This case was built from the ground up. I thought that a "modded PC" should
not be just a modified tower, complete with pre-fab fan grills, and black
light tubing. I wanted to create something honestly worthy of contest entry.
The idea was hatched some few years ago, but haven't had a reson to build
it. My box is 15"x15"x15", and inspired by the "LeMerchant Configuration"
from the "Hellraiser" movies, which was a puzzle box that opened a doorway
to Hell. I have found it to be a puzzle to create, as well. Many of the pieces
were delicate in the extreme, while others posed the exact opposite problem.
But enough rambling, on to the box.
I decided first that the case needed to be structurally transparent, to accent
the intricate gold inlay covering the exterior. Then came the assertion that
an other-worldly light should shine from within, with as little as possible
obstructing the illumination. I placed a blue 12" cold cathode vertically
in each corner. The result was more than I hoped for; an eerie blue glow
that lights my whole living room on it's own.
The cube is constructed of plexi-glass. All six sides are simply that, anchored
at the corners with brackets. The left side is hinged, for access to the
interior. All of the PC hardware is shelved, encased, and otherwise supported
by plexi-glass. Only the hinges, panel slide, brackets, and screws are any
other material.
Of course, I then had to deal with the actual mechanics of the thing, i.e.
anchoring and supporting the internal components of the PC, as well as figuring
out how to allow the disc drives the freedom of movement necessary, without
compromising the patterns of the box itself. I wanted to give it the authentic
movements of the puzzle boxes of the films. I drew up schematics of each
of the five panels that I would need to alter, and figured out which could
be mounted in ways that would bring them out from the "face," one swinging
out and down, and the other gliding straight out. This was done by double
layering the front wall. The inner remains stationary, while the outer is
sectioned, with curved hinges on the center panel, and a drawer guide mounted
to the underside of the supports for the disc drives themselves. The drive
tray actually opens the panel. The picture below shows the open position.
Getting these cut, mounted, and properly aligned so as to not catch on themselves
was the most difficult part of the whole building process. The rest was simple
support structures, measuring and cutting holes for port and card access,
and a lot of hot glue.
The little details were the most time consuming, which you can see in the
pictures. I sized the patterns I needed to 15"x 15", and I found gold leafing
in 6"x 6" sheets. I divided the patterns accordingly, then set to work, pressing
and cutting each square of each panel ( 36 squares in all.) The design is
intricate, and the foil delicate. Each square took roughly two hours to press
and cut, with nine squares to each panel. Once they were complete, the case
was disassembled in order to affix the leafing, set to dry, then re-assembled.
Then the fans and semi-customized grills were added, which can be opened
or mostly closed, looking solid gold in the closed position. The power switch
I installed in the top, a gold button within a solid gold part of the pattern.
The gold foil work shown below but the camera couldn't pic up the almost
chrome like shine.
Surely all the blood (literally, stepped on the plexi-glass), sweat, and
tears that went into this very impressive case should not go unacknowledged.
Yes i know this is a long winded message but I am very proud of this case.
took nearly 2 months from concept to completion working strait through several
nights. Thanks
