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Old 9th Jul 2009, 7:13 pm   #1
awc
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Default Dial Glass Reconstruction

Here are the before and after scans of the GEC SW4 dial glass I decided to try and recontruct in Adobe Photoshop. There was just enough detail on the old glass to enable the recontruction but all the text had to be renewed from scratch as did the graduations. Started in March and just finished after many, many hours clicking away. Perhaps I should have asked if anyone had a scan first...... The final product was reverse printed onto waterslide transfer (first time I've used it - great fun!) and two prints laid one over the other and acyrilic varnished, two coats. I used a new piece of glass so I could put the remains of the original in the cabinet. The varnish on the set was in a terrible state so I stripped it and repolished with brushing wax. This gives a not-too-glossy finish and is dead easy to use. Pic of glass in set and powered up attached.
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Old 9th Jul 2009, 7:25 pm   #2
Colin
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

What an astounding piece of reconstruction! Truly amazing given the starting point. The finished set looks very nice too, and the new dial sets it off beautifully. I've had a go at this sort of thing myself and it is really time consuming and painstaking work. Very well done I hope it sounds as good as it looks.
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Old 9th Jul 2009, 7:25 pm   #3
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

What a brilliant job! Well done that man!



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Old 9th Jul 2009, 8:23 pm   #4
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Wow!

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Old 9th Jul 2009, 8:58 pm   #5
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Fantastic reconstruction, very well done that man!

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Old 9th Jul 2009, 9:25 pm   #6
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Wonderful work! I wouldn't have thought it possible judging by what you started with.

Ian.
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Old 9th Jul 2009, 9:55 pm   #7
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Many thanks all, for your comments. There were times when I wondered if all the time and effort was worth it but once I'd started.... I discovered early on to save each sessions work to a disc as well as the hard drive and create a copy to work on the next time just in case disaster struck. As a matter of interest, does anyone know the relevance of the letters "A" and "B" above the short wave markings?

The set works quite well, but the valves are a little tired, particularly the frequency changer and with the exception of the D41 seem difficult to get hold of. Short wave is the perkiest with medium wave only just about adequate and long wave very feeble. This is the first set I've restored with a Barretter on board, not much glow but lots of heat!
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Old 9th Jul 2009, 10:04 pm   #8
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Quote:
As a matter of interest, does anyone know the relevance of the letters "A" and "B" above the short wave markings?
Amateur and Broadcast.
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Old 9th Jul 2009, 11:33 pm   #9
chipp1968
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Dial and set look good , very impressed
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Old 10th Jul 2009, 8:25 am   #10
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Hello,

I *never* cease to be astonished with the things people achieve here
Thats fabulous, well done

Regards
Stu
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Old 10th Jul 2009, 9:49 am   #11
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Quote:
Originally Posted by awc View Post
the valves are a little tired, particularly the frequency changer and with the exception of the D41 seem difficult to get hold of.
I don't know this set. What are the numbers and I'll go through my spare valves.
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Old 10th Jul 2009, 1:28 pm   #12
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Good work, AWC.You've obviously spent some time on this. I'm really impressed!
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Old 10th Jul 2009, 2:11 pm   #13
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Looks damn good to me, well done!

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Old 10th Jul 2009, 5:28 pm   #14
awc
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Thanks David for your offer to look out for some valves for me and to everyone for their kind comments and encouragement. The valves are Osram X31 W31 N31 and U30. The Barretter and the D41 are ok.

Thanks again.
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Old 12th Jul 2009, 4:35 pm   #15
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Blimey the patientance of saint...! Truly amazing now I know who to come to if I should need this doing
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Old 12th Jul 2009, 10:31 pm   #16
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Well done. If possible work of this standard should be archived for others to use. I think there was a thread somewhere on the forum. John.
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Old 13th Jul 2009, 9:39 am   #17
awc
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Thanks again for your kind comments. I was thinking about uploading the finished copy to an archive until a decent scan of an original dial glass is available. Perhaps someone can give me instructions on the where and how.
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Old 13th Jul 2009, 11:30 am   #18
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Many hours of patient work expended here. I know - been there, done that. A labour of love, truly. Well worth the effort, though. Excellent outcome.
-Tony
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Old 13th Jul 2009, 4:57 pm   #19
Brian R Pateman
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

As a first step towards archiving I have applied some ahhesive to make this thread "Sticky."

Regards,
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Old 13th Jul 2009, 8:00 pm   #20
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Default Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction

Excellent work

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