For years I've been wanting a KT88 amplifier. Most of the manufactured amps out there are out of my price range so for a while now I've been looking at building the Dynaco Mk 3 monoblocks as a less expensive alternative. But then I found Bob Latino's ST70 kits and his upscaled version called the ST120. It's basically a stereo version of the MK3 but with a more modern driver circuit. Bob really likes the ST70 "look" and even added other refinements to his kits like the stainless steel chassis and triode/pentode switches.
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tubes4hifi.com%2FVTA120top.jpg&hash=c711679fb960f8922916d093dde8ed731c749e7a)
I got my ST120 kit sans chassis because I wanted to build it a little differently.
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8362_zpsfc7bbb41.jpg&hash=9d4fa879435556a95ce5dec5696903706c5d248a)
Ok, a LOT differently.
Here's my sketch and inspiration.
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FD479369D-9068-4915-AE6A-678F9B9BA8F3_zps7r18ivqq.jpg&hash=407e14184d336058d0a45251635958ded6893041)
The idea was to use a big 17"x17"x4" Hammond box. I went with a similar layout as my modded ST35...
http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,4690.msg44489.html#msg44489.
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8373_zps1246f6bf.jpg&hash=5c8ecc7141796b9720e88e1e66fd70dde6265309)
I wanted to forgo the big circuit board and go point to point wired as much as possible.
Another feature is that I'm using Clarity Cap TC series 700V film power supply caps. These are why I got such a big box.
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8379_zpsdc346ff9.jpg&hash=933f0dbda3f09c3e7871aac3f16799edf8476ece)
I got the Russian PIO caps from Bob as well as a pair of Clarity Cap ESA caps for C1 & C2.
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8453_zpse4895657.jpg&hash=610116aa8e32804080e1ef5fb657a6ef0dbdb30c)
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8383_zps835263a7.jpg&hash=5706601ab88a7a06e916bf1e91dd835a6d970768)
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8423_zps1c259b1a-1.jpg&hash=facd2202d8f8400329dfbe6a2ec72c8a6a8bdc46)
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8438_zps7ba257c2.jpg&hash=60894be2fe9364a22e6d063fb355df937c4aa75a)
The caps are held down with cable ties and industrial strength velcro. They don't budge.
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8462_zpse0e52262.jpg&hash=0cfe278fe1f7f7fb6c2751f056b16ed4d67d7262)
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8480_zps24404161.jpg&hash=235b87f43d5953079a0c0d2a6dc819a9e6107e94)
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8515_zps322052ad.jpg&hash=fc75eee9a2476c82c764247b10ca2a8aaeca5cb0)
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8514_zps18e29525.jpg&hash=5f4ef875bb7025d6b92a4c44c66793670f950750)
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8516_zps108bfabe.jpg&hash=43a1548f026c3a5101a7472659fd536321737ac7)
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8500_zps08e6ca54.jpg&hash=503386ffdf9feb46c36f0b0b5a68308a5b6a42b6)
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8496_zps53ee9a49.jpg&hash=58e78f8bf3de478693177dd62ff36cbcc4307598)
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2FVTA%2520ST120%2FIMG_8492_zps4cafec5a.jpg&hash=b48eab5774965816ce3c20fc3a686734c641a2a1)
I still have to do the main power connector, speaker connectors, input wires and a few ground wires. And then I have to buy tubes.
More to come!