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Old 12th Apr 2022, 2:01 pm   #1
Mike G0JXX
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Default Early AR88 acquired

Having two AR88 already of course I needed a third! Anyway, I collected an early AR88 yesterday, serial number 001812, which is in very rough condition. I bought it for the case to complete one given to me by a local friend but as this is complete I may well restore it. It’s one with an embossed front panel and I have a spare which has been stripped back to the copper coated steel. Has anyone on here successfully repainted a front panel and if so what did you do? I’d post some pics but it’s pretty horrific ! 20 years in a damp shed….you can imagine…

73 de Mike G0JXX
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Old 12th Apr 2022, 2:29 pm   #2
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

I sent mine, along with the cabinet to a stove enamelling firm and had it baked hard in silver-hammer. They couldn't do wrinkle. Historically it's dead wrong. It looks gorgeous. But it's mine and it's been like this since 1967. Filling the text on the engraved front panel was fun, but at least the baked finish is not upset by thinners when you get something wrong.

So if you have an early one, has it the all-yellow tuning scale and an S-meter? There may be a rebuild sticker on one panel/chassis reinforcing gusset. Looks like mine got a PVC wiring harness in the fifties.

David
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Old 12th Apr 2022, 4:49 pm   #3
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

I have an early AR88LF with an engraved front panel. I think the original finish on these was smooth rather than wrinkle finish.
Don m5aky
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Old 12th Apr 2022, 5:11 pm   #4
Mike G0JXX
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

Hi Don, yes all the early embossed ones are smooth finish. Thanks Mike G0JXX
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Old 12th Apr 2022, 5:19 pm   #5
Mike G0JXX
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

Hi David. Yes, it’s an all coloured dial but the S meter wasn’t fitted as standard in the early versions looking at the info on Radio Boulevard. It’s got the AR88 plate instead. As long as we keep Nos alive it can be any colour you want! Mine will be smooth Matt black and it’ll need a steady hand on the letters! I’m tempted to get it professionally done. I’ve 3 now and my first one I bought 40 years ago from a rally, I’ve been given on from Andy G3UEQ which is really nice and that’s the one I want to get the better panel one as it’s superb! 73
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Old 12th Apr 2022, 5:35 pm   #6
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

Yes the original AR88 had an engraved front-panel and was finished in smooth black.

If you strip off the black from one of these you'll find the underlying steel is copper-plated.

[I have one such here; it's been modified to RAF R1556 status with the extra front-panel switch and phones-socket, then converted back to non-1556 status, presumably when it was demobbed, by way of rather well-engineered steel 'bungs' force-fitted in the supernumerary holes].
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Old 12th Apr 2022, 5:45 pm   #7
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

The last one I got working was an AR88D which had a smooth front panel with the lettering engraved.

The receiver above it was the opposite, in the fact that the rusty lettering was raised and not by a lot so not the easiest front panel to refurbish but it turned out very well.

Lawrence.
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Old 13th Apr 2022, 1:30 pm   #8
Mike G0JXX
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

Thanks G6Tanuki, I have the stripped one here with copper coating but it’s difficult to get anything to adhere to it. For one of mine I managed to find a NOS crackle screen printed front panel even though it isn’t correct it looks good. I have a couple of ones that need stripping and I’m trying to find the best way of spraying it. The case is easy and I can just clean it up and re spray but the FP is the attractive bit!
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Old 25th Apr 2022, 4:18 pm   #9
Mike G0JXX
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

Making some progress in tackling a couple of AR88. Does anyone know the size of the socket needed to remove the gear box? I think it’s 11/32” and that will fit but I suspect you need a thin walled socket wrench as it’s very close to the RF shield? The question is, is it a specialist tool or should I just go ahead and modify one?
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Old 28th Apr 2022, 8:05 pm   #10
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike G0JXX View Post
Hi David. Yes, it’s an all coloured dial but the S meter wasn’t fitted as standard in the early versions looking at the info on Radio Boulevard. It’s got the AR88 plate instead. As long as we keep Nos alive it can be any colour you want! Mine will be smooth Matt black and it’ll need a steady hand on the letters! I’m tempted to get it professionally done. I’ve 3 now and my first one I bought 40 years ago from a rally, I’ve been given on from Andy G3UEQ which is really nice and that’s the one I want to get the better panel one as it’s superb! 73
My early '88 is the one on the Radio Blvd website. Painted, engraved, S meter and colored dial.

I used to use it when I was a little ham (12 years old). The owner became a good friend / mentor for many years. He passed many years ago and I lost track of the radio.

A casual conversation with a local ham who was also friends with this gentleman revealed that he had the '88 and if I wanted it I could have it. So after 40+ years it found its way back to me. Needed a good cleaning and the typical parts replacements but it is now working well and one of the top pieces in my collection of the old RCA '88 series radios.

Tom
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Old 29th Apr 2022, 9:25 am   #11
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

I find that engraved panels are the easiest ones to refurbish.Don't spray the panel so heavily that you fill in the engravings. Then paint the legends in white enamel or whatever. You don't need to be too careful - just make sure the engraving is completely filled. Once this is touch dry, rub off the excess very gently using a cloth dampened with white spirit, wrapped round a small flat piece of wood or MDF. You should find that the lettering comes out crisp and clear.
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Old 19th May 2022, 9:24 am   #12
Mike G0JXX
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

Well, this has moved on a little bit. I’ve taken out the paper smoothing caps from the case and what a job that was! I tried the ‘boiling’ method but that failed so ended up using a small gas torch to heat up the case, it’s going to be repainted anyway. That let the wax flood out and I could take out the inner tin. It’s a filthy job but having got that far I wanted to open up the inner tin and re stuff it so it’s original in appearance. I’ll see if I can post some pics…
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Old 19th May 2022, 10:23 am   #13
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

That looks quite successful. I've got my AR88 to do sometime... before I ever put it on again. I'd been thinking of making a new reservoir can, probably TIG welded aluminium, painted to look original. This way I can have an internal FR4 structure to support modern film capacitors and have the whole thing held together with a few screws on the underside.

David
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Old 21st May 2022, 9:20 pm   #14
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Default Re: Early AR88 acquired

When 'doing' my AR88's leaky bathtubs I turfed-out the metal-cans and just fitted a bit of bare FR4 with turret-tags, cut to fit the space and mounted on short standoffs; 400VDC rated yellow polypropylene capcitors wired between the turret-tags and open for all to see.

[But when you're actually _using_ your AR88, who will see? And who will care?]
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