PROJECT LOG Thermaltake Invitational Competition (USA Build)

The world of case modding sure has come a looooooooong way from when I first got in this game. Used to be a window, some lights, maybe some custom feet or painted fans/case panels. Now its sculpting, structural engineering, and with a custom manufactured liquid cooling system...... Insane.

This looks freaking wicked BTW. Mad skills with the clay if I do say so myself.

Thanks for the awesome feedback guys.
Haven't had very much time this week to post up pictures, but I am just about ready for primer.
I added the left hand ripping through the front of the case.
The claws will be sitting on top the TT logo.
I have also built a top and wove some polystyrene. I will be painting this to look more like woven leather.
The tail is sculpted on top and I have added skin and spines.
I sanded the tail and the body.
The head still needs more sanding, but I should be ready for primer, hopefully tomorrow.
There is still a little more sanding that I need to do on the tail as well.

Those molded details are amazing! I like the concept of the dragon ripping through the case as well. Are you going to do some interior as well to give the same impression?

NICE!!! Those led eyes are SO cool! You should attach them to hard drive activity

Thanks for the awesome feedback guys,
I wont be adding more detail inside the case, there is just to much hardware for that.
The eyes on the LED will be controlled by the RGB header on the motherboard.

So it's been a long week.
I built a temporary paint booth in my garage. This thing is working quite well.
The inside of the panels and inside of the case were taped off to keep them black.
I primered the case and all the panels.
After the primary dried, I began masking off the dragon and any part that will be airbrushed.
This process took along time to get everything all taped off.
The outside of the case will be gun metal gray with a glossy clear coat.
I will decide if I want to add anything else to the outside later. I think the dragon coming through the case should be good.
I put on several layers of clear to really shine it up.
When the clear was dry, I pulled all the tape off.
It still needs to cure all the way before I can mask the panels off and start airbrushing the dragon.
I'm going to take this opportunity to start working on the build out.
I started by adding some white highlights to the motherboard.
They were all hand cut vinyl decals.
The blue vinyl came in today. It matches the memory quite well.
I will be re-badging various parts with these vinyls.

Huge thanks to Mainframe Customs for supplying all the sleeving, wire, pins, and connectors.
If you guys haven't used them, you gotta check them out.
So my airbrushes weren't cutting it, so I had to order out a new one.
In the mean time while I wated for those to come in, I blocked the cards, and did a little work on the inside of the case.
I decided to keep the stock backplate. The Asus logo color is controlable from the mobo.
I hand cut several pieces of vinyl for the mobo. I still have to add more in other areas, but you will get the idea.
The radiator and fans are all mounted, and I was working on the reservoir placement.
I think I will build a back plate to cover the holes behind the reservoirs.
Well, the new airbrush came in. It is by fare a night and day difference. I got an Iwata eclipse hp-cs.
The amount of masking I have had to do on this so fare is just crazy.
You wouldn't think it would take that long to just mask somthing off.
So, I got the base color painted on the dragon.
I cant get the airbrush into all the little areas of the dragon, so I will have to do alot hand painting for the shading.
So I have the first layer of shading done. I shaded each and every scale, and a little on the wings.
I will be working from darks to light, so the dragon will get more white from each layer. I am hoping I will only have 2 or 3 more layers.
Also with the deadline being extended another month, I have some other plans as well.

Got a little more hand painting done today, I think 1 more layer on the scales and the skin will be complet.
Then all I have is face, spine, wing and hand detail work.
I can hit most of that up with the airbrush.

omg like!!!

Thanks for the feedback TransformedBG

The tail is now caught up to were the body is.
There is still one more layer I need to do on the scales.
I have started by hand painting some of the face and will blend it in with the airbrush.
Next There will be some white and greys added.
Hopefully done by this weekend with paint.

Damn that's looking awesome P3nnywise!

Thanks Blaylock

Got some more done on the scales.
Pretty tired from being sick, so ill try to get some more done tomorrow.

I almost feel like I am not worthy to view this thread...

:Wayne's World:

JrClocker said:

I almost feel like I am not worthy to view this thread...

:Wayne's World:

Click to expand...

^ wut he said, that is just impressive.

Thanks for awesome feedback guys, it means a lot.

All the scales are finally complete.
I am almost done painting the spine and wings.
There is still a little work left on the claws to do.
I still have to blend and add more detail to the face, but Its getting a lot closer.
There is a lot more detail going into the teeth as well.

I still have a couple touch ups to do, and I have to re-apply the TT badge, but the front panel is just about done.

This is just so amazing!

Thanks Juan

Thanks for the awesome feedback guys. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I am finally getting over this cold.
The rest of the dragon is finished with the clear coat and I have removed all the masking.
There are a couple touch up spots that I need to hit, but it really came out great.
I still need to apply the TT badge to the front under the claw, but I'm saving that for last.
Apparently my TT dude approves of the results.

I built a backing for 1 of the reservoir.
Taking perforated aluminum, I cut and bent over the edges.
Then I vinyl covered a metal sheet and added it to the back of the aluminum.

I also tore the SLI bridge apart, painted it, and then built a top for it.
It now matches the rest of the theme.

I have this next week off of work, so I should be able to make a lot of head way.

Thank you to Main Frame Customs for supplying me with some Teleios sleeving, wire, pins, and connectors.
All the cables are sleeved and I have laced them together. I just need to finish the PSU ends.
I have also bent and installed all the tubing.
On the back side, I have begun the wire management and fan controller mounting.

Hiding the massive amount of wires on this build is a challenge.
All the cables are finished and plugged in.
I mounted all the fan controllers and the RGB fitting controllers.
The 2 separate loops are filled. one with blue and the other with white.
The LEDs are finally installed in the eyes.
I have added slits to the dragon eyes and attached the Thermaltake badge under the claw.
The OS is now installed and I can start playing with the lighting.
I wanted to see what I could do with the lighting already in the case before installing more lighting.

I build a stand for the hard drive, then made it into a plaque.
The Name of this build is now FrostByte.
The HDD is now hooked up and I have made several custom decals for the outside of the case.
More to come.