SLR Shroud Replacement Project - 8f35

I now have two SLR001 8f35 divers (8f35 diver post to come).



They (should) feature a one-part partial shroud made from a black rubbery plasticy material that allowed it to be flexed around the lugs before being retained by a set of screws (watch and shroud images poached from web). However the plastic deteriorates over time, becoming extremely brittle (I think it may be the same thing as the 8f56 Landrek crown rings) leading it to shatter, especially when trying to de-mount it from the watch.



The part became very rare, with people buying multiples when they could still be found, however even that route is only as good as the life of the parts plastic, ensuring all SLRs will eventually be shroudless. The part I had included one shroud end, the visible part.




I work in a field with an emphasis on 3D modelling, so it occurred to me that if I could get a shroud part modelled we could at least ensure we had a ‘safe’ 3D file for the part in future, allowing some replacement solution to be found. When I got the SLR with the part of a shroud I learned a bit more about the geometry, and could see that making a single part shroud forced Seiko into the material choice, it has to be sufficiently flexible to get over the lugs. If we separated the two lug cover parts of the shroud they could be made from a more resilient material, with a more conventional lifespan matching the rest of the watch. In fact if we decided to omit the small crown guard portion of the lower lug cover, they would be identical symmetrical parts, meaning we would only need to produce the same part twice to restore the majority of the watches cosmetic identity.

I am familiar with the growth of additive manufacturing, 3D printing. My first goal was to take my one intact shroud part and get it scanned before it died, the plastic is extremely weak. After searching Ireland for a 3D scanning service, I found a very promising candidate… just down the road? Sure enough, Mark Rowan at inspire3D took the part and had it scanned to produce firstly this:



And then worked on it further to create a symmetrical tidied part ready for printing, a step I was planning to do but he proved much better at:



So I hope to have two printed shroud parts shortly in a tougher plastic like ABS to complete one SLR001. I am using that as a learning process to see how well this scan/print plan works and how good the parts look and last. If it’s a success I would be happy to organise producing parts for others who want a set.

One issue is that many of the watches no longer have the complete screw set to secure the shroud to the watch. This consists of 4 larger screws and one smaller screw. Anyone who has a suggestion for getting replacement screws made please come chat, I have not been successful at sourcing these yet (disappointingly one member flatly refused to share a possible screw manufacturing solution they had found...)

Alternatively if someone has an intact full shroud part they would loan to me, I would be very interested in borrowing it to get it scanned so we at least have the full part safe in 3D. We could then look at finding a material suited to printing the full part or making a 2 part shroud in which one part includes the crown guard. Anyone with an interest in any of these avenues please let me know. I am not trying to start a parts business and my day job means this gets fitted in around the edges, but I hope to help get some cool watches off the shelf and looking better than ever.