New Zorki.5 skin question

reagan

reagan

hey, they're only Zorkis
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Ever since acquiring my Zorki.5 a year and a half ago, I've told myself I need to replace the ribbed covering. Mine is not in bad shape at all, I just don't like the feel of the stuff. Every time I think I might take it for a stroll, I pick it up, rub the ribbed material, put it down and grab something else. 😎 Sooo...

Has anyone purchased a pre-cut cover for their Zorki.5? Without dragging out the calipers for close inspection, it looks to be the same size/shape cover as a Zorki.1d. I don't think it would be too difficult to remove the ribbed cover intact for use as a template to cut my own material. Can I buy something or should I start cutting?

Open for discussion... what think ye?
 
Okay, somebody slap me. :bang: 🙄 😱 After a brief search, I wrote the above post. Once posted, I proceeded to click right to Aki's Zorki.1d covers. He has several right on the Bay. Here's one. Don't know how I kept from seeing these earlier. duh. Anyway, rather than delete the thread, I'll leave it for future searches. cheers...
 
Aw! so you're not going to have a go? You could recycle the missus's handbag, next door's cat or some new to FSUdom material. I have been fascinated by the artistry of those who have tarted up their fav kit and have the bottle to be seen with it (although I'm not sure that I would).
So, will it be the dayglow orange for you?

Post a pic of the finished item........and tell us how easy it was, please...
 
I was about to suggest a look at Aki-Asahi. Removing the present covering intact will probably stretch it out of shape and make it useless as a template.
 
fidget & payasam said:
Aw! so you're not going to have a go? You could recycle the missus's handbag,... Removing the present covering intact will probably stretch it out of shape and make it useless as a template.
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Hey guys thanks for tuning in. I've purchased numerous covers from Aki and don't know how I missed seeing his 1d offerings on my first visit. 🙄 And yeah, using his stuff is soooo easy... even I can do it. 😉

But, no, I haven't 100% decided to go with an Aki cover. Actually fidget, I do have a solid black cat AND a nice black 'n white flop-earred rabbit, both of which I've grown quite tired of. I just can't decide which color/texture to go with. 😉 (Just kiddin' folks! 🙂 Weedle and Bubba are safe in my care.)

The handbag option is one I've wanted to try. There are tons of second-hand stores, Salvation Army stores and the like in my area with well stocked shelves of FSU camera covers disquised as purses. So that's still and option and if tried and failed, Aki awaits!

And yeah, the stretching was something I'm pretty sure will happen. Somehow we should collect templates for FSU covers in PDF format and attach them to a thread here on the RFF.FSU forum. ...maybe?
 
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Hi Reagan

You can make a template for your camera's new skin easily.

The easiest is to trace the old material you stripped off. It's nylon and will retain its dimensions at least to the degree your application needs. This is what I did to cut leatherette to reskin one of my ribbed-nylon clad Zenit.

Or should you tear the original nylon skin in the stripping process, wide paper masking tape and an X-acto knife will save the day. Cover the necessary parts with masking tape and cut away the skin's shape using the knife. When done, you can peel off the tape-template. Stick this on the intended new skin (cat, rabbit, wife's old Prada, the dog next door, etc) and cut away as needed.

The masking-tape method is what I used for making new covering for FED-1 from goatskin. The old vulcanite was shaved off, and masking tape made it possible to make a nice-fitting template.

Jay
 
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The Zorki 1 shell is the same size as the Z5 but fastens differently to the top and the camera guts. Was going to use a Z5 shell on a Zorki 1 once because of the strap lugs but w required grinding off some attachment points on the top of the Z5 shell and drilling and tapping holes to attach the Z1 top. Ground off the projections and the Z1 guts fit perfectly but didn't have the proper taps. The masking tape trick is IMO the best approach when reskinning.
 
Do yourself a favor and find a Zorki 5 with a vulcanite body - the heft and feel or totally unlike any leather or fabric covered Zorki 5 body.

Mine would be perfection itself save for the wiggling neck strap stud. Someone suggested pulling it out and epoxying it back in but I don't have the nerve as it seems the stud gets deformed when wrenched out. These studs are a real weak point on the Zorki 5 and Zorki 6 so be careful.

Michael
 
kiev4a said:
The Zorki 1 shell is the same size as the Z5 but fastens differently to the top and the camera guts. Was going to use a Z5 shell on a Zorki 1 once because of the strap lugs but w required grinding off some attachment points on the top of the Z5 shell and drilling and tapping holes to attach the Z1 top. Ground off the projections and the Z1 guts fit perfectly but didn't have the proper taps. The masking tape trick is IMO the best approach when reskinning.
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If you can find a gutted Zorki-2S body (alex-photo has some sold for parts), its body shell will allow a Zorki-1 to fit. The original Z-1 pressure plate will also need to be used since most parts Z-2S are missing this. The mounting screws also match, no top mounted screws are used like in the Z-5.

Reskinning will almost be necessary since the selftimer mechanism of the Z-5 will leave holes on the front part. These 2 extra holes can be patched with auto repair putty or plumber's clay. After sanding the patching, the new skin will conceal them nicely.

Jay
 
outfitter said:
Mine would be perfection itself save for the wiggling neck strap stud. Someone suggested pulling it out and epoxying it back in but I don't have the nerve as it seems the stud gets deformed when wrenched out. These studs are a real weak point on the Zorki 5 and Zorki 6 so be careful.

Michael
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Has the strap lug been yanked out? If its still there, and you can't apply epoxy in a way which will truly secure the lug rivet in place, try super glue instead.

Tape the lug from the outside first so that it can be held in the correct position as you work on it from the other side. Probe the lug's rivet with the super glue nozzle and let glue drop on the parts sparingly. Let the glue creep into the joints. This should fix the lug and keep it from wiggling. The rivet itself should be strong enough to hold the stud in place, but, as you've observed it,
its wiggly movement can stress it and cause failure.

Jay
 
ZorkiKat said:
Has the strap lug been yanked out? If its still there, and you can't apply epoxy in a way which will truly secure the lug rivet in place, try super glue instead.

Tape the lug from the outside first so that it can be held in the correct position as you work on it from the other side. Probe the lug's rivet with the super glue nozzle and let glue drop on the parts sparingly. Let the glue creep into the joints. This should fix the lug and keep it from wiggling. The rivet itself should be strong enough to hold the stud in place, but, as you've observed it,
its wiggly movement can stress it and cause failure.

Jay
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Great idea as it doesn't entail permanent alteration (such as yanking the stud out would). Leaving a piece of black tape inside afterwards might protect the film if the stud subsequently fails. Can't wait to try this even though the offending stud is on the take up spool side so the rivet isn't all that accessible without substantial disassembly.

Michael
 
Dear CVBLZ4, fi you find out a FED3b skin at a Salvation Army store please let me know: it would be a good opportunity for restoring my nice camera (so my cat is safe...joking of course!)
 
Mauro said:
Dear CVBLZ4, fi you find out a FED3b skin at a Salvation Army store please let me know: it would be a good opportunity for restoring my nice camera (so my cat is safe...joking of course!)
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Hmmm, just saw one of those last week... now where was it? And yeah, I now regret teaching my cat to read. He's been keeping up with this thread and giving me the stink-eye stare for several days. 😡

*Bubba the rabbit giggles in the other room* 🙂
 
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