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Kraft
11-18-2007, 02:32 AM
So I've done my share of painting and what-not but I was wondering how people do these custom faceplates. Anyone up for including a simple how-to on how they created certain plates? I'm not for ripping off ideas and stuff but maybe a little instruction would encourage people to try and branch off and start making their own creations.

SpaceGhost2K
11-18-2007, 03:51 PM
I started these forums with a couple of hopes in mind. One would be that it would bring a fragmented collecting community together where they could help each other complete their collections. The other was the bring the customizing community together so they should share ideas, helpful hints, and to also help people make some of their own creations.

Artistpavel has a video up on YouTube that shows a little bit about his process. You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbEeA7CG79Q

I have been taking some pictures of the process and will be writing a basic tutorial for how I do it. The few people I've talked to who make customs all have their own way of doing things, so it's best to experiment a little bit and find out what works for you. I'll see if I can find some time today to get something posted.

FlawIe55
11-18-2007, 08:47 PM
Here is a fairly simple tutorial on how I create some of my custom faceplates:

First I get ahold of a SILVER microsoft brand faceplate. I say microsoft brand because the first time I ever got a custom faceplate it was a "TSZ" branded faceplate and the bottom usb door broke off right when I took it out of the package, and I dont want that to happen to A: something that I spent so much time and effort painting, and B: something I am going to sell to someone.

alright, the reason I use silver is because when sanding it down, it becomes a surface which is pretty close to white. I use 3M fine 180 grit sandpaper. When sanding I try to go in a circular motion so as not to get long indented streaks or gouges in the plastic.

Before actually getting in and painting on the plate, I try to do some sketches on paper of what I want the plate to look like. These pre paint sketches help alot because they help me realize when a design isn't going to look as good as I thought.

Now I personally haven't primed the surface on a plate I've done yet because I use acrylic paints for handpainting the surface of the plate, and I like how the paint bonds to the rough surface of the plastic after sanding.
or I use krylon fusion spraypaint(made for plastic), thus meaning the paint shouldn't eat at the surface of the plastic faceplate. (a nod to Spaceghost for letting me know that Non-plastic friendly spray paints could eat at the surface of the plastic)

For the handpainted plates I use a pencil to outline what I want to paint to make it much easier on myself when painting.

I always let the paint cure for at least a day or two when using acrylic paints.

after that, I use two coats of "decoart triple thick brilliant gloss glaze" to seal it up and protect it. I haven't tried flat clear coat yet because it doesn't seem thick enough and Im afraid to ruin something that took 10 hrs to paint.

the can says the clear coat is dry in 24 hrs, but I like to let it cure for a week, to make sure its good and strong.

Hope this little tutorial helps. Thats my little piece of the custom faceplate world.

SpaceGhost2K
11-19-2007, 10:43 PM
Here are my two cents. Sorry about the sucky pics. New camera is in the mail.

-----

How to make a custom Xbox 360 faceplate.

THE PLATE

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Newplates.jpg

First thing you have to do is get a plate. What plate you use is entirely up to you. You can pay more and use a first party Microsoft plate. You can go cheap and get a third party plate. If you get real lucky, you can get a first party plate on clearance. Or you can shop around and try lucking out at an online auction.

When I first started doing this only a few months ago, I found Microsoft faceplates on clearance at Toys R Us for $5.99 or $6.99 depending on the store. That was a deal at the time because none of them had been marked down anywhere else. They were all still $19.99. Since then, they have dropped to $14.99, and then down to $9.99. I’ve even seen them for $6.99 but I don’t know if that was a new low price or a clearance price. Anyway, if you want first party, don’t spend more than $9.99 because there’s no reason for it.

If using third party plates doesn’t bother you, Gamestop’s last couple of shipments have had the Pelican TSZ plates for only $1.99. My local manager (my boss at the time) emailed the corporate people and they sent ten plates instead of the regular one or two. They haven’t gotten anymore in since then. He’s going to send another email and try to get fifty of them, but he’s on vacation this week, proposing to his girlfriend on some secluded beach. Ah, l’amour.

Two issues I’ve had with the TSZ plates are this… for one, the logo is apparently affixed to the plate with a heat process, and even if you sand the logo completely off, there will still be an uneven area after even four coats of paint. The other thing is that the camo plates have a high petroleum content in them and neither primer nor paint will adhere to the plate, so don’t even bother.

GameStop carried a few plates that were acceptable and cheap. They had the Pelican plates branded with the Gamestop logo and sold as a two-pack, which I have picked up for as little as $7.99. They’ve also had the Superman Returns two-pack for $9.99. I know from experience that stores are horrible at maintaining prices changes, so just have them scan everything for you. It could help make your decision easier for you.

Kmart had their first party faceplates on clearance for as little as $1.60. It was worth a drive all over the state to get some of those and I think I’ve pretty much cleaned out Central California from Madera to Bakersfield. The more Podunk your local K, the better chance you’ll find some, and possibly a whole BUNCH.

(This is a good time to throw this in here – if you like custom plates, even if you have no desire to make your own, buy every one of these plates that you can find. You can use them to barter for someone to make you a plate, or you can just sell them to a customizer and get a couple extra bucks out of it for the hassle.)

Last, is eBay. I’ve purchased “lots” (not a bunch, a “lot”) of faceplates and gotten them for about $2.50 each including shipping. Others I’ve paid up to $5.50 but those were first party plates.

OK, I guess that isn’t last. This is. Don’t worry too much about what’s on the plate unless you know for sure that you want some part of the design of the plate to be incorporated into the final design. For instance, I used the Tropical plate from Gamestop/Pelican as a backdrop for a Lilo and Stitch plate. I’ve also used the first party silver plates for Silver Surfer, and I’ve purchase (and paid a LOT more for) clear plates that needed to be seen for the final effect. You can even use something like the Saint’s Row, Full Auto or Tropicana Twister plates. Buy one for the collection and paint the rest.

SpaceGhost2K
11-19-2007, 10:44 PM
THE DESIGN

OK, so now you’ve got a plate. La la la, there’s a plate. It’s kinda like writer’s block. There’s a blank page or a blank plate, staring at you, begging you to be creative.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/toysvar.jpg

Some common themes among requests for my plates include favorite bands, favorite games, favorite TV shows, favorite movies, pop media from their childhood, or in my case, toys and action figures. I’ve seen a font and it made me think of a plate (a stencil font became the A-Team). I’ve heard things that became sayings on plates (“This IS my job” and “My girlfriend kicked my ass at Halo.”) Some of them are inspired by a gamertag or nickname. Or it could be simply an image or emotion. I painted something as a kid that I’m going to incorporate into a plate. It was called “Foggy Day Schedule” and it was swirls of gray and purple.

Once you’ve an idea for what you want on the plate, you have to figure out how you’re going to implement it. I’ve had ideas that just died because I couldn’t find figures I wanted or the figures were too big to use.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Stickers.jpg

In my case, my secret weapon is the sticker guy who cuts vinyl stickers from my jpgs that I use as a spray mask. Honestly, it’s a “poor man’s” way around not owning, or knowing how to use an airbrush. Others draw with Sharpee’s or use oils or acrylic paints. For all I know, you could use nail polish. I’m sure some of you guys have some. Probably black.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/nightmaretemplate-1.jpg

I know from watching Pavel’s video that he sketches a design onto the faceplate with pencil before painting it. I make stickers, some times in an assortment of sizes, then I can move them around to find a good layout before I stick them down on the plate. The easiest way is to take a standard people of paper (keeping in mind that it’s just a little shorter than an actual faceplate), trace around a faceplate, and use that as a homemade template. Just be flexible enough that if you have to move/stretch something a little bit that it can be done. I bought some mini figures to attach to a plate and then found out that there was just simply no way to attach them without getting in the way of the DVD door or the mem card ports. Anyway, make sure when you’re doing your design that you don’t inhibit the functionality of the plate, or that you are “okay” with any functionality that might be lost.

SpaceGhost2K
11-19-2007, 10:44 PM
MAKING THE PLATE

Now you’re ready to begin. Chances are, your plate has something as a top coat that will keep paint from sticking to it as-is. You need to do some prep work.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Partsisparts.jpg

First, I would recommend removing the i/r button. Trim or Dremel off the back part of the plate where the purple plastic is secured to the plate and it will slide or pop out. Next, you have to address the power button. Hello, power button. You can remove it by trimming or Dremelling the part that holds the center part of the button in place. Another option is to cover the clear ring of light and the center of the button with some kind of sticker mask to keep the paint off so light can pass through them later.

In some cases, you may even want to remove the mem card doors, but be SUPER careful. Springs will go “sproing,” and never be found again. The extremely tiny rod where the spring lives can break easier than you’ll ever believe, especially trying to put them back on. In the case of the USB door, putting it back on sufficiently is almost impossible so I wouldn’t recommend removing it.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Sandedprimeredplates.jpg

The next step is to sand the plate. I like to use 400 grit and take my time. The larger the grit, the faster the top coat comes off but the more likely you are to leave scratches. You don’t need to take the paint off all the way down to bare plastic. All you have to do is sand it down enough that it is no longer shiny. Once it has a “matte” finish, your primer will adhere to it.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Plasticprimer.jpg

I use American Traditions Plastic Primer but there are other primers out there. I like this one because it goes on clear with just a slight haze to it. That’s important if I’m using a clear plate as a base or if I need the color or design to show through. In most cases you can get away with a white plastic primer, but for me, the one I tried didn’t stick that well and it tool a lot longer to dry before I could go to the next step.

Make sure you use a PLASTIC primer. Using a regular spray primer, or painting directly onto the plate will not turn out good. The petroleum products in the paint will react with the petroleum products in your plastic faceplate. In some cases you’ll end up with a tacky faceplate that never dries. In extreme cases, you could end up with a gooey puddle of plastic. The PLASTIC primer not only gives the paint something to grab onto, but it creates a barrier between your paint and your plate. There are plastic-friendly paints that you can use, but they’re much more limited in colors and I’d still recommend using a primer.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Paints.jpg

Once you’ve primered the plate, you can use pretty much any paint you want, at least in my experience. I’m sure there’s something out there that isn’t a good choice, but I haven’t found it yet. One thing I will suggest is trying to stay with one brand of paint, or two, as much as possible. The more paint brands you use, the more likely you’re going to find a couple that react negatively to each other.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when painting:

- Well ventilated area.
- Stay away from ignition sources.
- Use a spray mask so you won’t breath the paint particles. A paper mask will block the paint but allow the fumes. A regular paint mask will stop fumes as well.
- Wear safety glasses. Don’t ruin your eyes or your glasses.
- Use the least amount of paint you can. Too much paint will run. Too much paint on one layer will cause it to shrivel if you add any other paint on top of that.
- Let it dry longer than you think it needs to.
- Use flat paints as much as possible. Additional coats don’t like to stick to layers of glossy paint. If you have to use glossy, make it the last layer.
- If you use stickers like I do, or if you use masking tape to block off areas of the plate, make TRIPLE SURE that all of the adhesive is off the plate before painting or sealing, or you will not end up with a smooth plate. Even if you think you got it all, check again. Use a piece of tape and dab at it. Don’t use a chemical like GooGone.

SpaceGhost2K
11-19-2007, 10:45 PM
SEAL THE DEAL

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Sealer.jpg

Use of the faceplate will affect the paintjob over time. A way to minimize this is to seal the paint. I use a couple of different polyurethanes depending on whether I want it shiny or partially shiny. Someone recommended spar urethane to me but I havent’ tried it out yet. If you have an airbrush you can use a regular clearcoat. They don’t make them in “flat” or “matte” that I’m aware of, but Testor’s makes this stuff called “Dullcote.” You can spray it over the sealer and it will remove the shine.

Use a couple of coats, don’t over do it, let it dry good between coats.

Once it’s good and dry, reattach the i/r port and power buttons with super glue, and if you’re not convinced of their sturdiness, once it’s dry add some Shoe Goo or Goop over that. One thing to know about Super Glue. It’s a chemical called cyanoacrylite and it works by bonding the water molecules in two items together. The item has to have some sort or porous-ness to it or it won’t work. And hey, if you get some on your hand like I did yesterday, DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING or you might find yourself like a kid with his tongue stuck to a flagpole. I literally had super glue running down one finger. I simply turned on a faucet (with my other hand, dur) and stuck my hand (the other other hand, dur) under the running water. Once the glue had its fill of water, I knew my fingers wouldn’t stick to anything. True, they had this nasty, crusty white stuff on them that I picked off for a whole day… but a guy needs something to do, right?

DON’T PLAY WITH IT

One way to make your plate truly different from the myriad of corporate plates available in your local game store is to think in 3D.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Faceplate%20Customs/SpaceGhostFaceplate.jpg

The easiest way to do this is to simply attach a toy or figure directly to the plate. Work that into your theme when you design the plate and have the toy ahead of time so that you know it’ll work. Don’t attach your toy until the plate is completely done. The best option is to drill a small hole into the toy and into the plate, then run a short plastic rod through both. If you attach the toy to the power button, make sure there’s enough clearance that it can be pressed in to activate the Xbox.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Faceplate%20Customs/SpiritofYodafaceplatefullandglowing.jpg

Use the green light to your advantage wherever possible as it adds an additional “whoa” effect to your plate. Sadly, you can’t turn one base color (in this case, green) into another color because adding a filter simply blocks out ALL the light. What I mean is, if you’ve got a green light and you use a blue filter, the way a blue filter works is that it only allows blue light to pass through it. Since you don’t HAVE any blue light (it’s green), you get NO light. Don’t get any grand ideas to do” this thing where there’s this cool red light, and…”

Keep in mind that this forum is all about faceplates and everything is supposed to be entirely faceplate self-contained. Maybe – MAYBE – if there’s some way to utilize the USB on the front as a power source to run another light that might be different, but modding your Xbox just to change the light shouldn’t be an option.

- Modding not only voids your warranty where MS won’t fix it for free if it breaks, they won’t touch it AT ALL. If your Xbox dies you are on your own to find someone who will re-open your box and accept the risk for something that YOU might have done to it.
- Modding, even an LED, can get you a permanent boot from Xbox LIVE. They can monitor performance changes in your system that can only be affected by altering the original hardware.
- Modding can get you electrocuted if you don’t know what you’re doing. Even with it unplugged. Wiki “capacitors.”
- Modding will prevent you from ever being able to trade your console into a game store.
- Unless you’re going to go to someone’s house to do the mod too, you can’t make a faceplate for someone else that requires a hardware mod to make it work properly.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Faceplate%20Customs/StarWars-Sarlaac1.jpg

Another way to go 3D is sculpting. There are putties that you can squeeze from a tube like toothpaste and work into a rough shape and placement. Once it’s dry, go back and sand/file/Dremel/chip/carve/sculpt/paint, whatever. There are also Epoxy putties that are like clay instead of toothpaste. Two clays react together to get rock hard. I know a guy who used some to fix a crack in his glass espresso carafe. Tuff stuff. If you use something like this, again I would recommend drilling some holes in your plate where the sculpt will go, pock a couple of acrylic or styrene rods through the holes, and then attach the clay to them while it’s still soft. That gives the clay something extra to grab hold of so it won’t pop off the front of the plate. To be extra strong, alter the angle the plastic rods stick out of the plate and don’t make them all the pointing the same direction.

Keep in mind if you’re adding anything beyond paint to a faceplate, attaching the plate to a 360 requires it to be able to bend and warp just a little bit or it won’t snap on. If you render your plate totally inflexible, you won’t be able to do anything with it except hang it on your wall.

SpaceGhost2K
11-19-2007, 10:45 PM
RETURN TO SENDER

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Packingmaterials.jpg

If you mail a faceplate to someone, pack it with at least 2 inches of protection on all sides. Anything less and it won’t matter if you’ve got it insured or not. The carrier will blame it on poor packing and refuse the claim. In the end, it’s not about getting a claim anyway, it’s about getting the plate there in one piece. If you have 3D effects on your plate, make sure the plate is immobile inside its shipping carton, so that it can’t move and break something off. If you’re buying a plate from someone, insist that they follow the same procedure when shipping your plate. You’re paying for shipping and handling, make them actually DO their part and pack it with care. Let them know ahead of time, if they never pack a plate like that for anyone else, that’s fine, but if they want good feedback and want you for a return customer, they’ll EARN it.

SpaceGhost2K
11-20-2007, 12:13 AM
I had two more toy pictures I took that I couldn't like, you know, NOT use. So, here. :)

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/DOAstuff.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Idolmster.jpg

FlawIe55
11-20-2007, 06:51 PM
Space, I recieved the awesome customizing power button stickers today, they didnt get lost like I thought they would. So yea, thanks. gets me in the mood to make my next plate. btw...you dont happen to like anime do you? also...does your wife let you decorate the house with all that manga awesomeness?????

SpaceGhost2K
11-20-2007, 10:06 PM
Space, I recieved the awesome customizing power button stickers today, they didnt get lost like I thought they would. So yea, thanks. gets me in the mood to make my next plate. btw...you dont happen to like anime do you? also...does your wife let you decorate the house with all that manga awesomeness?????

My wife and I seperated almost two years ago. Not divorced yet but I live 70 miles away. It's one of those things where we just haven't done the paperwork. She liked cartoons but never did like anime. My kids love it though. I didn't start collecting the Gashapon/Anime Trading Figures until arter we seperated. I've got a couple thousand Star Wars figures as well. It's taken me 30 years to get them, though.

Elite-Concepts
12-13-2007, 05:38 AM
Thanks Alot for the tutorial SpaceGhost it really helpped me, i have ordered a silver microsoft plate from ebay hopefully it will come soon so i can experiment with some of these ideas i have in my head :D

~EC

FlawIe55
12-13-2007, 06:16 AM
Sorry space.....Sigh, didnt mean to bring that up......I feel like a jerk now.

Nato King
12-13-2007, 06:55 AM
Nice thread. But I will leave all that to you guys.

Conchord
12-13-2007, 08:08 AM
My wife and I seperated almost two years ago. Not divorced yet but I live 70 miles away. It's one of those things where we just haven't done the paperwork. She liked cartoons but never did like anime. My kids love it though. I didn't start collecting the Gashapon/Anime Trading Figures until arter we seperated. I've got a couple thousand Star Wars figures as well. It's taken me 30 years to get them, though.

You should send her an anime figurine every year for your anniversary, just to keep her blood boiling.

You still get to see your kids?

SpaceGhost2K
12-13-2007, 03:06 PM
You should send her an anime figurine every year for your anniversary, just to keep her blood boiling.

You still get to see your kids?

Oh yeah.

Conchord
12-13-2007, 03:25 PM
Good to hear. If she tries to take them from you, give me her address.

SpaceGhost2K
12-13-2007, 03:35 PM
Good to hear. If she tries to take them from you, give me her address.

It's a little more complicated than that. My mom is her best friend and we're still paying all her bills. She doesn't want to move so the kids can graduate with their friends.

Conchord
12-13-2007, 04:03 PM
I take it you two don't get along all that well? How old are the kids?

SpaceGhost2K
12-13-2007, 05:15 PM
12 and 16. My son only has one year to go in HS, and we own the house she and the kids live in, so nobody's going anywhere. She's going to be here off and on all week next week because she's taking a class over the first week of vacation. Joy.

Conchord
12-13-2007, 10:31 PM
Don't tell me you are paying for that, too?

artistpavel
01-01-2008, 10:01 PM
wow SpaceGhost2K, that's one hell of tutorial you got here, very informative

gh0st_r1der
01-01-2008, 10:24 PM
This tutorial is just awesome !
I'm more into drilling and cutting though. It will help me finish my first case mod ( faceplate included )

ali rock 110
01-02-2008, 02:40 PM
Wow! That is a serious tutorial you put out there. For me though, I just like to aquire them, put them on my 360 and feel the ego trip that comes from being pretty high on the "Nerd Food Chain"

SpaceGhost2K
01-02-2008, 02:58 PM
Aw, you're not a nerd. A nerd is that guy who's always just one notch stranger than you are.

For instance, my example I use all the time. One Halloween while running a game store, I dressed up at Princess Leia in slave gear. See, that's just funny. It's the cosplayers who do it all the time who are nerds.

I have a Millennium Falcon and an Xbox, but it's the guy with the Xbox IN his Millennium Falcon who's the nerd.

Get it?

JarkMan
01-29-2008, 09:28 PM
hey how do u keep the power button symbol on the power button from getting painted?

SpaceGhost2K
01-29-2008, 09:33 PM
hey how do u keep the power button symbol on the power button from getting painted?

I have stickers that you can put over the clear parts before you spray. I put some up on eBay for $1.99 for customizers.

JarkMan
01-29-2008, 09:42 PM
sweet I doubt my parents will let me use there ebay account do u know a website were I can get some?

JarkMan
01-29-2008, 11:01 PM
also what are the brand of primers and spray paints that work the best? I'm currently working on the RROD faceplate

SpaceGhost2K
01-30-2008, 12:46 AM
RROD: Ronald Reagan, old dude.

I can give you one. What will you give me? :)

JarkMan
01-30-2008, 01:13 AM
no lol I'm using the idea u gave me from making my skateboard with the red ring of death I'm putting the red ring of death on the concave serface around the power button and I'm gonna put the power symbol on the button its self but I gotta sacrafice the green power symbol... What spray paint would u recamend

SpaceGhost2K
01-30-2008, 03:23 AM
Um, did you READ the thread? The whole thread is about that. Go look at my post on the first page. There's pics of all the primers and paints I use and all kinds of prep work hints, etc.

LeThAl REMiX
07-05-2008, 02:20 PM
thanks for the tutorial. when I get paid on thursday i will be going to buy paint so i can do my faceplate. im using the white one that came with my xbox. I want more of a random colors sort of thing rather than an accustomed design,

SpaceGhost2K
07-05-2008, 04:29 PM
thanks for the tutorial. when I get paid on thursday i will be going to buy paint so i can do my faceplate. im using the white one that came with my xbox. I want more of a random colors sort of thing rather than an accustomed design,


Some WalMarts are getting rid of their metallic paints for a buck a can. Worth a look.

LeThAl REMiX
07-12-2008, 02:00 AM
hm so i need to find out what kind of paints to use when I do mine hand painted. Spacey or anyone, help please?? I'm in the midst of designing. And I blew my pay on food and a stupid fair downtown. oh well theres 2 weeks from now anyways.

SpaceGhost2K
07-12-2008, 03:13 AM
hm so i need to find out what kind of paints to use when I do mine hand painted. Spacey or anyone, help please?? I'm in the midst of designing. And I blew my pay on food and a stupid fair downtown. oh well theres 2 weeks from now anyways.

By hand painted you mean not spray can or airbrush, but with like an actual brush? I use acrylics once in a while. You might track down pavel at his website paveldolgov.com and ask what he uses for brush painting. I don't think it showed in the video but I can't remember for sure.

Just make sure you primer it with a plastic friendly primer, OR use plastic friendly paints, or you'll end up with paint the never dries and mushy plastic.

nlindenj
07-13-2008, 03:40 AM
I have stickers that you can put over the clear parts before you spray. I put some up on eBay for $1.99 for customizers.

do you have any of these left, please? i hate using masking tape:cuss:

SpaceGhost2K
07-13-2008, 11:44 AM
do you have any of these left, please? i hate using masking tape:cuss:

Yep. Look under worldwidewebbs on eBay. I'm leaving in one hour for E3 for a week though, so nothing will get sent out until I get back.

JakofallAces
07-13-2008, 03:04 PM
Yep. Look under worldwidewebbs on eBay. I'm leaving in one hour for E3 for a week though, so nothing will get sent out until I get back.

have fun and if you see any of the bungie guys if you could get me something ANYTHING signed by them i will pay you kindly for it upon your return have fun and remember booth girls only want your money NOTHING ELSE

SpaceGhost2K
07-14-2008, 01:31 AM
have fun and if you see any of the bungie guys if you could get me something ANYTHING signed by them i will pay you kindly for it upon your return have fun and remember booth girls only want your money NOTHING ELSE


That's not true. Lisa Gleave wants to have my baby.

I'll try for something from Bungie but I don't have an appointment with them.

JakofallAces
07-14-2008, 08:34 AM
That's not true. Lisa Gleave wants to have my baby.

I'll try for something from Bungie but I don't have an appointment with them.

darn and who exactly is this lisa gleave CJ wont be pleased.:p

LeThAl REMiX
07-14-2008, 12:44 PM
Lucky.. Lol you get to go... I wonder how much a flight there from Toronto or Ottawa woule be... with a return flight.. :P

KatamariKutie
07-14-2008, 01:31 PM
darn and who exactly is this lisa gleave CJ wont be pleased.:p

Its okay with me. She's hot.

JakofallAces
07-14-2008, 04:42 PM
Its okay with me. She's hot.

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:sleeping:

Eddie_the_Hated
08-03-2008, 02:41 PM
Hey Space, got a couple questions about your vynil decal technique. I'm a visual thinker, so sometimes the explanation isn't enough.

A certain somebody pointed me in the direction of a vynil decal source, but I'm uncertain about how exactly to go about deciding what to send to him.

First question. If I want a photograph/film clip/complex drawing turned into a template, will I have to alter my photo to polarize it, so it can be turned into a decal, or does that all get taken care of on his end?

IE. What did you send out to get

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Faceplate%20Customs/YGGRShockwaveVersion.jpg

That.

Second question, I'm having a hard time visualizing the templates themselves, especially on some of your multicolored, higher-detail pieces.

IE, for your Galaxy plate, did you get a "Super Mario Galaxy" relef decal [solid vynil with text cut out], and then smaller sticker-style decals for the letters? How do you go about doing that? Any photos, even just a few decals laid out, so I can see how you go about that would be greatly appreciated.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Faceplate%20Customs/LegoandSMG.jpg

SpaceGhost2K
08-03-2008, 04:30 PM
Hey Space, got a couple questions about your vynil decal technique. I'm a visual thinker, so sometimes the explanation isn't enough.

A certain somebody pointed me in the direction of a vynil decal source, but I'm uncertain about how exactly to go about deciding what to send to him.

First question. If I want a photograph/film clip/complex drawing turned into a template, will I have to alter my photo to polarize it, so it can be turned into a decal, or does that all get taken care of on his end?

IE. What did you send out to get

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Faceplate%20Customs/YGGRShockwaveVersion.jpg

That.

Second question, I'm having a hard time visualizing the templates themselves, especially on some of your multicolored, higher-detail pieces.

IE, for your Galaxy plate, did you get a "Super Mario Galaxy" relef decal [solid vynil with text cut out], and then smaller sticker-style decals for the letters? How do you go about doing that? Any photos, even just a few decals laid out, so I can see how you go about that would be greatly appreciated.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/Faceplate%20Customs/LegoandSMG.jpg

Shockwave first. I got his pic that he photoshopped for his avatar:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/yggr_shock.jpg

I played with the contrast until I got it so it was only black and white with no grays:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/yggr-shockwave-workinprogress.jpg

Then finally, I had to go into the picture and remove some of the detail or the vinyl cutter could never have cut it.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/shockwaveyggr.jpg

I peeled out the parts of the sticker that look white in the pic (they whole sticker was black vinyl). I used transfer tape to put it onto a black-painted plate, sprayed it white, let it dry, and removed the sticker to leave the image.

Here's the image I used for SMG:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/SpaceGhost2K/super_mario_galaxy_image__1___mediu.jpg

I painted the the plate white and attached the sticker (the letters weren't removed yet), then painted the plate black. I flicked paint onto the plate with a toothbrush for the stars.

Once dry, I masked off the rest of the plate except the sticker, and then removed the "Super" and "Galaxy" letters and painted them gold. I covered them up again, and then just pulled out the "MARIO" letters one at a time and painted them each with their respective colors. Once those were painted, I removed the sticker to show a white outline with gold letters and multicolored MARIO letters, on a black background with white stars. I sprayed the whole thing with a polyurethane sealer.

I cut a little piece of 3/4" PVC pipe and glued it to the power button, then glued the coin to the top of that. You can't see the pipe and pressing the coin still works the power button.

Eddie_the_Hated
08-04-2008, 11:38 PM
I painted the the plate white and attached the sticker (the letters weren't removed yet), then painted the plate black. I flicked paint onto the plate with a toothbrush for the stars.

Once dry, I masked off the rest of the plate except the sticker, and then removed the "Super" and "Galaxy" letters and painted them gold. I covered them up again, and then just pulled out the "MARIO" letters one at a time and painted them each with their respective colors. Once those were painted, I removed the sticker to show a white outline with gold letters and multicolored MARIO letters, on a black background with white stars. I sprayed the whole thing with a polyurethane sealer.

That's f*cking brilliant. Thanks a mil Space. That'll help me immensely with my platework.

spartan_043
08-16-2008, 05:02 PM
Hey space i recently got a batch of 10 silver microsoft faceplates for about $4 each including shipping, and was wondering if you think this is a good route to keep buying them like this or if hunting down cheaper ones for 1.99 from gamestop or kmart is a better idea. What im trying to get at is are the Micro$oft ones really worth the extra monez?

SpaceGhost2K
08-16-2008, 06:23 PM
Hey space i recently got a batch of 10 silver microsoft faceplates for about $4 each including shipping, and was wondering if you think this is a good route to keep buying them like this or if hunting down cheaper ones for 1.99 from gamestop or kmart is a better idea. What im trying to get at is are the Micro$oft ones really worth the extra monez?

I think I probably get mine from the same guy you do. The cheaper plates are too spread out and you'll spend on gas what you could pay for a better plate. The MS plates are absolutely the way to go. I need to get about twenty more from the guy. They end up costing me about $5 each though.

spartan_043
08-20-2008, 05:27 PM
i got mine from "cordolio" i just asked him how low he could go on shipping. Im not sure how he gets so many for so cheap but oh well im not complaining.

SpaceGhost2K
08-20-2008, 11:07 PM
i got mine from "cordolio" i just asked him how low he could go on shipping. Im not sure how he gets so many for so cheap but oh well im not complaining.

Yeah, that's the guy. I think he bought somebody's clearance or something. I could use about fifty plates right now. Don't exactly have $250 laying around.

Eddie_the_Hated
08-27-2008, 11:25 AM
I just bought five from him the other day. Should be shipped to me by Saturday, and assuming I get my decals soon, I can create a WIP image gallery to contribute to the "how-to" thread here.

Edit: I just remembered. I have high-resolution scans of a blank white 360 faceplate which may be of some use to people who have a hard time visualizing their final plan.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n255/Eddie_the_Hated/05_34_27_Xbox360-Faceplate-Scan.jpg

All credit for the scans go to SICKDimension and grim_d of the Xbox-Scene forums, but the images they posted there seem to be dead, and I happened to have backups. Hope this helps some of you out.

spartan_043
08-27-2008, 09:12 PM
Thanks, i just used that to plan my 28 weeks later plate!!

Eddie_the_Hated
08-28-2008, 12:41 PM
Any time. Glad I could contribute.

Ohsay
01-18-2009, 04:25 AM
Hey silly question time.

Is there any way to change the green LED from the power button to another colour?

and if so would that count as "modding"?

gameking28
01-18-2009, 05:00 AM
Yes it's possible, but to do so requires opening up the console. Kind of a general rule around here is that anything involving opening the console to play with the juicy insides is... well it's kind of don't ask don't tell. :whistle:

SpaceGhost2K
01-18-2009, 01:07 PM
The theory of color goes like this:

To change the color of something reflective, add to it.
To change the color of something transmissive, take away from it.

In other words, if you have something like paint, say a yellow paint, you can add red to it to get orange. Primary colors are red, yellow and blue. With light, the primary colors are red, green and blue. You can't reduce those colors down to any other colors. If you put a blue filter over a green light, the blue filter stops all light from passing through that isn't blue. Since green (light) isn't blue, your light will just go away. It won't turn blue. If you put a blue filter over a purple light, you WILL get blue, because the filter blocks out the red.

Eddie_the_Hated
01-20-2009, 03:41 PM
Hey silly question time.

Is there any way to change the green LED from the power button to another colour?

and if so would that count as "modding"?

Yeah, you can change them, yeah, it's modding, and yeah, you'll void the warranty.

It requires you to de-solder SMDs (those itty bitty half-grain-of-rice LEDs) from the RF module (a small motherboard right beneath the power button, faceplate and plastic casing), replacing them with the color you want.

Take it from somebody who's tried and failed; if you don't know absolutely what you're doing, have somebody do it professionally. There's plenty of folks in larger Xbox communities who will be more than glad to help, but as stated earlier, the intricacies of it are somewhat taboo here, so I won't get into the gory details.

Ohsay
04-10-2009, 02:01 PM
Yeah, you can change them, yeah, it's modding, and yeah, you'll void the warranty.

It requires you to de-solder SMDs (those itty bitty half-grain-of-rice LEDs) from the RF module (a small motherboard right beneath the power button, faceplate and plastic casing), replacing them with the color you want.

Take it from somebody who's tried and failed; if you don't know absolutely what you're doing, have somebody do it professionally. There's plenty of folks in larger Xbox communities who will be more than glad to help, but as stated earlier, the intricacies of it are somewhat taboo here, so I won't get into the gory details.
Wow, i think i asked that question ages ago i dont even remember posting it, and since then i have learned
A) I shouldn't talk about it here
B) How to do it

Nanoman
04-19-2009, 06:38 PM
WOW!! thanks SpAcEgHoSt! and everyone else who contributed to this article! it will really help with my Valve games faceplate that I am currently working on! umm soz but I didnt really get the changing of colour for the light on the xbox box so could u just tell me how to make it red?:confused:

SpaceGhost2K
04-19-2009, 08:00 PM
WOW!! thanks SpAcEgHoSt! and everyone else who contributed to this article! it will really help with my Valve games faceplate that I am currently working on! umm soz but I didnt really get the changing of colour for the light on the xbox box so could u just tell me how to make it red?:confused:

Usually, people want to know how to make it NOT red, lol.

Basically, you can't, unless you open your console, which we discourage here. There isn't a filter you can put over it, or a way to swap out the lights from the front.

Nanoman
04-19-2009, 08:26 PM
Well the hunt will go on for something that looks good on that part! But i dont suppose that green will go bad for it anyway. and there will be lots of better features than a crummy red light on my valve faceplate!

mangobama619
05-31-2009, 10:15 PM
Thanks man, makin a custom faceplate is something i was always intrested. Trust me i will use this ... many many times.
MANY TIMES...
hmm my first post :hump:

``Rob
12-09-2010, 01:51 PM
Thanks man, makin a custom faceplate is something i was always intrested. Trust me i will use this ... many many times.
MANY TIMES...
hmm my first post :hump:

I wanna do the entire xbox from changing fans to painting the case...

I still have yet to find anything to cut the case with... everything ive tried has chewed the crap outa it...

Steeps5
12-09-2010, 03:37 PM
I wanna do the entire xbox from changing fans to painting the case...

I still have yet to find anything to cut the case with... everything ive tried has chewed the crap outa it...

I've heard a dremel stand works well, I forget the exact name but it's something like that. I assume even a dremel by itself would work.

Steeps5
12-09-2010, 03:39 PM
Here's what I've done.

http://184.72.239.143/mu/a68908e5-4c6d-c359.jpg

I didn't make the faceplate. That's AirEffex creation.
http://184.72.239.143/mu/a68908e5-4c80-ba8d.jpg