brushed aluminum | Web Portal for Benjamin J Heckendorn

Behold – a completely normal looking Pelican case!

My latest project is an Xbox 360 stuffed inside of a Pelican 1490 case. The intention here to create a “tough” portable Xbox 360 that can be transported with ease.

Enter missile launch codes here.
Xbox 360 inside a Pelican 1490 case

This unit includes:

17″ widescreen LCD monitor.
Built-in speakers.
Power cable compartment.
Reworked top-loading DVD drive.
Removable hard drive.
Ethernet and USB ports.

This unit was built because I’ve had a lot of requests for game consoles that could be used overseas by our servicemen and women and I thought it’d be interesting to take a crack at the concept. It was not built on consignment, a rarity for me these days, so it is up for grabs. I’m also interested the larger-scale possibilities of this kind of project if anyone has any ideas/money.

For the fairly detailed “Making-Of” check the story after the break. You can also click here to view a video demonstrating the unit.

The idea for this unit was inspired by Clint Green’s cases that I saw last May in D.C., you can check out his site at www.greenbarron.com/armoredgaming.

Continue reading Pelican Case Xbox 360 →

Note: Inside pics / Making of section added.

My latest project is the Xbox 360 Portable. Figured that was a more appropriate name than laptop, because seriously, who’d put this in their lap? It weighs almost as much as my sister’s cat.

New Xbox 360 Portable Experience

It differs from my past Xbox 360 laptops in several ways:

Removable standard Xbox 360 hard drive for easy profile/data swapping
Both memory card slots accessible, same reason.
No keyboard! Really, they have those chat pads, what’s the point? (Besides looking cool)
Simplified layout of ports and buttons.
Internal wi-fi module, no external antenna. Antenna is strung out inside unit like other consoles/laptops.
Beveled edges! Countersunk screws!

Containing the full-sized 360 hard drive caused this unit to be about 1/2″ thicker than past models.

For a bunch more photos and info please read the rest of the story below. The THQ Darksiders prize laptop is the same model as this one but covered with artwork of course.

This black unit was a commissioned model, as for new large-project orders I probably can’t take more until the spring. If you do wish to suggest a project to me remember weirder is always better!

Continue reading New Xbox 360 Portable →