Olympus 35RC - Project Deco

stevelmx5

stevelmx5

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Steve
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I've been itching to do another custom camera but don't really have the time to build a full custom like the Polaroid 110a. As a result I've started looking at 35RCs again because they're such a classic camera and I've already owned a couple including my most recent that was recovered in Wenge veneer.

I don't shoot a lot of 35mm but like the design and handling of the 35RC so have always fancied customising the top and bottom plates along with the leather skin. I'm a big fan of the Kanto customs that Bellamy Hunt (Japan Camera Hunter) uses a lot for custom high end kit for their simplicity and quality so I've been kicking about some ideas of my own.

Ignore the flaky Paint editing (I'm in work!) but I'm looking at smoothing out the top plate by removing the self timer lever, hotshoe and filling the original stamped logo. Once it's all smoothed I'm going to respray the top and bottom plate in gun metal grey then laser engrave a new simplified logo on the top left. The text will then be infilled in white and the whole plate given a clear coat. I'll also respray the shutter speed dial in matching gun metal grey and repaint the numbers white.

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I'll also remove the two strap lugs to keep the body smooth and fit a new black leather skin. Just thinking out loud at the moment but interested in everyone's thoughts. This is a Kanto conversion that's given me the inspiration;

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Cheers
Steve
 
Point #1

We know you're not going to "destroy" it. It will be beautiful.

Point #2

It's not like there's only 3 left in the world and can only be bought at Sotheby's by Russian oligarchs.

I say go for it.
 
I'm with Simon, go for it. I have two RCs and love em!
In fact if you want one to practice on, you can have one of mine! (and return it of course!)
It does have some dodgy engraving on it though that would need filling in.
I just need to get it back from Mister Oy.
 
Thanks for the encouragement Simon and Wontolla. That's a very kind offer to loan me one. I'd be more than happy to customise it then return it if you're happy for me to do it and like my idea? I need to spend some time with the laser engraver to find out how strong the laser needs to be to not blow right through the top plate so I'll use an OM2 bottom plate I've got here to have a play before hitting the 35RC.

If you want to let me know when you've got it back I'll send you my address and pay postage. I'll be smoothing out the bottom plate as well to remove the original serial number so no problem with existing engraving.
 
No problem Steve, I hope to see Dave (Mr Oy) in the next couple of weeks at ELR Diesel or Steam weekend. I have his Yashi Electro 35 and we need to swop!
I will let you know soon as I get it back.
First I will take some pics of the engraving to make sure it would be suitable for the customization.
 
Thanks Barry. There's no rush and I'm watching a few other 35RCs in the meantime so I'll grab one if they end up at a reasonable price. Cheers
 
Steve, go for it, we are itching to see the result.
 
I've been thinking about the film counter on the top plate of the 35RC and how it's a bit plain. I always like the look of the Leica M bubble over the counter so think I've come up with a way to mimic it :0)

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I need to do some measurements of a 35RC to see if it will balance properly but I quite like the idea of it. I was already planning on inverting the counter dial to have black letters on a white background so I think this would make it stand out more.
 
Great idea, go for it :)
I like the thought of black numbers on a white background.
 
Send me your address Steve and I will send this one to you. Then you can get on with it! I can hardly wait!
Baz.
 
Thanks Barry, only if you're sure and definitely ok for me to make some serious modifications to it :0). I'll make sure it's documented in a build thread again and I'm more than happy to take your guidance on the logo etc once I've designed something properly.

I'll send you my details now.

Cheers
 
Steve, no worries, honestly! feel free to customize as takes your fancy!
If it turns out anything like what you envisaged, I will be more than happy.
Whatever happens, it will be a one off, a template, an original, prototype, and as such I will be pleased as punch!
 
Just done a quick basic scan of an OM2 film counter wheel and inverted it. I'll draw up a new wheel for the 35RC but wanted to see how it would look.

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Yep, I would go with that!
 
I know the RC means Rangefinder Camera, but it needs a name change (or am I getting too far ahead?)
Maybe Radically Customized?
Any ideas?
 
stevelmx5 said:
Thanks Barry, only if you're sure and definitely ok for me to make some serious modifications to it :0). I'll make sure it's documented in a build thread again and I'm more than happy to take your guidance on the logo etc once I've designed something properly.

I'll send you my details now.

Cheers
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I'm very much into Art Deco, would that be a possibility? For the logo that is.
 
Strangely I was looking at Art Deco fonts this afternoon and was looking at the original Pen F design for inspiration. I'll put some ideas together when I get chance.
 
stevelmx5 said:
Strangely I was looking at Art Deco fonts this afternoon and was looking at the original Pen F design for inspiration. I'll put some ideas together when I get chance.
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Great minds and all that!

well maybe not!
 
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Ok, how about a simple 35RC logo on the front then some text (possibly a new meaning for RC like your suggestion above) engraved on the back of the top plate next to the viewfinder? I like the Art Deco font in the example above.
 
Also, instead of my original thinking of gun metal grey, would you prefer a similar sand/beige colour to the example Kodak Duex?
 
stevelmx5 said:
Ok, how about a simple 35RC logo on the front then some text (possibly a new meaning for RC like your suggestion above) engraved on the back of the top plate next to the viewfinder? I like the Art Deco font in the example above.
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Yes, sounds good!
 
stevelmx5 said:
Also, instead of my original thinking of gun metal grey, would you prefer a similar sand/beige colour to the example Kodak Duex?
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No, go with the grey or matt grey, I like them both.
 
Excellent (I was hoping you'd like the grey!). Looking at the film counter from the OM2 and assuming the RC is a similar setup i may be able to move the window to get it looking more like an M4. I'll have to test it when I've got the RC though.
 
stevelmx5 said:
Excellent (I was hoping you'd like the grey!). Looking at the film counter from the OM2 and assuming the RC is a similar setup i may be able to move the window to get it looking more like an M4. I'll have to test it when I've got the RC though.
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OK bud, found a box, printed the address, found the tape, need to dig out some bubble wrap now!
 
OH YES!
S w e e e e e t!
 
Oh, I will leave the battery in, you may need to test the camera?
There is an 'off' position on the aperture ring, so should be ok for the journey!
 
Thanks for that, I'll let you know when it arrives safely (before I take it apart!)
 
Just playing around with the top plate and an alternative location for the logo.

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I like the way the Leica film counter displays the numbers like a clock face instead of the way the Olympus displays it. I'll have to do some trial and error to get the numbers aligned but might be able to do it.
 
So you will be taking the flash shoe off?
Not a problem as I never use it!
Design looks great, is there any way you could put a small 'Olympus' on some where?
Or perhaps the affectionate term 'Olly'?
 
You can't leave serif's on the numbers with those other art deco numbers around! They'd feel all rockers at the mods party! ;)
 
Font nerd Chris ;0)

I was planning on smoothing the top plate by removing the hotshoe because I've never used one on any of my film cameras either but I can leave it in place if you'd prefer? I'm sure I could get an Olympus logo on there somewhere.
 
stevelmx5 said:
Font nerd Chris ;0)

I was planning on smoothing the top plate by removing the hotshoe because I've never used one on any of my film cameras either but I can leave it in place if you'd prefer? I'm sure I could get an Olympus logo on there somewhere.
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No no, take it off, looks s m o o o t h!
 
ChrisR said:
You can't leave serif's on the numbers with those other art deco numbers around! They'd feel all rockers at the mods party! ;)
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Quite right too! :D
(sorry Steve!)
 
Oh man, I feel like I'm getting gang'd up on by the Serif Police ;0) I'll sort out the Serifs before anything touches the camera.
 
For the Olympus logo, how about the one they used between the 20's and 70's to (almost) go with the Art Deco theme? "Olympus Tokyo"

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All of the logo/design will depend on the success of laser engraving the metal. I've got a couple of other camera base plates I'm going to use as test pieces. If they're too thin to engrave I might have to get the logos/text cut from vinyl and applied under the clear coat.
 
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