A/6538

[Dlf]

Had a rare day at home so I decided to work on my A/6538 build that's been dragging on for years .

 

its a budget build based on a silix case /welded. The bezel is made from a random spare one I had that fit the case,  German silver welded on/replated. I don't have the tools or time to make a two piece bezel, and as far as I know there's some solid 'prototypes' which are acceptable for the vrf echelons anyway

 

Made some fat bars from the vintage Pam compression system, drilled out the tubes and press fit regular 'fat' spring bars inside. I will probably weld them to the case when the time comes.

 

Having a dial done which will be incoming soon. (Burford style)

 

lots of issues still to figure out, but some progress...

project is still in early stages !

 

Edited March 26, 2017 by Dlf

[hologramet]

Saw it on your instagram earlier... B-e-a-utiful!

[Sogeha]

Some very impressive work.

[manodeoro]

OMG ... I'm definitely following your thread. Hope you'll take pictures while welding the bars.
What is the tool (machine?) on your first pic ?

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[Dlf]

1 hour ago, manodeoro said:

OMG ... I'm definitely following your thread. Hope you'll take pictures while welding the bars.
What is the tool (machine?) on your first pic ?

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Yeah hopefully you're design will come out as planned

thats my lathe in the first pic, waiting on a outside chuck so I can finish my the bezel and hopefully make it fully functional .

[manodeoro]

 
 
 
Yeah hopefully you're design will come out as planned
thats my lathe in the first pic, waiting on a outside chuck so I can finish my the bezel and hopefully make it fully functional .

A lathe !!! So you're heavily equipped
I too really hope your dial come out as well as possible
With the work you're doing that A/6538 will be a very stunning and unique piece so I judt cant wait to see it finished.
Which movement are you planning to use ?

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[alligoat]

There's an article over at VRF by Jed on the Early Military Submariners and it discusses the A/6538- wish I could cut and paste it for over here but damned if I can figure out how to do it. Worth reading. Look forward to seeing how the watch turns out Dlf!

[Dlf]

@manodeoro yes well it's a cheap Chinese lathe but functions well, I plan on using a 2846 that Was overhauled, I need to get some decent hands.... maybe some phong or ?, and have a service t-19 that I will install. Adrian's brevet crown tube, had the case engraved and also the case-back

 

I did want to make this piece for diving but the dreaded glued in plexi/ dodgy case construction will probably not allow it so,  best epoxy to use ?

 

 

@alligoat I was just reading that thread! Thank you  There has been some recent controversy and much speculation/adult bickering on the authenticity and story on the a/6538 burford dial subs.

Spurred me in to open the project back up. 

[Dlf]

Dial turned out nice, bit of aging in the right places and a relume.

[hologramet]

Nice! Via HelenaRou or? 

12 hours ago, Dlf said:

Dial turned out nice, bit of aging in the right places and a relume.

 

[manodeoro]

15 hours ago, Dlf said:

Dial turned out nice, bit of aging in the right places and a relume.

Thanks for the pics and the feedback.

I feared the design could be too crispy for a vintage dial so I'm really glad the dial turned out that nice.

Look forward to see how it will look when a little aged. 

[Dlf]

Dial is from helenerou and designed by manodeoro, that is the final aging I don't want to make it look too trashed.

As you can see from these pics was the before factory fresh, and then the gen dial reference.

 

[Bart Cordell]

Great work !

[Dawagner]

How easily did helenarou's original lume come off? I've got one of her Tiffany explorer dials that the lume is just too green in plain daylight and will need a treatment like yours

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[Dlf]

18 minutes ago, Dawagner said:

How easily did helenarou's original lume come off? I've got one of her Tiffany explorer dials that the lume is just too green in plain daylight and will need a treatment like yours

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Well you have a few options. Coloring the present Lume is the most viable option, removing can be hazardous . I would reccomend coloring the existing Lume, or reluming over the top of current as a secondary option.

[Dawagner]

What do you recommend to color it?

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[Dlf]

18 minutes ago, Dawagner said:

What do you recommend to color it?

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Depends what color you want.

 

I aimed for the original color of my reference dial. 

 

-Orange waterbased paint

-espresso

- tamiya weathering kit

[Dawagner]

Sounds good. I've been thinking of using the espresso as other have suggested.

You used all 3 on yours?

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[Dlf]

I used the espresso as the water in the mixture, paint, and a small anount of dark power so it doesn't  appear so fresh, all very delicately applied as it tends to be overdone easily. 

[manodeoro]

Hi@Dlf how is your A/6538 going ?

BTW ... I'l working on a twin project for myself so I have some questions about the crystal
As you put a "standard" bezel assembly I suppose you reworked the rehaut, which is far too large on the Silix, but how will you deal with the crystal ?
Inside diameter of the Silix rehaut is too large the rework enough to put a T19 so which crystal will you use ?
Or did you grind all the upper part of the case and welded a custom rehaut ?

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[Dlf]

3 hours ago, manodeoro said:

Hi@Dlf how is your A/6538 going ?

BTW ... I'l working on a twin project for myself so I have some questions about the crystal
As you put a "standard" bezel assembly I suppose you reworked the rehaut, which is far too large on the Silix, but how will you deal with the crystal ?
Inside diameter of the Silix rehaut is too large the rework enough to put a T19 so which crystal will you use ?
Or did you grind all the upper part of the case and welded a custom rehaut ?

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I havent decided what what to do yet 

I had a few issues with my bezel, it's on the back burner for a while until I have some time .

[manodeoro]

Hi @Dlf

That thread must be kept alive, so here are some pics of my own A/6538.

I must thank you a tousand times because you made me discover that model.

 

I started with a 6538 Silix case and I grafted a "gen-specs" rehaut so that it colud take a T19 and a 5513 bezel assembly

 

 

 

 

Plus I have built a tropical Burford dial for it

 

 

I dont want to use the 5513 bezel because it's too thin ... about 1.5mm

So I'm building a "2 parts" bezel that will be about 3mm thick and will look like this one

 

 

[Nanuq]

Wow.  Just............ wow.  Gorgeous!

[ogladio]

Yum yum!

[manodeoro]

Wow.  Just............ wow.  Gorgeous!

Thanks@Nanuq ...
I'm not certain wich build you wowed but ... I will consider it's mine
And a "wow" from you ... I receive that as an honour, considering the really high quality of your builds and watch catches.

When I joined the forum and begun playing with reps exactly a year ago, I never thought I would be there today showing a highly modded case.
But all this happens thanks to the forums and nice members sharing their knowledge and experience.

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