Here's something you don't see every day

[macquariumguy]

Start with an old SE.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28406-2/DSC_8292.JPG

Get rid of the interior bits.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28423-2/DSC_8300.JPG

Cut the top off.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28447-2/DSC_8318.JPG

Paint it.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28459-2/DSC_8324.JPG

That was fun, now do some more.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28518-2/DSC_8356.JPG

Hackity hackity.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28530-2/DSC_8368.JPG

Paint them too!
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28534-2/DSC_8369.JPG

Now what?
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28558-2/DSC_8396.JPG

Put plants in them.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28582-2/DSC_8397.JPG

They live!
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28514-2/DSC_7785_001.JPG

Well, that's what I did with my weekend. :)

[applefan1997]

Wow.. cool spin on the Macquarium! You have a lot of time.:cool:

[HBOC]

interesting. You could sell them now! where did you get all of those?

[macquariumguy]

where did you get all of those?
In the early to mid 90s, I ran the service department for an Apple store and picked up quite a few that were abandoned there. Then in the late 90s and into 2000 I bought a whole lot of them on eBay. I think I've had over 100 total over the years.

This dozen I did over the weekend is the end of my supply. No more.

[MattyK]

that's crazy

[wongulous]

Very cute!

[Fuzzy14]

Blasphemy! (although I did like the Nano-chromatic variant!)

[andreab35]

Wow... I have to say, that's pretty neat!
Nice job!

[UhmazingMac]

Thats awesome... kinda makes me want to do that.

hahaha :) :apple::apple:

[noone]

Murderer.

[iParis]

Did you at least keep a few in tact?

[macquariumguy]

Did you at least keep a few in tact?
Nope. In fact, the last one I cut up was the Mac Plus that I purchased for myself (for over $2000) in 1986.

Look at the bright side. I just made every other surviving classic Mac a little more rare.

[andiwm2003]

well, i'm always thinking about getting an old Mac plus and put a Mac Mini in there with a LCD panel and a Huge HD and use it as a retro style Media center for Itunes.

If I just had the time.

[sushi]

Pretty cool.

I like the color idea.

[smwatson]

That's a definite win.

[CarlsonCustoms]

OH man I really need two planters for my apartment. if I can only find a g3 or se like this to do that with I'm there in a heartbeat

thanks for the inspiration

[leishan]

Now introducing...the iPlanter!!!

[macquariumguy]

Here's my parting shot for this project. I completed the baker's dozen of new planters and then turned around and refurbished the dozen I already had. Now all of them are nice and fresh and clean with new pictures from this past year.

Group shot. A few of these are leaving for new homes, so this is the last time to get a pic of this many.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28680-2/DSC_8474.JPG

And here's an OMGHUGE version of the same, in case anyone is interested in the details.

http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/28679-1/DSC_8474.JPG

[Angelo95210]

Murderer.

I am shocked as well, its a collector now... :(

[MacHappytjg]

I am shocked as well, its a collector now... :(

Dont worry i have one sitting around lol :p

[cleanup]

What I loved more than the pictures or the concept was your captions!

Also, the orange one looks fantastic!

Very cool post. :) Nice work!

[macquariumguy]

Coming next (although probably not soon) - conversions for a Performa 5xx, a pair of 1st gen iMacs, and a pair of Lisas.

I've also got an old Dell laptop that I started long ago to convert to an ant farm that I'd like to finish someday. Oh, and also a giant Gateway 2000 tower that I want to turn into a trash can.

Stay tuned!

[MacHappytjg]

Coming next (although probably not soon) - conversions for a Performa 5xx, a pair of 1st gen iMacs, and a pair of Lisas.

I've also got an old Dell laptop that I started long ago to convert to an ant farm that I'd like to finish someday. Oh, and also a giant Gateway 2000 tower that I want to turn into a trash can.

Stay tuned!

Keep atleast one LISA !!!!!!!!!!! If not im goingto have to kill u

[jessica.]

That is very awesome! And I agree ... rip 'em all up and use them for something else!

[macquariumguy]

I didn't think these new pics warranted their own new thread, so I'm reviving my old thread instead.

I've recently dug my airbrushes out of storage. After a 6 year vacation from them, I'm playing around and got some practice in on a couple of my planters. I thought they came out pretty good considering I'm not much of an artist and don't know a lot about airbrushing.

I picked out one whose color I didn't really like and splotched on some color.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31837-2/DSC_1160.jpg

Then I used a brush and filled in some details.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31846-2/DSC_1161.jpg

Next back to the airbrush and add shading and highlights.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31854-2/DSC_1167.jpg

And it's back in service on the lanai. The camera flash brought out the white shading way more than it appears in natural light. I was pretty happy with it.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31858-2/DSC_1171.jpg

Then I picked up a black planter and started painting. Here is the finished result.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31862-2/DSC_1174.jpg

Other side.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31866-2/DSC_1173.jpg

Back to work.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31842-2/DSC_1177.jpg

It was really a lot of fun and I've got about 18 of these planters left so I'm sure there will be a couple more every weekend for the next few weeks. :)

...later!...

[xIGmanIx]

finally, a Mac worth owning :cool: nice idea and thanks for sharing

[toolbox]

I am shocked as well, its a collector now... :(

Glad i still got mine then!

[Bennieboy©]

novel use for a old computer haha the airbrushing romps :D nice work :D

[nullx86]

Murderer.
What he said.

[Benguitar]

Those. Are. Awesome! :eek:

[Unspoken Demise]

You're very talanted. I loved the "drag queens for obama/ biden" flower air brush. Keep up the stellar work!

[Bfat567]

Every post the OP has made since joining has made my day:)

[macquariumguy]

Here's today's work.

What I started with.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31886-2/DSC_1203.jpg

Mask off the areas I don't want painted and lay on some color.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31906-2/DSC_1209.jpg

Add the black.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31914-2/DSC_1212.jpg

Add the white.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31894-2/DSC_1216.jpg

A splash of pink and yellow and it's done!
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31910-2/DSC_1219.jpg

Back side.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31898-2/DSC_1221.jpg

Back to its spot.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/31890-2/DSC_1222.jpg

More to come!

[macquariumguy]

Freaking flames. I watch other people do them and it looks so easy. Anyway, these were good enough to not get repainted a solid color immediately. I shall keep trying.

This was my first one. It's actually kinda pretty, but not the true fire effect I was going for.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/35296-2/DSC_4248.jpg

http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/35300-2/DSC_4251.jpg

Try try again. Still not there.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/35552-2/DSC_4370.jpg

Trying again, on a mailbox this time. Getting closer, but still disappointing.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/35556-2/DSC_4371.jpg

I've got another practice mailbox so I think I'll sand it down and try a variation of this theme on it.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/35560-2/DSC_4374.jpg

More to come!?!?

[cleanup]

Nice work! While I wouldn't care to put my plants in those crazy designs, they're interesting and well done nonetheless. :)

[ethical]

I quite like the flame one! You're very good at painting them too!

I'd love to turn an old Lisa or Mac II etc. into a powerhouse! If only I had the time.

[iBlue]

Wow, those are fantastic! What a brilliant idea! Skills, you have them.

[elpmas]

lol. Do people buy these? It's great to look at, but I wouldn't know what to do with them! :p

[Gator24765]

ehh not a fan.. good work and great creativity though. Im sure a lot of people would like them

[macquariumguy]

lol. Do people buy these? It's great to look at, but I wouldn't know what to do with them! :p

I've had offers, but am not interested. It's all for fun. I've given quite a few away.

[expressway]

Neat idea! I love the solid pink one, haha.

[Reventon]

Heh, that's pretty sweet. Great idea turning those old Macs into planters. Not sure if I like this or the Mac aquarium better.

[lostprophet894]

Wow!! I'm really impressed by your airbrushing skills. It's certainly not as easy as it looks.

I wish I could find my artistic side again. My spare time has been consumed by tinkering with electronics for far too long.

[macquariumguy]

Posting here since it features several of the planters and a brief cameo by my iPad and old MacBook Pro at the end.

40 seconds of something you don't see every day, created by me this afternoon with the aid of my iPhone and several cheap light beers. :D

http://vimeo.com/34751083

[macquariumguy]

How about a "Rainbow Smear" unicorn shirt? :)
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/43970-2/DSC_9767.jpg

Patterned after this (http://mlkshk.com/r/DFA0).

ETA: Gonna try it again with 3 unicorns. :D

[Illuminated]

How about a "Rainbow Smear" unicorn shirt? :)
Image (http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/43970-2/DSC_9767.jpg)

Patterned after this (http://mlkshk.com/r/DFA0).

ETA: Gonna try it again with 3 unicorns. :D

I never laughed so hard at a t-shirt ever before. HAHA. :p

[adnbek]

Nice! Very well done. Keep 'em coming.

And whoever is downvoting your photos is a dumbass.

[jacksonharry]

Very nice post....thanks for sharing with us

[Dctape]

Hmmm....I have a working Mac SE sitting in the corner of my office. I wonder what a collector would pay for it.....hmmmmmm.....

-Mark

[macquariumguy]

My first try at pregnant tummy painting. :)
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/44085-2/DSC_9800.jpg

[hafr]

How about a "Rainbow Smear" unicorn shirt? :)
Image (http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/43970-2/DSC_9767.jpg)

Patterned after this (http://mlkshk.com/r/DFA0).

ETA: Gonna try it again with 3 unicorns. :D

This is THE most awesome t-shirt I've ever seen! :)

[macquariumguy]

Doodling on yet another mailbox this fine afternoon.
http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/44329-2/DSC_0179.jpg

http://techquarium.com/gallery2z/d/44333-2/DSC_0180.jpg