Reply With QuoteEddie Platts is mine.
Over the years when I was tinkering I made myself quite a few mods, some simple and others like this one quite involved.
I used all new parts for the mod apart from the shroud which I machined up myself from 316 Stainless and polished to a high gloss (I like shiny).
The case was a Seiko SRP which I machined to accept the shroud in the Tuna style.
I used an SBDX001 bezel, I had to modify the case to accept the bezel, basically I added a ring to the bezel seating area and then machined it to accept the bezel.
The crystal was a sapphire I had in stock, I picked up a NOS special addition case back and chapter ring, I had a SBDX001 dial and hands in my spares (I love the 001) the movement was a new 4R36A which ran very well.
This was one of the most expensive and complex mods I made but in the metal I love it.
Last edited by TheTigerUK; 15th April 2025 at 16:24.
Eddie Platts is mine.
Beat me to itOriginally Posted by unclealec
Ditto!
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I combined the Turtle and the Willard into one hybridised design, and gave it a GMT function:
That's great, I'd buy that. Any chance of Seiko making it?I combined the Turtle and the Willard into one hybridised design, and gave it a GMT function:
Naturally I've done a few 7A38 mods over the years. This one, which I built a dozen or more years ago is still a firm favourite.
It's based on a re-finished stainless 7A38-7020 case. The 709L dial is from a 7A38-7070 (but uses deliberately contrasting white day / date wheels). The p/n Z1020S bracelet is normally found on a 6309-5750 Seiko 5. Hands are the standard set as used on the 7A38-7020.
Last edited by Seiko7A38; 15th April 2025 at 12:46. Reason: Getting the bl**dy photo to load !
OP - that is very nicely done, presumably many hours of skilled work went in to get to that point.
Sent through the ether by diddling with radio waves
The irony being - nearly all of the parts can technically be found in Seiko’s parts bin:
- Turtle case is an SXK to Turtle conversion, but no reason why it can’t be a Turtle case made by Seiko
- Bezel is in the style of the Marinemaster, again no reason why Seiko can’t make it.
- The dial is OEM SPB151 with the centre hole widened, as is the SSK001 GMT hand
- The hands are a reproduction of 6105 style hands, but no reason why modern SPB hands couldn’t be used, or why Seiko couldn’t just re-make Willard hands in original spec
- The bezel insert is a challenge - it’s count-down, which does automatically disqualify it from being a dive-watch by virtue of not having what’s ISO-required
I did used to like using MM300 parts for mods, I wish the Rolly SD had as good a dial/hands as the MM300 :)
I thought the answer would be Paul Weller
That was my first thought.
"Waking up at six am on a cool warm morning
Opening the windows and breathing in petrol
An amateur band rehearsing in a nearby yard
Watching the tele and thinking about your holidays"
5513 Milsub
Mines not done yet - but is a lot simpler these days.
Spork GMT. Originally, I had tried to shoe horn a GS GMT movement into the Spork case. It fitted and the date wheel lined up but it was a little thicker so I needed to have a caseback made.
Duncan (the Watch Bloke) did the fitting and I had a mate of mine, Adam do the machining. Adam unfortunately passed away so the project stalled as I couldn’t find someone I trusted like I did Adam.
Fast forward a few years and Seiko released the new GMT movement. Slots straight in, no messing about. Marvellous. All I need to do is find someone to make the chapter dial for me (Adam had made me a blank which is still in the watch I wear), and it should be a relatively simple job. Life had got in the way somewhat but I’ve found myself bringing my attention back to this now.
Strap is from a Turtle that I’ve cut and inserted spring bars into so it takes the original deployant.
Photo of existing watch and render of the finished article.
I’m a big fan of the Seiko BFK watches. More or less have the set now.
I own a couple of the yellow dial SKA367P1 and a SKA427P1.
So that got me thinking.
Swop the movement from one watch to the other.
This is the result.
From…
To…
If I get bored with them. They can easily be put back to standard in a few minutes.
This is a 'mod' that I tried a while ago, then added another.
It's a Steinhart Ocean vintage with black indices & polished case sides.
I picked out the black 24 hrs scale and replaced with orange Humbrol acrylic and went to work on the polished case sides using 1200 grit wet & dry and a polish off with a scotchbrite pad.
The orange enamel is starting to fall out on certain numerals on the 24 hr scale, but it gives that original, worn faded look.
It would only take 15 minuets to reapply the acrylic, so no worries on that.
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My first go at modding.
https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...reck-or-repair
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
Every time I see this I wonder off to the steinhart page and ponder. I really like thisThis is a 'mod' that I tried a while ago, then added another.
It's a Steinhart Ocean vintage with black indices & polished case sides.
I picked out the black 24 hrs scale and replaced with orange Humbrol acrylic and went to work on the polished case sides using 1200 grit wet & dry and a polish off with a scotchbrite pad.
The orange enamel is starting to fall out on certain numerals on the 24 hr scale, but it gives that original, worn faded look.
It would only take 15 minuets to reapply the acrylic, so no worries on that.
Sent from my SM-A515F using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk
Really like that!Naturally I've done a few 7A38 mods over the years. This one, which I built a dozen or more years ago is still a firm favourite.
It's based on a re-finished stainless 7A38-7020 case. The 709L dial is from a 7A38-7070 (but uses deliberately contrasting white day / date wheels). The p/n Z1020S bracelet is normally found on a 6309-5750 Seiko 5. Hands are the standard set as used on the 7A38-7020.
Sent from my SM-F956B using Tapatalk
Probably this one. A SKX171 case, turtle dial, black kanji day/date, Murphy bezel, sapphire crystal, 6r15 movement upgrade, marinemaster ratcheting clasp, yobokies bezel insert. Sarb059 crown.
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