.

starhawk · Nov 11, 2004

i always go to online metals for that stuff when i need it...

btw... it's the cheapest place i've been able to find for lexan too... and lexy is better than plexi, not to mention easier to cut. you just go real slow with a jigsaw.

Snobok · Nov 11, 2004

Thats cool. I didn't even know that Online Metal existed. windowwise I have a bunch of plexi lying around and I just gut another sheet of 1/16" thick plexi, so I'll use plexi this time. However, I try lexan next time. Plexi is all they have at Home Despot and Lowes

starhawk · Nov 11, 2004

Snobok said:
Plexi is all they have at Home Despot and Lowes

no kidding.

btw... for all you battlebots fans: the guy who taught me about that stuff is none other than the former owner of Mike Da Drums! he was the most informative fellow that i have ever met online (i was really into battlebots for quite some time... then i discovered [H])

Edit: some stuff you might want to know about lexan vs. plexy vs. 6061 T6 aluminum:

Lexan: polycarbonate plastic sheet/plate, bullet proof. roughly half the weight and price of 6061 T6 aluminum. can deform up to 110% of its thickness before breaking. can be cut with a jigsaw... just go slow. cut normally with pretty much anything else (tho i have doubts about that laser cutter you've got, mashie... j/k but your mods really are that good)
1/8" lexan would be appropriate for a large window in a case door.

Plexiglas: clear acrylic plastic sheet/plate, bendy, flexible... but somewhat brittle and prone to bad cracking. can deform up to 48% of its thickness before breaking. can be cut with a jigsaw or pretty much anything else, tho edges must be taped prior to cutting to prevent hairline cracks. i would not use anything thinner than 1/4" plexi in a case window (mostly b/c a good solid kick to the side is my usual method of trying to fix a computer problem)

6061 T6 Aluminum Sheet/Plate: no chem data available at the moment. general-purpose metal for just about anything that's not gonna get too hot or get the crap beaten out of it. very bendy, good workability, i.e. you can bend 1/4" plate with a pliers if you're strong enough. can be cut by nearly anything but woodcutting saws won't like it one bit. not transparent (obviously) but good for low-impact structural stuff. don't get the square tube stuff, vertical members will bow almost imperceptably in the middle. use ells.

Snobok · Nov 20, 2004

Ok, I have yet to do any work on the case recently. So it is still is the same manner it was last time you guys saw it. I did just think of one thing I might want to do. I have ben thinking of turning it into wtx case (flip mobo and place it on other side of case). My main reason for doing this is that my comp sits on the left side of my desk and I don't care to see the back of the mobo tray. Plus I get to see the AGP/PCI cards better (AKA it would look cool). Any thoughts, comments, suggestions or how to go about this?

FLECOM · Nov 20, 2004

in soviet russia! case mods you!

needs moar red paint / sickles (sp?) hammers KGB logo etc lol

wood · Nov 21, 2004

Collective Modders of the world, UNITE!!

/marx

I'm interested to see where you go with this. Keep us updated!

starhawk · Nov 21, 2004

обновления пожалуйста!!

wood · Nov 21, 2004

В советской России, нить модернизирует Вас!

starhawk · Nov 21, 2004

я = находящийся в собственности

Snobok · Dec 25, 2004

My apologies for taking this long to get this posted, but I am no longer working on the commie case. I found that I did not want to work on it since I felt it glorified communism. Remember, I hate communism with a passion since I don't think it ever works and usually just makes every one equally poor in my opinion. Thus I will no longer be working on the commie case. Maybe someone else can make one instead. It is a decent mod idea after all.

YellaT · Dec 26, 2004

too bad, I was somewhat looking forward to it. Remember though: communism isn't anymore evil than democracy.

mushrooms · Dec 26, 2004

for inspiration.. here's my soviet snowboard.

Elledan · Dec 26, 2004

YellaT said:
too bad, I was somewhat looking forward to it. Remember though: communism isn't anymore evil than democracy.

Same here. I very much like old-style Soviet designs. They just have something

BTW, the USSR wasn't communistic at any point in time. It was a totalitarian regime (Stalinism). Communism is in essence the ultimate form of democracy, as it places all power in the hands of the people (from Greek: demos = people, -cracy = rule). Similarly, China and North-Korea haven't been and aren't communistic.

It's a shame when people allow politics and misinformation to determine their view on architecture.

starhawk · Dec 26, 2004

i'm doing an el cheapo mod right now... in fact i just started putting the rounded cables in.

i haven't made a thread for it because it's happening at a pace of about 1 new thing a month right now... but if you ask i will make a thread and pics...

i'm thinking that i might just make it a commie case for kicks. i don't like the way the ussr did their government, but i think communism is headed slightly in the right direction-- i would favor a democratic socialist consulate republic

now if anyone can actually say that without tripping over their tongue, we'll REALLY have something, lol.

UT-Jackal · Dec 28, 2004

nice board

Nivram · Jan 1, 2005

Like I always tell people (that'll listen! LOL), communism is a wonderful idea.....on paper.

It's only when you introduce human beings into the equation that it gets totally screwed up!! LOL

Spare-Flair · Jan 4, 2005

picture links are broken

Snobok · Jan 5, 2005

Spare-Flair said:
picture links are broken

They must have just gone down then, as they were working. As I said though, I am not working on the project anymore and have thrown the case out. Maybe someone can use it as an inspiration for a case, but I am not working on it.

EDIT: Does any of the mods mind closing this thread or even deleting it. There is no need for it to take up space if it is going to just sit here.

Uber Commie Case

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