frankencam research log

wee bit of research. people have drawn on any features they want. all but one put the shutter release on the right.  and a lot of people included a viewfinder.

quick mdf mould. im having a go at some pewter casting with a view to producing a metal camera chassis. i found a method called slush casting. the molten metal is poured into a mould and then poured straight out.  the metal touching the mould cools first and leaves a  wall thickness.

some pewter ready for melting. it has a much nicer feel to it than i had expected. i think if i ever get it into the shape of a camera it will be quite nice.

as you can see that didnt really work. the mdf insulated to molten pewter and it all set together.  i think the mould needs to conduct the heat from the edge of the molten metal quite quickly so that the centre is still liquid enough to pour out.

so here is a metal mould. i know it no longer resembles any sort of camera but  i dont have much pewter. this conducts the heat so well that i didnt get a chance to pour it before it set solid.

this one worked quite well. it needs to be emptied less then a second after pouring the molten pewter in.

found this camera by chance. i cant believe it exists.  i have spent ages looking for  a camera with a fixed focus lens and a manual mode.  the fixed lens is needed so it can be removed without the camera noticing. the manual mode stop the camera compensating for aperture adjustments made on the new lens.

check it out. got my paws on a super eight. unfortunately the lens is not removable and i dont want to wreck it.

some plaster moulds. i want to try slush casting the pewter in these and hope it wont insulate as much as the mdf.