I had no idea that there was so much customization for reels and your Fuego looks amazing!  Nice work, thanks for sharing.  I'll have to look into this as theres nothing like making something your own.

I have picked a few reels up recently and have been doing minor upgrades to them, helps combat the cabin fever.  The first is a Daiwa Fuego, it has a lot done to it,  carbontex drag, abec 7's, added bearing to the levelwind, supertuned internals, Semper Fi CF handle with 4 bearing Megabass Hypercorks, Steeze swept dragstar, Hedgehog studio dress up parts.

 

 

This is a Dawia Zillion that I picked up from a friend recently who preferred Lews reels, most of the work on this has been cosmetic to this point, I have a lot more planned for this one.

 

 

 

 

The last is a JDM Gen 1 REVO IB, it is very similar to a Gen 2  Revo Premier, I have a few cosmetic changes to make to this reel, but really like the way it looks now.

 

Aavery2,

How do you get JDM reels?

You can get JDM reels in several ways, there are forums that have a lot of members that are really in to the JDM and custom reel stuff, PM me and I will get you a website.  You can do the ebay route if you know exactly what you are looking for and it is safe as long as you follow the rules.    The other way is to order direct from Japan, there are several companies there that have a very good reputation and accept paypal also.  

 

Let me know what your interested in and I will see if I can be more specific.

Check these sites out:

ZPI .com

Avail.com

Japan tackle. com

Hedgehog Studio.com

Semper Fi. com

 

these may not be the exact url's but you should be able to do a little searching and find what you need.

there are many others but these will get you started.

You can get JDM reels in several ways, there are forums that have a lot of members that are really in to the JDM and custom reel stuff, PM me and I will get you a website.  You can do the ebay route if you know exactly what you are looking for and it is safe as long as you follow the rules.    The other way is to order direct from Japan, there are several companies there that have a very good reputation and accept paypal also.  

 

Let me know what your interested in and I will see if I can be more specific.

Check these sites out:

ZPI .com

Avail.com

Japan tackle. com

Hedgehog Studio.com

Semper Fi. com

 

these may not be the exact url's but you should be able to do a little searching and find what you need.

there are many others but these will get you started.

The only site that worked/ was JDM tackle was japantackle.com

I'm specifically interested in the JDM revos

The only site that worked/ was JDM tackle was japantackle.com

I'm specifically interested in the JDM revos

Do a google search for those sites listed, they are all JDM parts or tackle sites.  Also, check Ichiban and Plat, don't know the full extension but they are Japanese tackle stores that sell to the US.  The JDM Revos are selling in the US now.  Several US tackle sites have some of the models for sale now with more coming in the future. 

The only site that worked/ was JDM tackle was japantackle.com

I'm specifically interested in the JDM revos

Semperfi-tackle.com

Hedgehog-studio.co.jp

Samuraitackle.com

Japantackle.com

That should get you going

I had no idea that there was so much customization for reels and your Fuego looks amazing!  Nice work, thanks for sharing.  I'll have to look into this as theres nothing like making something your own.

Thanks, there is a lot out there in the way of custom parts, the sky and your wallet are the limit.

Semperfi-tackle.com

Hedgehog-studio.co.jp

Samuraitackle.com

Japantackle.com

That should get you going

Thanks, that' serially helpful. I love that hedgehog studio. What are some other reel customization sites you use?

It looks cute with pink & pearl

It looks cute with pink & pearl

 

It does.  Your wife's rig?

 

 

That's still one of my favorite reels I've ever seen.

Sweet curado !

It does.  Your wife's rig?

Yep, just got the 150HG to put on her favorite rod, hope she likes it.

I have been meaning to get a few pics up of these 3 that I recently acquired. Not finished with them quite yet, but here they are for now. I'll update when I get them all like I really want them. Curious to see what people think of the cosmetic mods on the Tatula, in particular. Here's a description on each of them:

 The Fuego has lots of upgrades. It has a Zillion drag star, a 4-bearing JDM Zillion handle with Steez knobs, Carbontex drag, Boca OS7's with shields removed, duralumin worm gear from a TD-Z with the bearing upgrade, silver aluminum pawl cap and TD-Z 100M spool. I have a Zillion R carbon fiber handle and Daiwa original corks to go on it, but just haven't yet found the time. It is mounted on a Falcon Cara 6'10" Finesse Jig rod.
 The Tatula has only had cosmetic mods so far. It has a silver aluminum closed nut and a black retainer from a Quantum Kinetic PT and the drag star is from a Zillion 50th Anniv. I had to put an extra spacer washer under it to get it to work, since the drive shaft is just a hair longer than most Daiwa reels. It sits on a Rainshadow custom built on the RX-7 8' heavy crankbait blank, built for 6-8" treble hook swimbaits.

  The Alphas R is my personal favorite. It has a 6.8 gearset, high-speed worm gear with bearing upgrade, drag star and cast control cap from a Aird 100R Red Tune, Carbontex drag washers, Boca OS7's with shields removed, gold anodized handle nut and a mirror-polished Steez handle with RCS clear corks. It sits on a 7' H 2-piece Del Sol. It's a JDM stick from TailWalk.

-Tim

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Digging the acquisitions Tim! The alphas platform and tdz/fuego/zillion are some of the most rock solid platforms to tune. Toss in the tatula and you have a nice blend of classic and contemporary. I hope the tatula platform will be a reel with numerous tuning options down the road.

Thanks for sharing Tim!

Yep, just got the 150HG to put on her favorite rod, hope she likes it.

 

Don't see any reason why she won't.  Heck, I'd fish that rig if I had it (regardless of the funny stares I might get  ). 

Tim S., the silver pawl cap is a nice, understated touch!

Nice combos fellas.  What im working with this winter...

 

Curado 51, ZPI Carbon Fiber Handle, Core Knobs, Bocas OS Bearings With No Seals

 

 

Core 51, ZPI Handle, Zpi Knobs, Boca OS Bearings No Seals

 

 

My Ci4 1000, Ci4+1000, And Sustain 1000 FG

 

 

Hope to pick up an aldebaran bfs soon....

Man, I want to see what the Fuego looks like with the new handle and cork knobs, good looking trio of reels you have there.

Outstanding looking core. The handle knobs and red accent retainer take it up a notch!

That type r looks fantastic with the red accent parts and hyper knobs!

That type r looks fantastic with the red accent parts and hyper knobs!

Thanks, when I first saw the Tatula and heard they were going to release a Type R, I kinda thought it would look something like this.  I have some red screws but they are just a touch too long to use on this reel, gonna have to make an order for another set, they look nice installed. 

Are you sourcing the tuning parts from Hedgehog - Studios? ... except for the hyper knobs.