Spray a chrome base plate black?

[ryankent1984]

Hello all,

Maybe this is a silly question, maybe it's not, but last week I bought a black M6 from eBay - great condition, great price, my first Leica. It came with an M4-2 winder, which I hadn't planned to use because it just bulks out the camera considerably, but I didn't realise it didn't have a base plate - just the winder (maybe this why is was a bit cheaper).

Unfortunately, I've just discovered the price of a black base plate, running up to 300$, which I think is quite obscene. Essential to the camera, of course, but an obscene price nonetheless. Before looking online I assumed they'd be around 100... I'm also in Europe and most of the ones I've found are US based on eBay.

My question is, would it be a bad idea to buy a chrome base plate, which are running about half the cost of a black one, and spray it black? It's not the ideal solution, but I'd rather pay a lot less if I could considering what I already spent on the M6 and a lens. My only concern is if it would somehow impair the base plate at all? Aesthetically, I'm ok with it not being a legit black one, I don't plan to sell it.

Edit: I was a little confused too as to what models I could buy? The M6 I have is the one that just says M6 on the front, and not Leica M6. Basically this one on this page here. Am I correct in thinking some base plates for other M models would fit?

 

[Axel]

Perhaps there is a cheaper solution in printing a base plate?

 

[ryankent1984]

3D printing? Seems too complex for me to handle 🙁

 

[Axel]

There are a lot of contractors who can do that for you.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Metal 3-d printing is not cheap. Else is not strong. Plus, lock is precise and small part.
Pay less for chrome and get half-case.

 

[retinax]

Often the cheapest way to acquire spare parts is to buy a "for parts" camera, take the part you need, and sell the rest, of course being honest about what's missing. Involves research, patience and risk though.
Of course one can paint a chrome part, but paint usually doesn't stick to chrome, so the chrome needs to be removed first, it's not easy to do.

 

[ryankent1984]

I appreciate the replies guys, thank you

 

[Rob-F]

Try DAG (Don Goldberg) to see if he has a black baseplate.

 

[Fraser]

I've bought bases for as little as £30 I would get one as cheap as you can if its chrome just spray away, whats the harm.

 

[ryankent1984]

Hi guys, would this fit perhaps (link below)? It specifically says M4 on the listing, although I read on a forum that they could be interchangeable but another forum that the dimensions are slightly different so I don't really know what to believe.

The official Leica store is selling one specific baseplate that fits the M4, M5, M6, M7, MP so maybe it would fit... (this was the $310 one I mentioned in my initial post).

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Leica-Leitz...574779?hash=item48b2cf4a7b:g:FGEAAOSwaGBbl8mc

I will check Don in the meantime too, thanks, and that's a good point Fraser.

 

[Fraser]

I wouldn't pay that for a mda one, the M2 and M3 ones even though are slightly different will work fine and they will be cheaper I had an m4p with a missing plate and used M2 one for a while until I found a better one.

 

[ryankent1984]

Yeah the guy just replied anyway and said it wouldn't fit an M6 but perhaps an M4-P would.

 

[madNbad]

The reason you need to find a bottom plate for the M4 and later is the plastic wheel that pushes the film into place on the take up tulip. Plates prior to the M4 don’t have one and the film will slip during winding. Get a chrome plate and start a reverse panda!

 

[Fraser]

Even though the M2 and M3 base doesn't have the plastic tulip they will still fit and work just need to be carefull when loading. I used a base without the tulip fine with m4p.

 

[Beemermark]

The reason you need to find a bottom plate for the M4 and later is the plastic wheel that pushes the film into place on the take up tulip. Plates prior to the M4 don’t have one and the film will slip during winding. Get a chrome plate and start a reverse panda!

An M3 plate will work on an M4 but you do need to be careful loading film. I used the M3 plate on my M4 for a long time until I found the right one cheap. Still have the M3 plate. My current M4 plate fits my M7 and I know the M4, M4-2 and M4-P are all identical. The M4-2 winder works on the M6 (and M4-P and M7) therefore so o the base plates. So M4 to M7 should work on your M6. I'd just hunt for a cheap one and would buy a half case to hide the chrome.

 

[splitimageview]

I'd just get a chrome baseplate and use it. While you're at it, get a chrome M3 wind lever, a chrome angled rewind crank, and a silver speed dial. Presto chango, panda M6!

 

[peterm1]

The reason you need to find a bottom plate for the M4 and later is the plastic wheel that pushes the film into place on the take up tulip. Plates prior to the M4 don’t have one and the film will slip during winding. Get a chrome plate and start a reverse panda!

"Get a chrome plate and start a reverse panda!"
I suppose that is a solution. And of course if you top it off with a half case no one will ever know. These can be had from eBay cheaply enough if you go for a Mr Zhou one from China - very well made and relatively inexpensive at under $70 + $7 shipping for a suitable one for a film M. I have been using one for my M8 for years.

 

[Ambro51]

So....why not sand it down to brass with 400 wet/dry, clean it well and spray it black? I’ve used hi/temp gloss black enamel from Auto Zone and it’s a deep black tough paint. It’s a Camera, your camera....not a Holy Relic That can’t be “touched”.

 

[Larry H-L]

Spray a chrome one with black PlastiDip, just as car geeks do to their wheels. You can peel it off if you don’t like it.

 

[splitimageview]

So....why not sand it down to brass with 400 wet/dry, clean it well and spray it black? I’ve used hi/temp gloss black enamel from Auto Zone and it’s a deep black tough paint. It’s a Camera, your camera....not a Holy Relic That can’t be “touched”.

Umm...I'd rather have original chrome that doesn't match, than a gloss black that doesn't. 😀

Spray a chrome one with black PlastiDip, just as car geeks do to their wheels. You can peel it off if you don’t like it.

PlastiDip will come off by itself, whether it's liked or not.