Thermaltake UK Modding Trophy powered by Scan Final Voting

POD II, The Stronghold by abbas-it
Project log

abbas-it's summary:

Once again I wanted to show the value of 100% hand made, using no automation what so ever. Seeing as my mentioning this has somehow seemed to offend my fellow artists sometimes, I would like to add that I am not against automatics like cnc`s, laser and 3d printing or waterjets and co. Its just that I picture art as having to be hand crafted, so no offense is meant and I hope none is taken.

In a time where where automation seems to be taking over my passion too, I feel it is important that the last mohicans stand up and say, as far as the art is concerned, I will stick to the hand made philosophy. Having said that lets get back to PODII, The Stronghold. POD stands for power on demand , while it is certainly also a pod for the hardware too. I made a much smaller, but similar concept once before under a tighter time period and wanted to make a new one with more time and more attention to the concept.

My aim here was to create a case that portrays strenght and stability, pictures might and steadiness and simply boasts of muscle steel and sex appeal. One look alone at its width should enhance the name saying it cannot be tilted, rocked or shook. You cannot just shove it over like the case it initially was. It sits rock steady like a mountain surrounded by hills. I sliced the case diagonally through the middle and placed it on the inner throne I built, while building its fortifications and protecting walls all around it. Having done used look more than once, I wanted this machine to look freshly painted and ready for use rather than old, weather beaten and war torn.





I used many parts of the original case for fixing the SSD, the radiators which are now bumper guards in the front and the switch n USB panel below it. The front should some what resemble a fast car and its air intake, bumper look and radiators etc.. with the Rling fans being the headlights. I covered the transparent pipes from the radiotors with spiralled bkack pipes which I found at the hardware store, giving it a much bulkier stronger look. I mounted the reservoirs at both sides like a russion helicopter gunship. They are hung low and covered with plates and guards just like all the case is with hidden red LEDS.

I used garden hose fittings and aluminium pipes covered with chrome film and many jeans studs and ringlets to enhance the already omni present chrome look of the Thermaltake water cooling fittings. I also used the inner parts of the jeans studs for covering the knobs of the top right temperature and fans control panel. The back panel, which also holds 2 fans and where one can access the inside guts of the case, is magnetically snappen on and off. I even integrated a webcam up on the left perch I made, which wathces over and serves as a surveillance camera for the whole STRONGHOLD.




The side cheeks hold Rling fans too. They are just slotted into the fan holders I made and can be simply slid out without any screws at all, so thats something new too. I added a Thermaltake SSD and USB port docker in the left side of the protective wall frame and also fitted in a USB port up in the top right corner where I can use a USB lamp for lighting the inside if necessary.
I built the Stronghold as a concept that I will foloow up because It is an openly accessible updateable system. I can detach und unscrew all the visible parts seperately giving me access to all and everything for updateing and maintenance etc...

The Stronghold weighs approximately 26 Kilos , measures 70x80x60cm and is resting on the original Core X31 case chrome feet screwed underneath. Thanks to Bit-Tech, Thermaltake, Scan and all those involved in making this first UK Trophy possible and of course good luck to my other four brothers and their build in this event too.





You can vote for this project in the forum.