Project: CM 690 (Blue Mod)

[mpilchfamily]

Well the bad news is it looks like I'll be completly stripping the case. I was very inpatient on the painting. There was no prep done to the case and the paint used was made for plastic not metal. So the paint will probably start pealing in the next few days. If that happens then I'll pull the whole thing apart. I talking every rivet drilled out. This way i can prep each piece and get it primed. Then a day or 2 later i will get around to paining it all again. This time around i may tape off some sections inside the case to have some black accents. So there is still allot of work to be done.

[tool_462]

Meh, if I remember it was Krylon paint so you should be fine If it was going to be bad, you could rub it with your finger and it would start sliding around like loose skin if it didn't bond well.

[mpilchfamily]

Oh its on there fine but it scratches off easily. My finger nail should be able to scratch it off if i had painted it right. Now of course i don't have any problem with the painted plastic. The paint has been siting for about 12 hours so it should be pretty well set.

[korben43]

I just picked up some rustoleum for my case mod project. Of course, I'm modding the silverstone TJ09, so very little plastic. And, I'm only painting the non black parts and the top and side meshes. You should definitely use paint made for metal.

[grady_24]

Looking amazing so far mpilch!!! It looks like a lot of work but also a lot of fun!!! Seeing you do all of this really makes me want to start thinking of a different and fun way to mod mine.

[tool_462]

Clear coating could save you time too. Wont scratch off with your finger.

[mpilchfamily]

Good idea. I happen to have a can of that lying around. A little late for some parts. The plastic HDD holders have already scratched the paint. So i have some touch up to do. The high today will be about 50 so its just at the edge of good painting weather. The wind may be my biggest problem. But the goal is to get the top painted with the blue. Then i guess I'll try some touch up on the case. But the paint could still easily chip off if its not adhering to the metal. I'm afraid the clear coat would stiffen up the paint allowing it to chip off.

[mpilchfamily]

Well today i handed off the top to my wife so that the vent looking parts of the top can be painted in with Blue. First she took here Acrylic paints and mixed them up to match the blue used on the rest of the case. She got it pretty darn close.

So after taping it off she started by painting the slots in with white. This made it easier to fill it in with the blue.


After several coats it was left to sit for a couple of hours before the tape was taken off.



Once the paint had ample time to dry i stripped the tape off. We found that the white under coat peaks out from around the edges of the blue. Not a big deal and kind of makes for a neat effect. I have considered a silver pin stripe around each of the slots.


Currently the front and the top are drying from there first coats of clear coat. This is needed mainly to help seal the Acrylic paint to the top. But since its adding a bit of a glossy shine to the piece the front had to be sprayed as well to match. A couple more good coats will be applied and pictures will be posted when they are ready.

[grady_24]

I really like the accent!!! Keep up the good work mpilch!!!

Looking forward to seeing the next step!!!

[Dean]

I really like the accent!!! Keep up the good work mpilch!!!

Looking forward to seeing the next step!!!

Yeah! This is shaping up to be a pretty sweet mod.

[mpilchfamily]

Thanks guys.

Unfortunately i get pretty in patient when i have things for a mod and can't get that part of it done right away. So painting tends to get under my skin since i get get threw it quickly. Often i find my self rushing threw it and things get messed up. So the bottom blue part of the front of the case has gotten messed up. Been trying to get painting done in the cold weather and it has caused the paint on the piece to ripple on me. So I'm having to strip it down and start again. The gloss coats on the top and front look great. I've only got a single coat and will have to wait till i get some warmer weather before i can apply another coat. The side panels may need a gloss coat as well to help match the rest of the case. But until i decide if a window will be cut into the side i won't touch them.

Now the main body of the case is done so i can move my system over to it pretty soon. I just want to get the top and front finished first.

[mpilchfamily]

Well last night i was able to get a good bit of painting done and was able to finish the gloss coats on the top and front panels. Just ran out side long enough to get a layer of paint and then brought everything back inside to dry in the bathroom.


This morning i got a couple of other parts painted and ready to go. I had forgotten to paint the 5.25" to 3.5" drive bay tray and the plastic piece that hold the front fan on.


Then i focused on making the drive bay covers match the case better. First i removed the filter screen from behind the covers and then cut some aluminum stripes to fit in behind the mesh.

They where prepped,

Painted,

and put into place.


Now the front looks much better. This does reduce the airflow in the system a bit but it looks really good.

[lostandwandering]

Very nice! [/Borat voice]

[huddy]

Wowzers... this is the first time I've ever seen this thread. I have a sudden urge to go buy one of these cases and mod it. Summer project perhaps... That is an excellent job so far!

[sirheck]

Me like

Excellent

[CapnBFG]

Excellent work mpilch, I'm really liking it

[Nukemaster]

Damn that looks nice.

[grady_24]

Good idea for the bays!!! That really completes the look!!!

[korben43]

Looking good, mpilch! Has the paint been staying on for you? Or did you repaint the metal parts with a different paint?

[lostandwandering]

I think he put a clear coat on some of it to keep it from flaking/ scratching. Don't quote me on that.