Slartibartfast Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Having just completed my first major modding project, I thought that I would share with you the processes that I have gone through (right or wrong) in an effort to persuade you all to have a go yourself. After all if I can do it...... So here we are, a brand spanking new Explorer 2 "Orange Hand" 1655. This is the ETA version bought from TT, billed as "Top Grade Vintage" Pic As Original As you may be able to see from the pic above, there was no lume (dial or hands), the date mag was negligible, the date font was wrong (on the 3's), and the crystal didn't look even remotely original. It also came on a diver's oyster strap, which wasn't as shown on the TT website. Good old Andrew sent me a replacement strap FOC, so that was that bit fixed anyway! Pic Of Original Strap Well this wasn't quite "Top Grade" enough for my liking, so thought well what the hell, let's have a go at modding. I have read loads about it here on RWG so, armed with a basic watch repair toolkit, off we go! Oh...I will make a point here of owning up to being in a completely different (amateur) league to repaustria and his 1655 modding antics (but you guessed that already, didn't you ) After the initial strip down, the first job was to relume the dial and hands. I used a mixture of Revel night colour and the tiniest amount of yellow ochre acrylic paint to get just the right shade for that vintage look. I applied it to the dial using an old 0.18mm Isograph pen (used to be a draughtsman you know), dipped in a small amount of paint, and then dotted onto the dial (all credit to Edge for his inspiring guide). Bit by bit the lume was built up to give that old, slightly knackered look that would suit a "30 year old" watch. Pic of dial lume technique I used the same process for the hands too. Whilst I was at it, I re-painted the 24 hour hand in fluorescent orange mat enamel to look more like the originals I have seen on the web. Pic of lumed hands waiting for re-assembly I wanted the correct date font for the date wheel, you know, the flat threes. I thought that I would have a go at making one myself. Using AutoCAD, I made a 1:1 vector image of the original date wheel overlay, having measured it with vernier calipers to get an accurate size. I then re-drew the threes to give them the flat topped look. I printed a whole batch of these overlay stickers on self adhesive address labels, using a laser printer. I think that they have turned out quite well considering. I cut one out and simply stuck it over the original overlay. It took three or four goes to get it centered in the date window, but then that is why I printed out so many! Overlay shots The final mod that desperately needed doing was replacing the crystal. I trawled through the Cousins website and found a near match for diameter and date mag position, again using the old trusty vernier calipers to measure up. An original crystal won't fit this rep case so I am told, so there was no point lusting after the impossible. The replacement crystal was a cheap (less than Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
predfan2001 Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Definate improvement. The mag really sucks on those rep crystals. I have the same watch watch with a dead movement. If I can find a movement I may do what you've done to mine. If not, I may sell the pieces so someone else can have a project. I don't know much about the 1655 but I've heard these reps aren't the greatest but I still like them even though the dial is a little busy. When mine did work, it was hard to tell exactly what time it was. Great job! Now there will be many more projects.....trust me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Great job and great pictorial. Congrats, nothing like doing it for yourself and getting to enjoy the results. RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tech Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Thanks for sharing and thats a very good looking 1655.....one of my many grails....looking forward to your other mods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Looks great, now go and have a beer and congratulate your self and wear it with pride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justasgood Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Nice work and pictorial.......all the work adds to the enjoyment.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted November 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Thanks guys. Glad to receive such a positive response. Has inspired me to continue. Now where's that Seamaster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southcoast68 Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Looks fantastic, congrats. I also have been using AutoCAD to do some date wheel work. I just brought in a scanned image and traced around the numbers with polylines and printed them on label stock like you did. Its a little tricky applying them, but the result is cool. Now you got me thinking of tearing apart my 1655 for a similar makeover . Applying the lume with a technical pen is brilliant, I never would have thought of that one. Thanks for the inspiration!!! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted November 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 I also have been using AutoCAD to do some date wheel work. I just brought in a scanned image and traced around the numbers with polylines Spooky, 'cos that's exactly what I did, polylines and all, you can change the tickness unitl they look correct for the font size. I tried using TT fonts, but none that I could find were anywhere close. Great minds thinks alike!!. [EDIT] BTW I used a HP 600dpi laserjet. I would think that a better printer would yield better quailty results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Absolutley fantastic work on the dial and hands (and shaving the crystal's none too shabby either ) Out of curiousity, as you made the dial look vintage, do you have any plans to 'distress' the case and bracelet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted November 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Out of curiousity, as you made the dial look vintage, do you have any plans to 'distress' the case and bracelet? Absolutely. I need to get that vintage feel for both. There are many suggestions for doing this on the board. I will probably try them all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Absolutely. I need to get that vintage feel for both. There are many suggestions for doing this on the board. I will probably try them all Fantastic I'm sure I've read something about using something like detergent and an old toothbrush to age the 24 markings, but I forget precicely what cleaning agent was recommended... With regards dings and scuffs, I tried the 'coins in a coffee can' method, which others have mentioned, with my Daytona, and it had no effect at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosnik Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Great work and great mods! My compliments! I would like to do the same overlay too.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Great pictorial and a great job.. The Explorer looks damm good...... Nice idea for the date overlay...... I think you must print a lot more of these The 1655 is a great watch, i hope there comes agood modell in the future..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 Brilliant! As you know I'm a big fan of Explorer II, and these vintage McQueens are amazing. Enjoy! I wish I had your skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azgjav Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 great pictorial! love the datewheel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indyberetta Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 Would you be willing to share the vecter image with your friends here??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmg Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 Nice work and great post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosnik Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 Would you be willing to share the vecter image with your friends here??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
predfan2001 Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 (edited) Dang it. See what you've done! I've pulled out my 1655 parts and now I'm wondering where I can a movement for it so I can start the mods. Thanks alot . Edited November 17, 2007 by predfan2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted November 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 Dang it. See what you've done! I've pulled out my 1655 parts and now I'm wondering where I can a movement for it so I can start the mods. Thanks alot . Ha ha!!! I am sorry. But you won't regret it. Good luck finding a movement, though I think that I read somewhere here, that Cousins have a Chinese replacement movement (with 24 hour 4th hand). I may be completely wrong here, but worth checking out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted November 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 [EDIT] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 I could save as a PDF for those who don't have autocad, but I am not sure if the resolution would be as good. Worth a go though... costs nothing to try! Thanks for this post. I was just starting to compare gens to the reps I've seen online and the lume, datewheel and mag were the big things that stood out. The Swiss markings on the bottom are quite different as I think it needs the "<25" markings...pull out that pen!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brook0 Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Very very nice work. That is some incredible first try!!! I think you have found your calling in watch modding. What are you going to attempt next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chubbchubb Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Congratulations on a job well done. Modding a watch takes a lot of skill and there is nothing like proudly looking at the results of your own work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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