projectologist

I like FGD's buckles... they were the closest to 1:1 I've ever seen so far. Maybe someday he'll reconsider making some more

Senator ist ein Pferd in den Arsch ... jus' sayin'

Check out my next to last pic... the gen T 24 and 25 together. Contours are exactly the same. The 25's dia. is 40.8 mm while the 24's is 40.1mm So I only have to shave off approximately .1 mm of the 24 to get it to fit the DSN bezel. OR wait a bit and something 1:1 just might be available later this Summer

Thanks D! Here are some straight-on side-view pics... take into account P&S lens distortion. I'm really liking DSN's new case set.

No engraving with this one. Nice not having to remove that poorly done laser etching he used to use. Lug width (when viewed from the side) is 5.5mm which is essentially the same as gen which is 5.6mm according to Volker's book. Looking straight down from above the case, I have no idea what gen spec is, but I agree they look thicker.

Thanks guys... I'm amazed what can be put together for under $400 with all of the great parts available today. The new DSN case set is a clear winner

So I finally decided, after collecting some bits and pieces over the past couple of months, to put together a 6152/1 and then a 6152. I'm going with a DSN case set and park a Molnija movement in it for now along with a closed case back. Thanks to PSofC for his recommendation and letting me get in on his order with DSN. So now that I have the case set, here's some observations...

Sounds good... thanks!

Any thoughts on matching the lume color (uncharged) to gen? It would be a shame not too given how accurate the dial is in every other respect.

Can you identify the movement? It's not a 618, it is a Rolex AND it fits the case. Hmmm...

I'm helping my friend get his 3646 project finished. My watchsmith has been very patient helping with sub-assemblies and servicing/repairing the movement. As you can see the uber thick dial required a couple of new custom parts. The dial is sitting a little lower than usual since the movement hasn't been fitted into the ring underneath it. Hands still need to be lumed and some fine tuning done to the plexi. More pics to follow as the project nears completion.

Here it is back from Germany in the new 1:1 case set and with new "vintage" hands...

Thanks... it was the donor watch for the latest version Cali I posted several days ago. Here's a pic with movement and dial before heading off to Germany for the transplant and another of the empty donor...

Yes and still running strong... knock on wood.

My P&S lens combined with the plexi distortion altered the indices quite a bit as well as the rr track, but in the first pic it's all about the hands.

Yeah... the strap is what you would see on a Radiomir with the Kiefer dial, which is why I have it pictured next to the gen Kiefer 3646 in my "made-a-strap" post in the Panerai forum. A gen Kiefer dial may be up next replacing the Cali in there now.

Finally on a strap... sewed it on yesterday. My first attempt at strapmaking. FGD, recognize the buckle?

Really wish you hadn't posted such a nice 201a... now I really miss mine And I agree with you regarding the strap change system ... it was the final mod I passed on. Congrats on a fine pick-up!

Can finally wear this one. First attempt at making a strap. Had to be sewn onto fixed wire lugs. Vintage length.

I don't know what I was thinking, but I thought "how cool would it be to make my own strap for this watch". And it's a stitch-less version so shouldn't be that hard to cobble together. WRONG !!!!! Took way longer than I thought it would, my thumbs are still throbbing and I have new respect for the REAL strapmakers that grace this forum. Good gawd, I even had trouble cutting the leather cleanly to a consistent 26mm width... redo, reglue, retrim. The stitching turned out to be the easiest part, it just took me half a day to get to that stage . So here are some pics of my attempt at a vintage strap... and although I b!tched and moaned the whole time, it was worth it in the end. Glued and starting to stitch it together... First side done... DONE!!! A little comparo next to the real thang (gen watch and gen strap on the left) Some wristies... vintage length would be filled out by the diver's wetsuit... yeah I know the buckle isn't correct (was used 10 years later), but I really like it.

PM sent...

Appears to be 32mm.

Amazingly comfortable for a 47mm sub with a 27mm strap. Some quick phone pics for now... more detail pics and specs to follow. I think VDB is off to a great start with this series.

Couple of quick phone picks taken just after it arrived yesterday... remarkably comfortable on the wrist despite being a new strap and 47mm. VDB's new VDB I...