[Finished] Armor Redux

SEBAR · Mar 18, 2012

Finished product of my blood, sweat, and tears.

Check out the work log below to see how I got to this point.

I am starting a new project to transform a Thermaltake Armor Jr case. The mods I will be doing include converting the case to accept bottom mounted power supply, inverting the motherboard tray, and incorporating a top exhaust with either a 140mm or 120mm fans.

Here are old picture of the case in its original configuration and some with the inside painted black.

I will be updating the progress as I get time to work on the project.

This project is just for fun. I do not have any plans to build any system in the case unless it turns out looking really good.

I brought this case out of storage last summer to use it as a temporary case for my dying HP. I painted the inside of the case black, installed a GTX550ti, a 600 watt Ultra power supply and the rest of the internal components of the HP desktop.

A few weeks after installing the system the motherboard died and I removed the components and put the Armor Jr case back into storage.

SEBAR · Mar 18, 2012

Last night I disassembled the case and tested to see if the inverted motherboard idea would work.

I removed most of the pop rivets and will be replacing them with screws so that if I ever wanted to take the case apart again it will be easier.

Here is the test fit.

I will be removing the plexy with the Thermaltake logo and mesh vent and installing a new plaxi window without any ventilation.

new button head machine screws used inplace of pop rivets.

Here are shots of the front panel installed.

Ru5ty_t00l · Mar 18, 2012

I have to admit that it needs guts to mod an armor .

I have one and always wonder what the heck can I do on that case to make it match my tastes.

I'll keep an eye on this ...

keep it up

SEBAR · Mar 18, 2012

elder_scrol said:
I have to admit that it needs guts to mod an armor .

I have one and always wonder what the heck can I do on that case to make it match my tastes.

I'll keep an eye on this ...

keep it up

I have been thinking of ways to make this case useful again for some time. The biggest problems will be finding a way to manage cables behind the motherboard tray, not much room back there.

Update: I am experimenting with a new type of mesh for the front panel. Not sure if I like it or not. The idea is to paint the mesh gold or a chrome/shining silver and have the rest of the drive bay cover black.

This mesh will not work for the front fan area, I am thinking of putting a piece of black plexi with a center mounted intake fan or a piece of milled aluminum with a fan mounted at the center. This will depend on the cost....

Let me know what you think.

Update:

I may have to forget about the inverted motherboard idea because this configuration would limit the space for video card to 10.5 inches. I think the new 600 series GTX cards are going to be less than it right around 10.5 inches long. I am not sure what is will do yet. I had my first moding injury last night. I was trimming the plastic on the front bezel and cut my finger. Moding is dangerous.

Dispit the injury I was able to finish the moding of the front bezel. I should have some pics later today.

SEBAR · Mar 24, 2012

Update:

Here are some photos of the front panel I am modding.

I am thinking of going with a white and blue theme.

The front panel will have a 120mm fan to intake air and have a fan grill on the front panel.

I also am thinking of replacing the alumi flaps on the front panel with these blue rods.

Let me know what you think.

ZZAC · Mar 24, 2012

already like this. i still dont like the drive covers on that case though, i had a kandalf, hated it!

SEBAR · Mar 25, 2012

ZZAC said:
already like this. i still dont like the drive covers on that case though, i had a kandalf, hated it!

I agree, I contacted MNPCTECH to see about getting the billet drive bay covers. They only sell the 5.25 bau covers with holes drilled for switches, I also asked about a custome billet panel to fit in the front panel where I have the plexi. That will not work for me, I may try to make some custom covers.

SEBAR · Mar 25, 2012

ZZAC said:
already like this. i still dont like the drive covers on that case though, i had a kandalf, hated it!

Do you think the Lian Li 5.25 bay covers would fit?

ZZAC · Mar 25, 2012

SEBAR said:
Do you think the Lian Li 5.25 bay covers would fit?

may do, you could search and buy a hotswap drive from lian li like mine, mine is 2 hdds, and takes up 2 5.25" bays so would work well for this, and it looks nice!

SEBAR · Mar 30, 2012

Need advise on 5.25 drive bay covers. Should I go with a Lian Li drive bay cover, link Mesh Lian Li drive bay cover, Link or make my own out of plaxi?

Ru5ty_t00l · Mar 30, 2012

how did u remove those fugly "doors" and what is that blue bars u put instead?

take a closer pic to see plz,

SEBAR · Mar 30, 2012

elder_scrol, the fugly doors are attached with 4 screws and are easily removed. In place of the doors is blue Acrylic Round Rod.

SEBAR · May 1, 2012

ZZAC said:
may do, you could search and buy a hotswap drive from lian li like mine, mine is 2 hdds, and takes up 2 5.25" bays so would work well for this, and it looks nice!

Small update on the Armor Redux., well I thought I would give the stock drive bay covers a try and see how they look after paint.

I think they came out good. I like the R2D2 colors.

I am eliminating the bottom 5.25 optical bay. a little bondo will do the trick.

Had to sand the and prep the 3.5 bay cover and panel because I dropped it on the ground before the paint cured. oooops

I will be measuring the 5 x 5.25 cage to see if I can mod in a better looking cage. I like the one form mountain mods. http://www.mountainm...cage-p-540.html let me know what you think.

Update:

Need advise on which fan grill to use on the front panel. I really like two fron MNPCTECH.

or

Let me know which would look the the best .

Thanx

SEBAR · May 1, 2012

Bump.

Suggestions please. I am ready to order.

Thanks

Azurite · May 1, 2012

I'd pick the last grill. It also have the biggest room for air to go trough,so less air restriction/less noise

potatis · May 1, 2012

Yeah, the last one.

SEBAR · May 1, 2012

Azurite said:
I'd pick the last grill. It also have the biggest room for air to go trough,so less air restriction/less noise

Potatis said:
Yeah, the last one.

Thank for the input guys. That was my first choice.

SEBAR · May 19, 2012

Update to Armor Redux:

I have the front panel 90 percent complete. Let me know what you think.

Before:

After:

Closeup of the MNPCTECH Overkill "Nautilus"

I am making good progress on the rest of the case and should have some more picks coming soon.

Ru5ty_t00l · May 19, 2012

that grill is aewsome but it's not matching at all with the rest

painting it blue maybe?

MAdion · May 19, 2012

Looking good.

[Finished] Armor Redux

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