looking sick!!!

I also can't wait to see this complete.  When showing this off I would have the Tron: Legacy soundtrack playing out of the computer. :o)

You always do incredible work, can't wait to see more!

Thanks for all the great comments guys!
 
Here's an update:  Due to the weather, I haven't been able to continue painting the tubes (damn rain!)  So in the mean time, I thought I'd show you what I have planned for the SSD's.  They will be mounted on the opposite side of the motherboard tray, disguised as the lightcycle engine.

I'll be making a loose interpretation of the real engine, which looks like this:


A view of the engine through the window:


I don't have much space between the motherboard tray and the window, so the mounting will be relatively flat, but with a hint of depth.  I marked out the window placement, and arranged the drives in that area.


Here are the pieces designed and cut.


And glued together with mounting holes drilled.


Here are the pieces for the tailshaft portion of the engine.  I cut a piece of 4" tube for the curved part.


Clamped and glued.


Done.


Both pieces together.


Both pieces in place on the tray with drives mounted.


Now I can make some paper templates for the three pieces that will connect the two.  That will be tonight's task.
 

This is flippin incredible work. Love the creativity. Keep it up!

Thanks guys!
Ok, I got the connector piece done last night.  :)

First I started making paper templates to get the complex shapes in between the two pieces, but doing individual pieces didn't work out too well.  I just couldn't get the angles right.


So I tried making one solid piece.  This seemed to work better.


Having transferred the shape to the acrylic sheet, I started cutting it out.


Then I added the bends.


After some trimming  and rebending, I think I got it to the shape I wanted.


It fits pretty well in between the two pieces.


Some mockup shots of all three engine pieces in place, with drives mounted and the covers on.






As you can pretty well guess, this will all be lit up in the typical TRON fashion.  Next I'll be adding some detail pieces and doing some masking to the covers to get them ready for paint.

WOW just WOW!!! give me more!! lol 

 
More!

Thanks speedbump, I just might have to take a day off to ensure I finish this thing on time lol.
 
So I think I got the SSD Engine just about finished up this weekend.  Got the parts masked off and painted today once the sun finally came out.

I went with a dark gray hammered finish for the main parts of the engine, to add more of a texture to it and set it apart from the blue fins.


A closeup shot of the textured finish.

Demaskifying the drive covers to reveal the diffused blue acrylic.  I primed the underside as well so you wouldn't be able to see through them. 


All the pieces back together for a final mockup, and...........


.........the money shot!


I actually managed to get some paint on the tubes as well, so maybe I can finally get the basic frame assembled this week.  Then it will all start coming together quickly after that.

Cheers, and happy Easter!  :)

You sir, do incredible work. This should be in a magazine when its done!

you mastermind... im jealous :(

Insane craftsmanship skills! Fun watching it come together.

I want it o.O looks like a lot of work but you will have a 1 of a kind computer case XD

Thanks everyone for the great comments.  I think I'm having the most fun with this build, and it's mostly due to you guys and your awesome feedback.  :)

Ok, more goodies!  I couldn't resist getting Razer's TRON themed keyboard and mouse with mouse pad to go with the build.  I usually mod the peripherals to fit the given theme of my projects anyway, so this was a bonus  And I have to say that Razer did a great job with the TRON design.  I doubt I could have done as good a job, or even come close to the level of awesomeness! 
Let me just show you with pics:


Even the packaging is cool!  Opening the box revealed a thick smoked acrylic cover over the keyboard, with subtle TRON and Razer logos on it.


The keyboard is well-built with TRON style lettering that lights up, and a separate number keypad that can be mounted on either side of the keyboard with the provided connector piece.


Here it is lit up. There are audio connections on the keyboard as well, so I can plug my headphones in right there.


The mouse/pad kit came in the same killer box with protective smoked acrylic cover.


Pure TRON pr0n lol.


And the best part, the mouse pad has an electro-luminescent coating on it that reacts to a special led under the mouse, so it leaves a light trail as it moves across the pad, just like the lightcycle!  :D