Alpine Carputer - Part 03

I am originally posting this project on the Overclockers Australia (OCAU) forums in this thread:
Specific Hardware Topics > Modding > Alpine Caputer. This is post #12.

Right. It's time to address this:

'Docking station' case (more info to come later)

The idea behind this is that I'll want to bring this computer inside the house sometimes for... well, who knows what for. I'll find some use for it! Gives me another chance to display my work anyway seeing as most people won't be seeing it while it's in my boot :P

I have a few of these cases from throw-outs at work:

I would like to be able to sit the finished project inside this case something like this:

I'll be leaving the drive bays as they are. I'll probably install some removable HDD racks and an optical drive in there. The back will have to come out though. I'm thinking of making a removable tray for it. Maybe get a set of rails that would be used for a keyboard drawer, make a plate to go between them and add a handle. I'll think a bit more about that later. I'll also have to get rid of that floppy drive opening and probably replace that with a card reader. The whole case will be made black and silver to fit in with the theme. I'm not sure how to go about getting the LEDs going yet but I'll work it out at a later stage. I'll also have to figure out how to get the extra drives powered and the carputer at the same time. I'd also like to put a window in with the Alpine logo etched onto it. I've never done a window install let alone etching so that will be a new experience! I'd also like to line the inside of the case with carpet. The sort that you'd find on sub boxes.

Seems I have a fair bit of work ahead of me... For now though, back to the carputer itself. This went through the wash a few years ago (Mum decided to surprise me by washing out my bag but forgot to check all the pockets! Surprise indeed...):

And these too (one went through with the case):

The 2.5" caddy will be used to house the drive. I've got some of the rubber feet usually found on the bottom of switches from work that the boss has said I cand have (after all, who needs rubber feet on the bottom of rack-mounted switches?). Hopefully that will provide a little bit of shock protection.

Also found these but haven't thought of a use for them yet:

Aaand that's all I've got for now.