Flexi clamps size to strip a M3

[edodo]

Does anyone know what are the size of those flexi clamps that are needed to take off the top plate of the M3(and M4)?
I know that the shutter ring is 16mm, the synchro sockets are 10mm, maybe 10.5mm (same as the eye pieces of the leica IIIa?), and the rear eye piece of leica M is a 17.5mm clamp. But I heard that the M3 needed one more clamp. Any DIYers could enlighten me? Please tell me if those flexi clamp sizes above seems correct too :rolleyes:.

I want to clean the counter and viewfinder window of the M4 and plan on buying a beater M3 and repaint it.

[Justin Low]

Possibly around the rewind shaft. The diameter is 11.5mm. Note that it isn't notched, and the space is a little tight. My M2 didn't need it as the ring was notched. The M2 needs a 6mm clamp for the screw next to the frame counter.

Sync sockets are 10mm. Shutter ring, 16mm. Eyepiece, 17mm.

You can fashion your own flexi-clamps quite easily with aluminium or brass or plastic. All you need is a drill bit of the correct diameter and a small saw.

The M4 top is easy to remove. You don't have to remove the eyepiece; just the rewind crank, flash shoe, speed dial, advance lever and sync sockets.

I'd like to repaint my M4, but I haven't had the time to strip the chrome plating.

[Zen-shooter]

Go to this link, where I wrote how I DIY M3 paint job.

good luck,

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00BY5U

[edodo]

Thanks Justin for all the informations, I will order the proper clamps all together.

Thanks for the link Akira, I've already read it and must tell you that your HT M3 look awesome (still I think the burgundy leather is a little excentric for me). I wanted to ask you about the serial numbers, is it because there was too much paint in the engraving that you couldn't filled it?