So I wanted to make a cool looking Wall-clock for my Spare room...

[FUBAR]

And it seems the idea I had turns out to be the most expensive way possible of doing this...(but very cool IMO)

So I was going to start with some nice looking Chevrolet Valve covers (just 1), something like this :

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/pro-141-933/overview/

or this

http://www.yourcovers.com/valve_covers_11029.php
Which I would mount on a board and hang on the wall, using some nice looking perimeter bolts to hold it to a back-board of some kind...
This is the 1st price hit as these are $269 a set and the only thing to do with the other one would be to make another clock!

Then i'd buy a kit for a Nixie Tube clock using the large IN-18 Tubes with the 40mm high numbers, this is £70 approx., and doesn't come with the tubes (only the 2 small separator lights):


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171933370131?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18&products_id=157

Then comes the final price hit... the tubes!!
These apparently vary in price from £24 each if you're happy to take some Lithuanian guy's word that they work, and they have not been Date checked or matched for number positioning, brightness or shape (because apparently these vary a lot)  they go up to about £50 each from more established places with the above checks done...

eg - http://www.ebay.de/itm/IN-18-Nixie-Rohre-HIGH-DATE-CODE-Rohren-tube-tubes-f-Uhr-clock-NEW-matched-NOS-/221896738497?hash=item33aa1386c1
or http://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=26_28&products_id=21

The tubes would then protrude from the top of the valve cover (the intake manifold side if it was mounted on an engine) and tell the time & date in an awesome way, with the PCB and other gubbins hidden inside the cover.
it'd look really cool, but my god approx. £450 cost price is a lot for a clock... but at least it wouldn't tick all the bloomin time!! :mad:
even still I don't think i'll be making one, but the idea is parked here incase I want it in the future, someone does have the cash or likes the idea.

[Roadkill]

Genius !

I've never seen those clocks before . . . . :chiny:

[Jo]

I like but like you say ouch on the £££

[ianjpage]

Sounds and looks a great idea but thats a whole lot of money for somthing to tell you time!