FxrAndy Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 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 7
woof* Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 Beautiful Andy, all that hard work has paid off. It looks very genuine. As for your hev work, that's a 100% improvement! Mine is with Jmb getting a Phong hev installed soon. Yours is a huge improvement! What crown did you install? On your wrist shot it looks very thin like a 702 Congrats and enjoy that fine SeaDweller.
FxrAndy Posted June 27, 2012 Author Report Posted June 27, 2012 Just a standard gen 703 but i need a new one, glad you can see an improvement in the He valve i thought that work was for nothing when my wife could not see a difference
sgtguk Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 Looks Stunning Andy I'll take a bet that He work wasn't easy either !
denimhead Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 Morning Andy, Welcome to the 1665 club! That ingod dial has got to be the best out there, nice to see it went to good use pal. Take Care M
woof* Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 No Andy, I see a big difference. Remember I own the same exact case and I know what the original looks like very well. It drove me crazy until I finally broke down and bought the Phong valve.
FxrAndy Posted June 27, 2012 Author Report Posted June 27, 2012 Thanks woof Thank M by the way still loving those boots, I think i will be need a second pair soon (try the thinner fitting)
denimhead Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 Thanks woof Thank M by the way still loving those boots, I think i will be need a second pair soon (try the thinner fitting) When ever your ready mate, try a neoprene arch support insole in them, it should raise your foot quite a bit. Anyone reading this is going to get very confused!
FxrAndy Posted June 27, 2012 Author Report Posted June 27, 2012 I am going to pop into a sports shop and see what i can find
modelizer Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 Ooohh, that is one tasty rail dweller mate! Looks just like mine (apart from the TC hands, your HEV mod and working movement - but that will all be taken care of during the v3 update)! Congrats and looking forward to see it IRL in about a month!
alligoat Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 Nice job Andy and your lume job looks good. Congrats!
chiman12 Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 That is a beautiful build andy...of course I wouldn't expect anything less from you!
freddy333 Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 Except for the glowing lume (which everyone knows irks me on vintage Rolexes), great job. You might consider giving the outer face of your Hev a gentle sanding, which will slightly darken it & make it look 40+ years old.
vlydog Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 You might consider giving the outer face of your Hev a gentle sanding, which will slightly darken it & make it look 40+ years old. great suggestion!
FxrAndy Posted June 27, 2012 Author Report Posted June 27, 2012 Thanks for all the coments Guys, i think i may try the darken the He a bit, Were they originaly polished or a bit mat compared to the case????
redwatch Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 Wow! Very nice job on the He Valve Andy! Looks great! Now someone tell me..... what the heck is a rail dial?
FxrAndy Posted June 27, 2012 Author Report Posted June 27, 2012 Done looks better, a bit more contrast to the case. Only needs to be 35 years old Freddy 57xx xxx serial number Now i just need my new pearls that are on the way
FxrAndy Posted June 27, 2012 Author Report Posted June 27, 2012 A rail dial red is a rare (ish) Dial where the gap in Superlative Chronometer lines up with the gap in . Officially Certified
Stephane Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 Except for the glowing lume (which everyone knows irks me on vintage Rolexes), great job. +1 Andy. Lume should be gone for a while now.... Other then that, what more can I add to what as already been said Congrats Andy !
TeeJay Posted June 27, 2012 Report Posted June 27, 2012 That's a fantastic piece, my friend I had thought I'd gotten over my urge to get a 1665 in favor of my 16800 plans, but seeing those photos, well, there goes my resolve Wear it well
FxrAndy Posted June 27, 2012 Author Report Posted June 27, 2012 +1 Andy. Lume should be gone for a while now.... Other then that, what more can I add to what as already been said Congrats Andy ! Yes, yes i fully agree that the original tritium would not glow any more, but if i could afford a 1665 rail dial gen then i could afford to replace the dial with a luminover dial so that i could use the watch 24 hours a day, even my 1680 gen has a luminova dial and i wear it for work almost every day so if this was gen it would glow as well. Oh and you beat me to reds bracelet today can i have an option to buy it when you want to move it on? You do know that you are to blame ultimatly!!!!! If it was not for your original rolex collection i would never have built my first 1680! and then bought the gen and then went on to build more!!!!!!! so it is all your fault, so it is your round first in Sweden
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