Gordon, I was just wondering where you cut the 4 bottom edges of the side plates how much did you cut off for the lead angle? it looks like you just cut a triangle off the corner.
I am not trying to contradict anyone and I know that weight is important but if you only have 12" sides I think that 1200 lbs may be to heavy. The heavier the LP the more material it will cut and that material has to be contained in the box as it passes thru. 12" sides are not very high for a really heavy unit. I would make them taller if you are shooting for 1200 lbs.
My LP is 600 lbs and 5' wide with 12" sides. That is 120 lbs per foot and it runs full or close to full a lot of the time. There are lots of variables. I have experimented with adding weight to my LP and running it parallel to the road surface, or level you might call it, if I go over 750 lbs or 150 lbs per foot the box fills so much that I start to get material flowing over the sides unless I hold the LP up with the 3 pth height lever or tip it back with the top link. Again there are lots of variables like material and blade height and angle.
So you might consider more height to make it heavier or maybe happy with 150 lbs per foot or so. Just something to think about.
gg