Paul,
Thanks for the answer. Don't worry, there will be photos, including some in-progress ones soon, I hope.
The chassis is basically done except for a bit more sanding, installing some threaded inserts, the ebony feet, the BH badge, and waxing. I stayed with the original box, rounded over the top and bottom edges, installed two lengthwise cleats along the bottom for some hold-down bolts, applied some red analine dye, and a few coats of wipe-on poly. The plate is painted almond on the inside, and black hammerite on top, but then I freckled the top with a tiny bit of gold hammerite. Just have one more coat of gloss black to put on the transformer, and the bellend is gold hammerite.
So far the individual parts are getting some nice compliments, but I have yet to put it all together.
I'm just about to scrape off the almond paint under the 2 5-lug terminals strips and where the ground bolt goes, and then I can start building up the plate in it's final form.
Yes, taking my time to get it right, and just having a blast doing it!
-- Jim