Pimped my camera

Threeracers

Threeracers

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Mark
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Just refurbished my XD11. This was my father's camera which he bought new when they first came out in the late seventies. I have used it for some ten years and now my son is starting to use it so I put a new covering on it for him yesteday. He hasn't seen it yet. It's actually a little more burgundy than these photos suggest;







Mark
 
That is gorgeous! Been after one of those in black fer ages. Drool....
 
thats very cool!
nice job.
 
Thanks both. I prefer the black body Alastair but the silver can look good. This one was refurbed for my brother as a Chrissy pressy last year. And it really was that bright!





Bit too bright for me but he loved it!

I have also done a black on silver which works well;





Mark
 
Nice job, very natty looking Minolta's
 
Lovely job mark.
 
Very nice! I've seen a few posts on rangefinder forums with people re-covering their cameras - have many people here tried it?

I saw this and really liked it:

$(KGrHqZHJFEFEkpJLTL0BRdmYQKVzg~~60_35.JPG


So was thinking of something similar for my Zenit.
 
They look really smart.
I sense a niche business opening here...
 
chrisfowler said:
Very nice! I've seen a few posts on rangefinder forums with people re-covering their cameras - have many people here tried it?

I saw this and really liked it:

So was thinking of something similar for my Zenit.
Click to expand...

That Zenit has just tripled in value!
 
It’s actually very easy to fit if the leather is correctly cut. The secret is to wet the sticky back before applying it as it gives you a few seconds to manipulate it into position. If it’s dry and it doesn’t go on straight it stretches and distorts when you peel it back for the second go and then it never goes on well. The wetting also allows you to slide it under lips and edges to get a really flush neat fit.

I tend not to wet the very ends that curve around the body as they are usually the last part to push down and by the time you are ready to do that the rest is all in the correct position. Otherwise the wet ends need to be held in position for a couple of minutes to stop them lifting before they stick.

The other tip I would offer is don’t bother removing the timer lever as neat cut with a sharp scalpel allows you to push the leather around it as you slide it into position.

I learnt how to do this applying big sponsors stickers to race cars for years. I used a water spray with a couple of drops of fairy in it and absolutely soaked the car and the back of the sticker. They slid into place easily and you could “wipe” out the bubbles with a plastic edge.

I don’t soak the camera leather though – usually just lick it – as I wouldn’t want the little screws and bits under the leather to rust.

Anyway, hope that helps.

Mark
 
This thread is inspirational. I can feel a pimping coming on for my OM1 and OM2.

Mark, out of interest, your top plate and other exposed metal look very clean too. Any top tips for getting the grime off those surfaces too?
 
Damp cloth gets most off for me Graham with a little bit of brake cleaner on a cotton bud for the stubborn bits.

Mark
 
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