jmb

Shultz, As far as the lineage of the case Ubi will need to chime in but it appears to be your standard 16520 case. The A7750 movement drops right in with no spacer or adapter of any kind. Assembling this was so easy there is absolutely no excuse for one of the factories to not make one! As far as a black bezel, I wonder if avitt could do the Black DLC process on one? Then just paint in the numbers with white paint? Looking forward to seeing yours completed!

Thanks, really I'm just a hack compared to the stuff Ubi, Lani, and Freddy crank out! When I got into this hobby (not too long ago) instead of jumping in and laying out $300-$400 for a super-rep I bought a mess of $40 watches to "play" with. If I messed one up it didn't matter 'cause it really didn't cost much and what was left was "spare parts". It's surprising what you can learn by reading this forum and attacking a cheap watch without fear of failure!

I had a little time on my hands and a bunch of crap, err parts, scattered all over my bench and got a hair-brained idea. I'd wanted to build a Red Submariner for quite a while but hadn't came up with a proper case. I had a $40 Sub which had been my first lug hole victim and was pretty beat up so it looked well used but it had a mineral glass crystal w/cyclops. I had a rather incorrect Red Sub dial, a riveted vintage style band, a Clarks T-29, a DG2813, and a set of hands so I figgered all this junk would take up less space if it was a watch so I started building. I popped the crystal and found with a little "stretching" the gasket snapped onto the bottom of the T-29 so I ran a small bead of GS Hypo where the crystal would seat and pressed it home. I then ran a light bead of GS Hypo around the recess where the mineral glass crystal usually sits and then pressed the T-29/gasket assembly home. It fit satisfyingly snug so I set it aside to let the glue dry. I then glued a rather incorrect date wheel overlay onto the 2813, installed dial and hands, and by that time I figured the glue would be dry. I tossed everything together, snapped the bezel down, glued on the insert, and at a glance the mish-mash of pieces almost look like they belong together! It will never pass even moderately close scrutiny but I can add it to my ever growing pile of beaters as another "shop watch". I find I have a hard time wearing just one watch and normally will go through the week wearing 2-3 but find I seem to prefer the vintage looking ones. I think tomorrow I'll de-case it and do a proper job on the CGs as I didn't realize how ugly they were until I took the pics! Only a couple months ago I would have thought the CGs to look just fine - y'all are a bad influence!!!

That really turned out sharp! :thumbsupsmileyanim:

Thanks, Ubi, for looking. I have several rep 7mm Tudor crown/tube sets on order and they should ship once everybody in CN gets bored with their holiday and decides to go back to work!

Geeze, Kurt, bitchin' dial! But, make sure you chain it up when any girl watches are around! Thanks, R, it wouldn't be finished without your help...

The sun was finally out when I was at home so I thought I'd snap a few pics in natural late afternoon lighting. Sorry for it being dirty but I've been wearing it out in the shop all day! My watches get USED, in more ways than one... I received my latest package from GZ with what I hope are a little bit more correct Bracelets for the Tudors. It's a regular brushed Oyster band with vintage style clasp with Tudor markings - I really think it sets the watch off quite nice. As soon as the CN holiday is over I should have some 7mm Tudor crowns being shipped so that should make it complete!! Not too much to say since I posted the build details earlier other than to again thank Lani and Ubi for their generosity with their goody stashes!

That's the same type construction as that on my $85 "Budget Special".

Thanks, R, it's nice to see exactly how this mates up with the other part!

Crap, OK! Hell, I wuz fixin' to e-Bay it!! This weekend I'm going to try to turn out a couple more this weekend and I'll return the loaner and a couple spares for your trouble first of next week. Remind me not to forget to make a couple for Kurt!

:Jumpy: :Jumpy: :Jumpy:

I finally got around to installing the proper crown/tube assy. on my budget White Faced Explorer II so it may now get a little wrist time!

T, I think that Mr. Slimeball does business as Watchbandman50, wholesaleoutlet550, or jewelryoutlet999. I've had good luck with these folks for reasonable looking low-cost items plus they have very quick shipping for me being located out of Texas!

A gen "naturally faded" 5513 insert just sold for $631 on flea-bay!

I will now have TWO watches I'll never sell...

Luso, PM sent...

That sounds interesting...

I'll have to come up with a set for an a21j DSSD... :-p

Yeah, I need the fat hands to make it complete but coming up with hands for a21j movements is somewhat, shall we say, challenging....

I think they now offer the "corrected" insert as an option on the Ultimate...

Hey, nothin' wrong with cheap! Looks very nice...

The only good thing about this is that all of the crooks pols in DC will have to stay home so they won't be there to screw us for a few days!

If the process is gonna remain locked in your safe I guess that would be a reasonable alternative! I better go out and see if it fits!

I had thought about doing this for a while but TeeJay put me over the edge. I had a new no-date dial I had received that was missing an hour marker and a couple LV dials I figured I'd never use so I had my ingredients. It was an easy project and I think it'll be perfect once I find some "Maxi Hands" for a21j. First I popped out all of the markers from the no-date dial. I then popped all of the markers out of one LV dial and one 9:00 marker from a second. It's then simply a matter of inserting the "new" markers into their respective holes, flipping over, and putting a dot of epoxy (or other adhesive) on each exposed "post". Let dry and reassemble. I really had intended to file the CGs this time but I was so intent on getting a look at the dial I forgot! Next time, right? Here's what it looks like - just imagine it with the correct hands: As you can see this piece is picking up numerous nicks and scratches as I wear it often, usually in a harsh environment! But, this is what a "tool watch" is for, right? Gimme an amen, brother!

Yeah! I think this might be a good next step on my budget DRSD!! I do have an extra Clarks insert laying around if it'll fit... Ubi, that looks very good, smooth and even.