Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 08:04:00 AM
I'm basically just doing things to teach myself different techniques, and I'm uber bored till I can softmod. So I will start with aesthetics while I wait.
By the way, it isn't a PC mod but an Xbox is very similar to a PC, does it still count? Cool
I haven't taken too many "in the works" pictures because I'm lazy, but after the want list I'll post pics of what I've done so far, nothing too drastic with school taking up all my time.
Red and White paintscheme (given)
Window Mod in top of Xbox
Lighted Jewel, Red of course Smile (LEDs or cathode, still deciding)
4 Controllers painted to color scheme (over time)
Painted Harddrive and DVD-ROM ???
LEDs in all controller ports
Red and White Underglow
Two 80mm fans with red and white cathodes.
DVD + HDD Window ???
Now for the internals:
Replace hdd with new 250 GB hdd
Softmod w/ Krayzie's Ndure Installer (Waiting for Xbox -> USB dongle.
New Dash (reccomendations?)
Hide IDE cable
I hope you guys will help me through, I'm fairly new although reading all sorts of topics and shit on Xbox Scene has really taught me a lot!
Now for pictures:
1) Here is the top of the Xbox when I first started cutting it out.
2) The hole near completion with my early early boithday present.
3) The lid and my brand new cordless Dremel which happens to be amazing!
4) Finished! Excuse the dirty cover...
5) My Jewel. Excuse the smudges, it isn't scratched unless you take a picture with a flash :roll:
6) A mod my dad helped me with, he's really good at soldering stuff! That is a USB coming out the top, picture got cut off. It is fully functioning on my computer!
I have a few more little projects to do while waiting for my modified dongle to arrive. Here's the top of a controller I painted red. That hole lights up, but it isn't the actual X. I have an Xbox "X" logo i cut out of cardboard that goes between that hole and the jewel, it just isn't on there.
I have a full day off school today and nothing to do. What do you guys reccomend i do on my xbox today?
Post by: alexpb1 on March 10, 2006, 08:32:00 AM
Looks nice so far.
I'm interested to see how it turns out. I'd love to have a canada-themed xbox.
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 09:00:00 AM
Anyway I have a question about cutting a window. I wanna cut one in the bottom left corner of the giant x on the top, but won't it just be showing the boring DVD rom? like its having a bedroom window face a wall. I gotta go look at some cases to see what people did. I guess if I have LEDs lighting up the maple leaf etching it won't be so bad.
Post by: Maertz on March 10, 2006, 09:38:00 AM
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 10:57:00 AM
Here is a picture of my planned route. I'm gonna use a Dremel cutting wheel to do the job, precise, then sand it down with the drum sander bit. 
In picture 2 you can see the pencil outline i made, I have a large stencil with like 40 different sized circles that I'll use as templates to round off the corners. Hopefully that should work
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 11:14:00 AM
EDIT: I took the bottom edge to the inside line so it lines up with the piece of plastic that juts out underneath the top, but all the other lines are on the outside. the inside lines are the previous outline. it seemed redundant posting another pic (and a lot more work) so i'm just telling you what i did. I think I'm ready to cut that beast.
Post by: sabbath_dude on March 10, 2006, 01:08:00 PM
QUOTE(crzyimage @ Mar 10 2006, 08:03 PM) 
use a maple leaf for the DVD window, and i hate canada, there way to snobbish for such a weak country
And I hate retards like you.
Post by: d00msday_jesus on March 10, 2006, 01:32:00 PM
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 02:06:00 PM
ANYWAYS...
I went and cut the window. I ended up not even using a cutting wheel, but a carbide drill-bit-looking thing. I've used it to cut all things before, easier than a wheel in my opinion. I sanded down the edges and they're pretty straight. The corners on one side need to be more flattened, but that's nothing a little sanding can't help. Here's a pic. Sorry its a bit blurry. I plan to go back and sand it with sandpaper to get it smooth and flat, take off the edge. It's gonna be covered in rubber trim anyway which I'm gonna pick up tonite. I have a huge piece of plexiglass I'll cut and place underneath tonite.
Since I will probly take crzyimage's advice and stick the etching in the DVD-ROM which i was thinking abour earlier, will the top plexi distort it at all? That is if it's kept clean? Also, I need a way to light it so you see the etching better...
Post by: rootofallevil on March 10, 2006, 02:15:00 PM
Nice Canad1n Box .WHERES YOUR HOCKEY NOW CANADA?
Post by: onslaught_789 on March 10, 2006, 02:20:00 PM
i could go on longer but i dont want to crap this guys thread more than i already have
back on topic.....
the clear jewel and the window look good but i.m.o there are to many boxes that look like that but its your box
as for etching the plexi on the dvd lid it would most likely distort it through 2 pieces so i would recommend that you just etch the top piece and light it up with some leds
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 02:27:00 PM
Ya I still think etching the top would be better too.
Post by: speed_racer88 on March 10, 2006, 02:40:00 PM
P.S. good to see another albertan on here, my brother and sister have a PD day today to, you wouldn't happen to be from calgary would you? you don't have to answer that if you don't want to.
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 02:44:00 PM
no, i'm actually from St. Albert, just north of Edmonton. So boring here, I'd like to move to Calgary. Very cool place!
Post by: m0dhe@d on March 10, 2006, 03:02:00 PM
oh and all americans dont hate canadians andim sure all canadians dont hate americans. i love canadians its easy to smuggle beer in from your country. i hate not being 21 but my friends are 18. cheers!!!
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 03:10:00 PM
Anyway I think I'm gonna use Krylon red and white on the outside. LEDs, I'm not really sure what yet. Something really bright for the controller ports, say 8000 MCDs or higher. The jewel, maybe 5000 MCDs Red and white alternating since there will be a lot of light in it. I'm also thinking about getting a timer that would allow me to make every second LED light up, then alternate by turning the LEDS that are on, off and the LEDs that are off, on. Then I could make every second LED red and every other LED white. So it would alternate from four red LEDs to 4 whites. That's what I want, just don't know what to get.
Post by: simsbox on March 10, 2006, 03:28:00 PM
canadians rock yet so does southpark lol
i had an idea for your jewel
you can etch the maple leaf into the jewel or tint with red glass paint
nice job on the dvd window and niiiiceee dremel
maybe you could airbrush the flag on the box sumin like tht
gd look
looks cool
Post by: Apprentice modder on March 10, 2006, 03:51:00 PM
@crzyimage
Why did you even come to this topic if you knew you were gonna flame ? What do you have against Canada.. it's not like Mattybass has ever done anything to you.
Post by: m0dhe@d on March 10, 2006, 04:05:00 PM
QUOTE(Mattybass @ Mar 10 2006, 03:17 PM)
So it would alternate from four red LEDs to 4 whites. That's what I want, just don't know what to get.
u want an xrec(i cant spell) u can get them at sickmods.net
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 04:32:00 PM
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 05:43:00 PM
Post by: Apprentice modder on March 10, 2006, 05:50:00 PM
Post by: DsAdvocate on March 10, 2006, 06:11:00 PM
Canada...Kicks ass. Period. Of course, I must be all stupidly corporate about this and say:
"In no way did I, DsAdvocate, mean in any way whatsoever that all Americans must love Canada when I stated earlier or any other time with the statement, "Canada...Kicks ass. Period." or any other statement relating to how Canada kicks ass. Thank you to all Americans who considers Canada to be stupid, evil, or just downright funny-lookin'... Mainly, because, YOUR the reason people hate Americans. So, great job, good day, and shut up.
This has been an official statement made by DsAdvocate on March 10th (Tenth), 2006 (Two-Thousand Six) at (at) 7:00 PM Central Time (Chicago Time Zone)."
P.S. CANADA KICKS ASS! W()()T TO CANADA!
P.P.S. Good work on the modding. True spirit!
Uhh...P.P.P.S.(?) I know, waste of a good post...But it was fun making, so hah!
Post by: m0dhe@d on March 10, 2006, 07:59:00 PM
QUOTE(DsAdvocate @ Mar 10 2006, 06:18 PM)
Twas already cleared up before, but I just must defend my own honor here!
Canada...Kicks ass. Period. Of course, I must be all stupidly corporate about this and say:
"In no way did I, DsAdvocate, mean in any way whatsoever that all Americans must love Canada when I stated earlier or any other time with the statement, "Canada...Kicks ass. Period." or any other statement relating to how Canada kicks ass. Thank you to all Americans who considers Canada to be stupid, evil, or just downright funny-lookin'... Mainly, because, YOUR the reason people hate Americans. So, great job, good day, and shut up.
This has been an official statement made by DsAdvocate on March 10th (Tenth), 2006 (Two-Thousand Six) at (at) 7:00 PM Central Time (Chicago Time Zone)."
P.S. CANADA KICKS ASS! W()()T TO CANADA!
P.P.S. Good work on the modding. True spirit!
Uhh...P.P.P.S.(?) I know, waste of a good post...But it was fun making, so hah!
well even though i love canada. and beer. and america. i gotta defend outselves. so if you grew up here you would be just like us to. and alot of people hate us for no reason at all, some hate that where not socialist(they hate the idea of anyone being poor i say they shoulda tryed harder), people are opposed to the fact we sent out troops into iraq and they say its for oil. well if you ask me thats our oil we went over there set up the wells and we still run them. and any retard who believes that where in iraq to take over your a dumbass where still there cause where training there troops so they can defend thereselves. ok well if anyone else wants to say something bad about america canada or any other country feel free to message me.
(none of this post was directed at the person i quoted or anyone from another country. only the people who hate people cause there from a country. i say go get a life u predigous bastard. i hate haters. lol.)
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 09:22:00 PM
QUOTE(m0dhe@d @ Mar 10 2006, 08:06 PM)
well even though i love canada. and beer. and america. i gotta defend outselves. so if you grew up here you would be just like us to. and alot of people hate us for no reason at all, some hate that where not socialist(they hate the idea of anyone being poor i say they shoulda tryed harder), people are opposed to the fact we sent out troops into iraq and they say its for oil. well if you ask me thats our oil we went over there set up the wells and we still run them. and any retard who believes that where in iraq to take over your a dumbass where still there cause where training there troops so they can defend thereselves. ok well if anyone else wants to say something bad about america canada or any other country feel free to message me.
(none of this post was directed at the person i quoted or anyone from another country. only the people who hate people cause there from a country. i say go get a life u predigous bastard. i hate haters. lol.)
Can you guys stop WASTING my FUCKING thread already? No offence, but fuck sakes, this is a worklog not a debate on fucking Canada Vs. USA. Canada and USA are both cool in their own ways. Problem fucking solved. If you wanna keep debating it, please don't do it in here. (If you didn't notice already, I'm pissed right the fuck off with my fricking pay-per-view not working and all sorts of shit, then this bullshit.) If you leave a comment, leave a comment or crit that fucking pertains to the thread and not to the great Canada vs. USA battle. Please and Thank you very much.
Back on track now...
QUOTE
heh. i have idea to make your xbox look MORE THAN Diffrent Cut the grills on the sides of the xbox Get some plexi Etch a Maple leaf and make it say Canada on both sides then put red and white leds like the sides white
and red in the middle smile.gif then have that alternater thinngy and have hd activity light green on each side smile.gif
and red in the middle smile.gif then have that alternater thinngy and have hd activity light green on each side smile.gif
That is a sweet idea! You do mean like cutting off the big triangle pieces to the left and right of the big X on the top right? kind of like...
Only with plexiglass? I would have to cut grooves or add fans for extra circulation if I'm correct, though. That wouldn't be too much of a problem but it would mean I couldn't etch Canada into the edges.
EDIT
Ahh ok here is one that it's been done to. Only mine will be uber better, no gay decals IMO
By the way I didn't mean to vent up there, but I really mean it. Can you guys take your debate somewheres else? I started a worklog here because I knew it was like the only place on the net where I could find some helpful tips and tricks and so far I am. If i wanted to get caught in the middle of a fight over who's country is better or worse, I would just go on Live! and tell some Americans I'm a Canadian and get flamed while getting wasted at Halo.
Post by: speed_racer88 on March 10, 2006, 09:30:00 PM
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 09:49:00 PM
QUOTE(rootofallevil @ Mar 10 2006, 09:32 PM)
yean some thing like that you probbly can do some thing similar to that, get some Wirehatches they cheap at any hardware store
Wirehatches? I don't really know what you mean, sorry for noobness. I think I will do that though, I wish there was a side view of that xbox so i could see how he attached the plexi at the corner. Glue?? Or melted it or what??? 
QUOTE(speed_racer88 @ Mar 10 2006, 09:37 PM)
another thing that you can do for the leds i have them on a switch to choose between white and red. I also think that it would look cool if you put one red and one white led in each controller port.
Yes, I was thinking about that earlier. I always get more brainstorms when I see something and think about how it could be improved. I made a giant checklist on my desk with everything I need to accomplish for this project. I may not have done much, but it's going without a hitch thus far.
Post by: DsAdvocate on March 10, 2006, 10:39:00 PM
I think it'd be kind of cool to shape a maple leaf out of LED's...Of course, it wouldn't be the greatest use of them, but it'd still be kind of cool in the dark. You could alternate between Red and White LED's in the controller ports in some way.
I'm not sure if you're painting your box or not...But, if you do it like the actual flag of Canada, a small thing would be to make the Power/Eject and small Power button white to contrast the red of the bottom bar on the flag.
Oh, and I apologize for my comment earlier, just seemed like a good oppurtunity to express how I feel about Canada. And, of course, you had every right to get upset about our comments.
Post by: Mattybass on March 10, 2006, 11:13:00 PM
lots of decisions ahead
Post by: Corey420 on March 11, 2006, 12:26:00 AM
QUOTE(Mattybass @ Mar 10 2006, 10:51 PM)
hehe, gotta love the catholic schoolboard. PD days are like every friday man.
no, i'm actually from St. Albert, just north of Edmonton. So boring here, I'd like to move to Calgary. Very cool place!
Im from st albert too, and you should get an xerc so you can have red and white fading lights
Post by: snow rider221 on March 11, 2006, 12:44:00 AM
QUOTE(Corey420 @ Mar 11 2006, 08:33 AM)
Im from st albert too, and you should get an xerc so you can have red and white fading lights
you can fade led's with the led fader and darlington transistor from sickmods... you dont need the xerc
Post by: Mattybass on March 11, 2006, 07:46:00 AM
Anyway today I think I will cut a matching hole in the top right. I want it to match the bottom left hole, since it seems a little lonely.
Can you buy jewels that are completely clear? Like just clear discs? I might have to get one of those. Unless I can find a maple leaf picture online to trace onto the jewel that will incorporate the Xbox Logo, then just sand the outline of it into the jewel. That would be pretty cool. I think that is what I will do. Then I will keep the red and white LED idea, to make them switch from Red to white every second or so under the jewel.I will then paint the giant X white and the triangle grills on either side red, like the flag. I will post a photoshop of my idea in a sec.
Post by: Mattybass on March 11, 2006, 08:00:00 AM
Do you think i should leave the top and bottom tiny triangles white? To go with the flag? Or red too?
Also with Xerc, I want to get the modders edition or whatever, the top one on sickmods. It is sold out, but when it isn't which one do i need? What do toggle ports and chaser ports mean? I just want to use it for the jewel and if I can use it to make the controller ports flash, that'd be sick.
Post by: alexpb1 on March 11, 2006, 09:16:00 AM
Post by: Mattybass on March 11, 2006, 09:22:00 AM
Post by: Mattybass on March 11, 2006, 11:14:00 AM
QUOTE(Mattybass @ Mar 11 2006, 09:29 AM)
oh, nothing happened. I had to polygonal lasso it to make this rough picture so it kind of got flat edges. I haven't changed the window at all since
i should add that's not really paint. that's just a photoshop. The reason it looks like paint on the triangles is i lowered it opacity in photoshop to look more realistic
I am currently bondo-ing the controller port numbers and MS logo on the bottom left. I have done 3 thin layers successfully and i added a 4th, medium thickness layer, and pushed it in good so that when i sand it there aren't any air pockets or anything. I am also gonna sand off the disc and dolby signs above ports 3 and 4, pics should be up soon
Post by: jbmartin87 on March 11, 2006, 12:54:00 PM
and I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I'm certain they're really, really nice.
I have a Prime Minister, not a President. I speak English and French, NOT American. and I pronouce it ABOUT, NOT A BOOT.
I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack. I believe in peace keeping, NOT policing.
DIVERSITY, NOT assimilation, AND THAT THE BEAVER IS A TRULY PROUD AND NOBLE ANIMAL.
A TOQUE IS A HAT, A CHESTERFIELD IS A COUCH, AND IT IS PRONOUCED 'ZED' NOT 'ZEE', 'ZED'!
CANADA IS THE SECOND LARGEST LANDMASS! THE FIRST NATION OF HOCKEY!
AND THE BEST PART OF NORTH AMERICA!
MY NAME IS CHUCK!
AND I AM CANADIAN!
sorry had to get that off of my chest.. haha
lookin good.... ive been waitin for some one to do a canadian themed box
cant wait to see the final result
Good luck!!
Post by: Breakthrough on March 11, 2006, 02:05:00 PM
(except Amsterdam)
Post by: Mattybass on March 11, 2006, 02:07:00 PM
I'll make one that'll make canucks proud! By the way, thanks for the speach jbmartin87, that's my box's new motto. I should incorporate that somewhere, I've finished the bondo, all though before i do paint it I'll have to do it a little more cuz the numbers seem a little soft and indented still. Could use another layer pressed in real good. Pictures probably tomorrow, I gotta go to work here pretty soon
Post by: Mattybass on March 13, 2006, 04:01:00 PM
I promise I'll update this topic later today, gotta load the pics from my camera of what i did on the weekend.
Post by: Mattybass on March 19, 2006, 08:43:00 AM
Pictures:
1) Bondoing the number holes and lower right MS logo in for a shaved look. I was sick of those things.
2)Another pic of that, sanded down now.
3) Second coating of 5. I thought four would be good but it sunk down a little. Even after a week, layer 5 is starting to sink a little and i don't know why. Anyway, paint will cover that up.
4)After I finished with all the layers, I primed it so the bondo wouldn't show so much and to get an idea of how it looks.
5)Putting the glass in
6)Finally put the window piece in, although it sucks. I am going to redo it later on. I was shaving it down so it would fit right in the cutout but decided it wouldn't work. It was sanded just so it would fit in the back. However, the hot glue gun was a b!tch so it got hot string crap on the window. That's why it so messy.
7)Closeup of half-assed window. Messy around the edges.
8)Part 1 of the softmod. I only need to get a compatible memory stick to format so that Xbox recognizes it. Only a list of USB memory sticks work. I also have Splinter Cell, which will exploit the gamesave.
9) Another shot of the bezel. Sorry it's out of order
Well thats about it for today, will get more done today because I HAVE NO HOMEWORK! Yay!
Post by: Mattybass on March 19, 2006, 12:30:00 PM
WHAT DO I DO TODAY??? I'm very bored and I want something to do. Any ideas??? Please???