How to paint a Pentax.

Ever since I got into photography, I have lusted after a mint, black Spotmatic. No other camera on earth looks cooler than a black Spotty. The chances of finding a perfect example are slim. There are plenty of black ones around, but time and use have taken their toll and those available are usually rather battered and brassy. The black enamel finish was not very hard wearing and even moderately used cameras quickly became brassy. On the very few occasions that I have seen a mint one for sale, the price was incredible! Never likely to find one that I could afford, I decided that I would make my own! .

I know that the thought of painting a camera will have some of our more conservative members having kittens, so let me say now, that I would not do this to a reasonably presentable camera.
Some weeks ago, I began searching ebay for a likely candidate. It had to be in good working order, but scruffy. cosmetically bad, but no dents.

A couple of weeks ago, I found it. A working Mk1 Spotmatic, (didn't want an SP2) without dents, but very tatty top and bottom plates. The chrome finish had become pitted and tarnished, but the body covering and black edge trim were still good. I got it for a few pounds.

I was determined to do things properly, no quick slap job with a brush and masking tape! - The camera would have to be completely stripped of all the parts to be painted. Once this was done, the satin chrome plating would have to be complerely removed. Paint does not adhere well to chrome plating, so the top and bottom plates would have to go down to bare brass. This is done with 400 grit wet and dry abrasive paper. It gets the plating off quickly and keys up the surface nicely. The paint in the name and serial number pressings can be removed with a pointed needle file.

I had tried to paint a camera once before, as a kind of dry run, for doing a Pentax one day. It did not come out well! I learned some lessons.

This time, I would use a primer. Paint straight onto brass, does not stay on very long. I primed the parts with etch primer. This contains a mild acid, and as the name suggests, etches it's way into the surface of the metal. Two light coats is all that is needed.

For the top coat. I used a satin finish black aerosol paint, of the acrylic type. Four light coats of that. Not too much, or it would run and sag, and the lettering indents would fill with paint. 48 hours to dry, then a polish with T-cut to get the bloom and roughness off and give a lovely flat, mirror like finish. The lettering of the name and serial number indents is filled with white paint from a paint pen with a very fine nib. Tipex, could also be used, But I preferred paint.

The job is almost done. I just need to reassemble the camera, this evening.
I must admit to being very pleased with the result, thus far. It looks great. Not perfect. It would not fool anyone into thinking it came out of the factory like that, but it is pretty bloody good!

So... I have my black Spotmatic. Made to my own special recipe.
I am itching to show it off, and if I can finally work out how to upload pictures, I will show you all!

Edited for errors.

Sounds great, waiting in anticipation for the pics.

great thread!
cant wait to see the picture..

I can't wait either. Would you consider doing this for other members?
I'm just wondering how a spotty would look in those bright K-x colours...

Pentaxophile.

You're giving me dangerous ideas! - I might do a Yellow one, next!

Sounds good! Never tried it myself but I've often thought of it in idle moments...

Very interesting, my Honeywell Spotmatic needs re-painting.

It's already a black one but in a very sad state, so...

This is giving me dangerous ideas for what I might do if I find a scruffy ME or ME Super. I've rescued one ME from the scrapyard by un-jamming it but as that one appears to have been originally sold in Italy it's a bit too rare to mess about with. If I see a standard one in similar condition it might well be returned to action in a non-standard colour scheme!

The Pentax K-x clearly has a lot to answer for!

There is a site that offers replacement leather trim for old Pentaxes in various colours/finishes. Might be a nice finishing touch?

When John regains consciousness, will somebody please tell him that I was only joking about the yellow one.

Steam punktaxians?

Brass and purple flock!

I did think of brass, but I'm not sure how easy it'd be to get a good shine after rubbing the chrome off? I'd be inclined to leave the leather alone for a "Steampunk Industrial" look personally. I'm also unsure whether the ME Super is brass under the chrome?

Some hastily taken shots of my recently painted Spotty.

Excellent job. What paint did you use?

G