P4GTR Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Any updates/pics have been transposed into this initial post for ease of viewing Recently got this inexpensive GMTII from Speedbird here on RWG. This particular version had the same case as the submariner, so the crown guard and crown were way off for a GMT. The bezel was free spinning, the insert had fallen out, it was a bit of a mess (which I knew going in, not speedbirds fault.). I wasn't sure what to do with it at first. I wound up removing the crown guards, aging the insert, I installed a new spring and pellet to fix the bezel, and here it is. I don't expect anyone's jaw to drop, I am not trying to replicate a 6542, just wanted to see where I could take it, and here are the results so far. Case shaping. Removed stem & tube, plugged hole then spent lots of time grinding away with the dremel, sanding and polishing. still not straight.. more grinding better tube back in mock up, lets have a look.. Bezel fixed, insert sanded down & faded using oven cleaner (which has lye in it). Spray a little on a rag and wipe the insert, watching carefully, it works rather quickly. Wear gloves, don't get oven cleaner on your skin. This is how she stands as of now. Update: Case aging I put the case and bracelet links in a tupperware along with a few lbs. of change, a few slices of some coarse sand paper, a couple of bolts, and shook it around for a while. Took quite a bit of abuse, and resulted in very little aging of the case! The bezel insert didn't even get scratched! . This is one brute of a case, i'm telling you! It looks like superficial/artificial scratching. Maybe it was the sandpaper slices. I'll buff it a little, then back to the hopper for more abuse. Rocks sound good for next time. Update: hand & hour marker patina Patina added to hour markers and hands. Mixed a combo of flat white, yellow, interior tan, and thinner in unequal parts until I liked the color results on a test dial, then I moved onto the GMT. Here's the result. It's 4:30 AM here.. Forgive the pictures, more to come soon. The following day... Went over the dial again for imperfections. Shook the case/bracelet up again in the tupperware. Better pics. It's raining here in Tampa, so lighting is not optimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StormTooper4 Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 A Labour of love, thanks for sharing your efforts with us. Its a top looking GMT you got yourself. So where you taking it next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mapman57 Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Great casework and finish - a really balanced shape finish..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiman12 Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 That looks really good! A big brother to a 6542...this means your going to need to build one of those next! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grifter Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Looks great!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Very nice! Great case work. A CG less "Fat Lady"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4GTR Posted January 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Thanks all. Not sure what to do next, if anything. It was fun to test my skills without jeopardizing any expensive parts. Suggestions? It's just a 21j, so not much I can do. Not willing to invest much into it. Crown looks a little big, suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Red Baron Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Wow - thats really impressive! Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Thanks all. Not sure what to do next, if anything. It was fun to test my skills without jeopardizing any expensive parts. Suggestions? It's just a 21j, so not much I can do. Not willing to invest much into it. Crown looks a little big, suggestions? Sell it to me....... then I'll send you another case to hone your skills! Just let me know, Buddy! Great work if I may add! F- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Holy crap! You got a helluva lot more motivation than I, my friend. That is a butt-load of sanding! I don't think I would have touched it without running it through the mill! Actually, I had thought of pruning the CGs off one of my cheapo Subs but got rid of all of 'em before I had a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4GTR Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Holy crap! You got a helluva lot more motivation than I, my friend. That is a butt-load of sanding! I don't think I would have touched it without running it through the mill! Actually, I had thought of pruning the CGs off one of my cheapo Subs but got rid of all of 'em before I had a chance. I went through two dremel battery chargings for this! My first step was to pull the tube and take a cutting wheel to the crown guards and get them as low as possible. The steel on this particular case is super hard! Lots of hand sanding at the end to blend it back to shape. A little update: I put the case and bracelet links in a tupperware along with a few lbs. of change, a few slices of some coarse sand paper, a couple of bolts, and shook it around for a while. Took quite a bit of abuse, and resulted in very little aging of the case! The bezel insert didn't even get scratched! . This is one brute of a case, i'm telling you! It looks like superficial/artificial scratching. Maybe it was the sandpaper slices. I'll buff it a little, then back to the hopper for more abuse. Rocks sound good for next time. So now i'm a little disappointed there are no lug holes on this case. I'm thinking about adding some patina to the hour markers and hands, currently dredging through searches for some ideas on how to get this done. I suppose an older style bracelet with a correct clasp would be cool. I know it comes down to being a fantasy piece, and probably bores the [censored] out of you all, but I can't help that I've taken a liking to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeromatic Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 (edited) Great work! good to see members (custom) building there watches just to show that this hobbie is not just replicating an exact vintage peice i can appreciate and exact replica and a custom built watch if you have some parts lying in a draw and can make up a watch then why not i have just reshaped an acylic crystal on my out of the box red sub which had a tophat crystal with cyclope that was out of line because of this the watch was put in a draw and never got any wrist time until i decided to remove the cyclope and reshape my crystal to look like a tropic 19 (my favorite type) it came out great and although this will be considered a fantasy watch i like it! aero! Edited February 5, 2011 by aeromatic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omegaunit Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Nice job, thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Inspiring. I was thinking of building a FAT Lady, but might do a similar one-off. So often we go for detailed replication, when something like this actually has more presence and character. I dare say that watch has a soul. Fantasy is good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4GTR Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Patina added to hour markers and hands. Mixed a combo of flat white, yellow, interior tan, and thinner in unequal parts until I liked the color results on a test dial, then I moved onto the GMT. Here's the result. It's 4:30 AM here.. Forgive the pictures, more to come soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgchrono2 Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Great watch. Who u made this patina? I'm thinking over the x design submariners that dealers have which don't have crown guards. Maybe they are ok for prroject watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grifter Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 lovely patina!! this project is inspiring me!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4GTR Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Thanks everyone. Updated the initial post, will keep any future updates/pics added to the original post moving forward. Sell it to me....... then I'll send you another case to hone your skills! Just let me know, Buddy! Great work if I may add! F- Most people here would probably pay not to have to wear it in public! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Heck, I wear mine in public, who gives a darn! You got to remember 99.99% of the people could care less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OI812 Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Just begging for a folded link Oyster IMOP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4GTR Posted February 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Heck, I wear mine in public, who gives a darn! You got to remember 99.99% of the people could care less. I think we're comparing apples to oranges! Thats quite a GMT, any information/thread on the build? I'm interested to know more. Just begging for a folded link Oyster IMOP. Completely agree. Anyone have some suggestions which trusted rock to look under? I think i'm about done with this build after I sort a permanent bracelet. It's been fun, however I need to be reasonable about how much time/money im willing to spend on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Here you go P4GTR This was just an economy build like yours. I like the black GMT bezel, old style tritium markers and the chinese 21j is working well. One of those watches where if you tear it up, who cares, on to the next beater... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiyal Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 I think its GREAT!! wear it well! good picks of the build too. Thank you Tear down to build it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.