Project: Frank-N-Stein

Surfie

New member
Hello again folks,

The more astute of you will realise that I've been teasing a new project for a while now, and while the time is not quite here yet (I'm still overseas), there are a few things that i need to get out of my head and into some sort of written form - so i figured i would share them with you.

The journey so far (skip to my thoughts section, if you don't really care):
My last build was the blue marble build, and i still really like it, but. But what? I don't actually know. Just something about it bothers me somehow.

My initial plan was to make the gpu stand upright, remove the vinyl, paint the case white, and make some other mods.
The next plan was to buy into Ryzen, and use that as the basis of the build, along with the above.... But then i lost my job so that went down the gurgler...
Then i managed to score some old free servers and chassis - still got them in storage.
This morning i woke up with this really strange notion in my head. It's been with me all day, and i just can't shake it. I don't really want to destroy blue marble. Update it, tweak it, yes... But not destroy. And I really should do a scratch build... The feeling has just not let go since it hit.

My Thoughts:
The way i see it, i have three options:
  1. create a new case from scratch, and fill it with parts yet to bee determined
  2. mash the servers together into one chassis
  3. destroy blue marble and stick to my original plan

At this point in time I'm really heavily leaning towards a scratch build, mainly because I've not done it before, but also because I've had the urge to do it all day today.

Assuming that this is the way i end up going, then my plans will consist of the following components:
  • Dual chambers
  • Horizontal mobo tray (Atx size)
  • plexi window in the roof, and part of one side
  • Radiators in the bottom chamber
  • Res to be a prominent feature (either outside the case or highlighted somehow)
  • psu to live in the bottom chamber
I think you can see where I'm going with this. Which raises two questions: Why not buy a case that fits? And, what materials will be used?

The answer to the first question is two fold: nothing precisely matches what i want, and the ones that are remotely close are REALLY expensive.

The second, depends on what i can recycle from the server cases, but most likely will be balsa wood: sturdy, not too heavy and easy to work with - along with plexi and aluminium bits and pieces.

I just hope my meagre skills can do my vision justice.

As for hardware, I'm not sure. Will largely depend on what happens at my new job.
 
Oh you beauty, Horizontal ATX and Vertical GPU orientation I'm subbed for sure as I'm still searching for that magical combo.
 
Oh you beauty, Horizontal ATX and Vertical GPU orientation I'm subbed for sure as I'm still searching for that magical combo.

I think that your thread on the cube case might have been the magical nugget that sprouted into this monstrosity.

Still, I've never done a scratchy before, so lots of research to do (part of the reason for this thread actually. I'm hoping to show the path that is taken, as well as the results).
 
I think that your thread on the cube case might have been the magical nugget that sprouted into this monstrosity.

Still, I've never done a scratchy before, so lots of research to do (part of the reason for this thread actually. I'm hoping to show the path that is taken, as well as the results).

I've toyed with the idea of dusting off the jigsaw and router and just buying a motherboard tray, but then the mind runs away with itself and the planning cost goes through the roof and what starts out as a simple tasteful cube case becomes a whole desk build... I hate PCs sometimes :lol:

Really do look forward to your log and hope it gives me a few extra ideas.
 
I've toyed with the idea of dusting off the jigsaw and router and just buying a motherboard tray, but then the mind runs away with itself and the planning cost goes through the roof and what starts out as a simple tasteful cube case becomes a whole desk build... I hate PCs sometimes :lol:

Really do look forward to your log and hope it gives me a few extra ideas.

Don't have a router per se, but i do have a dremel, which is almost as good at doing corner work and finishes. The jig saw will definitely be handy.

Ok, so the basic part of my research is done. That is: cutouts for the radiators, fabrication of the power button, fabrication of the radiator grills, and suppliers for the material components sorted out.

Now the hard part, and the part that i really need to be at home for: creating the base schematics for my design, and figuring out exactly what is going where, and how.
 
Damn you Fractal! Why are your white cases so damn sexy?

For those that are not aware, the Fractal R6 dropped a few days ago, and seeing it in all its white glory has reignited the desire to destroy blue marble and paint my define S, white again.

I'd love to buy an R6, and mod it (paint the front panel white, then apply a custom paint job to the whole case).... But i can't afford one, and it's not likely that Fractal would sponser one to me....

So, brings me back to my options, mod existing, or make new...
 
Ok, so i've made my decision....

I'm going to do both (honestly, i couldn't decide).

My only question now is: do you want both projects here?, or another project log for the define s repaint/mod, leaving this for the monstrosity?

Let me know!
 
Ok, so i've made my decision....

I'm going to do both (honestly, i couldn't decide).

My only question now is: do you want both projects here?, or another project log for the define s repaint/mod, leaving this for the monstrosity?

Let me know!

I'd go with 2 Project logs if you're doing 2 builds.
 
Righto. Created a new project (Codename: Waterfall) for the Define S Repaint.
Don't fret: Frank-N-Stein is still active, but I fully expect that it will take me quite some time to complete this properly.

Planning schematics and test drawings will be uploaded soon.
 
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