What three tools do you use that you could not live without?
Hmmm, obviously I use very similar tools to everyone else: screwdrivers, drills, etc. I would rather go with something less obvious though. The first is a no-brainer: my blades. I use them for everything, removing logos, cutting vinyl, making stencils, you name it. My particular favourites are the scalpels; one of those is 16 years old and still going strong. Obviously, I have to change the blades, but they are cheap and are a throwaway item.
Click to enlarge - Tools don't have to be expensive to be important
The second will be my airbrush; I have been teaching myself this for a while now. I don't just use it for case mods; I have been able to spruce up everything from my motorbike helmets to my film memorabilia. My main compressor is currently being loaned out to my brother-in-law, but here is the rest of the kit. You don't need to spend a fortune, as it's all about technique. I can add detailing, shading, weathering, rust effects, etc. I have far more control over an airbrush than I do with any other method of painting. The compressor comes in useful just to blow dust and dirt out of a system, too, so that is a bonus.
Click to enlarge - Tools don't have to be expensive to be important
Finally, my handheld mini belt-sander. It is good for finishing and can be used on multiple surfaces, even non-toughened glass. I can use this to shape as well as finishing, so it has multiple uses.
Click to enlarge
Can you name three modders that you look up to and explain why?
Hmmm, this is going to be very hard. I don’t really follow modders in terms of their names. I do look up to a lot of modders, though, as so many have talent. When I started, we didn’t really have a platform to show off, and I can't remember the names of those who I used to follow. I have been inspired by a lot of people from different places. For instance, my desks were inspired by the 'Unity Desk' which can be found on YouTube. This was the first time I had ever seen a desk build, and I wanted to do one. I don't know who built it, though. Others might have done desks before him, and plenty have done them after, but he was the first I saw.
Click to enlarge
Marco 'F3nix Mods' Silva – I have met him in person, and he is very similar to me in terms of being hands-on, and his techniques are similar, so I have a lot of respect for him. The only real difference is that he has access to CNC, and I don’t often use it. With his tastes and styles being so similar, it is great to see what he is doing.
Click to enlarge
Daniel 'Twister' Bolognesi – He inspires me to try something different, and he is the first person I ever saw do a distro plate in a build. There were probably others before him, but he just sticks in my mind. He seems to push the boundaries with his builds, and although I don’t share his style or actual techniques I certainly respect his attitude towards modding.
Click to enlarge
If you could build a computer using your favourite brands and components, what parts would you pick?
For the GPU, I am going to go for the Asus HD 7970 Matrix. The design was beautiful, and although CrossFire was a bit iffy it was an awesome card. For RAM, I will take the Corsair Equaliser, as this kit showed load via coloured LEDs. I am a sucker for LEDs. For cooling, a phase changing unit has to be done; although liquid-cooling is far more practical and looks great, I have had a lot of fun in the past with these fridge-like beasts. SCSI drives – we need moar cables! I would add a Creative SoundBlaster card – although not needed as much nowadays, back when I was starting they were amazing. Processors are a hard one, but I think my best ever one was the [Intel Core i5-]2500K – I loved this processor; it seemed far ahead of its time and overclocked well. I have very fond memories of it and would love to get something similar that would stand up to the task nowadays. If I could pick a motherboard, I would want the love-child from the Asus Sabertooth mixed with the Gigabyte G1.
Haha, a varied mixture there with some great picks. What do you hope to achieve in the next 12 months? Do you have any contests you wish to enter or events you wish to attend?
I have Computex in Taiwan, which I am really looking forward to. I will be going there to compete in the Cyberpower modding competition, and Alex 'Maki Role' Banks is my modding partner! After that, I would like to upgrade my desk and bring it up to date. If any sponsors would like to help me with that, you know where I am *hint hint*.
Always after sponsorship, I like it! What other hobbies do you have?
I really like to collect figures and merch from films. Iron man, Alien, Batman, and Robocop are amongst my favourite. The models I collect are very detailed and do cost quite a lot of money, but I see them as an investment; they resale for far more than I purchase them, as I keep them in top condition.
Click to enlarge
I also have a passion for motorcycling. I had a bad accident on my bike a couple of years ago, though, and it has stopped me being as active on my bike as I would like.
Click to enlarge
With this bike, I even used my airbrush to spray the helmet to ensure that everything matched; modding can be applied to so many hobbies.
Click to enlarge
I also like to paint and sculpt. I am currently working on Batman's head. It is going well, but I still need to do some touch-up work.
Click to enlarge
Those figures are awesome; if my partner would let me buy some, I would be all over them! Let’s share your modding knowledge - teach me something!
Sure, let’s show you how to use some EL wire!
Okay! On to page three.
Hmmm, obviously I use very similar tools to everyone else: screwdrivers, drills, etc. I would rather go with something less obvious though. The first is a no-brainer: my blades. I use them for everything, removing logos, cutting vinyl, making stencils, you name it. My particular favourites are the scalpels; one of those is 16 years old and still going strong. Obviously, I have to change the blades, but they are cheap and are a throwaway item.
Click to enlarge - Tools don't have to be expensive to be important
The second will be my airbrush; I have been teaching myself this for a while now. I don't just use it for case mods; I have been able to spruce up everything from my motorbike helmets to my film memorabilia. My main compressor is currently being loaned out to my brother-in-law, but here is the rest of the kit. You don't need to spend a fortune, as it's all about technique. I can add detailing, shading, weathering, rust effects, etc. I have far more control over an airbrush than I do with any other method of painting. The compressor comes in useful just to blow dust and dirt out of a system, too, so that is a bonus.
Click to enlarge - Tools don't have to be expensive to be important
Finally, my handheld mini belt-sander. It is good for finishing and can be used on multiple surfaces, even non-toughened glass. I can use this to shape as well as finishing, so it has multiple uses.
Click to enlarge
Can you name three modders that you look up to and explain why?
Hmmm, this is going to be very hard. I don’t really follow modders in terms of their names. I do look up to a lot of modders, though, as so many have talent. When I started, we didn’t really have a platform to show off, and I can't remember the names of those who I used to follow. I have been inspired by a lot of people from different places. For instance, my desks were inspired by the 'Unity Desk' which can be found on YouTube. This was the first time I had ever seen a desk build, and I wanted to do one. I don't know who built it, though. Others might have done desks before him, and plenty have done them after, but he was the first I saw.
Click to enlarge
Marco 'F3nix Mods' Silva – I have met him in person, and he is very similar to me in terms of being hands-on, and his techniques are similar, so I have a lot of respect for him. The only real difference is that he has access to CNC, and I don’t often use it. With his tastes and styles being so similar, it is great to see what he is doing.
Click to enlarge
Daniel 'Twister' Bolognesi – He inspires me to try something different, and he is the first person I ever saw do a distro plate in a build. There were probably others before him, but he just sticks in my mind. He seems to push the boundaries with his builds, and although I don’t share his style or actual techniques I certainly respect his attitude towards modding.
Click to enlarge
If you could build a computer using your favourite brands and components, what parts would you pick?
For the GPU, I am going to go for the Asus HD 7970 Matrix. The design was beautiful, and although CrossFire was a bit iffy it was an awesome card. For RAM, I will take the Corsair Equaliser, as this kit showed load via coloured LEDs. I am a sucker for LEDs. For cooling, a phase changing unit has to be done; although liquid-cooling is far more practical and looks great, I have had a lot of fun in the past with these fridge-like beasts. SCSI drives – we need moar cables! I would add a Creative SoundBlaster card – although not needed as much nowadays, back when I was starting they were amazing. Processors are a hard one, but I think my best ever one was the [Intel Core i5-]2500K – I loved this processor; it seemed far ahead of its time and overclocked well. I have very fond memories of it and would love to get something similar that would stand up to the task nowadays. If I could pick a motherboard, I would want the love-child from the Asus Sabertooth mixed with the Gigabyte G1.
Haha, a varied mixture there with some great picks. What do you hope to achieve in the next 12 months? Do you have any contests you wish to enter or events you wish to attend?
I have Computex in Taiwan, which I am really looking forward to. I will be going there to compete in the Cyberpower modding competition, and Alex 'Maki Role' Banks is my modding partner! After that, I would like to upgrade my desk and bring it up to date. If any sponsors would like to help me with that, you know where I am *hint hint*.
Always after sponsorship, I like it! What other hobbies do you have?
I really like to collect figures and merch from films. Iron man, Alien, Batman, and Robocop are amongst my favourite. The models I collect are very detailed and do cost quite a lot of money, but I see them as an investment; they resale for far more than I purchase them, as I keep them in top condition.
Click to enlarge
I also have a passion for motorcycling. I had a bad accident on my bike a couple of years ago, though, and it has stopped me being as active on my bike as I would like.
Click to enlarge
With this bike, I even used my airbrush to spray the helmet to ensure that everything matched; modding can be applied to so many hobbies.
Click to enlarge
I also like to paint and sculpt. I am currently working on Batman's head. It is going well, but I still need to do some touch-up work.
Click to enlarge
Those figures are awesome; if my partner would let me buy some, I would be all over them! Let’s share your modding knowledge - teach me something!
Sure, let’s show you how to use some EL wire!
Okay! On to page three.
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