Thermaltake Casemod 2026 is over. All the competitors have presented their projects. It’s time to take a detailed look at my own mod, and thank the community and the entire OCC team for their support. This is by no means a solitary job. I’ve learned new things every step of the way, and I’ve discovered that the French hardware and modding scenes are brimming with talent. Focus on a few key points of the War Rig project.
The chassis
The chassis is obviously the main attraction of a Casemod competition. This year, Thermaltake decided to promote its View 600 TG. It’s a large-tower chassis with rather frightening dimensions, which immediately sets itself a challenge. So I chose to embrace its gigantism and take it on. But one thing is clear: the original lines of the case must remain legible. It must remain identifiable. The post-apocalyptic theme of Mad Max is fixed after long nights of hesitation.
Preparation
A multi-stage process begins:
- Complete dismantling of the various chassis parts. The work is long and tedious, as the panels are held together by multiple rivets.
- Sanding of the entire surface (several successive grains).
- First coats of metal primer
Then… off to the shooting range! For the sake of realism, we carry out a shooting session (in a controlled environment) on the back of the View 600 TG. All the impacts on the finished product come from this session. It really must go through hell. We retrieve the cassings. They’ll come in handy later on.
Painting
I’d never done rust paint before. So I called on the talented Valentin (from X-Aura), who specializes in painting peripherals and with whom I had already worked on a case. It soon becomes clear that this type of treatment is new to him too. So, through a series of failures and attempts, we learn how best to reproduce the ravages of time on metal. We receive excellent advice from other modders, including Aiyuki (from Maharlikaps) who teaches us how to better position the rust patches.
The task is a titanic one, as it’s impossible to use spray paint. The level of detail we’re aiming for means we have to paint the whole thing with a brush, layer by layer, insisting on details and sensitive areas. But it’s worth it, and the result is striking.
Drilling
A casemod isn’t a casemod without a drill and a Dremel. I therefore drill and cut the chassis at several points to :
- routing the watercooling tubes between the upper and lower chambers
- Custom tank mounting
Motherboard
The look of the Asrock Z890 PG Riptide board doesn’t match our post-apocalyptic style. So I dismantled it entirely and gave it the same treatment (sanding, primer, paint) as the case.
Graphics card
For the Palit RTX 5070 Gaming Pro-S graphics card, things are simpler. Thanks to the Palit Maker system, I can create a custom cover which, without any dismantling, enables the GPU to be transformed.
3D printing a part of this size requires a certain expertise and quality equipment. So I called on the services of Mr Gabarit. As well as printing the two parts successfully, he takes the liberty of correcting a few flaws in my design.
All that remains is to paint the frontplate and backplate to match the theme (a few more hours of painting).
The tank
What a piece ! But also so many complications. I was determined to incorporate a unique custom watercooling part into the Casemod 2026. It’s part of who I am and what I’m passionate about. But the View 600 TG is big, as we said. So I was met with a succession of rejections when I presented the tank to the CNC machining companies. Too complex, too big, too difficult to polish.
Fortunately, I finally manage (as the deadline approaches) to find CNC machinists to make it. Fingers crossed because, given the lead times, there won’t be a second chance if it doesn’t fit the case perfectly.
Big but not only…
Not only does this tank stand out for its unusual dimensions (and weight), it is also innovative in concept.
It incorporates a double “pump-top” embedded in the tank itself. This makes it possible to create two custom watercooling loops with a single tank or, as shown here, a single loop with redundant pumps. It’s practical and… the look of the pipes embedded in the liquid is truly original.
The tank arrived on time and perfectly matched the expected dimensions. After a hard day’s work to get the monster watertight, it’s ready for use. This is our showpiece !
The custom loop
For the loop, still with the same objective of realism, I use hoses attached to barbed fittings. I then cover the hoses with heat-resistant sleeves from a store specializing in automotive cable protection.
On Aiyuki’s advice, I dirty the hoses by rubbing them into my car’s exhaust pipe (after applying a thin layer of glue). My first attempt using motor oil had led to the hoses being pierced…
There are three radiators: two 120 mm on top and one 420 mm on the side. More than enough for our Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.
For the liquid, I concoct a briny green by mixing green, black and yellow dyes.
Casemod 2026 : how about 3D ?
I’ve put everything away neatly for future projects. Apart from the GPU cover , I decided at the last minute not to incorporate any printed elements into this mod. They looked great. But the raw, non-3D result suits me much better. It matches the Mad Max and Rat Rod spirit, suggesting more than it shows. I simply find it more authentic as it is. A difficult decision, but I think it paid off. Indeed, many comments on socials refer to “Mad Max’s PC” even before the final theme is revealed. People understand the approach and many appreciate it (not all, of course, as the mod is divisive).
A few details
To complete the picture, I’ve added a few more details:
- Distribution of the shooting casings in the chassis
- Cutting out and using a casing as a GPU support
- Filling certain impacts with metal plates
- Depositing “verdigris” on certain tube junctions to simulate a leak and the resulting damages
Casemod 2026 : an exciting journey
The Thermaltake Casemod 2026 has now entered the community voting phase. The procedure is simple:
- Create an account on the Thermaltake forum
- Vote for your favorite project
Unfortunately, creating an account is compulsory, but voters can win prizes including a Thermaltake View 600 TG.
Personally, I’ve learned a lot. Technically, I’ve discovered new things. But above all, I realized that modders and designers know how to help each other. Together, we go much further. It’s always good to remember that. Thank you all for your support, especially the OCC team, who were there from start to finish.
And see you at Computex 2026 to discover the selected mods directly on the Thermaltake stand!
