How bad does it have to be before its a scrapper set?

[Terry]

I have seen various types of frame out there and a compromise with square corners might have to be made.

Something that's been going through my mind too. Obviously the rounded cabinet corners will have to be cut back to suit.

I hadn't realised until your recent post that the shape is actually a trapezoid - that will make the corner mitres an interesting challenge!

[boater sam]

The trim echoes the cabinet shape, the sides have a significant slope. Cutting the corners back to a near right angle would be tricky, the glass may not be fully covered.
The plastic does soften with a lot of heat but there are signs of cracking, whether it will stretch or not remains to be seen.
Thinking of even more creative solutions, watch this space.

[Terry]

The trim echoes the cabinet shape, the sides have a significant slope. Cutting the corners back to a near right angle would be tricky, the glass may not be fully covered.

I beg to differ, Sam.

You posted some pictures of the cabinet in post #13 and I've been looking at the one without the trim. The cabinet is definitely trapezoidal but the dial cutout most definitely does not echo it!

I've taken that picture and overlaid a rectangle on it:

Now the camera is not perpendicular to the front of the cabinet as evidence by the underside view of the top through the cutout. This tilt alone will add distortion to the shape and we can also see that the top and bottom of the cutout diverge, although common sense says that, in reality, they are parallel. So, is there is any distortion, it will be very small and accurate measurements of the width of the opening at top and bottom - or another picture with a protractor laying on the top - will, in my opinion, show very little distortion, if any.

As for the glass not being fully covered if the corners are cut back, only the rebate needs to be cut back and, as is clearly visible in the pictures, the central cutout already has square corners, as I am sure will the glass!

[boater sam]

The trim echoes the cabinet shape, the sides have a significant slope. Cutting the corners back to a near right angle would be tricky, the glass may not be fully covered.
The plastic does soften with a lot of heat but there are signs of cracking, whether it will stretch or not remains to be seen.
Thinking of even more creative solutions, watch this space.

Sorry, duplicated post.

[boater sam]

The trim echoes the cabinet shape, the sides have a significant slope. Cutting the corners back to a near right angle would be tricky, the glass may not be fully covered.

I beg to differ, Sam.

You posted some pictures of the cabinet in post #13 and I've been looking at the one without the trim. The cabinet is definitely trapezoidal but the dial cutout most definitely does not echo it!

I've taken that picture and overlaid a rectangle on it:

Now the camera is not perpendicular to the front of the cabinet as evidence by the underside view of the top through the cutout. This tilt alone will add distortion to the shape and we can also see that the top and bottom of the cutout diverge, although common sense says that, in reality, they are parallel. So, is there is any distortion, it will be very small and accurate measurements of the width of the opening at top and bottom - or another picture with a protractor laying on the top - will, in my opinion, show very little distortion, if any.

As for the glass not being fully covered if the corners are cut back, only the rebate needs to be cut back and, as is clearly visible in the pictures, the central cutout already has square corners, as I am sure will the glass!

Terry, you are right.
Its an optical illusion compounded by my glasses, I have 2 astigmatisms, its a rectangle not a trapezium. Thank you for correcting. I didn't think my photos were so good!

I have still not given up completely on the trim being remodeled. Cutting the corners out is not what I would wish to do, its not reversible and it offends my spirit of originality somewhat.

Mulling over bending aluminium square bar, or plastic if I can find any about 10mm or, radically, using a piece of white rope.

Routering out of MDF would be testing and fragile, thick plastic sheet would be better but I don't have any and would a router cope?

[boater sam]

Finally made the decision that the plastic trim is not going to fit back on.

I could of filed and filled for hours and maybe made it look reasonable but its the amount by which it has shrunk which defeats me.
It will not come back to the size by at least 8mm and stretching it hot just produces more irregular shapes and sections.

I have a cunning plan, will try it out before committing to the forum in case it all goes wrong.

Sam.

[boater sam]

The cunning plan has been trialed, almost successfully, its ongoing.
Awaiting delivery of the necessary and hopefully will then be able to complete this rejuvenation project.

Watch this space.

[boater sam]

        [attachment=18894]     [attachment=18892][attachment=18892][attachment=18891

Last update on this radio, hope I have not bored everyone.
 
The Pye 19A is all but finished, I have yet to route out the cooling slots in the polycarbonate back panel, A jig will have to be made to ensure uniformity, still thinking exactly how to do that.

The plastic trim is binned, replaced by braided nylon rope.
It is simply edge glued and I think it looks good, it hides a multitude of sins and is easily removable if the originality of the set were ever an issue.

The back is 6mm polycarbonate, I need to find a good photo' of the original back to establish the layout of the cooling slots, thankfully Pye used slots not hundreds of diamond holes as Marconi HMV used.

The Danish oil finish has dried to a pleasant low gloss sheen, it is the easy way to refinish in my opinion and the lack of a high gloss helps to hide the odd mark or bruise in the veneer. Looks a bit more modern, shades of G Plan.

The set works really well for a very short superhet with a bit of wire for an aerial. It has been a long gestation from a set considered to be fit for scrapping to the finished article but looking at it now I think the right decision was made to persevere and restore to near original condition.

Hope some will agree.

[boater sam]

Another photo'

[radioman]

That's turned out really good, well done Sam - it was definitely worth saving.

Andy