The Thermaltake Casemod 2026 competition kicked off in January. It’s time for another update on the progress of my project. As a reminder, this competition pits 8 modders against each other using the same build. As promised, I’ll be sharing updates here regularly — including successes, doubts, and, above all, what I’ve learned. Because, from my perspective, this event is first and foremost an opportunity to learn new things and meet new people.
Casemod 2026: The reservoir is here
And what a part ! Lots of delays, a bit of worry, but it’s a success. What a joy to see a part designed in 3D take shape and fit perfectly into the chassis. As planned, this custom-made model will be placed at the front of the case. It’s one of the project’s key components.
The reservoir itself consists of two acrylic (PMMA) pieces. For sealing, I used O-ring tape, cut to the dimensions of the plate. It features five openings:
- A fill port
- Two outlets
- Two inlets
Attached to this reservoir is the pump top we mentioned in the previous update. It is made of brass and houses two DDC pumps. Each of them will draw water from the reservoir and can discharge it, as desired, through any of the four available openings. The hoses will therefore be submerged in the tank and visible from the front of the housing.
The concept is rarely (if ever ?) seen. The “one tank/two loops” configuration and the submerged hoses are original technical choices… and new to me as well.
Painting and Live-Fire
Meanwhile, work on the chassis and components is progressing very well. We painted (with the help of a very talented friend) a good portion of the case. The rust and wear effect is very satisfying. We also painted the Asrock Z890 Lightning WiFi motherboard and installed the Thermaltake SW1 PLUS waterblock.
Finally, for the sake of realism, we took the time to fire real bullets (in a supervised environment and in compliance with current regulations) at our poor Thermaltake View 600 TG. We didn’t spare it — 303 British, .22 Long Rifle, and even a black powder revolver.
The next step is to finish the paint job and then assemble the custom loop. We’ll talk more about it soon. In the meantime, feel free to follow the progress here.
