Got to spend some time this evening doing some of the basic assembly, plus just sorting through the parts trying to get a feel for what's going to be involved.

I've been building modular synthesizer modules for many years, so so far this is fairly similar to certain parts of that process.

Only problem so far - the hole for the slo-blo fuse on the back panel didn't line up with the hole in the chassis, so I had to do some dremeling. I wasn't as careful as I usually try to be, and managed to carve a little gouge in the back - nuts.  

Ok, I think at this point I have all the preliminary hardware installed.

Some observations - to persons starting one of these kits - despite what my pictures and various other picture sets I've seen show, do NOT install the front and back panel hardware first! Install all the tube sockets and little stuff that goes around the edges of the bottom first. Trust me on this - you'll thank me later. The knobs and such, especially on the back really get in the way of installing stuff, especially the tube sockets. I ended up removing stuff to make it easier. BTW the tube sockets are just a pita to intall anyway.

I highly recommend the use of Loctite Blue thread locker. While the lock washers will probably do a good enough job on their own, these amps typically get used in high vibration situations, and any extra little protection helps. The blue version of Loctite is basically a kind of glue that never really dries, so the screws are removable down the line if need be.

Heater wires are probably the hardest thing to do when wiring the amp (at least for me).... and to do it as neat as Niks guys can do it.... that's another story all together. 

BTW have you seen this...
http://www.brown-note.com/heaters/

Now that a piece of info I didn't know before.... thanks
 

WOW! Nice photos. Your a detail guy.  I just bought a new OTS HRM complete with Cabinet from Nik. Wont get it until december sometime. I guess they have an internal pot I can tweak to change gain or drive intensity.    These amps sound great on you tube videos and the price was right. Im 55 and play a strat. I like SRV. and Robben ford.  It will be interseting to see if I can coax some bluesy SRV tones out of this thing. Im sure I will be happy if its just too brown soundin for that cause I love Robben ford sound too. I got cheap and ordered a Warehouse et-65 nstead of a celestion g12 h65 at 1/3 the cost of a celestion. Good luck in your build and will keep an eye on your progress.
jack

Today, installed the voltage regulator. This was easy - splay out the legs until they're just far apart enough to fit in the 3 bottom holes of the stand thing, stick the whole thing in a helping hands jig, and solder it on. The spacing for both holes works out perfectly this way. I may have put too much loctite on this one - this part will get hot, I'll need to read up on how loctite reacts to heat - I may need to clean it up a bit.


Finished up the wiring on the pots - all that's left now is the wires that come from the various boards.


I finished up the this thing a few days ago - I don't know what it is, but it's there. I'm unsure about the spacing needed for the cabinet screw that comes through right above it - I'm going to have to check that before final assembly - don't need parts shorting to ground that aren't supposed to.

You're right about using white cooling paste instead, but on the other hand, the 7812 hardly get warm because the total wattage of two relays (both OD and PAB) will draw 0.04W.