Rhapsody in Blue and Gray

[Nemrod]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/JRWJR/Scuba%20Stuff/DSCF0003.jpg

100% new, yahooooooo.

N

[Doubler]

Beautiful. Looks right out the box brand spankin new.

[Nemrod]

It is right out of the box brand new. And to think all those poor fellows paying 600 dollars for them on eBay and now we got new ones.

N

[Scuba Cowboy]

Mine will be here soon, just ordered one yesterday. It was just to good to pass up. I still need to find some guts for it, I'm not gunna take apart my other single stagers. Just have to hunt down the parts, its all part of the fun.

[DarthWader]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/JRWJR/Scuba%20Stuff/DSCF0003.jpg

100% new, yahooooooo.

N
Sweet!
I saw that on the VDH site, but didn't know what to make of it. I take it that, for lack of a better word, it's kit? you supply the guts?

[simonbeans]

Go here for information:

The Scuba Museum (http://www.thescubamuseum.com)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/simonbeans/VoitblueFiftyFathom.jpg

Besides hoses, mouthpiece, clamps you will need these parts:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/simonbeans/PartsforVoit.jpg

[John C. Ratliff]

Thanks Nem and David,

I have the "guts" of the original AMF Voit Blue Fifty Fathom, but no cans. This is the original downstream single stage guts, not the Mistral guts. I just may give myself a present soon. I appreciate the info. This is my favorite mouthpiece too, and I currently do not have any.

SeaRat

[simonbeans]

This regulator used both internals, the Gagnan down-stream version and the Mistral-type. We have not been able to find any way to tell which internals a particular unit has until you get inside. The labels and cans on both units are apparently the same. The location hole for the indexing pin is different however but you can't see that from the outside. The hoses and mouthpieces have been available for about a year now, the cans, having just arrived. Another great endeavor by a member of the vintage dive community. As one who tries to provide some aspect of authentic reproduction (harnesses) I fully appreciate the effort and money Rob has invested in this product.

[spectrum]

Very slick Rob, in fact downright unbelievable.:D

Of course it does shoot some holes in the jabs the vintage divers like to take at single hosers with plastic regulators.:shocked2:

Pete

[Nemrod]

The index pin hole may not line up with your Mistral innards but it is easy to make another hole, that is a no brainier. The quality is high, indiscernible from the original unless under the closest scrutiny side by side. Very nice.

Y'all might not notice but there are also gray diaphragms, gray cage valves, wow!

N

[Scuba Cowboy]

Just got mine put together & will dive it this weekend in the pool, next weekend in the lake. Its a thing of beauty. I robbed some pristine guts from a Jet Air & you would think mine was brand new. Don't fret about the poor Jet Air, I traded for some guts for it, I'll have it back together in no time. I have only had one brand new doublehose before, & it was the new Mistral that Aqua Lung put out a few years ago. This one is wayyyyy better! Will let you know how it breathes. Mine looks identicle to Nems, including grey diaphragm. I tell ya, there is no better time to be a vintage diver than now.

[duckbill]

The more I see of it, Rob, the more I'm impressed. Nice work. It looks great!

[John C. Ratliff]

Dale,

When you put the Jet Air innerds into the Blue Fifty Fathom case, be sure to maintain the same somewhat offset orientation of the venturi so that it does not go straight down the intake hose. The venturi for the Jet Air and Stream Air were so efficient, without little holes diverting some air inside the case that the Mistral has, that they would free-flow and blow by if they were not oriented just to the side of the intake. This creates enough turbulence to allow the venturi to be shut down when the breathing cycle comes to an end.

SeaRat

[SwimJim]

Dale,

When you put the Jet Air innerds into the Blue Fifty Fathom case, be sure to maintain the same somewhat offset orientation of the venturi so that it does not go straight down the intake hose. The venturi for the Jet Air and Stream Air were so efficient, without little holes diverting some air inside the case that the Mistral has, that they would free-flow and blow by if they were not oriented just to the side of the intake. This creates enough turbulence to allow the venturi to be shut down when the breathing cycle comes to an end.

SeaRat

Or, you could outfit it with a reproduction Mistral nozzle from VDH. That would give you a little better overall performance.

Jim

[Scuba Cowboy]

Dale,

When you put the Jet Air innerds into the Blue Fifty Fathom case, be sure to maintain the same somewhat offset orientation of the venturi so that it does not go straight down the intake hose. The venturi for the Jet Air and Stream Air were so efficient, without little holes diverting some air inside the case that the Mistral has, that they would free-flow and blow by if they were not oriented just to the side of the intake. This creates enough turbulence to allow the venturi to be shut down when the breathing cycle comes to an end.

SeaRat

Thanks John, that is a lesson I've already learned:D I will probably get a reproduction nozzle for it in the near future. You have got to get one, they are purdy. Rob is the man!

[John C. Ratliff]

Actually, when I had the Jet Air, I liked it better than the Mistral. It breathed easier, and was not as noisy as the Mistral. I don't think that a Jet Air can be modified in the same way as a Stream Air to the Mistral orifice, as the Jet Air's fibergrass body has the orientation of the body pretty well set. It is not a smooth surface, as this reproduction of the Blue Fifty Fathom's plastic body is. It has the hexagonal (if my memory is right) ribs that prevent the re-orientation of the body to accept the mistral orifice. The Mistral orifice would only make sense if it is oriented directly down the intake hose.

John

[Scuba Cowboy]

You are quite correct on this. The ribs make it so it can be only oriented one way and with a Mistral nozzle, the nozzle is right up against the side of the can. I'll have to switch them on the 50 Fathom. The Jet Air comes with a very short nozzle. No ribs in the new Faux 50, you can orient it how ever you like.

[1969ivan1]

Thanks for the kind words and observations. This project has turned out better than I had ever hoped. There is only one sure way to tell the FX 50 Fathom cases from the originals. The inside of the orig has "MADE IN USA" on both sides. I intentinally left mine blank to thwart any attempts at Criminal Simulation. Of course mine are clean and lacking 50 plus years of filth and muck as well:D.

I am currently waiting on the second shipment of cans as I am down to only 2 can sets. Demand was much higher than I anticipated. I am glad that everyone seems to like them as fine reproduced exact display cans. I have another item coming soon so please stay tuned to Home (http://www.theSCUBAmuseum.com) for more developments.

[SwimJim]

My Fifty Fathom #2 kit came today. I must say I am impressed with it. I used my Warner Ave Mistral for it's guts and didn't even have to play with the lever height adjustment. The brand new silicone mouth piece is really nice. I had the whole thing together and ready for diving in about ten minutes. The way the diaphragm sits and seals in its groove means zero leaks. On the bench it's super. I'll be taking it to Fortune Pond this weekend to give it some serious testing. Can't wait!!!

Jim

[1969ivan1]

BIG update. The newest installment is here.

This will be the first one sold. The winner of this auction will be able to brag that he got the first one on his block .

I have been promised by my vendor that I will have the decals for the others in 2 to 4 weeks. When I have them I will be able to fill orders for more. At this time this is the only Thunderball edition available.

I think this case will look pretty sporty with a GRAY diaphragm from VDH......


Voit 50 FATHOM THUNDERBALL JAMES BOND 007 vintage scuba - eBay (item 140320582857 end time May-16-09 17:00:00 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=140320582857)

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i244/1969ivan1/DSCF1867.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i244/1969ivan1/DSCF1869-1.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i244/1969ivan1/DSCF1866.jpg

[SwimJim]

BIG update. The newest installment is here.

This will be the first one sold. The winner of this auction will be able to brag that he got the first one on his block .

I have been promised by my vendor that I will have the decals for the others in 2 to 4 weeks. When I have them I will be able to fill orders for more. At this time this is the only Thunderball edition available.

I think this case will look pretty sporty with a GRAY diaphragm from VDH......


Voit 50 FATHOM THUNDERBALL JAMES BOND 007 vintage scuba - eBay (item 140320582857 end time May-16-09 17:00:00 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=140320582857)

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i244/1969ivan1/DSCF1867.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i244/1969ivan1/DSCF1869-1.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i244/1969ivan1/DSCF1866.jpg

I think going black hoses with a black Voit hour glass mouth piece would be cooler. YMMV. LOL

Jim

[1969ivan1]

And the FIRST owner of the THUNDERBALL is................................................ ....Getting a little extra with his big auction win.........CONGRATS


I hope to have THUNDERBALL reg cans up for sale on my MUSEUM site in a week or less. I am just waiting on more hardware and decals. The blue cans sold so fast that I actually have run out of screws and nuts. Don't get me wrong I am not complaining. I appreciate the kind words and support. The new FIRST owner of Thunderball should have his by Tuesday in the PRIORITY MAIL. I will leave it up to him to decide if he wants to share pics of it or even ID himself.

I have a few more small suprises up thescubamuseum.com sleeve so stay tuned.........

I already have 2 preorders for the THUNDERBALL cans...Those crazy OHIO people!!!

Rob

[WD8CDH]

Out of curiosity, were the cans in the movie painted black? Even over the label? It's been a while since I have seen the movie.