Iron and Fire: Project - Eiserne Special (56k - turn off imgs ;))

[Breach]

Welcome to the project log of Project: Eiserne Special. Any comments, critizisms or suggestions are most welcome. Now lets get to it 8)

This project began based off of a uATX chassis from www.Directron.com (http://www.Directron.com), this little guy here http://directron.com/a301bg.html



http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_pedal.jpg
First thing was first, I made my pattern for the main Iron Cross on the left side. I just used the one side and drew it all the way around. Breaking out my trusty Dremel 395 and a fiberglass reinforced wheel, i got this...

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_side_cut.jpg]
This has yet to undergo final filing, but a good start.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_top_Precut.jpg
Next under my 30,000rpm knife was the top panel. Luckily the whole case came apart so every panel was nice and easy to cut on. Back to the topic at hand, what I decided to do was take a peice of the front panel (more on this later) and mold it into the top, complete with power and reset buttons, and the cool looking grill over the PSU.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_top_preview_2.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_top_preview.jpg
And here is what we ended up with. When I mount it permanently it will be at a slight rake with the back end sticking out of the top. This works well because the bracketry for the power and reset switches cuts it really close to interfearing with the PSU.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_Special_preview_1.jpg
Here is what it is looking like so far. The upper iron cross will be cut into the top maknig an uber small window.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_Right_panel_1.jpg
Now for the right side I decided to mirror the left side.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_Right_panel_2.jpg
No major crap-ups :D

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_Right_panel_MA.jpg
8-)




http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_side_panels_-_twin_iron.jpg
Both panels side by side. Im sure you can see as well as I can the giant dent that was in the left side right from the factory. Both of these will have full bondo treatments anyway so it's not really a big deal. The right side handle will be filled as well.


http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_top_template.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_top_1.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_top_2.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_top_closeup.jpg

This is the beginning of Eiserne's more distinguishing features. I wanted to cary the cross and flames theme all the way around the case, so i thought wrapping the buttons with flames and having the upper window in place with it was a nice 2 for 1 shot.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_fan_acrylic.jpg
Now for the front fan, uhhh, thingy :D

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_fan_0.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_fan_1.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_fan_2_close.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_fan_3.jpg
after a round of filing carefully. With both peices I left most of the flame licks atatched to the acrylic plate so they wouldnt break off tryng to smooth them out. They will be cut loose when I feel the licks are good enough.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_twin_flames.jpg
both cuts in view

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_top_4.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_top_preview_long.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_dremel_bit.jpg
For the curious I used a Dremel general cutting bit. It looks like a drywall bit but it has a more compact spiral blade.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_snowtownrock.jpg
Its not cocain....no really. But that cutting bit does make a big ass mess.



http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_arsenal.jpg
The only real hassle about the acrylic panels you have to file, file, file and file some more. Jewlers files are the only way to go, esspecially with the super small licks of flame on the front fan (not sure what to call it really) thingy. The big one came in handy for the top flames since that peice was bigger.


Well I think thats where I will stop for today. Im going to go pull out the bondo 8-)

Stay Tuned Modfans....

[mnpctech]

Wish we all had laser cutters for everytime we had to cut acrylic/plexi :(

Looking good Brew. Look forward to watching your progress.

Maltese Cross = :cool:

[Breach]

A wee update:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_top_handles.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_top_handles_2.jpg

Measuring and final placement of the red aluminum handles.

This was edited due to a full rework of the top panel, more to come on later after welding http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/huh.gif, although the handles and everything will be inthe same places :D

Brew

[Starbuck3733T]

Bummer about the acident, but that's what filler is for. Thank god you're not modding a lian-li! no room for error there!

And where did you get those handles? And do they come in blue?

[mnpctech]

Just a thought, I'd fill w/ JB Weld instead of Bondo.. Its stronger.

[Starbuck3733T]

Just a thought, I'd fill w/ JB Weld instead of Bondo.. Its stronger.

Yes, quite a bit stronger. thats what i used to fill the depressions on the back plate of goliath. its a pain in the ass to sand but on a smaller scale it shouldn't be too bad. knock down most of it with 60 grit on a random orbital sander, then hit it with a sanding block with 220 grit. do bondo and stopper over that and you'll never be able to tell you messed up :)

[Breach]

Thanks for the tips fellas, ill put some JB Weld on my shopping list^_^ What I ended up doing, which I might post later today, was using 5 minute epoxy to glue the filler strips into place on the underside of the cut, and covered that with bondo. It looks pretty good as it sits. That window will have the plexi on top of it so when its done i doubt there will be anything out of place.

I can deffinatly use some JB on the top panel that i started moulding into place last night, got some nasty gaps to fill, I wasnt too careful cutting out the hole since it was going to be covered anyway, I guess ill have to be a little more conscious next time:cool:

Oh, I got the handles from the origional CaseETC.com. They were aquired by Directron.com but they still sell the CaseETC line, and as far as I know they do come in blue and are still availiable. I found that my hardware store carries tons of handles with unlimited potential, you might want to check yours if your in the market.

[Starbuck3733T]

It was the prepainted handles that caught my eye. But i've examined the panels further and I cant screw them into the panels like I wanted too, not enough clearence. I'm not using them as handles though, using them as panel pulls. I need to get some of those in raw metal and MIG weld them onto the panel. too bad the closest MIG I can use is in erie, PA (about 4 hours away).

Looking good, JB will be quite strong ;)

[Breach]

Hehe, mine are anodized :D

Ok, some more updates:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_top_panel_glued.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_top_panel_vents_1.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_top_panel_buttons.jpg
Moved front panel epoxied into place. The buttons and the clear ring were removed to spare them from any misplaced bondo or sanding.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_window_fix_4.jpg
And the patches were glued into place as well to make a little bondo ledge so I can erase my eternal shame :waah:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_top_panel_bondoed_2.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_top_panel_bondoed.jpg
And bondo. Now, i realized in my walking dead state yesterday didnt really consider stripping the panel of paint before I did this, so while sanding the bondo down ill be taking most of the paint with it. Ill go find my good friend Mr Orbital sander for that I think. See what happens when you dont sleep and mod?

But the good news-

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flames_sidebyside.jpg
Side by side

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_dremel_small_wheel.jpg
Now, on MNPCTECHs site it has a fine guide (to lazy to go find it, maybe later) on cutting with dremels. In it he says keep those old reinforce wheels around for intricute cuts. He was right people- this is perfect for finishing and tweaking my flame cuts.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_top_cut_out.jpg
All freed from the rest of the acrylic, all licks are independent and very fragile now. I spent a lot of time filing on these before i set them loose. Still need to sand a lot to make them perfect.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_flame_top_preview.jpg
I think you can all see now where im going with this
:D

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_dremel_pedal.jpg
My new modding Secret Weapon- my pop introduced me to this little gadget he had, you plug your dremel into it at full speed, and then plug this pedal to the wall. Now it will go any speed I want dynamically :D

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/Eiserne_bottom_preview.jpg
And to finish up, a little teaser of the bottom of the case. I probably wont mess with the chassis until the panels are mostly done, but I really want to go Wolverine style and do my own real plexy etch of an elaborite maltese (or iron, whatever) cross, lit by red LEDs.

Updates may be slow from now on, Im starting to work again in a few days so well see what I can get done and when, but I dont think it will be too bad. Stupid life :baby:

Over and out

Brew

[Starbuck3733T]

Erm... bondo over paint, not sure how that's going to go. Worst comes to worst you have to take a wire brush attachment for your dremel to it and remove the bondo. that would go rather quick so no big deal.

I'm quite jealous of you youngins and all your time to mod ;)

[Breach]

Well hot damn! and update? How about that :D

Got a little work done lately for a change on this thing, Ill start with my first Etch-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/EiserneBottomEtch.jpg
I designed this one for the bottom window

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/EiserneBottomEtch2.jpg
Pulled out the trusty 395 and some etching bits, it went pretty smooth, the bits are incredibly forgiving.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/EiserneBottomEtch1.jpg
Half way there!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/EiserneBottomEtchred.jpg
Im starting to regret this will be in a place not many will probably see ithttp://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/mad2.gif The little touches I suppose

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/EiserneBottomEtchclear.jpg
Another beauty shot

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/EiserneFrontPanelEtch1.jpg
I also did some on what will be the new front panel (more to come on that later on)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/EiserneFrontPanelEtch2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/EiserneFlameValence.jpg
I took a heat gun to the front fan valence and made the flames wavy, its also been sanded in prep for primer and gloss black paint. I know I know, you all say this should have been lighted. Well, youll see why I wanted some contrast later. Now on with the show!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/EiserneTopFlamesEtch1.jpg
the top flames will receive some treatment too http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/EiserneLeftPanelrecut.jpg
I recut the other side just a bit, and decided that it should be the primary window instead of the other one. Luckily the panels on this case are bi-directional, so you can put either one on either side. Since the Maltese is an equal shape this wasnt a problem.

Thats all for now, its time for a beerhttp://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/cool.gif

Brew

[fivecheebs]

Thats the first tim e i have read this log. Very nice. Those flames are amazing and the heat gun just made them look even better, well done. Nice etch too, where is it going? you say bottom window, is it going in the floor?

[mnpctech]

That bottom window Maltese Cross design simply ROCKS!

[Darv]

That etch is very good. Your right, it's a shame it won't be very visible.

[Starbuck3733T]

Definitly time for a beer. Nice job on all fronts.

1 Q tho: aint that side panel a little weak now?

[toby]

i love the etch and the flames, some great detail work there but im not too keen on the side panels i think the design isnt as good as the other stuff.

[Breach]

Thanks for the comments guys :)

The side panels will be covered from the outside with acrylic panels, which im going do do something special to ^_^ Nothing on the case is by any means done just yet. Stay tuned..

[shinji]

Well hot damn! and update? How about that :D

Got a little work done lately for a change on this thing, Ill start with my first Etch-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/BrewAsylum/EiserneBottomEtch.jpg
I designed this one for the bottom window


Pulled out the trusty 395 and some etching bits, it went pretty smooth, the bits are incredibly forgiving.


Half way there!


Im starting to regret this will be in a place not many will probably see ithttp://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/mad2.gif The little touches I suppose


Another beauty shot


I also did some on what will be the new front panel (more to come on that later on)




I took a heat gun to the front fan valence and made the flames wavy, its also been sanded in prep for primer and gloss black paint. I know I know, you all say this should have been lighted. Well, youll see why I wanted some contrast later. Now on with the show!


the top flames will receive some treatment too http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/biggrin.gif


I recut the other side just a bit, and decided that it should be the primary window instead of the other one. Luckily the panels on this case are bi-directional, so you can put either one on either side. Since the Maltese is an equal shape this wasnt a problem.

Thats all for now, its time for a beerhttp://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/cool.gif

Brew

Very Good tribal models, work thats seems very good also

[Pug]

Thread locked in preparation for revamped update. :cool:

[Edit] Teaser Pic...

http://2bitsystems.com/pics/Eiserne-face-teaser.jpg

:h34r: