a little PS stencil test...

found a digi stencil creator online : www.tacticalcamo.com  and did the stencil in 8 layers and painted it as I would with a spray can/airbrush.

Not bad....

Shipping a broken 360? Packaging Tips!

A few PMs have been sent, so I thought I would address them all here:

For case mod ideas, the llamma site has a forum with some crazy shit in there:

http://forums.llamma.com/viewtopic.php?t=3204&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

I'll install any lighting you may want, cut any shape, blah, but it will add time to getting your box back.  Be patient, crappy art is still careful art! 

• As far as shipping, a sturdy box (dual wall cardboard) and foam cut to shape like the M$ coffin style would be best.  Or wrap it COMPLETELY AND TIGHTLY in large-bubble bubblewrap. 
• A good rule of thumb is 4 inches of padding on every side.  That will give it plenty of room if the monkeys shipping your box drop it.  Or throw it.  Just try to fill any open space in the box so that it does not rattle around.
• NO SUMBITCHIN' STYROFOAM PEANUTS!  ;)  They crush and allow your box to get damaged, then they fill the already abused box with little static-filled dust particles that will short shit out.  Ask me how I know that one! 
• Wrap the gamebox in a plastic/trash bag in case those same gorillas leave your shit sitting on the dock in the rain.  Or in a puddle by my front door.  (caught that guy, he got an earful!)
• For faster return shipping, include a prepaid return shipping label inside the box!!  That way I can schedule a pick up for it and we dont' wait on the wifey dear to "get around to" the Post office/shipping store.  And then I've got to ask you for more money, blahblahblah. 

I had one member send me her box priority mail with delivery confirmation and insurance for $25 one way.  As far as UPS or FEDEX, I don't know.  Whatever makes you comfortable price wise.  I would suggest $200 insurance- if the thing shows up demolished, I send in the complaint and you get a check to go buy a new Arcade edition 360.  ;)

As far as payment, hold off on sending any money until I get it fixed.  I can't in good faith take someone's money until I know I'm giving them a good product.  That way there is no risk other than the cost of shipping.  I'll let you know when it is done and we'll work out the details then.  No biggie.  You're trusting me with your box, I'll return the favor. 

Hope these tips help-

Ain't nothin' to a G.  ;)

Battle worn 360 paintjob attempt

Tried out some paint techniques for a request. 

Desert tan 360, pre-faux finish for weather:

Post treatment, shitty light:

Better light:

Completed, post second stencil (should have done all the painting pre-treatment, lesson learned.):

Not terrible, not great, but I learned quite a bit about paint washes and highlighting of flaws.  I have a dremel set up now, I think I'm going to try and make some industrial looking router cuts- creases around the edges to give them a little more of a hardware look.  Maybe experiment with some hot glue to simulate melting or bullet holes. 

Whatchya think?  Who wants to send me a box for experimentation?

I'll fix your 360.

Yes, LBSUTKE is right, I'll fix your 360. 

No, I'm not doing this shit for fame, fortune or glory.

No, I will not guarantee that the 437 pieces you smashed it into when it RROD'd two days after the warranty ran out will magically reassemble into a working 360, but I've got duct tape and a solder reflow station and will give it a try for you.

Yes, I build rockets in a real fucking rocket factory.

Yes, I'm smarter than you, no matter your k/d on Gaylo or Modern Glitchfest 2.

No, I don't post often any more, but I do occasionally lurk and laugh.

AS SUCH: THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT WITH THE INTENT OF TRYING TO GENERATE INCOME.  THIS IS A SERVICE I AM OFFERING AT A MINIMUM COST IN ORDER TO KEEP CLANNIES ON XBL.   

I'm not doing a youtube/intarwebz "throw a towel on it and reheat it" repair, I'm doing a legitimate repair/attempted repair on a piece of electronics equipment.  I have been a precision measuring equipment repair and calibration technician for almost 20 years and currently run the Metrology department in the rocket factory.  My nerd cred is solid, if you might be concerned.

Solder reflow in action:

Google/youtube 360 gpu/cpu bga solder reflow for an idea of the #1 repair I've been doing.  Go to llamma. com and read up on error codes and possible repairs.  Read about the XClamp mod, to remove the main culprit for the dreaded RROD and about modifying the heatsink clamps.

When I do the repair, I've been doing the xclamp mod which requires hardware, liquid flux for reflow of the bga's, heatsink compound for reassembly and I purchased a reflow station with the appropriate nozzles.  The station I use is specific for this type of work, no heat gun bullshit.  I built a preheater out of a Black & Decker electric griddle so I can configure it for larger motherboards versus an expensive (and small) system that would be restrictive for any future applications.  I completed a temperature profile on the preheater so that I know exactly what temperature I am applying to the 360 mboard so I don't fry it.

There are a few caveats:

I cannot repair HD or DVD drives. 

If I get your box and we discover a component that is unrepairable and requires a replacement part, I will contact you to order the parts. 

Fan mods and LED mods are available.  I'll point you to some websites to order them from.

I *will not* perform hacks or mods that will affect gameplay or enable pirated or "backup" discs to be used.  I will not intentionally perform any action that will result in the user or box in being banned by M$.

I will warrant my repairs (within reason!) for three months after you get the box back.  Again, if we find it to be some other piece of hardware failing, we'll have to order that part, but I'm not going to dickhead you about it. 

I don't guarantee a repair, but I will promise my best effort at solving the problem.

SO YOUR SHIT IS BROKE AND YOU'RE A BROKE MOFO DESPITE HAVING HIGH SPEED INTERNET, A HOT ROD GAMING SYSTEM AND PROBABLY A TV THAT COST MORE THAN YOUR FIRST CAR:

Step 1: Check if you still have a warranty here.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN YOUR 360 IF IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY!!

Step 2: Cuss when your warranty is up and see the $100 price tag to them to fix your shit.

Step 3: Go buy an Arcade edition for $179, swap that HD and get back on Live.

Step 4: PM me here on the site and we'll start a dialogue about what you need to do, i.e. troubleshooting by you, shipping instructions, etc.

If you're interested, hit me up.  I'll help you out.  Don't let that old box sit in the closet collect dust. 

Obligatory baby picture:

France emailed us their unequivocal surrender to terms when I emailed this pic to them.

Brotherly love:

Short update.

We're doing awesome and the baby is trying to talk already. I'm amazed at this child. I'll post some pictures when I'm not a lazy prick.

Bullet points of madness:

• In escrow on a house, will be closing next week. 4 miles from where I am now. I'm fired up to have a garage.
• The oldest boy is absolutely in the terrible 13s and I am willing to trade him for an old dog or possibly a pickup.
• The baby has more hair than me and he's alread had his first mohawk at 9 months.
• Baby Mass has mastered Mama, Dada, Bubba, wall (waah), bath (baa) and duck (duu). He'll point and talk.
• If big bubba walks through the room Baby Mass is in, Baby will yell at him to come back. "HEY. HEYHEYHEY!"
• Big Bubba's one redeeming quality as of late is his compassion and love for his brother. That's the boy I raised. They play HARD.
• Baby will haul ass across the floor to come see me when i come though the door from work. That's why you have them.
• I got put into the wall on the 110 freeway on my Honda motorcycle and lost the top of my left pinky, titanium pins and a skin graft to put it together.
• I can surf concrete while wearing the right gear.
• The other driver admitted to being at fault. Illiegal lane change FTL.
• Pinky finger mangling combined with a torn MCL in the left knee caused by a well-to-do older man being negligent= ~$$$$$$$
• FrankenPinky sucks, but doesn't slow me down from counting my cash. The knee makes me hobble.
• Wife is still WAAAY hot and wonderful company. She's why God created me, I think. She makes me laugh so hard I get cramps and runny noses.
• I'm going to Infinity Ward next week to play COD:MW2.
• You're not.
• The infomercial for "Your Baby Can Read" is obnoxious, but I think the product may get me a better nursing home because the shit actually works.
• I'm rebuilding my Honda and it will be the baddest ass thing since Mad Max. Actually, the 'paint' is going to be Rhino Liner- so Mad Max is my bitch.
• I still build rockets. I have written corporate policy that is signed by the owner of the company. NASA approved it.
• I have a high school education and a military trade.
• I grew up in a trailer and am probably smarter than you.
• But I still think you are a wonderful person, you make me smile.

Ain't nothin' to a G. ;)

Thanks Jeepy!