Russian Submariner

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jtdesigns

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Hey all,

I haven't been around for quite a awhile and wanted to share a pen I am working on for my brother-in-law who is earning his doctorate in Russian Studies. I will present this to him at his graduation in May. He was given a watch by a friend of his he met in while studying in Russia. The guy was a submariner and the watch is one the old Soviet Union issued to submarine officers.

This took over well over 8 watches worth of parts to complete. I have been working on this for quite awhile and am finally ready to cast in PR. The second photo shows the part of the back of the watch case that I was able to use because it had a serial number and something written is Ruski.

My plan is present in a nice box that will be adorned with some USSR uniform pins (shown also). While I am not thrilled with the fact that it is USSR memorabilia, I hope it will still be unique, nonetheless. I plan to team this with Statesmen Fountain Pen hardware. Sorry for the crappy photos, I don't have my photo tent set up but will for when I get it completely done. Critiques always welcome.
 

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jtdesigns

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A few more earlier photos.....I try to fill in as much space as humanly possible with smaller parts (screws, jewels, springs, etc)
 

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jtdesigns

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thats gonna look amazing when you are done! Be sure to share pics once it is complete!
I certainly will...and thanks for the compliment. That means a lot coming from you....big fan of your Tru Coin technique (We both have a serious compulsion with painstaking technique :biggrin:)
 

seamus7227

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thats gonna look amazing when you are done! Be sure to share pics once it is complete!
I certainly will...and thanks for the compliment. That means a lot coming from you....big fan of your Tru Coin technique (We both have a serious compulsion with painstaking technique :biggrin:)

I think thats why i like this so much! its like A.D.D. on crack!:eek:
 

jtdesigns

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The full sized Statesman is a good choice for the parts your using as you need as much meat as possible. I also like the color background.

Agreed, I usually do smaller watch faces and like to use the Jr. Statesman but everything Russian seems to be chunky/funky and it wouldn't have looked right with the smaller format. Thanks Okey!!
 

jttheclockman

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I like the blue face and am glad you shown us a better view. That is what is going to make that pen stand out. I also like the fact you filled it up with parts. Too many of the pens I have seen do not do this.

One thing I would make sure those hands are bent a little more before casting. Also give us a description on how you go about casting it. With that many parts it is always possible to get air pockets. Like to hear your approach and your results. Look forward to seeing when done. Make sure to take photos before presenting.
 

jtdesigns

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thats gonna look amazing when you are done! Be sure to share pics once it is complete!
I certainly will...and thanks for the compliment. That means a lot coming from you....big fan of your Tru Coin technique (We both have a serious compulsion with painstaking technique :biggrin:)

I think thats why i like this so much! its like A.D.D. on crack!:eek:

Just to be clear everyone, I am not in any way implying that the "watch part" technique was my idea. :tongue: Tis the reason why I bowed out of IAP for awhile because I had caused so much dissention the last time I posted one of these. Enough of that...hopefully.
 

jtdesigns

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I like the blue face and am glad you shown us a better view. That is what is going to make that pen stand out. I also like the fact you filled it up with parts. Too many of the pens I have seen do not do this.

One thing I would make sure those hands are bent a little more before casting. Also give us a description on how you go about casting it. With that many parts it is always possible to get air pockets. Like to hear your approach and your results. Look forward to seeing when done. Make sure to take photos before presenting.

You caught that!!! Yes, I have to tack down the second hand (it kind of sprung back on me) CA will fix that.

For the casting, I will use a Resin Saver. In the past with watch parts, before pouring the PR, I heat the resin in my ultrasonic jewelry cleaner and pour slowly. I then use a curved dental scraper to "manipulate" any bubbles that may be trapped underneath. I havent had any problem with bubbles since doing this. I then use a UV light box that I made to assist with curing. Seems to help curing consistently. I haven't done this in two years, so I need to order some PR. The last stuff I had was from US Composites. If there is something that is better, let me know.
 

jttheclockman

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thats gonna look amazing when you are done! Be sure to share pics once it is complete!
I certainly will...and thanks for the compliment. That means a lot coming from you....big fan of your Tru Coin technique (We both have a serious compulsion with painstaking technique :biggrin:)

I think thats why i like this so much! its like A.D.D. on crack!:eek:

Just to be clear everyone, I am not in any way implying that the "watch part" technique was my idea. :tongue: Tis the reason why I bowed out of IAP for awhile because I had caused so much dissention the last time I posted one of these. Enough of that...hopefully.


Not quite sure where this is coming from but when I am able to get back in my shop I will be doing some watch part pens also but will be taking them down a different path. There is time involved in making these that is for sure. Nice work.
 

jttheclockman

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I like the blue face and am glad you shown us a better view. That is what is going to make that pen stand out. I also like the fact you filled it up with parts. Too many of the pens I have seen do not do this.

One thing I would make sure those hands are bent a little more before casting. Also give us a description on how you go about casting it. With that many parts it is always possible to get air pockets. Like to hear your approach and your results. Look forward to seeing when done. Make sure to take photos before presenting.

You caught that!!! Yes, I have to tack down the second hand (it kind of sprung back on me) CA will fix that.

For the casting, I will use a Resin Saver. In the past with watch parts, before pouring the PR, I heat the resin in my ultrasonic jewelry cleaner and pour slowly. I then use a curved dental scraper to "manipulate" any bubbles that may be trapped underneath. I havent had any problem with bubbles since doing this. I then use a UV light box that I made to assist with curing. Seems to help curing consistently. I haven't done this in two years, so I need to order some PR. The last stuff I had was from US Composites. If there is something that is better, let me know.

To me there is no better resin around. Never had a problem and if kept in a cool dry place last a long time. I recently ordered some fresh stuff in anticipation of casting a lot but ran into some health issues and that stuff has been sitting for almost a year now. I am still confident in it. Not sure how I am going to do these yet. Maybe a resin saver mold is the way to go because less resin to create bubble. I have been casting in plastic round tubes mainly and using pressure. But I have been doing in a two part system. I would coat the blank fist in a thin layer applied with an acid brush and let to dry. Then I would cast in tube. Coating the objects has eliminated the bubbles under the items. Will have to experiment.

Again look forward to seeing this one.
 

walshjp17

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As a student of the former Soviet Navy, I can really appreciate this pen. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing the finished pen.

Using the pins from the cruiser Kirov and what appears to be a Kashin class destroyer on the box might be considered by some as mixing apples and oranges (submarine-themed watch pen and surface navy plaques). But, hey ... whatever floats your boat ....
 

jtdesigns

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I might pre coat but one time I did that, I was in a hurry and didn't inspect under magnification and noticed a bristle had come loose from the brush. Wasn't easily noticed but I knew it was there.......into the jar of acetone it went:mad::mad:
 

jtdesigns

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As a student of the former Soviet Navy, I can really appreciate this pen. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing the finished pen.

Using the pins from the cruiser Kirov and what appears to be a Kashin class destroyer on the box might be considered by some as mixing apples and oranges (submarine-themed watch pen and surface navy plaques). But, hey ... whatever floats your boat ....

Great observation and thanks for your service!! Unfortunately, my brother-in-law only had pins from surface ships.....it would have been cool to have the actual uniform pin from this particular submariner to tie it all together!!
 

Magicbob

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Beautiful, although a shame that a beautiful time piece had to die for this to happen, but if it were already dead, then it's like taxidermy.
 

jtdesigns

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Beautiful, although a shame that a beautiful time piece had to die for this to happen, but if it were already dead, then it's like taxidermy.

Much like most things USSR made:biggrin:.....it died quietly (it was overwound upon inspection). I could have fixed it but my brother-in-law saw one of my pens and had asked me to make him a pen from the watch. He thinks I am charging him for this but it is his gift from me and his sister.
 
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walshjp17

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This pen got me thinking. I have an old KGB watch (another of my service-related pastimes) that has a pre-historic 'self-winding' mechanism that lasts for all of about 5 hours before it starts losing time. I may have to perform watchanathsia on it and then cast it on a substantial tube (thinking Churchill).
 

jtdesigns

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This pen got me thinking. I have an old KGB watch (another of my service-related pastimes) that has a pre-historic 'self-winding' mechanism that lasts for all of about 5 hours before it starts losing time. I may have to perform watchanathsia on it and then cast it on a substantial tube (thinking Churchill).

KGB...that would be cool!!! You will want to find either a few more watches or orders some parts off of ebay (search: steampunk watch parts) and a set of tiny screwdrivers. I got a set of watchmaker screwdrivers from Rio Grande (jewelry supplier). Go For It!!
 

jtdesigns

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Thanks for the screwdriver tip. I already have a large bag-o-parts just sitting around gathering dust.

Oh, one more thing....a magnification visor or loupe. When I first started doing these, I didn't need magnification but as I started disassembling watches instead of buying parts, it is necessary!! Plus since hitting 44 years, I can't see my hand directly in front of my face...I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop on the second thing that goes with age:biggrin::biggrin:

Sponsored in part with a grant from the makers of Cialis and large button telephones
 

walshjp17

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I have a bench light with a magnifying ring that will work spectacularly ... if I can find it :wink:

As for the second thing, been there, done that. I'm now waiting for the third or fourth thing to go. You youngsters need to worry about other thing right now.:biggrin:
 

magpens

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Looks like a superb graduation gift .... very interesting and beautiful piece !!!! Well done !!!!
 
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