New Retina IIa, releathered

[FallisPhoto]

I just bought another Retina on the big auction site, this one a IIa. It looked like this when I got it (which is probably why the bidding only went up to $12), so I figured it was a prime candidate for releathering:



Anyway, I looked over a few leathers online and finally decided to do it in -- wait for it -- gray giant bullfrog leather. Just in case, I hedged my bets and bought a kit from Cameraleather too. Well, in due course the leather arrived and I started measuring and cutting the frog skin (surprisingly tough stuff). Unfortunately, close to the end, it appeared I was going to come up one panel short. After sulking a few minutes, I took most of it back off, because I couldn't see how I would be able to combine my frog skin with that black leatherette kit in any way that would look good at all. Finally, I decided to just have one piece of frog hide in the middle of the lens door as an accent, to brass the front of the rim surrounding it, and to just do the rest in the black leatherette. this is what it turned out like:





Retina bumps are for sissies; mine has warts!

[oftheherd]

Wow! That's a beautiful job there FallisPhoto. The whole restoration I mean. And the hopping skin is definately different. Is that a keeper or are you going to sell it?

I can't wait to see the next one that has a black leather panel on the front for an accent and hopper skin all over the rest of the place.

[thetooth]

nice job !

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by oftheherd

Wow! That's a beautiful job there FallisPhoto. The whole restoration I mean. And the hopping skin is definately different. Is that a keeper or are you going to sell it?

I can't wait to see the next one that has a black leather panel on the front for an accent and hopper skin all over the rest of the place.

I'm not sure. I am going to be selling one, but I may just keep this one and sell the Retina II, type 14.

[feenej]

Wow, well done on getting it for $12, and recovering too.

[dazedgonebye]

I'd like to recover mine, but it came down from my father in law and the spouse would have MY hide if I messed it up.

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by dazedgonebye

I'd like to recover mine, but it came down from my father in law and the spouse would have MY hide if I messed it up.

Send it here. My rates are reasonable and I don't mess up.

Edit: I still have that big piece of bullfrog hide that I cut for the back of the camera...

[sweathog]

She sure does look purdy.
Very nice job you've done there.

[chippy]

amazing job FalisPhoto...it would go well with Bob Hope's old golfing outfits .

so where are all the retina traditonalists gone, i would think they would be hopping mad, or have they all croaked it

i suppose the front door jumps open with a bit more spring now eh

oh i just thought of another one...if it was kissed by a Princess it would turn into a Welta Weltini

[kaiyen]

to chip in - nicely done. Stylish :-)

ironically, the leather on mine looks great. But the darn cocking rack is getting really, really, really finicky...

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by chippy

amazing job FalisPhoto...it would go well with Bob Hope's old golfing outfits .

Could be worse. I could have put one together that would appeal to Liberace, Elvis and/or Elton John.

Originally Posted by chippy

so where are all the retina traditonalists gone, i would think they would be hopping mad, or have they all croaked it

I was expecting to get a few negative responses, to tell the truth, from a few a few of those traditionaists who take it all too seriously.

I have my eye on another classic camera right now that I might be able to get for $1.50. Yeah, it looks pretty bad; you've seen the kind of stuff I like to bid on. It's a train wreck, but it has possibilities.

Originally Posted by chippy

i suppose the front door jumps open with a bit more spring now eh

that's okay, as long as it doesn't pop any ribbets.

Originally Posted by chippy

oh i just thought of another one...if it was kissed by a Princess it would turn into a Welta Weltini

<Sigh> Where's Di when you really need her?

[literiter]

Very very nice.

Is is a trick of photography or is the chrome a little more sparkly too?

[Bill58]

Nice job--where did you get the froggie skin?

[mh2000]

ok... I've bit my tongue. Nice job and all, but I kind of hate the frog front... looks tacky to me. sorry.

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by Bill58

Nice job--where did you get the froggie skin?

There is a guy on ebay who sells them. He has one left in gray and one in black. This link is for the gray one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Giant-Bull-Frog-...742.m153.l1262

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by kaiyen

to chip in - nicely done. Stylish :-)

ironically, the leather on mine looks great. But the darn cocking rack is getting really, really, really finicky...

I take it this is not something that can be fixed just by cleaning and lubing it?

[robin a]

Very nice looking.................Robin

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by literiter

Very very nice.

Is is a trick of photography or is the chrome a little more sparkly too?

Well, I do believe in metal polish.

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by mh2000

ok... I've bit my tongue. Nice job and all, but I kind of hate the frog front... looks tacky to me. sorry.

Well, I guess you wouldn't have liked my original idea to do it up in chicken leather either.

[literiter]

I have a Retina II in pretty good nick, but the leather is bad.

I'll dress it up a bit, tart the thing up like Liberace would own it. No rules!

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by literiter

I have a Retina II in pretty good nick, but the leather is bad.

I'll dress it up a bit, tart the thing up like Liberace would own it. No rules!

Here's some inspiration for you:



If that camera could talk, ... well, it would probably just whimper.

Then there's the red fake-suede Petri:


... and the blue Aires:


If you listen hard, you can hear them faintly murmering "Kill me. Please kill me."

Then there's my very favorite, the upholstery vinyl Kodak:

The guy who did this says it used to be in bad shape, back when he got it.

[chippy]

Originally Posted by FallisPhoto

Could be worse. I could have put one together that would appeal to Liberace, Elvis and/or Elton John.

so we could expect a camera with sequins in the near future

Originally Posted by FallisPhoto

I was expecting to get a few negative responses, to tell the truth, from a few a few of those traditionaists who take it all too seriously.

i think they should should speak up! even if they think its hidious!

Originally Posted by FallisPhoto

that's okay, as long as it doesn't pop any ribbets.

LOL, good one, i nearly popped a ribbet myself laughing

Originally Posted by FallisPhoto

<Sigh> Where's Di when you really need her?

Pricess Mary, the crown princess of Denmark can do the honours, she's a real cutie. An Aussie girl that married Prince Federick after first meeting him at the Sydney Olympics

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by chippy

so we could expect a camera with sequins in the near future

God no! Well, maybe, but not from me.

Originally Posted by chippy

i think they should should speak up! even if they think its hidious!

Me too! Heck, this whole thing started off as a joke.

Originally Posted by chippy

LOL, good one, i nearly popped a ribbet myself laughing

So, you like puns, just a tad then, huh, Andrew? Well, sorry, but after this, I'm toadally out of frog puns.

Originally Posted by chippy

Pricess Mary, the crown princess of Denmark can do the honours, she's a real cutie. An Aussie girl that married Prince Federick after first meeting him at the Sydney Olympics

Yeah, but what are the odds of getting her to kiss my camera? Maybe if I hung some mistletoe over it?

[mh2000]

as long as it's black!

Originally Posted by FallisPhoto

Well, I guess you wouldn't have liked my original idea to do it up in chicken leather either.

[mh2000]

I do love that Argus!!!!! Very dear!