Well this one just arrived yesterday, in different packages and then it was a long night at the bench modding and putting it all togther, my way. Like a 78 rail dial (the MBW serial number matches for that year just about)
A bit like this one here but newer and better
As you all know i like my watches to look new ish or old but well looked after, and in particualar usable all the time.
I had been collecting parts for this one for a few months and as soon as I had all the major parts I had to get to work on it, in particular I wanted the He valve to look real, Now i had toyed with the idea of making a gen style one on the lathe but then I thought it is a rep it will never be asked to work as I will never be in a helium rich over pressure enviroment so what could I do just to make it look different (and to be honest i dont think i have) I drilled out the old He Valve area in the MBW case and then turned a 1.65mm plug of SS, polished and domed the top and glued it in to the case so that it was more recessed then the MBW, well my wife cant tell the difference from before and after the two hours work, ( have you ever tryed to drill on top of a dome dead in the center) What do you think?
Any difference?
A gen for comparison
Any way the rest of the build and parts used
Modded MBW old school case with:-
Lugs drilled, gen spring bars
Modded CGs
Modded He Valve area
Gen Tube and Crown (need a new crown as the threads are on the way out on this one)
Clarks T39 crystal (and this is pretty damn close to the gen T39 service crystal)
ETA 2846 21600 movement, just serviced, MBW silver DWO, with Hacking lever added (quick set date still fitted)
Ingod Rail Dial relumed by me (not my best work i have to admit)
TC hands (and wow are these close to gen and with great lume, fit and ETA perfectly)
Currently on 503b endlinks with a 6248 clasp and 7021 links, but it looks fine from the out side, all polished to remove the sharpe edges, cleaned rebrushed and re cleaned for that silky feel like prom queens thigh!
Now i just need to improve that pearl, pick up a 93150 josh bracelet and get a new crown and let it age on my wrist
So some more pics
I know it is not the right case back but oh well
The photo all the purist will hate but this is a comparison with my gen 1680 with lumi dial
And finaly the wrist shot
I would like to than the following people who help with this build in selling, or donating parts
TC, DenimHead, Highoeyazmuhudee, My wife and all of RWG for the knowledge i have learnt over the past 8 years to enable me to complete this work.
Andy