Mendota Explorer

Very nice!

First off, you used the word "tolerating" in your opening sentence.  My friend, we are all honored and blessed to be right there experiencing this masterpiece along side you.  Seriously, reading all of the updates and seeing the pics of the various parts, reading about the process you went through to source them, and watching this all come together was very exciting for me and everyone else, I'm sure.  I got a chance to live vicariously through you, and this really helps define the goal I have for my own grail.

 

If my business were back to where it was pre-recession, I guaranty you I would have taken on this very same project.  Without a doubt, this is on my grail list and I know for a fact I am going to do this at some point. I just wish it was now.  

 

Enjoy this beauty and please, please, please keep sharing pics of it.  I will never grow tired of seeing this. 

Went through the same thing. Looked at tons of vintage gens. There are some 6538's out there but all originals are 80k and up. "Decent" priced ones had parts I did not like so in the end you build one the way you want it.

I have some 6542 parts already but cannot find a dial. With ingod no longer doing business cannot seem to find a decent dial for my build plans...maybe someday a white dial will appear for sale.

Sent from my droptop using telepathy ️

Apparently he might be back! A member over on either RWI or RG just ordered from him. He's operating via email now. You use the website to select what you want but then conduct all of the transaction via email. I'll look for the thread in the morning. The OP posted the email address in the thread that he used to communicate with Ingod. This was just within the last few days.

Are those dings or chips in the metal?  If it is really bad you could contact your TD with pics of the defective areas and they might even send you one for free.  I had a defective GMTIIc bracelet with dings, burrs, and pockmarks in the metal and the clasp was missing a drilled indentation for the springbar to seat itself in.  Only one half had an indent for the springbar!  Josh sent a new complete bracelet and clasp out for free.  I also had a defective diver's extension on a 93150 and Angus sent me a new clasp for free.

 

It's worth a shot.  The worst they can say is no.

I think it looks really nice.  It would be a great summer watch.  I like the color scheme. 

Wowee wowow!  Amazing.   

HR makes some great dials.  The 6200 and 6538 dials are top notch for budget builds.

Just read over on RWI that members were receiving emails again.  Woot woot!  Here come the big crowns!  

That's a good point. It potentially reduces the risk. It won't necessarily prevent it completely, but definitely reduces it. Rex over on RG proves that even a supporting and trusted vendor can commit theft, so if someone is really intent on absconding with members' watches and money, they will find a way.

I know the crystal ball is fuzzy, but is this permanent or could you be back to help out in a year or two if life settles down again?

Sweet! GMT franken dream come true!

Wow! I'm speechless. What do you say to that? It is beautiful. Literally right out of the pages of Hodinkee.

Thanks guys!

Much better than the duct tape or the rollerball: enter the kitchen (or supermarket) and get one of those yellow, blue or pink thick rubbergloves. Apply constant pressure several times until it moves - specially good for Panerai.

Take 2: from Amazon or ebay get a set of Huaxing caseback openers, these cost $17-$23 usd and work the same as the Bergeon ones, simple easy and best way to watertighten when closing the case again. Since having one of these no Rolex-case was an issue anymore.

I feel silly asking this because I'm normally such a great detective with Google, but I cannot find these on Amazon's mobile site. Nothing comes up for Huaxing and only the wrenches or sticky balls are appearing. Do you have a link by any chance? No worries if not. I can try once I'm at my computer later this afternoon. I hate the mobile site...

Yes, more pics please. Looks very nice!

Yeah, it's the best of a bad bunch, but it was better than nothing at the time. I would have been fine with a stock PT insert had I found one, and Yuki was sold out of his insert at the time, so I gambled on a few of the cheapies on eBay (Clark, Rolesy, Watchman). Lots of variation, even between the same makers. I think this one is a Clark? But even the pearl didn't match the one on a previous one that I had ordered. That's just how it goes sometimes, so I can't wait to get the Yuki to put on it.

 

I have the stock PT on mine and I am really happy with it.  The pearl is great and the insert is the thin service replacement style numbers, so it matches up with the gen 703 that I have on it - during that "service" the crown and insert were replaced.  LOL.  I haven't aged it and I am just letting it age naturally on its own.  

Oyster Perpetual new style

I like it! Where'd you get it or is it a build?

Very nice ideas and suggestions all around! 

Saw this over there. Too funny. Sometimes you just have to wonder...what the **** people are thinking.

I guess I could sell a couple parts off my 6538 so I can buy an Omega to be a WIS.

You run into this on the Corvette forums too. The purist/elitist. I remember having a discussion with a guy about a 66 Roadster I built and he was kind of dissing me for using a few aftermarket parts...but my car is faster than yours, handles better than yours, is easier to service and actually runs....

Sent from my droptop using telepathy ️

Great example. I use the subject of vintage auto restoration all the time. I don't see any problem whatsoever with using non-OEM aftermarket parts on a vintage car if you are just going to be enjoying it. If you are specifically going to be showing it or if it's to restore and flip, then I can understand the need to be anal with parts, but for personal enjoyment who the frack cares? That purist guy sounds like a real a-hole. STFU ands mindz your own bidness.

You rook mahvelous! What an amazing build. I can't wait to see the photo shoot.

 

Ooh, what are the specs on this 1016?  I love it!

sorry mate, I think it's going to a good home. I'll fade one for you if you like, gotta get one from Yuki first.

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No worries at all.  After reading his description about his build, it sounds and looks like he really needs it - way more than I do.  That one he has right now is terr-i-ble!  

Funny!  I just literally saw this thread now.  I was 20 minutes late.  I was going to enter in my PT red 1680.  Oh well, no worries.    I'll BUY it from you.  LOL

Star Time Bars :

 

Dbane did a review of them http://www.rwgforum.net/topic/175027-spring-bars/?hl=%2Bst+%2Bbars

 

 

Honestly, I've never personally had the WSO bars, but I've read that they lose spring tension/strength after a few removals. It might been luck of the draw for those particular bars, but I can't be certain.

 

The Startime bars have held up very well though, including through many removals as I mess around making leather straps and test fitting them.

 

Thanks guys!  Do either of you by any chance have any spare ST bars you want to sell?  I looked at setting up a watchmaker account, as was described in that thread above, but there is a minimum order plus shipping.  I don't have any other needs at the moment.  No worries if not.