Quartermaster Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Thought it might be a good idea to start a new topic for everyone who will be finishing their new Radio builds. Better to post them here than under Charlies project order thread. Working the night shift as usual and had some free time on my hands so I worked on my radio. Box was built out of 1/8 " black ABS with a smooth side and a textured side. I decided to have the textured side facing out. Liked the way it looked. I wanted to be able to access the inside of the radio so the box was built with small hinges on one side. I backed the faceplate with ABS as well to give it some extra strength as well as providing a mounting surface for the hinges and my switches. All switches and knobs are functional (meaning they move/click/turn). Ran a strip of black industrial strength velcro on the left inside of the box and faceplate to keep it closed. Speaker grill holes have all been drilled out and I will be installing my powered speaker and MP3 player inside to play the Sandtrooper Loop and some choice SW music. Gave it a couple of coats of flat black. Just have to put in my dial sticker, the small Sonix label at the bottom and weather it and this baby is done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBoy Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 looks awesome man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volumino Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Radio looks nice, but is it me or is the box way too high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenix Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 wow that looks great all put together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconoclasta_88 Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 That looks amazing! Cant wait to have mine! The texture on the box is really cool. I was thinking about adding some black vinyl around the box, cause to me it looks like the original ones had it. http://forum.mepd.net/index.php?showtopic=4928 Any thoughts on that? And, what about the custom paint job? What would everybody think about leaving it all black, or trying to emulate the original colors? I know Rolf painted his MH radio all black, and same (or almost) did Nol... Any other approaches? This is exciting!!! Saludos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quartermaster Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 Radio looks nice, but is it me or is the box way too high? I did custom make the box slightly higher than normal. Most of my other builds are about 3" high. I made this one 3 1/4" to accomodate the larger powered speaker that I will be installing. The ABS backing plate allso adds another 1/8" to the height. It doesn't really look high at all in person. Not sure why it does in the photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quartermaster Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 That looks amazing! Cant wait to have mine! The texture on the box is really cool. I was thinking about adding some black vinyl around the box, cause to me it looks like the original ones had it. http://forum.mepd.ne...?showtopic=4928 Any thoughts on that? And, what about the custom paint job? What would everybody think about leaving it all black, or trying to emulate the original colors? I know Rolf painted his MH radio all black, and same (or almost) did Nol... Any other approaches? This is exciting!!! Saludos. Thanks Juan! Glad you like it. Looking at the photo of the original, it almost looks like it has some sort of protective padding or vinyl/leather wrap on it. It may have been padded vinyl since it was electronics made to be used in the field. As for the paint job, I painted most of the other black surfaces on my pack with the flat black. I think when you add the weathering to it, it makes it look more worn and used, sun bleached and sand blasted. I wanted it to match the rest of the pack. The textured ABS is quite shiny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godzilla Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quartermaster Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 Put the finishing touches on the new radio today. Placed a radio dial sticker and clear cover plate on it. Also placed the little green Sonix Logo sticker on the bottom left. Weathered it and it is ready to mount on the pack. Hope to get to that in a day or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandatrooper Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Nice work! Love the details and the Sonix sticker! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordonator Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Nice work John! Very sweet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 John,you got to tell us how the **** you make one of the buttons *click* pleease THATS AWESOME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BountyHunter Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 hahaha i'ts a original sonix radio nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quartermaster Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 John,you got to tell us how the **** you make one of the buttons *click* pleease THATS AWESOME! I am lucky enough at my job that I work a lot with lots of equipment that gets turned over and recycled every year. We literally have rooms full of equipment that is collecting dust, waiting to be sent out. Most of this stuff has lots of knobs and switches. I take some of the older stuff that is scheduled to go out for recycling and I dismantle it and remove some of the switching and internal knob components. This particular one clicks into 3 different positions. The other two knobs have a #8 -1" long threaded machine screw epoxyed into the back of the knob (after carefully drilling a hole in the back of the knob). I place a small stainless steel washer between the knob and the faceplate and on the back of the faceplate and place a nylon threaded nut. Tighten the nut just enough to allow the knob to freely turn. The nylon threaded nut will not back off. The silver switches are basic switches from Radio Shack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD0923 Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Very nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenthork Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 great looking radio !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Nice!!! assemble bro. Looks freaking cool. I can´t wait to get mine as well asap, and start up too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoCKo Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 wow, what a great looking radio! nice work, John! i especially love the clear cover on the radio dial, the knurled edge really gives it a original look! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBoy Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 NIce job man....now turn it up!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 Bookmarked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD6187 Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Very very good work!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD9323 Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Very nice! What did you use for the dial cover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quartermaster Posted August 24, 2010 Author Share Posted August 24, 2010 Very nice! What did you use for the dial cover? I have access to clear dial covers that can be found on pressure gauges for such things as nitrogen regulators. They are almost a perfect fit for the Crashmann faceplates, even the older vac formed ones. I use them on all of my radio builds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voodoo Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 I have access to clear dial covers that can be found on pressure gauges for such things as nitrogen regulators. They are almost a perfect fit for the Crashmann faceplates, even the older vac formed ones. I use them on all of my radio builds. The question is, do you have access to enough of them to offer them for sale to the rest of us poor slobs. If not, the next question is, can you and I swap one for a large dial next time you need one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quartermaster Posted August 24, 2010 Author Share Posted August 24, 2010 The question is, do you have access to enough of them to offer them for sale to the rest of us poor slobs. If not, the next question is, can you and I swap one for a large dial next time you need one? I may be able to get about 10 of them on short notice if anyone is interested in them. Possibly more after that. I will look into it. If anyone is interested in a dial cover, shoot me a PM and I will see what I can do. If I can secure a large amount of them, I will gladly make them available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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