Leica LTM Hello All

[mikepry]

I wanted to post a photo of the top plate painted if anyone is interested. I went back and forth about the Leica name in red or white. This isn't etched in stone as I can easily change it but I kinda like the red. Thoughts/comments? The baking laquer is amazingly durable! I am going to put together a blog on the whole process in due time here but I tought I'd keep fellow RFFers up to date on this journey I have found myself on.

Best,
Mike

 

[HuubL]

Hi Mike, Welcome here (better late than never). That's a very pretty top plate! Are you going to paint the knobs also or do you want to keep them chrome?

 

[jesse1dog]

Hi Mike

I like the look of the top plate. It appears to have quite a subtle sheen. I suspect you aren't too sure about the red lettering for Leica. I don't think it has photographed as well as the white. Of couse it might just not have covered in quite the same way but I would be inclined to redo it white - but that is just a personal feeling and preference.

Hope you enjoy the forum as much as I do.
j

 

[mikepry]

Hi Mike, Welcome here (better late than never). That's a very pretty top plate! Are you going to paint the knobs also or do you want to keep them chrome?

Thanks, I'm keeping the knobs chrome (for now anyways) and as far as the finish goes it is a subtle sheen. Between a semi gloss and a satin for sure. I really didn't want the totally slick high gloss and didn't want the lower sheen of a satin either. So being in Wisconsin (Go Packers!!), we certainly don't have a shortage of gunsmiths, so I went to our local shop and I had him beadblast the plates with a very fine bead to put just a little "tooth" into the plates. That served well to not only provide a perfect surface to paint on, but also to allow the paint to refract the light enough as to give what I feel is a very pleasing look. I know this is probobly taboo to the Leica purist but it's what I want and it's not going to be sitting in a case it's going to get a workout for sure. As far as the red goes I will let Youxin assemble it and then take a look at it when it's all together and see how the red comes across then.