[kiwi_steve]

So I stripped out the chassis that was in my radio.  It was horribly done... so I feel better now its beautifully undone.  And I might build it one day if I can find 3 suitable IF cans and a P-P transformer to suit a 19 tube.

   

   

And I bought a can of automotive lacquer that matches the original paint (a metallic dark-ish gold), then tested it on the intended donor chassis (a RCNZ model 18 chassis - relatively common, from a junk radio with a near-destroyed cabinet).

   

Then carefully prised the 4 spot welds apart to get the valve shield base from where the coil can needs to go, and tried the coils for fit

   

   

I'm using 2 old IF cans with the same layout as the originals that I got from an old parts chassis - they're too short but I might have some others I can use that are taller.  I only have 2 coil cans that don't have dimples in the top though.  Almost all RCNZ-made coil cans had a dimple in the top - but these Pacific ones did not.  I'll have to ask around and see if I can find one more suitable can.

Thats about as far as I have managed to get at this point... but I'll keep you posted with progress.