Project 360: Code Red
Project 360: Code Red
This is a two part project, you will find the rest on page two of this thread. Enjoy
In this forum thread you will be following me through one of my latest Xbox 360 customizing procedures. I will be updating this as I get more and more progress done.
Upon requests and ideas from some people I have decided that I will, from start to finish of Project 360: Code Red that I am creating for a customer of mine, show you every step of the way that I take to create this completely custom Xbox. I am starting my work on it tonight and have some pretty good ideas in store for it as he has choosen to just let me run with my own creation following a very general request outline. Along with the ideas I have for this very special CODE RED xbox I have a surprise in store for him and the rest of you. It's something that I haven't seen done before and Im hoping that it turns out the way I am invisioning it. I will also be showing you how to correctly prep and paint the plastic 360 case as with a lot of peoples consoles the paint remains brittle and chips/scratches easily. I will try NOT to reveal any of the surprise till the very end of completion so stay tuned and watch my Project 360: Code Red either Fail or Succeed. I do use a very wide variety of tools and materials to obtain the look and function of what I do so I will not be listing them all as there are just to many. I don't even know what some are called. LOL
Provided by the customer by request is a simple list of options I give him to base his custom console from so I have a basic understanding of what to base the 360 layout off of. The list goes like this.
HDD Customize:
Paint (Piano Black)
Paint Chrome Red if possible
Custom Window Cut
LED Install (RED)
Xbox Customize:
Paint (Piano Black)
Paint Chrome Red if possible
Custom Window Cut
Led Install (RED)
General Parts Install as follows
LIST OF TOOLS I WILL BE USING
XBOX CASE OPENING TOOL
SCOTCH TAPE
HEAT GUN
DREMMEL
-ROUTER ATTACHMENT
-CUTTER ATTACHMENT
-GRINDING ATTACHMENT
-SANDING ATTACHMENT
-DRILL ATTACHMENT
200 GRIT SAND PAPER
800 GRIT SAND PAPER
GREEN SCOTCH BRITE PADS
SOAP AND WATER
COMET
DUPICOLOR ADHESION PROMOTER AEROSOL
DUPICOLOR CHROME RED AEROSOL
DUPICOLOR AUTOMOTIVE CLEAR COAT
KRYLON PLASTIC BLACK GLOSS AEROSOL
KRYLON PLASTIC RED GLOSS AEROSOL
PLASTIC BONDO
GLUE GUN
PLEXIGLASS
SHRINK TUBING (OPTIONAL)
ELECTRICAL TAPE
30ga ELECTRICAL WIRE (RED AND BLACK)
LED'S
SOLDERING IRON (30 WATT)
SOLDER
WIRE CUTTER
TWEEZERS
WIRE STRIPPERS
EXACTO KNIFE
RAZOR (OPTIONAL)
TORQUE DRIVER #6 #8 #10
MISC. ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS (OPTIONAL)
RULER
SQUARE
RESISTORS (22 ohm, 33 ohm, 47 ohm)
PCB LED STRIP (OPTIONAL)
CUSTOM PARTS FOR INSTALL
I tell the customer to go to the link provided (http://www.niktronixonline.com/)and let them pick out additional parts they would like included. Here are the parts that the customer choose. He also choose to get the ring of light mod color red (thread only allows 4 images)
As you can see, there is a good number of parts to fit in the box but it should turn out great. I will be updating this thread as much as possible to keep you updated on my progress and procedures. Thanks for following my Project 360: Code Red
UPDATE:
Ok, so last night I got to start my work on the project and I will provide pictures of my work as I progress. I don't have any particular order that I always follow but seeing this is also a custom painted xbox I will usually try to make all of my cut outs first and then start painting. It just depends on what I really feel like at the moment
First, of course I had to take apart the 360 as it is pretty much routine now. Just google how to open the xbox and you will find plenty of tutorials showing how to do this. Here is the one I used when I opened my first console. How to take apart the Xbox 360 - Disassemble/Open Now that you have it open you have to remove the metal heat shield inside. You just have to grind/cut off the two pieces of plastic located near the middle outside edges and it pops right out.
Now that Im down to just the case cover, and I have removed the metel backing. I will then scotch taped the front so I could put the design on that I desired. I usually will make a rectangle in which you should keep the design inside of because if you venture to far out things start to get a little funky and you see things you don't want to see and pretty soon you have no more screw catches to keep the lid on.
After using the Dremmel with the router tool and guide I have chopped out a very rough design in the case. Notice that I have slipped a couple times and made a couple mistakes, they are not too bad and are repairable. Now I will go back and straighten things up with some of the more precise tools of the dremmel. Just remember to be patient and be careful. Use the tools that came with your dremmel set to maximize your designs potential. Like I said earlier, it is rough.
Ok, above you will see the case front finalized before painting. I took sand paper to the rough cuts(rough and fine grit sand paper) and made sure no areas look rigid. Where I made the couple mistakes I used a polyurethane filler and reshaped them back to my original design. Mistakes are common and do happen a lot, so don't get bent out of shape if you make them. They can be fixed and covered up with paint as you will see I do further through out the stages of the project. For now, Im going to hold off till later tonight to continue.
Update:
I got some more progress on the Project so Here it is.
I decided to start the work the work on the HDD and of course you have to start by tearing it all down. The tear down on these is pretty self explanatory. There are 4 torque #6 on the bottom of the HDD and one is covered by a microsoft tamper sticker. Since its obvious that I have tampered with it, I just tore it off and opened it up. Once that's open there are 4 more torque #10 screws that hold the actual Disk Drive in place that I removed as well. The rest of the HDD just unclips apart down to as shown.
Once i got that far, again I masked everything off so I could pencil up my guide lines to cut and trim along. Now put on your safety glasses and start carefully cutting and you end up with this.
After getting the rough opening again you should continue to clean it up till it looks all nice and straight with smooth edges.
Alright. I have all of the cut outs that I wanted in the case (notice I have still not shown my secret mod yet) and now you can begin the prep for the paint procedure. Do not "I repeat, DO NOT" use sand paper to prep the plastic parts at all. Sandpaper will give it a rough surface but leaves a thin layer of tiny dust that water and paint bead up on and will not stick properly for a long period of time. To prep properly you must use a light soapy water mix with a green scotch brite pad. Use some comet powder cleaner as a rough additive to scuff with. Once you have done that for a while you will have some residue left on the console. Wash that off with warm water very very well and let air dry for a day. Once the plastic is dry prep the surfaces with an adhesion promoter. You can get it from an automotive store as it is meant for prepping plastic bumpers on cars and will allow some flexing underneath paint. Now let that dry and I will continue later tonight.
Update: I finally got some more of it assembled. Its been a crazy weekend.
I decided to get one of the tougher installs out of the way and finish up the HDD wiring and lighting. Here is what I gather up. Plus I have my hot glue gun and iron plugged in and at hands reach.
I started by cutting the LED boards to the length that I want and soldered the LEDs in correctly in parallel. Not much solder is need at all, and once the solder is dry I trimmed the legs down to the solder.
http://www.se7ensins.com/forums/hard...ights-hdd.html
I used Punkskater's tutorial on how to install the lights correctly in the HDD and here you will see the complete assembly before I black taped all of the exposed solders to prevent shorting.
Once you have everything situated so that there is no interference assembly the case back together and test out your new and improved HDD.
Due to loading times and the length of the thread just go to page two and you will see the rest of the project. Thanks for viewing and I hope you find this helpful.
To see My shop, just follow the link and there are more custom boxes. http://www.ledlightingandmods.com/en...60-Customizing
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Looking great so far man.
Originally Posted by niktronix
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