Hello All

[mountaineer]

I agree with the others, go for it! Buy a cheap case kit for an a6497 (st3600) movement. The larger movement makes everything easier. Build it, age it, service it…. You will learn a lot. Don’t be afraid to break anything. Everything can be fixed. Also, be careful not to lose any parts. They are small.

[wwwEvgeny]

Welcome, Andy! this hobby could be addictive ) just do it!

[aci4369]

Welcome. Remember, learn by doing, dont be afraid to make a mess. Most of us here are still quite happy to make a hames of it! Dive in and start building…

Oh, make no mistake about it. In the last few weeks I have already ripped every quartz watch in our house apart and replaced batteries, fixed straps and lugs. I have only broken one (Timex Expedition). I broke the stem because I didn't realize the movement spacer ring was directional.
When I pressed the case-back back on it snapped the stem. The first lesson/mistake in many to come I am sure, but one that I will hopefully only make once. There was a reason I took the $40 watch apart first. haha.

[aci4369]

I hope to build a homage pilot watch very similar to Laco's Friedrichshafen. That or a Hamilton Khaki Field watch.

A good friend left the country for a year and gave me his Ti Hamilton Khaki Field to wear while he was gone. That got me started down the path of knowing the difference of a nice watch compared to a cheapo. It is all his fault I guess, but it was hard to hand the Hamilton back and put on my Timex.