Project: Maxit Mag

[coolmiester]

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/dans-sig.jpg

A little while ago i was asked by Dan at Maxit Mag (http://www.maxitmag.com/) if it would be possible for me to make a promotion watercooled system for them so never one to decline a challenge, i accepted.

There wasn't really a brief as such but Monday just gone a courier dropped off a load of goodies and a cd with their logo and font type face - included in the parcels were...

Yellow Wavemaster
Asus P5B Deluxe
Conroe 2.4GHz
2x Mushkin XP2-8000
XFX Geforce 7900GT
Be Quiet BQT ES-700W PSU
Along with many other bits and bobs that might or might not get used.

As it was a promotion system it needed their logo in a prime place so first set about making a grill which would do them proud.

The pictures are pretty self explanatory but basically i took a piece of aluminium sheet 250mm X 130mm x 3mm and after covering it in masking tape, marked it out with the inner dimensions of the Stealth 240 GT radiator.
Then using the Maxit Mag font in Photoshop printed an X big enough to reach both sides of the grill which was cut out and stuck centrally onto the aluminium sheet.

Using a fret saw, cut round the whole outline then printed a smaller X and stuck that into the centre of the larger X and cut that out..

Then came the fiddly bit of printing the M A I and T and cutting them out of the same 3mm aluminium and then filing all the edges followed by wetndry so they were all smooth ready for primer.

Stuck them onto a sheet of card with Pritt Stick which would make painting easier and couple of coats of primer followed by 4 coats of gloss black and everything was nearly done apart from cutting the fine aluminium mesh and spraying it the same yellow as the case and then laying it all out for some pictures...........and that all for today but more to follow.

On with loads of pictures so beware.....

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/1c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/2c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/3c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/4c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/5c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/6c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/7c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/8c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/9c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/10c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/11c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/12c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/14c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/15c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/16c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/17c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/18c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/19c.jpg

[coolmiester]

After peeling the painted letters off the carboard this is some pictures of how it will look once its all in place with the yellow backing grill :smile:

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/20c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/21c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/22c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/23c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/24c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/25c.jpg

[Rig]

Very clean, that grill looks perfect, they would have to be stupid to not be pleased with that :D

[Bubbles]

that very nice who wouldnt want that grill?

[RevolutioN]

Ooo thats a VERY clean cut... puts mine to shame if i ever make one :P

[Leeum]

Now that looks sharp! :cool:

[Teebor]

Thats not fair!!!!

Can you divide bits of your brain up and ebay them to those of us that need to be better at modding :) :)

Looks smart, no better than smart, wicked, no better than wicked, smicked ? eerrr or maybe wickart.. hmmm ok it look awwsum,,, nope.... incridible,,, eeerrrr nope thats not right either.. this it getting too complex for me now, lets keep it simple, it looks good :)


only kidding, looks fantastic mate. If thats only the grill whats the finished thing going to look like?? :D

[sunnyg]

what is that mesh on the back? the lellow stuff

[coolmiester]

The letters took some cutting out but turned out better than expected so well worth the effort in the end tbh

@ sunny - the mesh was some fine aluminium stuff i found at the Metal Supermarket when i was down getting some bits for Sound + Vision here (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/sound_vision/59.jpg) and painted black here (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/sound_vision/114.jpg). I had to get a metre roll but knew it would come in handy at some point

Oh yeah, i also used it on the coolercases grill (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/htpc/22.jpg) :smile:

Sould look something like this when finished....

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/26c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/27c.jpg

[Drak]

looks superb, you know how much i was looking forward to following your stacker project but this looks like its gonna be worthy of putting it on hold going off that grill.

[sunnyg]

thats looks cool. have you ever thought about smoothing and case so there are no join lines anywhere, like when "pimp my riders" remove door handles and flatten out where it used to be, and then covering it with flip paint.

that would look amazing all smooth and flowey.

[Teebor]

Thats a good colour match you got on that grill, I'm very impressed

*rolls off quietly to the corner drooling*

[ultramouley]

WOW WOW and more WOW, that looks slick! :exclaim:
I'll attempt to not stare at the screen for too long (few days should be harmless).

[Mouseman]

Nice one Paul, makes me want to put my BIX in the roof of the wavemaster just to make a grill! ;)

Looking forward to the rest of it. Somehow the wavemaster always seems fresh when modded?! :)

[coolmiester]

Fitting up the Graphics Card

The Maxit theme goes on - decided to make a bracket for the 7900GT in keeping with the theme so it was out with the fret saw again.

Using the Maxit font, printed out an X big enough to duplicate the stock Koosah mounting bracket and laid it on some 3mm aluminium plate same as with the grll and cut around the outline same same.

Filed it down and drilled 4 holes in the correct places using the Koosah bracket as a template then it was basically the same as before - couple of coats of primer followed by four coats of yellow.

Another paper X was used as a template and laid on some 4mm neoprene which was cut out using a sharp craft knife which would make a nice cushion and protect the GFX card.

I also painted the brass thumb screws black to give it some contrast against the yellow X then fitted the whole lot together.

On with even more pictures..........

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/29c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/30c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/31c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/32c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/33c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/34c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/35c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/36c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/37c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/38c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/39c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/40c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/41c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/42c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/43c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/44c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/45c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/46c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/47c.jpg

[coolmiester]

And thats it all fitted up with the correct thumb screws this time :rolleyes:

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/48c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/49c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/50c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/51c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/52c.jpg

[DR_D]

all i can say is DAMN with a capital D

[ghost]

Awsome...;) Absolutly Awsome. :smile:

[coolmiester]

Cheers i think :D and also to whoever gave the project the stars :cool:

Guess i need to get hold of some yellow LED's but orange was the closest i could come up with at present but gives the idea ish.

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/53c.jpg

[sunnyg]

Looks cool. you could paint the plexi part of the block black apart from the water channel then inncorrporate the dd logo into that area?

[Leeum]

Sweeeet! :cool:

[Rig]

Youre going all out on this one, cant wait to see what else you do to it.

Looking sweet!

[cool_dude]

Lookin Real good coolmiester! :)

Keep it up :cool:

[N!GHTMAR3 K!D]

Looking good :D .

[sunnyg]

i just relised this is the colour scheme for the now finished big brother.

[clocker]

Was the asymetricality of the rad grill a design choice or a boo-boo?

[craigjarvis]

Yeah, how come the x dont line up with the rad mount holes?

[coolmiester]

The Maxit font Humanst521 XBd B is not symmetrical so lining the holes up couldn't be done - having said that its getting fastened down using black dome head hex bolts so won't be so noticeable once in place.

The X on the GFX card is the same.

Well spotted :smile:

[clocker]

Erm, right then.
Carry on.

[coolmiester]

Thanks for the feedback........just hope Maxit like it :)

Was working on two cases today in between paint drying so managed to get the window cut.

Basically masked the side panel up and marked the shape followed by cutting it out with a jigsaw. Once all the edges were filed and sanded down, masked them back up and sprayed the bare edge yellow.

While that was drying stuck the obligatory Nova black out window film to the plexi and stuck that in place with double sided foam tape........lovely jubberly :D

Progress pictures.........

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/54c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/55c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/56c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/57c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/58c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/59c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/60c.jpg

[Bubbles]

starting to look better now i cant wait till your done

[sunnyg]

Like the grill plate you made, you could use the piece that came out of the window to make a smaller X in yellow and stick it in the middle of the black window X.

[coolmiester]

Like the grill plate you made, you could use the piece that came out of the window to make a smaller X in yellow and stick it in the middle of the black window X.

Good idea, providing it doesn't obscure the view to much :cool:

[Rig]

thats a good idea sunnyg, that window look well good but could certainly be im proved by the X in the middle in yellow.

[sunnyg]

if it looks like it obscures the view to much, you could make a mini x in yellow that you could put in one of the corners.

[coolmiester]

Haven't managed to cut any more X's but have got the Stealth GT240 installed along with the freshly polished grill which all went together nice.

Stuck the M,A,I, & T in place with Araldite using a bit of masking tape as a guide to keep the letters straight so now its time to start putting the hardware in and plumbing it up.

So here's the updated pictures for today and my apologies for going a bit over board but it looks nice :D

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/61c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/62c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/63c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/64c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/65c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/66c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/67c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/68c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/69c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/70c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/71c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/72c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/73c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/74c.jpg

[Teebor]

That grill is sooo seemless from a distance, even close up when you see its a grill the colour match is great! :cool: :D

Need to get that X on the side window though, thats a great idea by sunnyg, if you are worried about it blocking too much view knock one up out of paper, I bet you could get away with it being about 6-7 inches from tip to tip in the middle without blocking the view and it would just finish that window lovely.

[Conan257]

You could use more of that mesh, even behind the window so when the lights come on you can see it.

[RHYSMODDER]

that looks awesome... the yellow and black go real good.
The window looks like somethings missing though... perhaps u need to add something in the centre of the 'x' :?:

[coolmiester]

Time permitting i will give the small X ago for the centre of the window but in the mean time i thought it best to start getting things put together.

Decided to go for a different reservoir set-up rather than the DDC with plexi res top and thought i'd give the front mounted thing another go - so started off cutting a small hole with my fret saw for the hose to go through.

Still got to wire everything up but at least its full of water, leak tested and starting to look more like a PC.

............anyway on with some pictures

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/75c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/76c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/77c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/78c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/79c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/80c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/81c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/82c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/83c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/84c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/85c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/86c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/87c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/88c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/89c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/90c.jpg

[Daffy4895]

looking good, i love the res on the front. i'd not bother with a smaller 'x' on the window, don't think it'll look right

[jellybeard999]

looking good

not too keen on the res personally, doesnt blend in enough for me, but nice all the same :)

[-H-]

Great work as always Paul. Not too sure on how the front mounted res will turn out but I'm sure you got plans

Ygpm btw mate.

[RHYSMODDER]

yum...im liking the res, wack a few led's into it tho ;)

[|Slackster|]

Excellent work paul but like jellybeard, aint to keen on the front mounted res.

[Mouseman]

Res is nice enough, but I'm never keen on tubes exposed to the outside world (Although those aren't particularly "exposed", I'd hate to knock that res...) Maybe I'm just clumsy! lol ;)

[Teebor]

Hate to criticise some great work but would the hole for the tubes not be better edged in some blowhole trim? might be difficult with the large lump on the back of the facia but it would protect the tubes and look nice.

Can the clamps for the res be painted ? I'm half asleep so couldn't tell if they are metal or plastic, then again yellow might not look good but it would help them blend in, maybe shiny black?

Its a great idea for where to place a res though, never would have though of that in a million years

[DR_D]

em teebs makes a good point about the clamps. would look good all shiny and black. is it easy to get those o-ring clamps off?

[coolmiester]

em teebs makes a good point about the clamps. would look good all shiny and black. is it easy to get those o-ring clamps off?

Err no, you got to cut them off so there not practical at all.

I'm still not 100% convinced i like the res there so might resort back to a Plexi res inside tbh but the PC is up and running at present and flying along

CPU @ 30degrees
GPU @ 36degrees

[Drak]

the case looks stunning and i really like the idea of the res on the outside but i also agree with teebor it looks to be missing something with the hole cut. But then i know you've got high standards and you'l probably sort it out yourself.

maybe some mesh or something painted black in the gap between the case and the tubing, not sure.

[Teebor]

Err no, you got to cut them off so there not practical at all.

I'm still not 100% convinced i like the res there so might resort back to a Plexi res inside tbh but the PC is up and running at present and flying along

CPU @ 30degrees
GPU @ 36degrees

Oh thats a bummer.

I still say leave the res where it is, imho I kinda like it, and so easy to refill

Those are some good numbers... keep soldiering dude this is great reading material, almost X rated (I will get my hat... *walks out door*)

[clocker]

I think the rez placement is brilliant- for a home user/non-showpiece.

My objection in this project is the same as for the window on the Stacker...the shape doesn't relate to the other contours- in this case, those of the case bezel (which after all, is the main focal point of the WaveMaster, right?).
A rez shaped like the stock alloy plinth would be perfect. Not as functional perhaps but then again, as a showpiece form might sometimes have to trump performance.

[coolmiester]

I think your spot on clocker tbh - the res idea looked much better in my head before i committed to it.

I'll run it a couple more days as is and see if it grows on me any but have a feeling its going the Plexi Top route

Cheers to everyone for all the input though :cool:

[Rig]

In my opinion the res is ok, its the colour of the water which i think could be improved.

Nice work as always coolmiester!

[sunnyg]

this is looking really good. is there a res of someone pulling the res off its holdings?

[Axiom]

Nice and Sharp Coolmiester as always.i think the rez placement is alright although better some place else. Well done

[coolmiester]

Eventually got round to getting the Maxit rig finished so i can now draw a line under this one :cool:

Tracked down a Vantec fan controller and ended up with eleven but that's another story :D

Its bee seen before but needs must so there are a few pictures of that getting fitted and then some of the complete case along with the little X on the window which turned out good.

And the pump and res are now inside due to a friend seeing the res on the front and saying it looked like a posh water bottle for a hamster :D

Anyway all done and dusted and will be dropped off asap so just hope they like it.

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/92_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/93_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/94_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/95_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/96_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/98_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/99_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/100_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/101_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/102_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/103_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/104_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/105_c.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/maxit/106_c.jpg

[Axiom]

Nice work Coolmiester you did the small yellow x on the window looks nice well done

[Rig]

As usual its all come along nicely, looks better with the mini X in the window and the res moved off the front imo. Nice one!

[|Slackster|]

Looks Excellent Paul and that X in the middle fits in perfectly with the theme :)

[Drak]

how can they not like it? looks superb well done.

so whats next in the pipeline? what about a lian li im sure that will polish up well.

[clocker]

Typically, the loop installation is beautiful.
Not sure why your installs always look so much more elegant than mine but bravo!

Now, about the fan controller...
The roof placement has morphed from cool idea>signiture feature>cliche.
In this case, I feel it detracts from the custom logoed rad grill- perhaps could be alleviated if the knobs were painted yellow to match the case.

So, what's next?

[cRaZyMiLk]

what fluid/mix are you using there Paul?

[nyzrox]

looks like UV yellow to me: http://www.coolercases.co.uk/wc_additives.htm

[coolmiester]

Totally ran out of time to do anything else to it tbh and took the day off today to deliver it personally to Dan at Maxit who it has to be said is a top guy and his g/f made me and my pa more than welcome into their absolutely gorgeous home.

He seemed to like it so we'll wait and see what comes of it.

@ cRaZyMiLk - deionised water, approx 2ml of UV Yellow Dye and approx 5ml of Zerex

@ clocker - cheers mate but didn't get a chance.............they looked good black in real life honest ;)

Also thanks to everyone else for the support and input :cool:

[cool_dude]

Just wanna say awesome work coolmiester, as allways!!

;)

[Daffy4895]

looking brilliant as always coolmiester

[sunnyg]

well done paul. looks very naaaaaaze.

wander what happens to the magazine tho.

[ash77ah]

Nice

[pie_uk]

wow excellent job there paul.

great work on the tdx block, looks good in black as do the yellow grommets :)

[skunkmunkey]

Amazing work once again mate.

[coolmiester]

Thanks Skunk

Strangely enough i just had an email from Dan who is running it 24/7 and says...


Original Quote from Maxit Dan
Ps the MaXit Monsta running like a dream!

Which is nice to know :cool:

[The Boy Riley]

Just enquiring more about your reply to cRaZyMiLK,

@ cRaZyMiLk - deionised water, approx 2ml of UV Yellow Dye and approx 5ml of Zerex

might be me being slightly noobish, whats zerex :P?

when i did my fluid i used MCT-40 Non-Conductive Solution, and the green uv dye, it looks a bit rubbish so in my up and coming project im doing a bit more research, and i like the way yours shows up under the UV.

and it looks realy nice dude, as usual :)
thanks

oh and are you using the tygon tubing?