Nostalgic MC

[TAZTG]

Hey Folks, its time for another Modding Project. Big Joe is my Nephews project and my chance to get him into modding (so far so good).

My next project will be to convert the Leetac Nostalgic Wooden Music Center CD Player/AM/FM Stereo Radio into a PC!! This will be a gift for my Sister who hates Computers but Loves to listen to music. She has a nice Stereo but can never find her CD's cause of the kids and mess. Now she can D/L or Record her CD's and not worry about finding them.

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/7253/7253492_ra.jpg
http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/7253/7253492le.jpg

Here's the game plan.
Gut everything and create a new PC/Music Center.
I want to keep the AM/FM & CD Player workable if possible. Will have to do alot of measuring and sizing up.

I will most likely be looking for some assistance and advice on this project so stay tuned.

:) :)

[rabidmoose171]

Wow, looks like this will be a severe undertaking. I wish you the best of luck, you will need it.

[Motoman]

WOOOOOOT!

Hopefully you'll have room in there for a regular ATX, or at least mATX setup. Via Epia or a similar setup is always a last resort.

[schultz]

That should look nice when you get it all finished (assuming you do a good job, but I don't think we have too much to worry about ;)).

Do you already have the player? How good of shape is it in?

[TAZTG]

Started last nite. Don't worry I took some PICS.
The box is plenty big enough for a full ATX Mobo & Power Supply.
The box opens up from the bottom. I removed the round thing on the top that spins around. Not sure what that is used for-- :p Then I cut and sanded down some of the top part the Phono was sitting on. I still have some sanding to do to the edge (Dremel can only get so much). I am also going to paint the inside since just the top 2 inches was Cherry Colored.
The CD Player was also removed but hopefully I can drop a CD/RW Combo into its space and utilize the Brass (Plastic) Bezel. Will post the pics when I find some time..

[rabidmoose171]

I removed the round thing on the top that spins around. Not sure what that is used for-- :p


You put CD's on it :D.

[TAZTG]

Got her completely gutted. Want to sand the inside completely smooth then stain the insides Cherry like the outside.

[schultz]

Got her completely gutted. Want to sand the inside completely smooth then stain the insides Cherry like the outside.

No pictures? There's only so much my imagination can do!

;)

[TAZTG]

Here we with the Pictures.


Got her bottom off and this is what I saw. Not to bad in there..
http://home.comcast.net/~taztg/PICS/Dcp_2923.jpg

Thats the top part that I need to remove. Have to gut it first.
http://home.comcast.net/~taztg/PICS/Dcp_2926.jpg

I know there is alot more sanding to do but man that was a pain. They glued and nailed support trim under the wood for the Phono.
http://home.comcast.net/~taztg/PICS/Dcp_2928.jpg

Cut the back out for the Mobo Tray
http://home.comcast.net/~taztg/PICS/Dcp_2930.jpg

Inside look.
http://home.comcast.net/~taztg/PICS/Dcp_2931.jpg


Next up is to cut out the Power Supply hole and figure out where to mount the Hard Drives. I have to pick up a CD/RW/DVD Combo and try to mount it where the original one was. Going to be tight but worse case is to mount it to the Top Lid. When you open you can see it. Another thing is the Front Panel Strand for Power/Reset etc.. Its slow going but will make a nice gift..

[Motoman]

Swank...plenty of room in there.

Know what would be hip? Get one of those speedometer-looking CPU usage guages and use it to replace the guage/clock on the front of the thing...BBQ!

[TAZTG]

Thats the AM/FM Tuner Dial.. I am going to leave that in cause hopefully it will still work.. If I rememebr how to put it back in..

[TAZTG]

Cutting hole for Power Supply this weekend and just ordered some Bulgin Switches for the Power and Reset. Figured it would be easier to install them in the wood panel plus it will look Sweet. This weekend I should get some modding done plus some shopping. Hoping to complete this before Thanksgiving..

[TAZTG]

Sorry its been awhile since the last update... The good news I am all finished, the bad news is the Tuner doesn't work cause there was some concern with the Magnets on the speakers. I removed the Speakers and replaced them with 2 80mm Fans for intake and I have a 92mm in the rear for exhast.

Complete System includes:
ASUS P4S533, P4 2.4GHZ (533), Corsair 1GB XMS CMX-2700C2
e-GeForce FX5900Ultra, Maxtor 160GB ATA133, HP CD-Writer 9100,
ANTEC 365W Power Supply, MS MultiMedia Keyboard & IntelliMouse Explorer 4.0
HP 7550 Printer & New HP mx705 Monitor that includes speakers.

Should make a nice XMAS gift for my Sister. I will have to explain to her that she will need to buy some software and upgrade to a nice CD/RW/DVD Combo.

Anyhows here's the the PICS enjoy..

Just a quick look at the rear.
http://home.comcast.net/~taztg/PICS/Dcp_2933.jpg

Here she is all put together.
http://home.comcast.net/~taztg/PICS/Dcp_2946.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~taztg/PICS/Dcp_2947.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~taztg/PICS/Dcp_2948.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~taztg/PICS/Dcp_2949.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~taztg/PICS/Dcp_2950.jpg

[TAZTG]

WoW, no comments.. Anyway I packed everything up and ready she is ready for a trip to NY..

[sunghan]

Looks great! I'm sure your sister will be very grateful.

[Kappa2001]

it ended up really nice :D

It would be REALLY cool if the radio still worked fine :p

[PriMaTe]

wow good idea and good work, I like the drive placement too. Your sister is going to have no clue when she sees that thing until she looks inside. Maybe she'll start to like computers.

[schultz]

Been out for a while, so just saw this. Looks awesome TAZ. Nice and clean, and I know you're sister is going to love it!

Great work!

[TAZTG]

Thanx Everyone for all the kind words...

[SaturnBeat]

Wow! Fantastic job. I wish I had a brother like you :P ... it's looking great, the idea is original and I'm sure your sister will love it. Very precise cutting btw.

[mellojoe]

TAZ, i've seen those wooden radio things and I've always wanted to do that. My brother and I wne to an antique shop to find a bigger version, but couldn't find what we wanted within our budget.

That looks great! Glad to see a finished project.

:D :D

[bugspop1]

Looks nice, too bad about the radio. Could you have maybe wired it to use the onboard sound and then hooked up external speakers? Just a thought, but it's too late now. Again looks great!

[bugspop1]

Looks nice. Did she like it? If not she doesn't even know. Good work, even if she didn't appreciate it.

[Tech-Daddy]

KICK ***!!!

Love the fact that you shoehorned a PC into an old original form like that.

Good work!

[TAZTG]

She loved it.. Have to learn to use it but spent the first nite playing Solataire and Mindsweeper. LOL.. :)

[bugspop1]

That's a good start! That's why Microsoft put those games in Windows, to help people learn how to use the mouse. I know she'll do fine now that she has the basics, a computer, kb\mouse, monitor & solitare! Good job TAZTG!

[taggart6]

AWesome job Taz!

Now you need to get a matching keyboard and mouse. :D