Diesel Engine

[Chris Howell]

Finishing the Brass Panels

After waiting for a little while to get access to a milling machine, I decided to grab some engraving bits for the Dremel and do it myself. I already had my font and the antiquing fluid to finish the panels. So here goes...

I used a paper template to guide my engraving


The engraving bit set that I had ordered. Worth noting that this is a first time for me


Mid-progress


And when result when I was done. Fairly happy with my frst attempt. I'ts reasonably neat!


I quite like the contrast of the polished panel against the rough text


When I was done, I moved onto antiquing the panels with this stuff


I filled a baking dish with a 1/10 solution of fluid and water.
this shows the panels just as I added them in


The panels after 2 minutes


The panels after 5 minutes! They went dark super quickly


This is what they looked like straight out of the solution. And actually the colour is totally awesome. This would be perfect for some kind of destroyed/apocalyptic style build




I returned the next day and found a lot of the cool colour had flaked off, leavng a black and copper style colour




FINALLY - I used steel wool to rub away sections of the surface to reveal the shiny brass underneath


The colours are washed out in this photo, but here are the side panels. I can't decide if I prefer the weathered panels or the completely polished ones.


I gave the brass bolts the same treatment. 2 black (left) and 2 after the steel wool (Right)


Next Up - I glued the threaded spacers onto back of the brass panels and left them overnight


A Close Up

[Chris Howell]

Assembling the case

With the panels finally ready, I was able to build the case and get it ready to receive components! Very exciting times

Let's took a look at the thing assembled for the first time.

The Front view


Left side


Right Side


Back


Top


I'm really happy with the crisp edges and how well the panels lined up with the lid and base






The slots at the back are begining to call out for components for sure

So! - I'm nearly there. I'll be ordering my components very soon. Over all I'm really pleased with how it's looking. The lack of visible screws and simplicity of the panels makes it look like a real console - rather than a PC case conversion. There is also a certain charm that the real brass and real wood have that I can't capture on the camera. The pine still smells great and the thick brass panels are cold to the touch and give the case a really solid feel.

I'm really looking forward to getting some components in there and will update back here soon!.