Progress on my LaBomba

[Hugop]

Ever since seeing Grimlocktime's first franken I have been watching and waiting for gen bits and pieces for my own.

My first 87 purchase was one of the old school versions built my the 087 master sgt_at_arms. The watch had a Swiss 7750 inside, gen hands, gen crown guard and gen bezel.

Initally Grim donated an Hfac dial to the old bird and she looked really great! But one of the shortfalls of the cartel case was its tube and crown setup. I decided to move everything to a new Hfac case to get the more correct crown and tube plus the correct size case back.

Here are the two I started with. On the left is the cartel and in right the bone stock Hfac.

I uncased the swiss 7750 first and installed it in the Hfac case.

Then the asian 7750 from the Hfac is installed in the cartel.

Cartel with gen bezel on left and Hfac with gen cg and hands on right. Notice the bezel finish. Even though the gen has been battered a bit by life you can still see the finer brushed finish. The Hfac bezel has a more coarse finish.

Notice the inside corners of that gen cg on the right. Sooo nice!

Hfac on left with DiStefano Bruno old Cartel is wearing a Gunny Caitlin.

I decided to leave the bezel transfer alone. The Hfac would have to be machined and the Cartel wil probably not accept the rep bezel now.

After a recommendation from the sgt_at_arms I worked on the bezel with a cape cod to reduce the lines in the stock Hfac bezel. I think with a little more work it can be VERY close to the gen finish.

Here is the progress for now wearing the Gunny strap.

Now she just needs a gen dial!

 

[chris3007]

Great build.
How do you remove the 087 bezel?


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[Hugop]

Great build.
How do you remove the 087 bezel?


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They are friction fit so they are removed with a bezel knife. Side by side I am satisfied with the rep bezel enough that I wont wreck the cartel for the gen. I will probably end up selling it with the gen bezel.

 

[slaughterer62]

Nice builds.
Does the gen bezel fit without an extra collet on the cartel mid-case?

 

[Hugop]

No it was machined for the gen parts. Not sure what all was done. Dont want to chance taking it apart.

 

[Hugop]

Now its tough to make up my mind....
Cartel 87 today on a rubber strap.

 

[slaughterer62]

Gen dial makes a nice difference for 087. All you need after that is the OEM CG, hands, and bezel and you are set for life, IMO.

 

[Hugop]

Yep and I have everything but the dial. Anyone have one they are willing to part with?

 

[Hugop]

Another difference to be seen in the gen and rep bezel is in the quarter hour markers. Here is the 15 marker on the Hfac. See how rounded the bottom of yhe vertical in the five is? Also look at the top of the one and how rounded the hook is.

Here is the gen. Look in the same places and you will find that the one has a more square and angular hook. The vertical on the five finishes square in th bottom.

 

[d4m.test]

Man... That gen CG. You know where to find me [MENTION=17786]Hugop[/MENTION]

whenever I go on my sales rampages, my 87 Franken is always totally safe. In fact I sold my gen because the Franken is so nice. All I need is that CG LOL

Great build. And honestly that dial doesn't look bad when surrounded by all those gen parts.

 

[Hugop]

Man... That gen CG. You know where to find me [MENTION=17786]Hugop[/MENTION]

whenever I go on my sales rampages, my 87 Franken is always totally safe. In fact I sold my gen because the Franken is so nice. All I need is that CG LOL

Great build. And honestly that dial doesn't look bad when surrounded by all those gen parts.

Thank you M, the problem is now I can see it a mile away! Haha

Those insude corners and lever engraving are so easy to spot for me now. But as I have told you before, If I part with it you have first call. There, you have it in writing my friend.

I know what you mean about the 87 being safe. I have two now and was originally going to sell off the cartel. Although the more I look at it the more I think it would be perfect for an early gen dial!

Thanks for the complement, it means a lot coming from the king of LaBomba.[emoji41]

One question for you M, have you used a different crystal for yours? It seems we should be able to find a better cyclops. I know the gen distorts too. I have seen some very good hfac units but all mine distort.

 

[slaughterer62]

I was contemplating 2XAR on my HFAC crystal, as I find it cloudy and reflective. HAs anyone gone that route? It would not address the cyclops issue though, of course.

 

[Hugop]

Getting a ton of wrist time!