The failing 18 ohm resistor has been changed, ( reads 61 out of circuit ), replaced main bias filters, not to dredge up this whole reform / replace debacle, but this does sort of add fuel to it.
At this point, I have had power on for over 2 hours, most of it bringing it slowly up.
https://i.imgur.com/IAcROGx.jpg
C1, C2a, C3a have been replaced, when tested ( after being isolated), C2a & C3a seemed to check OK, although a bit high, I have no way to do a full power leak test, however.
BUT... I could get no reading at all on C1, it was very dead.
I now have a matching set of 150uf in the voltage doubler circuit.
USPS says that the NOS HOT will be here today, I will see if I can get stable HV now.