High-plate Skyline build

[ijedouglas]

I've been toying with the idea of building this amp with a 5-piece chassis and finally pulled the trigger. The chassis (19x7.25x2.5) and board dimensions were taken from an actual specimen and it is a lot smaller than the other chassis I have worked with. HAD built some spectacular amps but what has really impressed me with this build is how the hell a big guy worked in such a small chassis with such artistry and perfection. The other thing that really stood out for me was his attention to detail with his grounds.

Front/back panel: 2.5 in aluminum c-channel
Bottom panel: 19 x 7 1/8 in aluminum
Sides: red oak: 1/2 in

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[dbharris]

Incredible work as always Ian. Looks fantastic!

-Dan

[erwin_ve]

Beautiful work Ian. Looks a lot like the #18x series with the wood sides.
Is the fet side covered with aluminum?
What kind of anchor nuts are u using?

Erwin

[ChopSauce]

That's really cool!

[bepone]

how my metal work shops around get closed , and it is difficult to make something custom,
i was thinkig the same! it is back to the roots actually, and fully DIY! no need for some bending machines or some workshop , where you are waiting for few months for something, it is ready immediately.. and easy to make holes on cnc nad then screw all together

i think next build i will go this route

[Stephen1966]

how my metal work shops around get closed , and it is difficult to make something custom,
i was thinkig the same! it is back to the roots actually, and fully DIY! no need for some bending machines or some workshop , where you are waiting for few months for something, it is ready immediately.. and easy to make holes on cnc nad then screw all together

i think next build i will go this route

This is all handmade.

[ijedouglas]

Beautiful work Ian. Looks a lot like the #18x series with the wood sides.
Is the fet side covered with aluminum?
What kind of anchor nuts are u using?

Erwin

Thanks Erwin. Yeah, its a mid #017X amp. I used aluminium flashing for the FET side and the anchor studs are actually 4-40 into an aluminium threaded spacer.

[ijedouglas]

how my metal work shops around get closed , and it is difficult to make something custom,
i was thinkig the same! it is back to the roots actually, and fully DIY! no need for some bending machines or some workshop , where you are waiting for few months for something, it is ready immediately.. and easy to make holes on cnc nad then screw all together

i think next build i will go this route

If you have access to a CNC this should be a lot easier. I drilled, cut and filed by hand and it was a hell of a lot of work but well worth it. I'm not sure if HAD used a CNC, looking at a few of the amps from that era, I suspect he took the same route as I did.

[timrobertson100]

Beautiful work. How did you do the white lettering please, Ian? It has come out very sharp.

[ijedouglas]

Beautiful work. How did you do the white lettering please, Ian? It has come out very sharp.

Thank you. I have a vinyl cutter and it does a great job. Sprayed with black gloss Krylon, applied lettering and then hit it with Krylon clear gloss. As I learned, make sure to leave at least 24 hrs. between coats. 3 failed attempts later and I finally learned the art of patience....

[ChopSauce]

I drilled, cut and filed by hand and it was a hell of a lot of work but well worth it. I'm not sure if HAD used a CNC, looking at a few of the amps from that era, I suspect he took the same route as I did.

You did it by hand ?!.

I was convinced that you had a CNC milling machine. That is great work you did on that chassis ...

[bepone]

If you have access to a CNC this should be a lot easier. I drilled, cut and filed by hand and it was a hell of a lot of work but well worth it. I'm not sure if HAD used a CNC, looking at a few of the amps from that era, I suspect he took the same route as I did.

my friend has but then it is not possible to bend properly aluminium sheets 2mm,
so i was thinking this route, front+back plates, and top sheet, square holes for IEC sockets, proper speaker jacks holes (11.5mm-12mm) to not to make short circuit with chassis like some of Neutrik connectors doing with metal ferrule... and tube sockets, and half million other small holes.. via CNC..and assebly this way at home easilly..

i think HAD ordered externally build chassis/metal works, this is a lot of work for one person, at least 3-4 different proffesions (from metal, electronic, wood, tolex etc), to be made proffessional as it should...what we need to do all alone often in DIY world

[ijedouglas]

i think HAD ordered externally build chassis/metal works, this is a lot of work for one person, at least 3-4 different proffesions (from metal, electronic, wood, tolex etc), to be made proffessional as it should...what we need to do all alone often in DIY world

From what I understand, HAD built these 5-piece chassis himself as well as all the chassis and speaker cabs. I know at a later stage Kerry Wright built some of the speaker cabs for him and the later chassis look to be ordered from a metal shop.

A jigsaw, file, drill-press and hole-cutters will get you there

[ijedouglas]

A little more progress

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[Reeltarded]

His perfection? How do YOU do THAT!?

Stunning!