pb908
Well-known
last week, I grab an old IIIC from a friend, quite cheap, but it has lot's of problem as well. my idea was to junk it, grab the slow speed mechanism to upgrade my Leica IIF.
when it arrived, what I got were :
- chipped chrome leica IIIC body with sync modif (local mod?)
- weak RF spot
- broken/cracked 2nd shutter curtain
- first curtain is not closing properly, it hangs up at the end of the film aperture area.
here is the picture :
after opened the shell/top cover of IIIC, I see that internally, everything was still set in order, no lost screw, no sign of servicing, I can say the IIIC was never been touch by service repairman (other than adding sync, which is done on lower compartment without require to open the shell/topcover).
I am torn between two choises, either upgrade my IIF to IIIF or build my "dream" ultimate LTM body. at the end, rather to let IIIC die junked, I'll revive it's soul with new magic.
What was my dream ? in the past I have been dreaming to replace one of Ltm/M body with titanium shutter. If it can be done, it will be my ULTIMATE body, never going to sell it.
So I have been hunting for one set of titanium shutter. from a junk Nikon F2, I got a nice set of it, so light yet so strong, then I will just wait for the body to come.
so when IIIC had come, I thought it is the good candidate for the ultimate project. Black Paint TITANIUM Shutter IIIC !
it was done last week :
- remove all cover and parts, clean and lubricate all movable component
- change the curtains with "new" titanium curtains
- calibrate the shutter
- replace the weak half mirror
- dechrome the top and bottom plates
- black paint the top and bottom plates
- assembly everything
- calibrate RF
By mistake, I dechrome the wrong bottom plate, which come from my IIF, so then I need to grind some area on the body to make it fits (bottom plate of IIF/IIIF have a small metal notch to hold the film from dropping).
In the first time I thought it was a big mistake, but now i feel that IIIC with IIF bottom plate will be better as it has the upgrade which II/IIIF had on the plate.
So, here are the result :
not the cleanest paint I did, but I can take it
so now, my dream have come true.. seeing the result, may not worth for the effort, but the satisfaction from building my ultimate one (myself!), will last for (i hope) ever !
i hope this will motivate other else to start chasing their dream..
sorry for my bad english, best regards from Indonesia !
when it arrived, what I got were :
- chipped chrome leica IIIC body with sync modif (local mod?)
- weak RF spot
- broken/cracked 2nd shutter curtain
- first curtain is not closing properly, it hangs up at the end of the film aperture area.
here is the picture :

after opened the shell/top cover of IIIC, I see that internally, everything was still set in order, no lost screw, no sign of servicing, I can say the IIIC was never been touch by service repairman (other than adding sync, which is done on lower compartment without require to open the shell/topcover).
I am torn between two choises, either upgrade my IIF to IIIF or build my "dream" ultimate LTM body. at the end, rather to let IIIC die junked, I'll revive it's soul with new magic.
What was my dream ? in the past I have been dreaming to replace one of Ltm/M body with titanium shutter. If it can be done, it will be my ULTIMATE body, never going to sell it.
So I have been hunting for one set of titanium shutter. from a junk Nikon F2, I got a nice set of it, so light yet so strong, then I will just wait for the body to come.
so when IIIC had come, I thought it is the good candidate for the ultimate project. Black Paint TITANIUM Shutter IIIC !
it was done last week :
- remove all cover and parts, clean and lubricate all movable component
- change the curtains with "new" titanium curtains


- calibrate the shutter

- replace the weak half mirror
- dechrome the top and bottom plates
- black paint the top and bottom plates
- assembly everything
- calibrate RF
By mistake, I dechrome the wrong bottom plate, which come from my IIF, so then I need to grind some area on the body to make it fits (bottom plate of IIF/IIIF have a small metal notch to hold the film from dropping).
In the first time I thought it was a big mistake, but now i feel that IIIC with IIF bottom plate will be better as it has the upgrade which II/IIIF had on the plate.
So, here are the result :






not the cleanest paint I did, but I can take it
so now, my dream have come true.. seeing the result, may not worth for the effort, but the satisfaction from building my ultimate one (myself!), will last for (i hope) ever !
i hope this will motivate other else to start chasing their dream..
sorry for my bad english, best regards from Indonesia !