Complete News
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TRON Sark Command Bridge playset |
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I'd like to show off a first... the first playset for the original TRON action figures!
This playset features a light-up map display, space for multiple figures, and a removable MCP communication chamber with a digitized MCP voice saying the iconic phrase 'END OF LINE'. This was created using a multitude of techniques including FDM 3D printing, resing 3D printing, and laser cutting/etching. I think it's a worthy addition to my expanded line of original TRON toys.
Questions or comments? Let me know!
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Posted on Mar 1 at 22:11 |
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TRON tank V1.1 |
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I've 'upgraded' an old 'TRON' project - TRON tank V1.1 for the original figures.
This upgraded tank adds lights & sounds to the turrent/cannon.
In addition, this version upgrades interior detailing to stickers (no more visible glue through the interior details), upgrades the wheels (much smoother rolling movement), and upgrades the interior to remove the seam lines. All the other features people love from the original are still present and the tank retains the incredible look and size!
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Posted on May 2 at 2021 |
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TwoUp plus 3D printer project posted |
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Finally posted some pictures of an old 3D printer I made (and then sold). I'm unimaginatively calling it the "TwoUp plus" because it's just a repackaged and rebuilt QU-BD TwoUp. This solves many (but not all) the problems with the TwoUp, including the sagging gantry. Honestly, the TwoUp was a poor printer all around but it was cheap and it was my first.
In essence, this was my 3rd printer. I started with the QU-BD TwoUp, moved on to the Robo R1, then the TwoUp plus (produced with the R1), then the Original Prusa MK2, then the Orignal Prusa MK3. I'm waiting for my first resin printer anyday now.
I sold this printer over a year ago, but I'm finally getting around to post the pictures.
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Posted on May 2 at 2021 |
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TRON Recognizer for original figures |
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I'm back with another 'TRON' project - a TRON Recognizer for the original figures.
The original TRON toys featured 4 figures (TRON, Flynn, Sark, and a Warrior) and also a light-cycle (in a couple different colors). A while back, I made a TRON tank to augument the line... but a tank needs an antagonist as well, right? Here it is... the largest TRON toy ever... the TRON Recognizer for 3.75 inch figures!
Check it out and let me know what you think!
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Posted on Oct 25 at 2020 |
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White & Black case mod pictures |
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I finally built another PC! Eight years was an excellent run for my old system, but I needed something that could play modern games (including VR). Here it is... White & Black! This system is designed as a general purpose system to last me years.
It's just a nicely thought out desktop with decent room to grow. It features all the expected modern trappings of a gaming system like an easily over-clocked CPU, RGB lighting, and silent cooling but also has a few hold-overs from the past like stealthed optical drives.
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Posted on Jul 4 at 2018 |
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BB-8 Halloween Basket |
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Finally posting a small project from 2016... a BB-8 Halloween candy basket for all the little Reys out there.
This is based on the BB-8 wall light with a simple half-basket added, along with some minor electronic light reconfiguration and counter-weights to the basket doesn't fall face-forward.
May the force be with you!
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Posted on Jan 14 at 2018 |
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TRON tank for original figures |
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I'm back with another 'TRON' project - a TRON tank for the original figures.
The original TRON toys featured 4 figures (TRON, Flynn, Sark, and a Warrior) and also a light-cycle (in a couple different colors). There have been rumors of a prototype Tank toy with no solid evidence that I've ever seen. But I wanted one.
After months of designing and building, here it is. It has space for multiple figures, rotating turret, rubberized wheels, and a 'special' little bit (litterally!) for one version of the tank.
Check it out and let me know what you think!
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Posted on Jul 16 at 2017 |
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TRON themed iCade - the game has changed |
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My last project for a while, but it's a good one.
You might remember the iCade from www.thinkgeek.com. It started out as an April Fool's gag then turned into a real product. Now, I've taken it the next step... into the Grid!
Yes, we're talking about a fully functional iCade with serious improvements. A new control panel with a new layout and lighted buttons & joystick. A built-in charger. New side art. And the button colors are customizable as well.
I believe this is the most advanced iCade yet. Care to prove me wrong?
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Posted on Jul 16 at 2017 |
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A busy couple of weeks |
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Whew! I'm tired with everything going on!
Over the last couple of weeks, both my book Going Mod: 9 Cool Case Mod Projects became officially available (my
local Barnes and Nobel has it in stock) and the first of the ExtremeTech.com case modding articles went up.
Add this to several more references in other media, and my day job, and having a cold for the better part of this week. I need a rest - but more modding awaits me...
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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Audrey internet appliance rebuilt |
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Someone at work found an old Audrey internet appliance and gave it to me. It was missing the stylus & keyboard, and was somewhat dirty. I combined that with a tar & nicotine soaked stylus & keyboard I bought on ebay, and after taking every component apart and cleaning it she came alive. I even wetn so far as to add an ethernet adapter with wireless bridge, all powered internally.
Of course, I loaded her up with the best OS image I could find and customized it quite a bit (including re-adding her signature "giggle" back to the startup sequence).
She isn't really much of a "mod", but with such a unique shape I just couldn't cut into her.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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CBS news story |
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Today, the local CBS news affiliate KPIX (San Francisco bay area) came out to take a look at my mods and do a little filming for an upcoming segment.
My thanks to CBS, KPIX, and Sue Kwon for the coverage - it was a lot of fun!
I wonder what type of computer I could stick inside a large CBS logo...
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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Computer Bike mod finished at last |
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The Computer Bike mod is finished! Stay tuned for a complete (painfully complete) making-of article on the extremetech.com site soon. Till then, take a look at the final outcome in the gallery.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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custom TRON grid backup device |
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My latest (small) project is complete.
It's a USB memory stick in the shape of the device Sam Flynn used to backup the grid at the end of TRON: Legacy. 8GB should be enough for the whole grid, right?
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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custom TRON Identity Discs |
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This isn't exactly case mod related, but I had to post some pictures of my recent TRON mods. Basically I've created a set of TRON Identity Discs (both from the original movie TRON & TRON:Legacy). They are not screen accurate but instead are my interpretation of the discs.
All discs light up the appriopriate colors and some even include USB memory sticks internally to store data.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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custom TRON Legacy necklaces |
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I've posted pictures of my custom TRON:Legacy necklaces.
Being a normal (well, somewhat) guy I don't have much need for necklaces but I tend to be a bit of a DIY person and saw someone online complaining about the lack of TRON jewelry a year or so ago. I saw some fairly poor attempts on http://etsy.com and knew I could do better.
Comments?
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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Han Solo Carbonite Shuttle mod complete |
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Surprise, Surprise!
I've been working the last 5 weeks on a special "quick" case mod with some help from the fine folks over at Shuttle Computer, Inc. The new mod is my interpretation of the famous Carbonite Freezing scene from Star Wars: The Emprire strikes back. Check it out in the gallery...
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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I work for ExtremeTech now |
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Thanks to Jim Louderback at ExtremeTech, I'm now working on a series of articles for thier website about modding.
Primarily the articles will be about a new modding project, step by step. But also thier will be some content about general modding issues of interest to the community. Come check it out.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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Lightning connector for Red & Black |
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I finally brought Red & Black into 2012...
I added a lightning connector to the built-in iPhone dock. Yes, it's finally iPhone 5 ready.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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Millenium Falcon mod was stolen |
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As posted earlier, the Millenium Falcon mod was shown at WinHEC 2005 (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference). The show went off without a hitch, and the Falcon got some attention.
However, before the mod was shipped back to me it was stolen off the desk of one of the event organizers. Yes, the Falcon (along with it's X-Wing mouse and custom keyboard) was stolen from the Microsoft campus. Security has reviewed the security camera tapes, but no leads as of yet.
Microsoft has compensated me for the loss, although how do you come up with a monetary value for something with so many memories? In any case, I've decided not to rebuild. Other Falcon PCs exist out there and the idea is no longer unique. Time to let my wounds heal and move on.
In the offhand chance that anyone knows anything about the theft, please contact me and let me know - I would like to know what happened to the old girl.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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Millenium Falcon wins 3rd place |
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The Millenium Falcon case mod (wherever she is) won 3rd place in the VIA Arena greatest case mod competition! My thanks to everyone that voted, and the the VIA Arena staff for holding the competition
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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New project - Computer Bike |
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I finally chose a new project for the ExtremeTech articles - Computer Bike.
In the tradition of the TV show American Chopper, I will be modding a computer into a toy motorcycle. Complete with all the little attention to detail items that those bikes are famous for, this mod will showcase the state of the art in "art" mods.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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Red & Black case mod pictures |
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It's been a long time coming, but I finally posted pictures of my primary desktop machine - Red & Black. I actually finished this about 11 months ago but never posted pictures.
It's just a nicely thought out, consistently themed, consistently colored desktop with a nice built-in iPhone 4 dock on top. It features all the expected modern trappings of a gaming system like an easily over-clocked i7 920 CPU, DVD burner, Blu-ray reader, memory-card reader, etc.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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San Jose Mercury story |
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On January 18th, 2005, the San Jose Mercury covered modding and my mods in particular. It got the front page of the business section, and had some great color photos as well.
Scans coming soon, but I'd like to thank for Mercury and Mike Cassidy in particular for the coverage. THANKS!
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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Scientist mod updated |
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I just uploaded more pictures about this mod, and added simple "making of" section with some captions. Check it out
here.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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Star Trek NX-PC featured in CPU magazine |
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The Star Trek NX-PC is featured as a "near miss" in the Mad Reader Mod section of CPU magazine, October edition. Pick it up today!
Of course, there are a lot of other great mods in there that don't really seem like a "near miss" as much as they seem like dead-center great mods to me.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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Star Trek NX-PC mod is ready for space trials |
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My new PC, the Star Trek Enterprise NX-01 inspired case, is ready for it's space trials. It's my new daily driver system and I'll be migrating all my software, configs, and bookmarks over to the system this week.
Time to see if this fancy water-cooling thing really works for my needs.
Check is out in the mod gallery and let me know what all you Trekies think!
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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Taking a break for a while |
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As if it hasn't been obvious due to the lack of updates, I've been taking a
break from modding. Due to the tight economy (and uncertain job conditions),
a special assesment at my condo, and my first baby due in under a month, I've
been taking a break from modding.
I fully expect to return to modding some day, probably in about a year or so
when it's time for a serious upgrade to my desktop PC but for now it's going
to be a little slow around here.
Till then, look around and I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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The book is nearing completion |
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Well, it's finally happened. The modding book I'm working on for Wiley
publishing is getting close to completion (at least on my end). I'll
be finishing "author review" on the last chapter tonight, so at that
point it's up to the magic elves at Wiley and ExtremeTech to make me
look good.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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The Great Pumpkin mod is finally RIPE |
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After a long year with lots of interuptions, I finally picked the "Great Pumpkin" from the modding vine. In time for Halloween 2006, no less!
Check it out in the gallery and let me know what all you little gouls and goblins think of this latest unconventional computer.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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TRON Bit is positvely neutral |
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Another (small) project done.
About a year back I came across something in a department store that closely resembled a 'neutral' Bit in classic TRON. Add some paint and some electronics that cause an audible 'Yes' when a button is pressed and you have a Neutral Bit with a positive attitude.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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TRON Candy Jar |
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I finished another much needed project - a TRON themed candy jar for my desk at work. After all, even programs need some candy!
The project started out as a simple candy jar but I added a TRON Legacy disc (with blue C ring and variable speed outer ring lights), some laser etched TRON patterns on the side, internal lights, and a weighted bottom to support the extra weight up front. Let me know what you think.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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TRON Wii custom game system mod |
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Finally, another full case mod is ready for display. For this one I went back to one of my true loves.... TRON!
On the surface, it's a very simple mod... just a pattern and some lights, right? The devil is in the details. The disc on the game system has all the details a 'real' disc has including the button, the four projector lights, etc. The game controllers have Nintendo motion-plus accessories with a perfect recreation of the chip Sam used to backup the server at the end of Legacy. The cables and wrist straps on the controllers match the colors of the lights inside the controllers. And so on...
Get on the grid and check it out today!
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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XKILL modding site coming online |
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In preparation for my upcoming book from Wiley publishing, tentatively
titled "Going Mod", I decided it was best to update this site with relavent
modding info. Look for more updates as I bring everthing up.
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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XKILL MODS YouTube Channel online |
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I've posted a number of video worklogs and TV interviews on the new XKILL MODS YouTube channel.
Be sure to check it out and leave me a comment or two!
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Posted on Mar 23 at 2014 |
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