aeromatic

Panda....

Nice Speedy!

A chilled Rolex Sub!Cool! Chilling out on a saturday!

Unfinished wristy! Needed Gen crown and tube and correct bracelet!

I still feel a gen may be too expensive and the folded is not availible from yuki right now. Any other suggestions?

There is a submariner bracelet at yuki's for only $55, any comments on this?

have you seen the folded one on trusty? its for a 1675 i think but would look good on a 5513

Ditto. I have a 9315 on mine

That is the bracelet that should be on my latest 5513 project super! i prefer the folded bracelet nice photo

Iv been reshaping the crown guards tonight using the gen as patten not an easy thing to do iv found, looking much better but got to do something with that oversized crown! i will post photos as soon as i can! i also fitted the 1680 bracelet until i can find a folded bracelet!

Here's a couple shots of my Gen if you need a comparison shot. The bezel was replaced by Rolex in the 90's after a tank removed the original and it sunk.

the bracelet is a gen 7836 with a 280 end and a 285 end. It started life with 280's but the band got hit and the watchmaker had a 285 for free so I took it.

wow! super super watch! my wife cant understand why my watches look the same i mean although the 5513 range look basicaly

the same every watch has small differences that make it special whether its the dial patina or the hands i find the 1513 very interesting watches! every watch has an interesting story your watch too

the great thing about the 5513 range is that parts are interchangeable i like watches that have had a different bracelet or

different crystal fitted this is the history of the watch :

Me too! Here's two quick wrist shots

I'll take some better ones with the DSLR this weekend when the sun is out!

Wow that is a super super watch very good condition

I just got a gen 5513 from 1973 - easily one of my favorite Rolexes. You've done a fantastic job there!

Thanks Red Baron! love to see a photo of your watch! i love the pre 1980s submariners.

All your detailing/parts adds up to only one thing! Gen! gen! gen ! great work!

Im thinking of ordering good quality 5513 dial and skip the oven treatment and just coat it in varnish in much the same way

should be interesting with a lighter shade tint

Im Thinking of a ordering the ofrei tropic crystal anyone purchased one of these!

here is a gen dial photo for comparison

I would say that you could achieve a similar result to this picture provided you start with a good dial!

mabe just skip the oven and only do the varnish, spray it on 3-4 coats then dry (while still tacky) rub the dial with your thumb very lightly not to much pressure but apply a little dust to your fingers and rub it in dont worry about putting too much dust you can rub some of it away with your thumb. also rubbing the tacky dial with toilet tissue and rubbing the dial

will give the dial a texture as the toilet roll will leave fibre on the dial

after looking closer at this dial it looks like it has been coated with varnish do any member know this dial or confirm that it is a gen?

That's a fantastic outcome, I really like the effect you've achieved

Thanks teejay appreciate it! like magic

how strange it turned into a gilt dial....I think it turned out great...in the case, I bet that bubble stuff doesn't even look noticable. great work....the magic gilt oven..cheaper than gold.

You are right not noticable in the watchcase! yes it sure is strange i love guilt dials!

I can just imagine my wife saying "Whatcha cooking?"

A rolex dial

Yep sure sounds funny! I think our wifes will have us committed for sure!

It is a shame that bubbled but you have made an interesting dial that looks like it has had a life in interesting (and Hot)circumstaces

Yes i wonder if a lower temperture would have avoided it but then again its a factory dial i suppose in a way it adds to the aged look but im sure that a less extream finish on a quality dial with a varnish tint in a lighter shade should give

an excellent result taking the dial out often and checking it until it has reach your desired patina i know that a lot of people would throw away these factory dials and buy expensive dials but this is an alternative for say a budget build

here is a gen dial photo for comparison

well i hope it is a gen!

Interesting 'gilt' effect the aging has achieved on the dial...

Yes i agree certainly looks more authenic than my 6538 guilt dial!

Well Its sunday afternoon and im looking at some left overs from my 5513 project that used to be a 1680 redsub rep actualy

the redsub dial was not to bad for an out of the box vintage rep costing 198usd the problem is the too clean look and shiny dot markers

I decided to cook the dial in the oven (grill) at 200c for 20 mins(ok that was too high i know) so here are the results

Here is the dial before

after the oven abuse

notice that the dial has bubbled up from the extream heat

the shinny dot markers have gone and the white print has become a (goldish patina)

next move i sprayed a wood varnish laquer (mahogany) tint 3-4 coats then waited for it to dry still tacky i pressed the part that had bubbled up flat which created further patina then i took some dust in my hand and rubbed it over the dial then brushed off the excess which resulted in this very faded and aged looking dial the dust and rubbing also removed the gloss

handset also got the laquer and ageing treatment the tint has turned the shiny parts of the handset golden patina also some marking with a black marker pen

the result was a complete suprise to me i dident imagine it to turn out this way ok it is extream! all i need now is a case to put it in!

Has any member purchased trustys folded bracelet? would like some thoughts on it

Super !

Good question...a gen dial would be the best of course, the MBW/MBK dials are IMO a very good alternative - but with a little additional work! The markers have to be relumed because they are shiny, also I am using a clear varnish to get a nice structure on the dial - with very good results (again here IMO).

Of course the MBW dial can be spotted as fake by better inspection, but the yuki or ndt dials I can recnogize on 2 meters. And why should I waste so much money for a dial with good - let's say - not visible details, but wrong details which can be seen on a few meters. Don't know why they can't do it correct...

Ok You have got me thinking what about spraying the mbk/mbw dial with a matt finish laquer this may reduce the shine

im all for spraying varnish it also gives the dial a quality and aged look.

Nice watch, well done! But the yuki dials are not my taste. Don't know why, but the stick markers are always too thick/long on their dials, and that's always a big giveaway...

Thanks Omega This is not a yuki as far as i know got it off ebay but i agree wonder why? do you know of any where to get better dials ?

Hey AEROMATIC...very good comparison pics even without wearing spectacles... they came out quite ok. Thanks 4 your reference 2 my efforts 4 building this project...don't forget man...i'm always here 4 u. Being out 4 too long, but always interested on other members projects...i must say that many guys out there r real masters of t kind! BRAVO!!! Anyway...i ll try 2 put some of my own project pics in due time. Cheers 2 all

Thanks George loiz! im thinking about getting a folded bracelet and a yuki crown n tube so we need some work on the crown guards question is do we make them pointed crown guards or try to replicate the gen guards there should be enough metal on there as the gens guards are shorter

anyway i was out today in the sun the ageing looks authentic in the light but indoors it looks in new condition which i like

the only realy negative comment i have had so far was my wife she compared my watch to a donkeys rear end!

she saw me ageing the case and asked why dont you just tie it to your pickup truck and drive up the mountains! Nice Real Nice!

Inspiring build! I have ordered Joshua's $98 5513 with the hopes of taking it to the next level of budget build nirvana.

Thanks mir36! appreciate it sounds great good luck , look forward to seeing it!we can still build great watches without breaking the bank some projects almost cost as much as a gen, Aero!