chopped amigas

[Will-i-am]

Say listen up... I have been getting ready for winter, setting up new projects that can take place in the warm house... we live in Upstate NY.... I got the idea of putting one of my 'spare' Amigas into this old radio I bought. It's a 1940's style wooden case with a big round dial and those bakelite knobs. I want to set up the computer inside in such a way as to use the power switch on the radio for the power switch on the miggy. I'm hoping to devise a nice period looking wooden frame for an LCD screen... round off the edges, stain the same as the radio case....Make it look like a Buck Rodgers thingy. I was wondering how many people here have done such a thing? It seems to me it would be fun to collect pics of serious modified Amigas, maybe publish a coffee table book of the results. I saw the one made from a microwave and the water cooled models are neat... It's just that the 'classic' Amiga is a lot like the old cars we used to chop in the 50's and 60's into street rods: seriously powerful and fun, but not sold on the regular market. Any interest in this concept?

[X-ray]

Ja, I would be interested in this, but I have to design my case first. I have some work-related things to finish first then I will get onto the A4KT case.

[Jeff]

@X-ray

I will be interested in the re-housing of your A4Kt. I also have one that needs a new home. I just got my ATX-AT power supply adapter last Friday.

I have a couple options, none of which are a nice looking AT complient case. What ideas do you have?

[J-Golden]

I have a friend back in MD who made a A1200 tower case completely out of wood...  I was more functional then artistic but VERY very nice...

I'd like to se pics of this radio prject when its done...  thought of doing step by step pics?

J-Golden

[X-ray]

@ Jeff

I was thinking of designing a custom case in Cinema4D (simple right-angles, no curves) and then having the plates laser-cut from brushed aluminium sheets. That would mean perfect port cutouts and the smallest possible design. I reckon I can do the Cinema4D design to spec (get a good DXF) because I have made houses in 3D from 2D plans/measurements. And if I stick to a desktop design along the lines of late 80s Tecnics HiFi designs I can get something that is simple but looks classy. I've dabbled with semi-opaque polyethylene too, so I may get something that is predominantly silver, with a door or front plate that is semi-opaque/smoked and some discrete LEDs for power and drive access etc.

Well that's what I think I can do. I just need to find time for it.

[Amiduffer]

[color=008000]like a Buck Rodgers thingy. I was wondering how many people here have done such a thing? It seems to me it would be fun to collect pics of serious modified Amigas, maybe publish a coffee table book of the results. I saw the one made from a microwave and the water cooled models are neat..[/color][/i]

Water cooled? Picturing serious electrification problems there.

[X-ray]

@ Amiduffer

Not if it is done right. Click
That is a water-cooled PPC card. (I am not convinced it is operational, but that is the principle and you can get quite a few water-cooling systems for PCs these days, even with options to cool hard-disks!)

[amigadave]

Count me in on this one!  I have more Amigas than I really should so it won't be a problem finding a source machine to transfer to a customized case.  I'll have to think of what I want it to look like or what I want to put the Amiga into and start making plans.  It may have to wait on my other project to put a hot rod PC into an A1000 case and run Amiga Forever 2005 on it.

[Will-i-am]

I have 3 A2000's and this spare A4000D so it should be fun. I got the idea years ago when in sculpture class some kid put a TV into a one eyed monster out of plaster and paper mache. I decided it looked too cheesy and started thinking about designing a latex pull-over cover that would make the Amiga look like a one eyed monster. But since I work in wood and ceramics I drifted into the modified wooden case concept. Just check out an Art Deco radio and you get my drift: nice lines, very sexy, maybe some chrome but subtle... doesn't that sound like an Amiga? Yeah, what the heck, lets build a big book on sexy Amigas and get people into designing new cases for old computers. Maybe we'll get on Good Morning America or something. woo woo

[Dr_Righteous]

This reminds me of the network appliance I saw while working at GTE... They called it "Buick" because the case was this really cool chromed design. I don't know who made this thing, but the name was certainly appropriate.

[miles]

a.org gallery looks cool for a custom job.

[coldfish]

Inspiration:

http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/mantleradio/

http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/jukebox/

http://www.mini-itx.com/projects.asp

...not amiga but still some good ones in there.

[Will-i-am]

Well, that's my point. Amiga hardware freaks are some of the craziest, talented people around! We should get some very nice machines in some very interesting cases. Might be fun, might be more fun than sliding in floppy after floppy trying to find one old game whose install disk is still readable now that the Beast boots....strange how many of my Wife's favorite games no longer play. The dumb ones boot right up. Time to add neon lights, chrome something or another and/or some fancy sounds.