Zorki/FED/Kiev Skin Templates

[nation_of_pomation]

I should probably apologe for starting so many threads on here (I won't), but does anyone have templates for the skins/cladding on any of the 35mm FSU rangefinders? I'm especially keen on getting one for my Zorki-4K and Zorki-6. The printer I used already had a template for the FED-5 models, and my FED-5B was pretty decrepit looking with the stock skin falling off. I bought one and now I want more. I am a little less keen on reskinning the Zorkis because they're from Fedka and they're in much better shape, though. It would pain me to strip them and I'm sure someone else has already had to redo theirs. I'd also love to be able to provide more than just the ones I want, so that's why I'd like it if I could collect as many as possible.

Here's a reference picture if anyone with a Fed-5 is interested in ordering one from Skins Love. It's supposed to look like a cover issue of Pravda.

I talked to the owner and he told me he'd make pretty much any camera skin that was like the FED if I could provide him with a template, so any help would be very appreciated!

 

[martinsmith99]

Take the old leatherette off and draw around it?

 

[nation_of_pomation]

I meant if someone had a camera whose the leatherette was coming off, they could scan it as a .psd and send it to me. I was just curious if anyone had a camera laying around that had loose cladding.

 

[Terry Christian]

I suppose you could always try making a skin for your camera out of paper. When you get it just right, trace around it and send it to your leatherette maker.

 

[rbiemer]

I have a pdf file for some FED or Zorki--maybe the early, FED 2 cameras?
Some fellow RFFer posted about it a few years back and was kind enough to send me the file. I can't find my notes about which specific camera it is for but I will be happy to share it.

PM me and I will email it to anyone who wants it.
Rob

 

[mortalenema]

I'll be doing my Zorki 4 and one of my Argus C3s in the near future. If the Zorki skin comes off clean I'll try to make a .psd for you.

While I'm waiting for the kits to arrive I sourced up some 3M Safety Walk and re-skinned my Canon A35F.

 

[Dez]

Just peel off the old stuff and use it as a template. Use an X-acto knife to carefully cut the new material.

I find Tandy Leather to be a great source of more kinds of different potential covering material than you may ever want to see.

I have always been rather conservative, but one of these days, I'm doing up a sting-ray skin Zorki!

Cheers,
Dez

 

[nation_of_pomation]

I'll be doing my Zorki 4 and one of my Argus C3s in the near future. If the Zorki skin comes off clean I'll try to make a .psd for you.

While I'm waiting for the kits to arrive I sourced up some 3M Safety Walk and re-skinned my Canon A35F.

Thank you, I would really appreciate that. I understand the 4 and 4K are basically identical, sans the self timer which can easily be added to the template. I appreciate everyone's recommendation with the leather, and believe me when I say I have the leatherworking merit badge; but I kind of prefer the graphic-on-3M the guy I mentioned above does. It feels good in the hands and I also worked with a friend to create some graphic designs I was gonna use on my cameras, so I don't want his work to go to waste, you know? I suppose it's important to me that my cameras be unique, but I'd never have the gall to do this to a Leica or some such camera. I suppose it's partly because there are so many FSU cameras floating around that they don't feel so scarce that I can't mess with them. I see the project Darkroom Army is doing as sort of an inspiration. They've made tanks and robots out of FED-5Bs and had artists use them as canvases. It's all rather interesting.

 

[pakeha]

that is an extremely rare `50th anniversary battle of kursk` Fed 5.

 

[mortalenema]

Here you go:

http://www.mortalenema.com/images/Zorki4Skin.psd

Didn't know what size file fit you needs. I can certainly make it larger/small if you like.

Griptac'd my Zorki and Argus, now. Very well cut kits. Not as super-over-the-top-extreme grippy as my 3M Safety-Walk skin for my Canon A35F, but very nice in the hand. Looks pretty cool, too.

 

[farlymac]

One suggestion I've read before was to take the GREEN painters tape (not the blue), place it on the camera body, and trim. Peel it off, and you have a template. (The green is thicker than the blue, and thus less prone to tearing when removing it from the camera).

PF

 

[ZorkiKat]

Template making with Tape

Template making with Tape

Scroll down the page, and towards the end are photos and descriptions of how a new 'skin' can be patterned with tape to make a template for the new cover.

http://www.zorkikat.com/2009/07/basic-leica-fix-%E2%84%961-bringing-a-leica-back-from-the-dead/