om3ga_guy Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 Hey guys, Finally finished my FrPO. I'm going to keep this very brief and cut to the mods......... Build consists of: - Gen dial - Gen hands - Gen pearl - Gen crystal - Gen crown/tube - Gen clasp (hand selected links) - Gen springbars - UPO HE valve assembly - ETA datewheel - ST2130 Seagull movement (brand new) Note: - Victor and I put this whole watch together. Victor is a trusted modder on RWI and does amazing work. I recommend him to everyone, seriously! - We made custom sleeves for the gen crown/tube and HE valve. This allowed us to go to a pressure/friction fit assembly as oppose to epoxy... No epoxy or glue was used on this build - Dial feet were a little short. Instead on epoxying the dial or installing it loose, we sanded the feet down to get the tips to flare out a bit. This solved the issue - I did the pearl mod with a Rona drill bit and some GS Hypo cement. Came out wicked - We pressure tested the watch to 300m Generic photos: Lume shot: Photos of the crown and tube/ HE valve install: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougar1 Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 Fantastic work Om3gy_guy thanks for posting, the watch looks superb. I just love the tube sleeve assembly. I had heard about those being made but it's lovely to see it being installed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
om3ga_guy Posted April 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 Its a custom made piece that several modders are making. It hold ups WAYYYYY better than epoxy. My tube fell out twice before I decided to try this route. Now, I will never go back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougar1 Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 Absolutely, much better than epoxy, realistically it's as secure as a gen case/tube setup. Great to see it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovecraft Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 Very nice! It looks awesome! If I had seen that before doing my franken, I would have tried doing it without epoxy as well though - although I think mine sits firmly. The "hole" left when removing the rep tube had threads, so I got some extra grip there I guess. Still - it would have been much nicer to fit it like you did. I see you decided to go the Seagull route as well. Happy so far? I still have the rep crystal on mine. Definitely more of a blue reflection. Did you feel it made much of a difference apart from the color? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
om3ga_guy Posted April 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 Very nice! It looks awesome! If I had seen that before doing my franken, I would have tried doing it without epoxy as well though - although I think mine sits firmly. The "hole" left when removing the rep tube had threads, so I got some extra grip there I guess. Still - it would have been much nicer to fit it like you did. I see you decided to go the Seagull route as well. Happy so far? I still have the rep crystal on mine. Definitely more of a blue reflection. Did you feel it made much of a difference apart from the color? Thanks for the complements all! The Seagull works amazing. I will probably use theses movements moving forward. The build from what I could see was identical to ETA and it holds great time at half the price. The gen crystal is more clear. The AR IMO is questionable. I find it really depends on the angle you hold the watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 Sweet watch there !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportsterRider Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 Looks great! Was the UPO He valve threaded, or press fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougar1 Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 The gen crystal or at least a proper modded double AR'd crystal is worth it if already gone as far as getting a gen dial, the rep crystal isn't the best, way too blue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APguy1 Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 May i ask where you got that sleeve assembly as i am going to do this mod and that is a GREAT idea also how did you get it to stay in there ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
om3ga_guy Posted April 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 My watchmaker made the sleeve. Victor is a trusted modder on RWI. His contact info is: Victor Chow madebyvictor@gmail.com May i ask where you got that sleeve assembly as i am going to do this mod and that is a GREAT idea also how did you get it to stay in there ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omegamma Posted April 10, 2012 Report Share Posted April 10, 2012 Looks great!! May I ask you where did you get the gen pearl? Is it available by Ofrei or Cousins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
om3ga_guy Posted April 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2012 As far as I know you cant buy a gen pearl. You need to buy a used bezel off eBay or whatever and extract the pearl yourself. That's how I've done my last 3 frankens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danza1812 Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 The gen crystal is more clear. The AR IMO is questionable. I find it really depends on the angle you hold the watch. I agree, I think. My Franken po has the rep xtal over the gen dial and I can't help thinking it leaves the hour markers looking a little yellowy, maybe I'm seeing things as it doesn't show on photos too well and I'm comparing it from memory of my old Franken 4th gen with gen dial and crystal. I feel I definitely have to get hold of a gen crystal and bezel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gran Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 :wub: Love that PO..pressure test to 300M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayward Posted April 29, 2012 Report Share Posted April 29, 2012 Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sneed12 Posted April 29, 2012 Report Share Posted April 29, 2012 What do you use to waterproof the sleeve for the gen tube/crown? Steel-on-steel doesn't waterproof well, do you use a gasket of some kind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poisoncigar Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Great looking watch indeed. I'm curious about what holds the sleeve in as well though. I got my franken PO Friday, Gotta post some photos of it, I think I want to sell it though so I can work on SMPs only. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
correctime Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Great looking watch indeed. I'm curious about what holds the sleeve in as well though. I got my franken PO Friday, Gotta post some photos of it, I think I want to sell it though so I can work on SMPs only. LOL That looks AWESOME !!! Congrats Brother. +1 on being curious as to what holds the sleeve to the case?? Press fit ?? Threaded ?? I went the epoxy route...and mine didn't hold well the first time. Put extra in from the inside and drilled through it for a stem opening this time...so far so good...I think. The Zigmeister does something like this too but as I understood him the case gets re-threaded and his screws into fresh threads into the case...then the tube screws into that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
correctime Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Seeing this beauty has me regretting the day I parted with mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
om3ga_guy Posted May 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 (edited) OK guys I am extremely happy to say that I can officially close the books on this project. I installed the last remaining pieces yesterday night and THIS is what I would consider an "Ultimate PO" I've always been a fan of the orange bezel, but never the orange numerals on the dial. Hence why I never bought a pumpkin. I was fortunate to find a used orange bezel on eBay last week so I went and bought it, put it on my black/white dial PO and created this awesome piece. I've seen the guys on WUS do this before. Unfortunately the bezel was scratched @ 5 o'clock (less noticeable in person, the camera angles + lighting make it look worst than it is), but a gen bezel for $95.00CDN... I can't complain. Hope you guys like it... Build consists of: - Gen dial - Gen hands - Gen bezel - Gen crystal - Gen crown/tube - Gen bracelet (latest ceramic PO model) - Gen springbars - UPO HE valve assembly - ETA datewheel - ST2130 Seagull movement (brand new) PHOTOS WRIST SHOTS GROUP SHOT WITH FRANKEN SMP Things to note: - Gen bezel was installed on the case without mods. I used the original hardware that came on the case and the bezel went straight on. - The ceramic PO bracelet snapped onto the case perfectly with no mods, however it appears the case on the new cermaic PO's are thicker in height - therefore my end links sit high above the lugs - see photos. It doesn't bother me, its hard to point out on the wrist. At some point if I feel like dishing out some more cash I will swap the current 858 end links with the older model made for this case. - The whole build has well over $2k in parts + sweat, when I did the math on what I spent I came out just under $1,400.00CDN... Edited May 16, 2012 by om3ga_guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougar1 Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Great work Omegy_guy, love the new bracelet aswell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrandazzo Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Awesome work! Love the SMP also! You really like Omegas don't you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
om3ga_guy Posted May 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 (edited) Awesome work! Love the SMP also! You really like Omegas don't you? Thanks guys! I have a strong interest in Omega (and always have as a kid) ...but I like Rolex too BK/TW case (superlume dial) c/w gen bezel, gen crystal and gen crown. I've got a WM9 bracelet (fitted with a Sean clasp) as well...theres love for everyone! Edited May 16, 2012 by om3ga_guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimeStopper45 Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 (edited) om3ga_guy, that looks amazing. Congrats I especially love the orange bezel Omega Edited May 18, 2012 by TimeStopper45 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.