Any of us here into the case modding scene? I have a Macintosh SE FDHD here that shouldn't be too hard to get working again, looks like the HD is blown but that's all. The case exterior is looking a bit worse for wear unfortunately, being yellowed in a non-uniform manner and there's some severe plastic chips around the seam of the machine. The internal HD carrier is also missing and it's currently strapped in with cable ties.
The only real thing I can think to do for this machine, now that I have a pristine example of a Compact in the 512Ke, is to go all out and build a Macintosh show piece. After all, it won't be winning any points for original condition or best in show the way it's going now.
I have some options, of course.
First option is to use body filler to carefully fill the chips in the seam, sand them back and spray the machine over in a platinum finish to give it the appearance of an original system. Of course it would be difficult to give the machine a 100% original appearance now, factoring in paint availability and the fact it's clearly been repaired as opposed to looking in showroom shape.
Second option, and the most interesting one, is to transfer the internals over to a Macintosh Plus body. I have the spare one just sitting here at this stage, in my opinion it looks a lot better than a Macintosh SE body and it shows some great potential to be an awesome machine. The biggest part of the job is cutting out the back plate from the SE, moulding it into place and sanding it over to give it an OEM finish. This would then need to be sprayed over in primer and auto paint.
Third is to just fix the machine and leave it as-is. It won't be going very far from here now anyway.
Suggestions, opinions?
Also, I know i've been posting a lot recently asking questions with very little action. These plans take time, trial and error if the end project is to be as stunning as intended.
The only real thing I can think to do for this machine, now that I have a pristine example of a Compact in the 512Ke, is to go all out and build a Macintosh show piece. After all, it won't be winning any points for original condition or best in show the way it's going now.
I have some options, of course.
First option is to use body filler to carefully fill the chips in the seam, sand them back and spray the machine over in a platinum finish to give it the appearance of an original system. Of course it would be difficult to give the machine a 100% original appearance now, factoring in paint availability and the fact it's clearly been repaired as opposed to looking in showroom shape.
Second option, and the most interesting one, is to transfer the internals over to a Macintosh Plus body. I have the spare one just sitting here at this stage, in my opinion it looks a lot better than a Macintosh SE body and it shows some great potential to be an awesome machine. The biggest part of the job is cutting out the back plate from the SE, moulding it into place and sanding it over to give it an OEM finish. This would then need to be sprayed over in primer and auto paint.
Third is to just fix the machine and leave it as-is. It won't be going very far from here now anyway.
Suggestions, opinions?
Also, I know i've been posting a lot recently asking questions with very little action. These plans take time, trial and error if the end project is to be as stunning as intended.