I'm doing the same thing with my CTC-7 Pensbury cabinet now. I got it with no picture tube, no chassis, just a flawless cabinet.
Until I get the proper chassis for the set, I made a very convincing fake slide-in jig with a SS CRT and chassis and the controls coming out the back. It's too nice of a cabinet to just have a big empty hole in it, and too special to alter for any other purpose. So I came up with a smart compromise
Still have to finish up the speaker board I made....when it's done I'll take better pics