earloflondon Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 The case started its life as an Oris classic automatic with an ETA 2824 inside. It's been working like a charm since I bought it in 2001. Never been serviced, nor the back was opened. It was OK and I have worn it for many years along with my other watches. Whence I have started growing interest into vintage reps and having modded a Silix 6538, which I will talk about in another thread, I thought I could start a fantasy project with this watch whose shape was sort of not as sleek as most Rolexes of early 40s until late 60s. Anyway, what this watch will become is a semi Bubbleback. 1. The dial will be kept, the inscriptions will be removed, a Rolex silver logo will be attached, maybe a ROLEX inscription below it and PRECISION inscription will be transfer printed.2. A 6 mm crown will be tapped and mounted.3. A 33.4 mm HW or N plexi will be cemented4. The see through case back will be replaced with specially manufactured bubble case back Enough said. Now the pics I forgot to take the pics before I started, so there will be photos of the different phases Phase 1 Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Phase 2Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using TapatalkPhase 3Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 The pics don't do justice. The case looks much better than it does on the pictures. Please share your thoughts, comments and recommendationsSent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2018 Where do you think I can find a proper bubble back that'd fit the case? Can anyone point me to a direction in case I won't be able to get one machined from a 316 SS blank?Here are the dimensionsSent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daovto Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 Wow... call the hosting company we need more storage for all those pics But all jokes aside could you post a picture, just one will do ;-] of the style of watch you are referring to. I think that would help me to share your vision for this project. I’m sure some of the more technically gifted will be able to point you to suppliers that may have a caseback to fit. My lack of knowledge as to weather the threads are industry standard or not means I could lead you down the garden path to disappointment 🤬In any case good luck with it brother. Keep posting updates as you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 Wow... call the hosting company we need more storage for all those pics But all jokes aside could you post a picture, just one will do ;-] of the style of watch you are referring to. I think that would help me to share your vision for this project. I’m sure some of the more technically gifted will be able to point you to suppliers that may have a caseback to fit. My lack of knowledge as to weather the threads are industry standard or not means I could lead you down the garden path to disappointment In any case good luck with it brother. Keep posting updates as you go.Couldn't agree more You see, this is my first modding off experience out of a completely different base, fantasy rather than a Franken, after case shaping of the two classics. I'm very excited, as I have lots of things to care for and invent to solve. I'm lucky the watch making is one of the best standardised industries so I can find most standard parts easily applicable and compatible.Thanks mateSent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 Some more case shapingLevelled lugs from underside, smoothed the lugs severely. And some more pics Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSebWC Posted September 21, 2018 Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 Good progress so far. What model of bubble back is this project inspired by? look fwd to seeing more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 Good progress so far. What model of bubble back is this project inspired by? look fwd to seeing more In fact, no particular model is on my mind. I thought otherwise. When I decided to work on the case, I thought it'd would turn out only in something similar to a bubble back. So I said to myself, I should aim for a shape near to something like thisSent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 Here is the list for the crown, strap, crown logo and parts for my future milgauss projectSent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2018 I'm done shaping with this project, finally Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low Note Posted September 23, 2018 Report Share Posted September 23, 2018 Wow! These photos are so inspiring. I hope my 1016 project will turn out as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSebWC Posted September 24, 2018 Report Share Posted September 24, 2018 On 9/21/2018 at 1:48 PM, earloflondon said: Here is the list for the crown, strap, crown logo and parts for my future milgauss project Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Where are you ordering these parts from?> I didn't know there was another source for a Milgauss dial other than Yuki... Great progress on the case so far....look fwd to seeing the dial you choose. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manodeoro Posted September 25, 2018 Report Share Posted September 25, 2018 22 hours ago, JSebWC said: Where are you ordering these parts from?> I didn't know there was another source for a Milgauss dial other than Yuki... Great progress on the case so far....look fwd to seeing the dial you choose. Looking at the pics I would say rafflesdials/Riyi 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2018 Looking at the pics I would say rafflesdials/RiyiThat's right. Riyi at rafflesdialsSent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manodeoro Posted September 25, 2018 Report Share Posted September 25, 2018 (edited) On 9/21/2018 at 5:52 PM, earloflondon said: In fact, no particular model is on my mind. I thought otherwise. When I decided to work on the case, I thought it'd would turn out only in something similar to a bubble back. So I said to myself, I should aim for a shape near to something like this Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Really nice project and congrats for all the work you already did. Looking at those watches, and though your project is a "fantasy watch", I think you could drill the lugs oppositve to the crown side (and only those) so that your case could be more accurate. Like the one below [/img] Edited September 25, 2018 by manodeoro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2018 Really nice project and congrats for all the work you already did. Looking at those watches, and though your project is a "fantasy watch", I think you could drill the lugs oppositve to the crown side (and only those) so that your case could be more accurate. Like the one below [/img]Thanks mate. I didn't realize they have only one lug drilled on each side Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSebWC Posted September 25, 2018 Report Share Posted September 25, 2018 2 hours ago, earloflondon said: That's right. Riyi at rafflesdials Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk cool thanks That is the newer white dial milgauss at first glance from my phone I thought it was a 1019 dial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manodeoro Posted September 25, 2018 Report Share Posted September 25, 2018 1 hour ago, earloflondon said: Thanks mate. I didn't realize they have only one lug drilled on each side Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk You're welcome It probably depends on the model but I would say that 4499 definitely have plain lugs on the "crown side" and drilled lugs on the "oppositve to crown" side. Removing the bars on such a watch could a PITA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2018 You're welcome It probably depends on the model but I would say that 4499 definitely have plain lugs on the "crown side" and drilled lugs on the "oppositve to crown" side. Removing the bars on such a watch could a PITA.It looks cool but I don't have the machinery for that, nor do I have the guts to take the risk . Still, nice one to consider thanks mateSent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manodeoro Posted September 25, 2018 Report Share Posted September 25, 2018 44 minutes ago, earloflondon said: It looks cool but I don't have the machinery for that, nor do I have the guts to take the risk . Still, nice one to consider thanks mate Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk All you need to get is a dremel, some good HSS dril bits, a cheap drill stand and a good punch to mark the lugs before drilling. About the guts ... I don't know where or if you can order those but if you search your trunks you should find some I had posted a tuto on other watch forums but the pics are gone (thanks to hosting pics) so when I'll re-upload the pics I'll post the same tutorial here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2018 All you need to get is a dremel, some good HSS dril bits, a cheap drill stand and a good punch to mark the lugs before drilling. About the guts ... I don't know where or if you can order those but if you search your trunks you should find some:rofl: I had posted a tuto on other watch forums but the pics are gone (thanks to hosting pics) so when I'll re-upload the pics I'll post the same tutorial here.Awesome mate. Many thanks.Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using TapatalkWow! These photos are so inspiring. I hope my 1016 project will turn out as well. thanks mateSent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2018 Not this build but the other milgauss one will receive a hand wound AS 530.312 inside. I'm lucky I got the last one from the cousins Here the picsSent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manodeoro Posted September 26, 2018 Report Share Posted September 26, 2018 (edited) 20 hours ago, earloflondon said: Awesome mate. Many thanks. Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk thanks mate Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk I said I would put my tutorial about "how to drill watch lugs with a dremel" on that forum so now it's done Here Edited September 26, 2018 by manodeoro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earloflondon Posted September 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2018 Awesome tutorial. Thanks. Really informative Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capice Posted September 26, 2018 Report Share Posted September 26, 2018 love these pictorials...way to go mate...well done so far.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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