Dragon Scales!!!

[Fibbles]

What would be a way to simulate dragon scales on a PC case?

I've had this idea to make a mod of something out of D&D, of something I like so it appeals to me and I have the desire to keep up with the project, and since dragon scale armor for humans (findable and buyable in Neverwinter Nights) is everywhere, why not for my PC case?

I've thought of painting them on, but I sort of want the texture (probably like hard leather) and a more 3D look. One idea is using wood, and cutting the shapes into it, painting it and the leathers (I have a pretty cheap source, but then it tends to be a grab bag of pieces) then covering it with something, attaching the leather and somehow making the indentations needed. I'd want the treatment on the sides and top (nobody is going to pick it up and look at the bottom, I hope). The front would have either a big scale, or a buckle of some sort, with rivets and sewn areas.

I've been thinking about this for a while, I hate sitting around and watching everyone else mod something :rant:, but I'm not sure where to begin really. I just need a push...

Color isn't really important now. There are green dragons, as well as red and gold ones, there are multicolored ones too. Once I decide how to start, color will soon follow and I will find a dragony name and go from there.

[zer0]

well a good painter can give the painted on dragon scales a 3d look.

good idea though.

[ỒĊBłůē]

I can remember seeing some 'art' made out of Guiness cans.

How about cutting scales from some alu cans?

Cheap, plenty about and not too hard to cut. You could probably add a texture with some kind of paint.

[Fibbles]

I can remember seeing some 'art' made out of Guiness cans.

How about cutting scales from some alu cans?

Cheap, plenty about and not too hard to cut. You could probably add a texture with some kind of paint.
That's an idea... Thanks, I'll look into that, could end up very nice.

well a good painter can give the painted on dragon scales a 3d look.

good idea though.
I thought of that. The problems are cost and it loses the DIY factor.

[cools]

Might not be quite what you're after, but what about faux snakeskin leather?

[mnpctech]

If you go clay route, heres ideas for texturing

DAN PEREZ STUDIOS

Detailing and Skin Textures (http://home.houston.rr.com/dpstudios/workshoppages/detail.htm)

[fivecheebs]

I like the beer can idea :) ... also what about some of that super sculpy stuff that bill used for the screaming face for "the wall" maybe dry burshed a bit like some of machie's doom 3case.

[edit]damnit bill ... you just beat me to it!

[edit ii] holy shiznit!! (http://home.houston.rr.com/dpstudios/images/workshop/spitterskin.jpg) that would look brilliant!

[ỒĊBłůē]

If you go clay route, heres ideas for texturing

DAN PEREZ STUDIOS

Detailing and Skin Textures (http://home.houston.rr.com/dpstudios/workshoppages/detail.htm)
What's fillip doing on that page you've linked to?

[fivecheebs]

ROFL!:lol:

[mnpctech]

also what about some of that super sculpy stuff that bill used for the screaming face for "the wall" maybe dry burshed a bit like some of machie's doom 3case.

Only problem w/ Super Scuply is you would have to glue/epoxy the hardended clay to the case surface. What would be easier (I think) is using an "air dry" clay that would adhere to metal surfaces.. Mashie suggested Milliput clay, but its a tad expensive for covering a case.. What I've discovered is this product, PAPERCLAY (http://www.paperclay.com/) Its soft, so its easy to mold & tool. However, its brittle if you do small detailed pieces.

You can buy Paperclay at Dick Blick Art Material Retail stores.

lol, fillip has hands in everything these days :D

[Fibbles]

I'm going to sample a few different methods, including the Paperclay and aluminum can ideas. I suppose I'll take pics too.

I was planning on doing this to a Chieftech/Chenming Dragon case. Simply because I like the style and it will fit compnents inside (water cooling) with ease.

[fillip]

What's fillip doing on that page you've linked to?
http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/huh.gif

lol, fillip has hands in everything these days :D

http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/ohmy.gif

http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/huh.gif

the abuse.



... I don't even own any Burberry

[GodsUnicorn]

How about some thin sheet metal struck from the back with a flat ended punch held at an angle ?

Or a piece of wooden dowel in a pillar drill dipped in an oil/metal filing mix to give a fish scale effect.

[dutchcedar]

pieces of copper cut into diamond shapes and pop-riveted on... the next scale covering the previous one's pop rivet...

On Monster Nation they had a "dragon car" covered with diamond shaped scales torched out of steel from 55 gallon drums... it was quite convincing.

[mnpctech]

I'm going to reiterate about Paperclay being brittle.. Its good for covering surfaces, but isn't good for attaching objects... Say, you wanted to use it for attaching scales.. You would need to glue on scale, then mold Paperclay around the base of the scale..

[Fibbles]

I'm going to reiterate about Paperclay being brittle.. Its good for covering surfaces, but isn't good for attaching objects... Say, you wanted to use it for attaching scales.. You would need to glue on scale, then mold Paperclay around the base of the scale..
Ahh, now I gotcha. With clay I could slip in the scales, but that wont work with Paperclay. I like the rivet idea too. I've got a few other ideas involving rivets and cans now ^_^

First I need to sit down with all the supplies and figure out what I can do with them.

[jedimas729]

This may be a bad idea but how about using plexi? You could use a template for the shape and then just kind of sand the plexi to give it texture and you can always paint them. Just a suggestion, not sure how useful it would be but it never hurts to brainstorm!:D

[mnpctech]

You could also cut scales from thin styrene plastic (Plastruct (http://prudhoe.codeword.com/mnpctech/aWall/PFGrills/PFgrll3.jpg)) and layer them

[JesDer]

I was working on something like this but never actually did it.

My plan was to use some clay to make the design of the scales.. Make a mold of the design, and use that to make castings of dragon scale sheets. The case would then be painted and the sheets attached to the panels. The backup idea was to cast single scales and attach them one by one ..

The other idea was to embed the case in clear resin, but that would be an even bigger project.

But that project has been sitting in my basement for 3 years now ;)

[Hellion Prime]

My suggestion would be to scuplt the scales the way you want them in clay/scuplpy/etc then make a mold of them. Then you can cast the ones for actual use in something like Alumite (http://www.alumilite.com). Its pretty neat stuff for doing casting work.

[Starbuck3733T]

Welcome to the boards, fellas. HP, Greets from Ars!

Botha ya'll should post in the hellos and intros thread: http://www.wizdforums.co.uk/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=51

[Fibbles]

Right now I am playing with Paperclay Delight and polymer clay. They both have ups and downs, but I really like messing with the polymer based clay. My clay skills are both rather low, but I'll keep at it until I find something I can use, and I am going to try more materials too.

I can sort of make a scale-ish design, from a small piece of clay. Still, I need to figure out how to slap them together. I think it's worth giving the can idea a shot too.

[Starbuck3733T]

Perserverance my friend.

[scopEDog]

I remember hitting a plastics shop in the city and they had something that looked like scales. Small sorta cresent moon shaped plastic pieces that you could overlap. Maybe try a local shop near you?