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EnergyFX's Thermaltake Soprano RS build

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Yeah, the thumb is fine. I just squirted a bunch of super-glue in the cut for a few days so I wouldn't have to bandage it up. Still hurts like hell though.

I'll get back to work on the Soprano soon. I got a sort-of-promotion at work... you know, the kind where you get more responsibility but not more pay. So my schedule is a bit abnormal for now while I adjust to my new role.

thansk for the update on your finger, and yeah those promotions suck man :(
 

wei00007

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Hey, any news on the project?
I have a soprano rs100 (the full tower version of this case) and you're inspired me to mod mine as well : D
I don't have any money at the moment so mine will be VERY slow in the building but with any luck I will get there.
This will be my first mod ever (probably going to copy a few ideas from you :p)
Thanks for inspiring me.
 
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Consider this the quiet before the storm!
 
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The quiet before the storm? :eek:
 

Cold Storm

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wei00007

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Here you go, mine's JUST like yours! but with TWICE the ugly : D
Everything is tool less.
HDD rack is rotated to the front.
removable motherboard tray.
not sure if yours has 2 support rails up the top but mine does.
I have a huge clearance up the top (above the PSU)

I really hope you don't mind me copying some (most) of your ideas.
 

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That reminds me of a steel version of the Ultra Aluminus
 

wei00007

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That reminds me of a steel version of the Ultra Aluminus

Does that weigh 20kgs? cause this does :(
I go to lans. :cry:
First system I built, I regret it.
 

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lol, its like 1kgs, its a feather weight.
 

wei00007

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lol, its like 1kgs, its a feather weight.

Yeah, was just looking at it, I want to cry.
It's just like mine, but better, and lighter.
damn it.

ANYWAY :D I managed to get some photos of my tower at the moment (bad camera phone sorry)

and where I work, we just got an HIS 5870

just thought I'd include the work pc, cause it looks sexy and has a few mods HAF case. I don't know the model number
 
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Of course I don't mind if you use some of my ideas. A lot of what I have done wasn't my original ideas to begin with. Modding is quite a bit seeing what others are doing/have done and applying your own personal touch to the concept.

Besides... imitation is the highest form of flattery :)
 
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Don't ask me! I wasn't invited! So it's not this Storm! :roll::roll::roll:

I knew as I was typing that you wouldn't be able to resist chiming in.

:rolleyes: I expected nothing less!

:laugh:
 

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Of course I don't mind if you use some of my ideas. A lot of what I have done wasn't my original ideas to begin with. Modding is quite a bit seeing what others are doing/have done and applying your own personal touch to the concept.

Besides... imitation is the highest form of flattery :)

+1...
 
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http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/206/picture010x640he3.jpg
Here you go, mine's JUST like yours! but with TWICE the ugly : D
Everything is tool less.
HDD rack is rotated to the front.
removable motherboard tray.
not sure if yours has 2 support rails up the top but mine does.
I have a huge clearance up the top (above the PSU)

I really hope you don't mind me copying some (most) of your ideas.


You're right... that is a bigger version of mine. Weird. Your's actually looks to be better built.
 

Cold Storm

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I knew as I was typing that you wouldn't be able to resist chiming in.

:rolleyes: I expected nothing less!

:laugh:

Ouch, my balls are now on the ground.. way on the ground.. Any doctors in the forums? Besides Bta? I can't wait for him to come and fix me!

Can't wait for updates!!!


wei00007, can't wait to see more from ya! Love to see hardware pron!
 
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Energy, Get some work done!

I want updates :(
 

wei00007

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wei00007, can't wait to see more from ya! Love to see hardware pron!

Yeah I ordered some of the same scythe hard drive stabilisers (they look good)
I'm waiting on my next youth allowance payment so I can order another 1.5TB drive.
Ill be replacing the old IDE HDD's
Tool less hard drive racks are a pointless idea. in fact, tool less in general is pointless.

As soon as i get those hard drives and stabilisers I'll be backing up and begining my painting.

Energy - any tips on getting a nice finish?
I just figured a layer with the colour then one or two with clear.

EDIT:

Just figured I'd clear up the youth allowance thing, I dont want to seem like a bum
I DO work, Its just volunteer I need the step up into the I.T. industry.
Believe me, if I could get paid I would.
 
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I've been reading this whole project log and I am just as impressed and awe inspired by all the attention to detail and general beauty of this project as everyone else has EnergyFX :rockout::rockout::rockout:

I just had a couple of questions.

1. For your paint job's, I take it you used primer? With all the painting done, how long did it take for everything to dry and be considered finish?

2. I take it you cut the existing rivet's off and re-did it yourself correct? Was it a pretty painless job to do?

3. Was the mesh easy to form to your holes that you cut? Was it just simply pressing it against the holes?
 
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... any tips on getting a nice finish?
I just figured a layer with the colour then one or two with clear....

I've been reading this whole project log and I am just as impressed and awe inspired by all the attention to detail and general beauty of this project as everyone else has EnergyFX :rockout::rockout::rockout:

I just had a couple of questions.

1. For your paint job's, I take it you used primer? With all the painting done, how long did it take for everything to dry and be considered finish?

2. I take it you cut the existing rivet's off and re-did it yourself correct? Was it a pretty painless job to do?

3. Was the mesh easy to form to your holes that you cut? Was it just simply pressing it against the holes?

Funny both of you bring up painting. That is one of the things that is holding this project up. I've put all this work into mods and I keep looking at the little flaws in the paint job and I just can't accept it. I don't have a proper area to paint in so I am pretty set at this point on going ahead with powder coating like I mentioned in some of the earlier posts.

But to answer your question... sanding is key. Surface preparation sets the tone for any paint job. You need to either hand sand or sand blast the parts before you paint them to get the best finish. This also ensures the paint has a proper "tooth" to adhere to. Steel cases actually have a clear finish of some sort on them to keep corrosion down. Paint does not like to adhere well to this coating. Not sanding will result in a finish that is stupidly prone to chipping and scratching.

As for the rivets, they are fairly simple to drill out. Do a search for a how-to on drilling out rivets. Popping in new rivets only requires a rivet gun (~$10 at a hardware store) and some rivets.

The formed mesh you see in this build log was formed by hand only. No special tools needed. In fact, I destroyed some mesh in a couple of attempts using tools.
 
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Thank you kindly sir for the reply! Just a little nagging though, you never mentioned how long it took time wise to finish a segment when you painted it. :eek:
 
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Only an hour or so for the paint to set, 24 hours to be completely dry.
 
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looking forward to the results :toast:
 
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Only an hour or so for the paint to set, 24 hours to be completely dry.


It's been a while since I quoted myself. I want to add that there is a time limit for adding coats. If you are going to add another coat to your finish you should do so within 15-20 mins of applying the previous coat. If you miss this window then you should wait the full 24 hours before re-coating.

I believe enamel is more sensitive to this time window, but I could be wrong.

In other news, I got moved into my new place and still hae yet to get everything unpacked. But it is looking like my weekends will finally start to free up by November... so updates will be comming soon.
 

wei00007

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It's been a while since I quoted myself. I want to add that there is a time limit for adding coats. If you are going to add another coat to your finish you should do so within 15-20 mins of applying the previous coat. If you miss this window then you should wait the full 24 hours before re-coating.

I believe enamel is more sensitive to this time window, but I could be wrong.

In other news, I got moved into my new place and still hae yet to get everything unpacked. But it is looking like my weekends will finally start to free up by November... so updates will be comming soon.

New place eh?
Nice, can't wait to see some updates :p
Yeah, I just got a few of my parts in as well, the HDD stabilisers.
I'm waiting on a replacement case while I mod mine, I'm still asking around.
 
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