MBW 5512 beater - Phase 1

[dbane883]

So I've had this MBW 5512 sub sitting in a drawer for several months now and finally thought I'd do something with it. Frankly not sure why I bought it but I guess I was curious about the case as I've never worked on one before.

Naturally, the case is a bit blocky and needs some refinement. So I drilled the 1.25mm lugholes, marginally thinned the lugs, cut/polished bevels and replaced the crown/tube with a gen 703/703-0 and reshaped the CGs. I had a spare gen bezel assembly and service insert. Gen service crystal as well.

I find crystals in general fit really tight because the upper 1/2 of the outer rehaut is a tad wide. I actually cracked a CWP T19 (that happens with the Yuki cases as well sometimes). As such, I will have to mill the outer rehaut to gen spec at some point .

I have not yet tested to see if a gen 1520/1530 movement will fit. Likewise, not sure a gen dial will fit as I have heard that some MBW will accept a gen dial and some won't.

For now, just using the stock ETA movement/dial. Not sure what dial/movement I will eventually end up with but I'm leaning towards converting this to PCG as I've left a decent amount of meat to work with. Open to suggestions.

Here's how it looks now:

[Bart Cordell]

Wow !

I would love those bevels lug on my 5513.

[ubiquitous]

If that's a 2836 inside, a 1520/1530 will not fit, unfortunately. You'd need a 1570 with date to fit that case.

As for the dial; a 5512/5513 dial will fit; a 1680 dial will not.

[mir36]

What are your thoughts on the crown height position on the MBW versus the latest cartel offerings?  MBW is better no?

3 minutes ago, ubiquitous said:

If that's a 2836 inside, a 1520/1530 will not fit, unfortunately. You'd need a 1570 with date to fit that case.

 

Ubi, is there an unmodified MBW case in which a 1520/1530 would fit?  

[Champagnesky]

Nice work! What drill bits do you use for the lug holes btw?

[ubiquitous]

General rule of thumb for me is: If the case is fitted with a 2824, a 1520 will fit. If it's a 2836, a 1570 will fit. I don't recall there ever being an MBW with 2824, but I could be mistaken?

[automatico]

"I have not yet tested to see if a gen 1520/1530 movement will fit."

Look at the MBK sticky above, it tells what's what (in my experience).

[droptopman]

There are those trademark bevels. Looks great already.

[jackflash]

Great job!

Btw. I've also managed to split more CWP T19 crystals than I care to remember!

[CharlieUK]

wow that case looks great!

What's your process to bevel/chamfer the lug edges?