So then you (the guy who has zero experience with recording), are going to make it up as you go along, with whatever you think it will take to get that sound...and we (the guys who actually have experience with recording) need to provide proof to show we know what we are talking about....???
Listen...I've got more analog gear than most guys these days would bother with, because they can do a lot of it with software..so I'm not some ITB fanatic or anything like that....and because I have that gear, and because I also do ITB...I can tell you that if I was going to do Hair Metal, the last thing on my mind would be the need for tape decks and consoles....and I say that even though I have those things.
You want proof that smooth, vintage sounding music can be done ITB...well then turn on the radio!
These days everything you hear has probably been done mostly if not all ITB, and no hard feelings, but Hair Metal doesn't really raise the bar on any kind of "vintage analog sound" quality. If anything, it was probably the absolute worst example of "vintage analog sound" at the time. Heck...the Grunge styles that followed had more of that vintage analog sound quality.
There's also a lot of current Indie music that pulls mostly from the '60s/'70s, when analog was king...and it's being done ITB.
What everyone here is explaining to you (the skeptic with zero recording experience) is that you will waste your money and time, with some half-assed analog tape setup, getting it properly aligned and working, learning how to use it...and then realizing that it's going to take a lot more than that to get the sound you want.
You need to focus on production techniques for Hair Metal, learn basic recording skills...and for the money you have, you will be best served by going ITB for the mixing. Spend the money on some nice preamps and mics...right there is a lot of your "sound"...then add a decent interface and spend the rest on a DAW setup and plugs.
Even though you say you haven't done any recording...you obviously already have some kind of DAW setup, since you have Superior Drummer. So I'm getting the feeling that you are struggling with that, and you think the solution is to get a tape deck and a console....and you are not the first person to think that....but tape decks and console bring with them their own learning curves and issues.
It's about knowing HOW to use your equipment and not so much the equipment...and that goes equally for analog/tape and ITB...and both can be used to get whatever sounds you want.
TBH...as much as I love analog and tape...I can't deny that an ITB rig is WAY more flexible and provides endless possibilities, so you really CAN do just about anything with it. It would take a LOT of $$$ to stock an analog studio with that same kind of flexibility and options. Besides, you don't have the budget for the analog gear of that era...not even close.
All you will get is something that you "think" is the right analog gear.
The "proof" here is that we (the guys who have recording experience) know what we are talking about and telling you (the guy with little to none).
You can decide to accept it or reject it...and then go find your own path and solutions.