Clock to make in the desert?

I have relocated to Doha, Qatar (near Saudi), and of course had to leave my lathe , mill and 20% completed 1/4 scale traction engine behind, and I am missing it. I am seeking ideas for a project that would be possible out here. No model engineer supplies, 20" RSJs are easy to find but 1/4" silver steel possibly not. So it needs to be something not too heavy, where I can get most or all the supplies in one hit when back in the UK. A clock sounds good, can anybody recommend a good starter clock, kit suppliers, web sites? I want to 'make' it, not assemble a kit of machined parts. A mini lathe may be on the cards, so turning is OK, and probably can do simple dividing using excell and paper strips around the chuck. What I do have is time!
Any ideas welcome!

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Dead easy: <G>
A tall stick set vertically in the sand. A series of observations whilst listening to the pips on the BBC world service. A series of markings in a circle where the shadow falls when the pips squeak
...jobs a good 'un
AWEM

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If traditional clock-maker's metals are not easily available, then consider making yourself a clock from a sack of potatoes.
Why?
Well, when I rolled into work late one day at 09:15, the boss told me that I should get a potato clock. | | | | | | | | (Pun explained below for the hard-of-hearing) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The pun is "get up at eight o'clock"

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Thought you were going to say he helped start your collection by giving you the sack...
Nobby

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It's a good job you have plenty of time. You'll need it to read all the books essential to a knowledge of horology. On the other hand if you want short cuts, search for John Wildings book on making a simple clock, (I forget what it is called at the moment). The result will be an ugly but working clock, which will either put you off permanently or encourage you to make a proper clock.
Cliff Coggin.

    --Howzabout building a synchronome?

SimonH wrote:
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This one might be appropriate, few specialist parts, and works in the sun. Might need some adjusting/calculations so it can work in Saudi and back in the UK.
http://modelengineeringwebsite.com/Sun_clock.html
- Nigel

On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 10:31:07 -0700 (PDT), SimonH
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The obvious thing with all that sand available would be an oversized egg timer - just turn it over every 12 hours ;-)
Regards, Tony

I was in Yemen in 86/87
I chose to build a replica model sailing ship to pass away the hours while not working. Kept me occupied for a long time. You can get kits in any good model shop, make sure you also purchase any tools (mostly good knives) that you'd need to complete it. And accept that you probably will not be able to bring it home when your tour is over :(
Karen
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If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.' Catherine Aird