rmcsherry

Thanks for the kind comment - RWG is a great place to be, and I'll continue to support it and any members that I can! Now, what other liberties can I take It's a difficult predicament. As mine isn't complete yet, and I've now ripped out it's motor, I'm seriously questioning if it'll get any wrist time when the other one arrives!

Cheers, V - at the moment I'm just trying to work out if it's worth what I think it is, and if I can at least match my investment (the parts I traded for the WM would now be worth a small fortune!). I guess it's at least as rare as a JF case set, but you never really see them for sale!

I'm not 'shilling', but am curious about the current value of a WM3646. I've got a fully modded (welded lugs, custom crystal etc.) WM3646, and I can't decide if I should keep it. The movement has been ripped out for another project, and I've got a rather special 3646 on it's way to me shortly - so I don't really have the enthuiasm (or money!) to finish this project. It'll have a couple of dials, hand set for a Cortebert 616, custom movement ring to fit a Cortebert 616 and a spare engraved crown. If anybody has ideas of a ballpark value, it'll help me to decide if it's worth keeping or trading.

Impressive work - both Rob's craftmanship, and your dedication to complete the project. I'm fairly ignorant to post 1950's Panerai's, but I think anyone can see that this is as close to perfect as it's possible to get!

Neither - they used tapered steel bars that were fitted using pressure to the case. Here's the original: And here's my version on a Fiddy case:

Looks really good, well done. Love the dial / hands combo on the vintage one - you've done a great job at aging it. My 4-liner line-up will be almost identical, but my 082 has now gone to a new home - so the 036 will be taking its place! Glad we got the original dial issues sorted out - your work has really paid off!

W - I'd be in for 3 if you could get them ready-tapped!!

You've got a Fiddy case and CG, Asian 6497 movement, vintage-style hands and dial - so it's not a Panerai model, but could be used as a good starting point for a vintage base project!

...if only I could remember which paint I used - the dial you have has a better colour match than any other I've done! The aged brown dial is definetly a theme to stick with on this one. As you get to know more about vintages, there'll be new things that bug you about each watch - and it'll be expensive mods to get them right! Sunburst wheels are a good step forward - I've even tried polishing and plating the NOS movements that you have there - the effect could be quite cool if tweaked a little (although CDG is more historically accurate). When you start worrying about the construction of the dial which can't be seen unless you rip the watch to pieces, you know you've got a problem - I think I need to see a professional Great watch and even better story, I can't wait to see the next project you come out with!

Wow, looks great. Marco and G are the real contributers here - without the movement repair and casework, it'd still be a bunch of parts! I'm glad you've pulled it off, it looks fantastic - and the NOS 616 is pretty unique to your watch (other than the PAM21, I've never seen another one installed like it!). It's also worth noting that without the trust, support and contribution from yourself and members of the community, this wouldn't of been pulled off - the irony isn't lost that some of the most genuine people I have met have been through a 'replica' forum!

Doesn't get any better. You're a great addition to the community - it's rare to see people so open with information and willing to share their knowledge - your advice has really helped me with some of my projects, and I can't wait to see the next project that you decide to take on!

Incredible. I wondered how long it'd be before you got the lug welding perfected! I mistook the gen for a spec of dust amongst those huge vintage Pams - it's tiny! I'm curious now - but there are definetly some great watches there, would love to attend an Erfurt GTG (if only it were a little closer!).

Now you've got me searching! Is the welded lug 3646 with Rolex crown dial one of Stephan's as well? I'm amazed at the collection.

I recognise some of those dials! Amazing table of watches / movements. What's the watch on the left with the Rolex (?) movement? The bridge shape is different to a Cortebert - what is it?! Great looking Rolex '618' movement, too - definetly my next project.

Looking good, A - gotta love that knife-edge buckle from Kevin. Have you filled the indices with resin? I can't quite see from the pictures, but it looks a little 'different' from the regular mods you see!

I prefer the short, but the elongated are completely unavailable elsewhere - I guess the short point can be modded from a Unitas if we're really desperate! V's picture shows a bevelled centre on the minute hand - does anybody know if this is a one-off, or a feature on all of them? I've never noticed it before!

The point on the second hand in the picture appears to be much longer than some of the other images I've been referring to. I think this it serves the purpose of getting accurate measurements (13.5mm total length for hour hand, 18.7 for minute), but the it'd be good to get some feedback on the style before proceeding. T - do you need a full set of measurements, or are you planning on using a good reference image and overall dimensions (length, width) and getting the manufacturer to create the drawings based on their experience? If anybody has a more accurate way of measuring / drawing, then please say so - all I'll do is create a very basic 2D vector illustration with any required measurements / angles.

Thanks for the picture, V - very useful. If they are original hands, the total length is roughly 13.5mm for the hour hand, and 18.7mm for the minute hand. I'll work on the full range of dimensions and post them here for critique!

Unavailable to members of the public. However, at $280 for a Miyota 0S20, I'm sure you can find a better looking watch for the money!

V, That would be useful - if you send it to my email, I'll try to work out what dimensions they are! It would be useful if the image has a point of reference (ie. both sides of the case - but if it doesn't, I should be able to work out what size the inner bezel diameter is based on the model (6152 would be 40.2mm, I guess.)

I think his hand would be dragging along the floor if that was real

Here are the two different hand styles - critisism welcome! I can't establish accurate measurements from the images that I have - maybe someone with Volker's book / good high-res images will get a better idea of size? We're looking for total length, width, size of the 'surround' around the tube, size of lume cutout etc.

Or - a great alternative is 'Garryflex' abrasive blocks. They're cheap; I just refinished a V CG and a Ti case in a matter of minutes - the quality of finish is next to perfect. It's what a lot of enthusiasts use to refinish genuine Panerai's when they get knocked about! Go for the 120 grit, and you really can't go wrong.

I'll sort something out today with measurements.

I've just bought a Bergeon 30464 hand gauge, and the measurements for the Angelus are correct (80/155) - but the Cortebert has me confused. I've measured 108/185, however the only hands I have are 105/190 - these hands seem to fit ok, but I would rather check some Cortebert 616 pocket watch hands if anybody can lend me a set. The Molnija 3602 is also 105/190 - and the WatchMaster 3646 hands that I have (supposedly created from an original Radiomir) are 18mm and 14mm in length - I can't say if this is 100% accurate to the original, but if you would like me to have a look, I can take the measurements from a number of reference photos using known dimensions (case diameter at 47mm will be the easiest reference point).