pimping a old case

[BerserkBear404]

The plan is to use this old computer (actually my first very own PC buillt by my dad for just some basic webbrowsing/ "gaming" ) to run some music on my speakers or using it as a storage solution. There is only an i3 processor on a low end MSI Motherboard with 4gbs of cheap RAM inside without a dedicated gpu. As the case is esthetically very unpleasant at the moment, i will make some optical alterations.

 

This won´t be a professional mod whatsoever as I am a complete newbie in case modding and I am not willing to spend much money on materials, so if you are insulted by amateur work you should probably look for another build log 

The case will be spray painted in black and blue as i have some left over cans from spraying my moped. I also plan to include some led strips that shine out and in case (pun intended) I am pleased with the paint job I might fit an selfmade mirror in the hole made by the unoccupied 5,25 inch bays. 

I will probably start the painting tomorrow. If i come around to it I´ll make an update then. Here are some pics of the old case:

Spoiler

 

[DioOmicida]

Keep us posted as it comes along.

[Senzelian]

You could do some great stuff with that side panel. I would cut an opening and put a plexi window in there.
But I would leave the vent in there somehow, because that looks kinda awesome.
 

[BerserkBear404]

Just now, Senzelian said:

You could do some great stuff with that side panel. I would cut an opening and put a plexi window in there.
But I would leave the vent in there somehow, because that looks kinda awesome.
 

I have thought of this and i would actuallly do it, but the inside looks hideous due to the stock intel cooler and the (which would bug me the most) awful cable management as the psu isn´t modular and there is no room for it behind the mobo tray. I think it will look better with the paint job and some lighting coming out of the inlets.

[rodrosenberg]

This looks killer I love old beige cases that get a new life! 

[BerserkBear404]

24 minutes ago, rodrosenberg said:

This looks killer I love old beige cases that get a new life! 

Thanks!

I really hope that this is going to look as good as it does in my mind

[BerserkBear404]

Hi everybody, quick update:

woke up at 10 AM instead of the planned 6 AM because my alarm clock failed on me...

nevertheless, i ordered the materials for the infinity mirror as well as the led strips. i also ripped the case apart and will start painting now. hope the cans are enough

also, have some pics:

the pc´s inner guts with non-optimal cable management

the panels I´ll paint

 

Have a nice day! 

[Senzelian]

I'm kinda excited for this.
Don't f*ck it up! 

[BerserkBear404]

1 hour ago, Senzelian said:

'm kinda excited for this.
Don't f*ck it up! 

I´ll try 

minor update:

1st piece completely done, the other ones need some more layers/ or the other colour applied so until those are done I´m sitting here literally watching paint dry

[Senzelian]

4 minutes ago, BerserkBear404 said:

I´ll try 

minor update:

1st piece completely done, the other ones need some more layers/ or the other colour applied so until those are done I´m sitting here literally watching paint dry

It would have been a good idea to use some sandpaper on that first before painting. It has a ton of scratches. o:

[BerserkBear404]

2 minutes ago, Senzelian said:

It would have been a good idea to use some sandpaper on that first before painting. It has a ton of scratches. o:

the problem is that this piece is made from plastic and sandpaper would probably scratch it even more. the scratches are also quite deep inside of it. I´ll try to even it a bit by spraying over some more layers of paint though

[BerserkBear404]

Update:

Done with painting, just waiting for the left panel and the top panel to dry. The blue paint turned out to be pretty neat but black was quite a disappointment. first of I didn´t have enough for multiple layers so some spots appear slightly bleached out. I also did not do a great job of covering up the blue so some of the striping is slightly off or curved, which came down to the lack of suitable tape and me being clumsy and lazy. I also don´t have any additional paint on hand to cover mistakes...

However, I really dig the combination of the black and blue and it defenitely looks a lot better than the old case. For my first time modding its ok, I guess.

I might also throw some more money at paint in the future (although I´m not looking forward to spend another 20€ for a system this low-end).

Here are the pics of the two finished panels, pictures of the other ones and the completed case will follow once I get back home from a friend of mine.

 

Have a nice day!

[Senzelian]

Doesn't look too bad for your first time painting a case.
My first paint job looked pretty similar to this.

Next time it'll look definitly better tho

[rodrosenberg]

Nice job! It will only get better the more you do. 

[ApolloX75]

On 30/03/2016 at 9:07 AM, BerserkBear404 said:

the problem is that this piece is made from plastic and sandpaper would probably scratch it even more. the scratches are also quite deep inside of it. I´ll try to even it a bit by spraying over some more layers of paint though

Sand it gently with some very fine 800 grit. Then go buy a can of filler primer. Heavy primers are used for auto body restoration to fill in dips in body fill, you just sand it til it's smooth.

 

Did you use a primer on any of the case panels or did you paint over the original coating? You need a good base to have good adhesion and a chip resistant finish. Might be a good idea to get a can of clear coat too.

[BerserkBear404]

20 hours ago, ApolloX75 said:

Sand it gently with some very fine 800 grit. Then go buy a can of filler primer. Heavy primers are used for auto body restoration to fill in dips in body fill, you just sand it til it's smooth.

 

Did you use a primer on any of the case panels or did you paint over the original coating? You need a good base to have good adhesion and a chip resistant finish. Might be a good idea to get a can of clear coat too.

I did use a primer (not a good one though)

I didn´t want to spend any money on the case as I´m saving up for a proper system. The only things I´ll buy for this have to be reusable and primer, coat and the color I would need would set me back around 35€ which I neither have or want to spend. If this would be my main system I would´ve made a lot more effort than I did with this project.

[BerserkBear404]

Update:

Painting is complete! The other two panels turned out much better as well.

Some Pics:

The fully assembled case

The left side panel (with a minor scratch that my dear mother put into it)

the top

 

Next step is the assembly of the infinity mirrors for the gaping holes in the front of the case. Sadly, non of the parts made it to my evil hideout so I´ll have to wait one to two weeks until I can continue the project. And on this bombshell it´s time to end the show.

 

Have a nice day

 

[ApolloX75]

That turned out really good, I like the blue accents.

 

I just finished priming my old PC2-C case, have to take some pictures of it's current state before I start my initial color coats. I'm planning on using a blue similar to that as well oddly enough.

[TheCamba]

Just even painting is a good mod.   Never stop modding.

[BerserkBear404]

13 hours ago, ApolloX75 said:

That turned out really good, I like the blue accents.

 

I just finished priming my old PC2-C case, have to take some pictures of it's current state before I start my initial color coats. I'm planning on using a blue similar to that as well oddly enough.

I´m excited too see how that turns out 

[BerserkBear404]

mini update:

acrylic and the vinyl for it arrived. now waiting for the led strip and the wood casing for the infinity mirror

 

have a nice day! 

[TheCamba]

Soon.

[KSores]

looks much better than i thought it would... keep up the good work