[HBR] HBR Question

[whitebear1122 at comcast.net]

This has probably been asked a million times so I'm sorry to ask again. 



I'm looking for some HBR opinions.   I'm looking to build my own HBR receiver and I'd like to hear your opinion on the performance of the various models.   If you were building a good performance HBR which one would you consider?   I see the HBR 14, 16, 8, 11, 12,  13C, and perhaps you can't go wrong with any of them. 



Is there one that stands out in terms of performance and stability?  My long term plan is to build my own receiver, transmitter, amplifier, for cw and enjoy using my own HB equipment.  



I currently own two HBR's, an HBR-16 and an HBR-13C, both built by someone else.  The 16 works pretty good, the 13C work very well!  I'd still like to build my own.  One option is to strip one of the HBR's down for parts, replace the 50 yr old caps and resistors, rebuild it in the existing chassis/cabinet.  I don't know if I can technically call it my own homebrew receiver though.  Maybe I can.  Another option is to strip one down and rebuild it in my own punched chassis.  And the last option is to find new parts or a junker or uncompleted HBR and build a new one.  So that is where I am at the moment. 



I have the 3 section variable cap, given to me by a friend with the comment to 'build an HBR with it".  I think the IF transformers and BFO transformer will be the most difficult of all to find.  



Appreciate your comments or advice. 



73, Scott WA9WFA