Madish Project, IIIG new RF mirror and other interesting stuff

[huw_finney]

The RF beamsplitter ahs seen better days in my IIIG, so it's time for

a new one. This is not a complete step by step guide, but you will

get the drift. As always please wait 'till I have done all the posts.

 

First pull the sleeve, this makes geting the top off a little easier

and saves the vulcanite somewhat.

 

Off comes the self timer, it's all screws, easy.<div></div>

[huw_finney]

Pull this little bit from the timer shaft, easy to lose otherwise.<div></div>

[huw_finney]

Remove four screws from mount and the two in the body, pull mount off...<div></div>

[huw_finney]

Pull shell off, push down on cover beneath the slow timer, stops the vulcanite being pulled off. Note the peg.<div></div>

[huw_finney]

Clip pressure plat in place, saves a lot of fiddling later.<div></div>

[huw_finney]

The shell off...<div></div>

[huw_finney]

Remove the two window trims, I use a bit of leather and some double sided tape for this.<div></div>

[huw_finney]

...and remove the two windows, I ground down a pair of pliers to make the tool.<div></div>

[huw_finney]

unscrew ring holding the RF focus lever, hold the lever to resist torque, the inside bit is quite thin and can break.<div></div>

[huw_finney]

Accessory shoe is held by four screws, remove and desolder the PC socket wires.<div></div>

[huw_finney]

Remove shuter dial (three grub screws), inner shutter dial (three more grub screws, shutter release collar (just unscrews), wind knob (grub screw the unscrews CCW) and rewind knob (one grub screw). One screw under wind knob and these two inside at the rewind end.<div></div>

[huw_finney]

A view from the top<div></div>

[huw_finney]

And finaly the new dichroic mirror on it's mount. Much brighter images now, tried to photograph it, didn't work but one is greeny blue and the moving one orangy. Done now...<div></div>

[huw_finney]

After the first 3 pics I found the auto white balance setting on my digicam.

[bob_mcbob]

How easy is it to get the new mirror aligned properly? I remember you doing a similar mod to another LTM camera, and the resulting RF image was pretty nifty.

[huw_finney]

Not too bad, nip up the countersunk screw, and with a lens at infinity (pop the mount back on for this) swing the new mirror until it is about right for infinity, then tighten the two counterbored screws. Of course everything moves when you tighten them up, it all comes together after a few tries!

[terry_rory]

I have worked out what Huw is up to.

 

These step by step projects encourage others to embark on the same with their own IIIG. Result... many broken IIIG Leicas.

 

Now Huw's own working example is worth even more because the total population of good IIIG's (already quite rare) has gone down.

[kajabbi]

Take all the loose Parts, seal then in plastic bags, enclose with the rest and send to DAG with a very humble apology.If he sees the humor or appreciates your effort, He MIGHT put it back together.

[Andrew in Austin]

Not at all a madish project, if one gets their feet wet so to speak with an older III or IIIc and then moves on to a IIIg. The main alignment I'd be concerned with it maintain the proper register of the lens flange. So, where did find the replacement beam splitter? How crusty did the mirrored prism look upon inspection of the other end VF/RF assembly?

[huw_finney]

Ned, I would!

 

Andrew,

 

Flange focus is fairly well fixed in the cast crate Leicas, and as for the beamsplitter I have a few odd bits of dichroic glass lying about.

[huw_finney]

Andrew,

 

Part two, it looked fine.

[terry_rory]

"I have a few odd bits of dichroic glass lying about"

 

Don't we all?

[huw_finney]

Trevor,

 

It's all part of my junk collection, 'Oh that might come in useful' my wife hates me to stop at a skip (dumpster US). I once found a 4 foot length of 6 inch soil pipe I needed on the way TO a restaraunt, it came with us, (it was clean).

 

Every mad projecteer needs a junk box.

[al_kaplan1]

I sure miss the days when there was a Junk Box or two at the local camera shop. Some places had it under the counter, others kept it in plain sight. A treasure trove of used adapter rings, lens hoods, synch cords for obsolete flash units and camera fittings, and oddball filters.

[huw_finney]

I am with you on that Al, most is now on ebay by the look of it. We had two, one independant and one franchised, photoshops in the town I live, they both had a junk box. Now there is one Jessops (this one is OK but some are awful), I know the manager, I will ask him to start one.