So here's mine. It's a bit messy

[Red Leader]

Cool build! I'm a bicycle guy myself. Nice toys you got there!

I especially like how you are involving your kids. We just became new parents, but my sincere hope is to involve the kids as much as possible.

Nice build on the radio as well. Oh, and nice vintage Craftsman bench saw

You wouldn't happen to be a lefty, would ya?

 

[98TJ]

Cool build! I'm a bicycle guy myself. Nice toys you got there!

I especially like how you are involving your kids. We just became new parents, but my sincere hope is to involve the kids as much as possible.

Nice build on the radio as well. Oh, and nice vintage Craftsman bench saw

You wouldn't happen to be a lefty, would ya?

Been following yours as well. Those stripes at the door would make me go mad.

The kids love being outside in the garage. I often take the band saw and belt/disc into the driveway so they can work with scrap wood. They love it and the whole safety thing is already planted firmly in their heads.

Not a lefty, just set the saw up that way for that cut. I felt better holding the longer board with my right and guiding with left.

Getting the horns mounted.

First hole was rough cut with a jig saw. This holes don't have to be pretty and perfect, just a tight press fit.

Then rounded over just like I did for the mids.

These need to be recessed a bit. Can't extend past the face of the baffle because the cloth will be flush against the face.

Checking fit still.

Now to cut the other three.

 

[98TJ]

Made a template from the hole for the first horn to simplify holes for the remaining three.

Had to check fit.

 

[98TJ]

Working on blending the horns into the front baffle tonight.

 

[98TJ]

Not much going on with this today. Spent time at Sears last night because my 33 gal compressor took a ****. Bought it in October. It's under warranty so it's going in for repair. They commented that "It looks brand new!" when I dropped it off. Told them if it got fawked up in shipping I wanted a new one. Damn compressor will be gone two weeks.

Anyway, progress without the compressor. I wanted to use the nailer to build the enclosures but it looks like I'll have to drill/screw it together. Will take longer, but it'll be stronger.

Put the final coat of filler on to blend the horns into the baffle. While that dried I got to work making the enclosures for the mids/horns.

Depth gauge for the drill. Using 1/2" MDF and I bought 3/8" #6 screws to mount the mids.

With a mid mounted I got that '56 Craftsman out and put it to use again. I love that damn thing. Walls are made for the mid enclosures. I haven't made the cabinet for the table saw so I was cutting outside and rain hit before I could cut the back wall.

It's slow, but it's progress.

 

[98TJ]

Slowly but surely.

Glad to get to this point.

Got horns blended in, shot some flat black on the baffle, mounted the drivers and had to prop it in place - not 100% level/square with the cabinet.

Even without the cloth to go on it, it looks good.

 

[flybefree]

Air Assault that is a cool project! Might have seen you at the DIV CoC...took my boys to see the show. Can't wait to see the finished project.

 

[98TJ]

Air Assault that is a cool project! Might have seen you at the DIV CoC...took my boys to see the show. Can't wait to see the finished project.

I wasn't at the CoC. Wife might've been.

Thanks, I'm anxious to get it completed.

 

[gunselman]

Is that a TJ or an LJ? it looks longer than a TJ.

 

[98TJ]

TJ that was cut in half behind the doors and stretched 10 inches.

 

[98TJ]

Used some 3/4" birch ply to serve as a foundation for the interior floor. The enclosure for the woofers will be mounted to this and I wanted something much stronger than the 1/2" MDF that I have on hand. Anchored it to the cabinet with some screws and called it done.

Broke out a quart of BEHR satin finish Stealth Jet paint and gave everything I could reach with the 3" foam brush a quick coat. Still need to go back with a smaller brush and hit the nooks and crannies but this works. I also coated the back side of the front baffle/mid/horn enclosure with the BEHR paint. Neighbor came over and asked why I was painting the inside, "Is it just for cosmetic reasons?"

"Yup."

"OCD much?"

You might've seen it in the above photo, but yes, I did paint around the original label. Goofy, I know. Gut the electronics and leave the factory label. Thought it might be cool for the kids to see one day if/when it comes into their possession.

 

[98TJ]

The touchscreen that was donated to the build arrived a day early via FedEx.

Damn thing is BRAND NEW.

I hooked it up to our Windows 7 system, installed USB drivers, aligned (calibrated) it, and it works fine. This picture looks blurred but a camera phone taking a pic of a LCD monitor is going to have some clarity issues.

 

[98TJ]

Got to work voiding the warranty.

Removed a few screws and popped the case halves apart only to find that the 5-wire ribbon cable for the touch panel was a hard connection at the panel. That meant I had to gingerly work to get to the opposite end where the panel plugs in. Held the panel as pictured below with the left hand and removed screws with the right while trying not to fawk up the screen. Rubberized screwdriver handle proved to be nice here at least once.

Removed the monitor from the back half of the case and still had to get to the damned ribbon cable plug in the monitor chassis.

Yanked another cover and found the plug - covered in hot glue.

Removed another chassis panel, cut through the hot glue, removed the USB card for the touch panel, and took time to remove the speakers from the monitor.

Naked touch panel

Monitor control board that will have to be re-located and buttons to be re-used.

Stuck the stock ELO trim panel in place. I was going to make a trim piece for the monitor, but this fits pretty well with the cabinet opening. Will have to decide later.

 

[Ole_Red]

I think it would look real slick if you were able to make a wood frame for the monitor, so as to match the case. I really like this build as well as your bikes.

I have a 50's Cruiser that is flat black with wide whites, black spokes, and big *** ape hangers. Just sold my lowrider bike. Have an adult trike that I am trying to sell as well. I used to have stacks of bikes sitting in the garage. Slowly they have been picked off.

 

[Coyote Red]

Love this radio/stereo/refinish/restore/boombox/touchscreen blowout. So cool. Thank you.

 

[ert01]

Very interested to see the rest of this radio... keep posting pics!

 

[Bull]

Didn't even know this thread existed until tonight, and just read through all of it. Lots of cool stuff going on. The most awesome thing is probably the kind of relationship you have with your kids.

I am groovin' on this old radio resto-mod deal. Never in a million years would I have thought of doing something like that, and now I want to. I was thinking "hey, maybe I can do this" right up until you took apart the touch screen. I am way too caveman-ish to be doing that kind of work without breaking stuff.

 

[98TJ]

Ole_Red, I'll make a bezel for the touchscreen, just need to get to that point and get the materials.

Bull, I'm still ripping the touchscreen apart. See below.

Managed to cut the new panel for the touchscreen.

1/2" birch ply. Needs to be sanded for final fit then I'll rout a recessed area to mount the screen from the back of the panel.

1/2" mortising bit and a quick frame I made.

After a trip around with the mortising bit it fit.

Used the Dremel to cut a small pocket for the ribbon cable.

Stock mounting hardware with the stock front panel...

...and with the new front panel.

So, it's mounted and fits.

Now I have to mount this heavy thing.

Pared the monitor down to bare bones.

Time to come up with mounts that I'm happy with. I see a lot of soldering ahead.

Added 2mm foam to the recessed area of the front panel to keep the touchscreen panel from being directly against the wood. It's more protection than it had when it came from ELO, but hey.

 

[Bronson]

Cool Bikes! Happy Kids!

 

[Niltusk]

Wow... I'm really liking the way this is going, you're like McGyver, but hopefully with a better haircut

 

[Brian R]

You have mad skills.

 

[98TJ]

You have mad skills.

Nah. Anyone can do this. Just takes time.

Making a little progress. Made a simple mount for one side of the monitor from 1/16" extruded aluminum. Also made a mount for the CCFL controller board and got it mounted. Just used some of that 2mm foam and some outdoor double-sided tape. Simple and it should work great.

Sorry about the pics. Much quicker to use the camera phone so that's what I'm using.

 

[98TJ]

Got the new chassis built.

Mounted it to the display.

Added the guts.

Then did a test. It works.

 

[ert01]

Glad to see another xbmc user here it's all I use for my media in the house as well a the garage

 

[Bull]

Glad to see another xbmc user here it's all I use for my media in the house as well a the garage

Never heard about them, now want to try it out. So, it's safe to download that executable file from their site to try the program?

 

[98TJ]

Never heard about them, now want to try it out. So, it's safe to download that executable file from their site to try the program?

Yes.

Tons of info here too: http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=XBMC_Online_Manual

 

[Foxxtrot]

Didn't even know this thread existed until tonight, and just read through all of it. Lots of cool stuff going on. The most awesome thing is probably the kind of relationship you have with your kids.

I am groovin' on this old radio resto-mod deal. Never in a million years would I have thought of doing something like that, and now I want to. I was thinking "hey, maybe I can do this" right up until you took apart the touch screen. I am way too caveman-ish to be doing that kind of work without breaking stuff.

I was thinking the same thing!
Very impressive stuff sir, can't wait to see more!

 

[98TJ]

Thanks, guys.

Slow day, not much progress.

I did rip apart the front panel/touchscreen/monitor assembly and sand/stain the front panel. Hit it with two applications of stain - same amount I applied to the cabinet.

When I'm done with fit/construction I'll hit the whole thing with another application or two of stain then clear it.

 

[98TJ]

Decided to cover the front baffle/mid/horn enclosure.

Stuck it in place to make sure the pattern was square/parallel.

 

[D.J.]

Someone has already said, So I have to repeat, Man you do nice work! Lots of patients, by the way where did you pick up the enclosures?(foam part on outside of speaker and frame?) Do you just order these by size or by brand name of manufacturer of the speaker. Keep up the good work and as you know we like pictures. (I dont have a problem with your cell pictures, either.)
Thanks for your service also!
D.J.

 

[Whataboutbob]

Nice garage, Jeep and bikes... The radio came out awesome. Great taste in music too.

 

[gtmorgan89]

Noticed the Transition sticker on the box, you have very nice taste in jeeps and bikes

 

[MexiaGarage]

Nice bikes!!

 

[98TJ]

Diggin' AlbumPlayer.

Here's a shot of the skin I like up and running. Wife and I are happy with the look/function of this. I prefer it over XBMC for ease of use and appearance.

What I like about it is that I can get it up and running and enter "party mode" where users are limited to AlbumPlayer. No need to have the system boot into XBMC. The interface is simple enough that my kids can use it - already showed them.

Anyway, this is what we're going with. You might notice that the monitor isn't square with the opening in the panel. I wanted to power it up, make sure it's in the right location, mark the corners of the mounting brackets, and then mount it. Just simplifies things to do this with the monitor powered up. Sort of easier to see the edges of the display that way.

 

[98TJ]

My little mount/alignment system. Oversize thru holes in the aluminum bracket that will allow me to slightly shift the monitor up/down/left/right as needed.

Finally got the front panel, monitor, touchscreen and all the guts assembled into a complete unit.

Then I brought the assembly into the TV room so I could stick the assembly into the cabinet and power it up.

 

[Coyote Red]

That things too nice to go in the house.

 

[sscustom]

Wow what a great build awsome detail

 

[Boosted1]

98TJ,
That juke box is too cool. Nice job.

 

[pv2986]

wow it looks good in the garage. messy but good.

btw, how did you get that Thai register plate ??? Have you been in Thailand before???

 

[98TJ]

Thanks, guys.

pv2986, I was deployed to Thailand for Cobra Gold in '98.

Damn router won't do such small holes. Had to get the Dremel out. Fawker died today. Fixed it and commenced cuttin' holes for the woofers.

Stock enclosure mounting surface.

My enclosure mounting surface.

Fits like a glove.