FallisPhoto
Veteran
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!
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!
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oftheherd
Veteran
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 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
Well-known
nice job !
FallisPhoto
Veteran
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
Well-known
Wow, well done on getting it for $12, and recovering too.
dazedgonebye
Veteran
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
Veteran
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...
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sweathog
Well-known
She sure does look purdy.
Very nice job you've done there.
Very nice job you've done there.
chippy
foo was here
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
.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
local man of mystery
to chip in - nicely done. Stylish
ironically, the leather on mine looks great. But the darn cocking rack is getting really, really, really finicky...
ironically, the leather on mine looks great. But the darn cocking rack is getting really, really, really finicky...
FallisPhoto
Veteran
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.
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.
that's okay, as long as it doesn't pop any ribbets.
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
Well-known
Very very nice.
Is is a trick of photography or is the chrome a little more sparkly too?
Is is a trick of photography or is the chrome a little more sparkly too?
Bill58
Native Texan
Nice job--where did you get the froggie skin?
mh2000
Well-known
ok... I've bit my tongue. Nice job and all, but I kind of hate the frog front... looks tacky to me. sorry.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
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...83938QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262
FallisPhoto
Veteran
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
Well-known
Very nice looking.................Robin
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Well, I do believe in metal polish.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Well, I guess you wouldn't have liked my original idea to do it up in chicken leather either.
literiter
Well-known
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!
I'll dress it up a bit, tart the thing up like Liberace would own it. No rules!