Fixing scuff marks and bottom plate

[Zenchicowboy]

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Thanks for the help…two questions.   What can of black paint to use and recommendations for smoothing out a bit of grit on the bottom plate. 

Blessings and thanks 

James

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[dpitt]

Do not use paint! Look on ebay for ready made 'vulcanite' replacement covers for your M3 if you want to do it yourself, or look here for other options:

 

[250swb]

It isn't possible to remove scratches from the chrome, don't try it, you will only make it look terrible.

For the chip out of the vulcanite you don't need to recover the whole camera for such a small area. Seal the edges of the chip with some thin superglue (applied with a pin) to stop the chip spreading and use black Milliput 

https://www.milliput.com/black.html

to fill the chip. It's a black two-part resin putty that sets rock hard after a few hours, press it into the chipped area, level it, and use something like a cocktail stick to create a texture similar to the original vulcanite (with practice you can get very close). After you have tidied up the edges and the Milliput has dried the surface looks just like the original finish.

[analogM]

IMHO nothing beats the original vulcanite in look and feel. 
If the rest of the vulcanite is still intact and in good condition, just touch up the spot where it has chipped off with matte black model paint (Tamiya or Revell).
 

 

 

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[PG Black nickel]

To repair the vulcanite of my cameras I use this product, it works on light cracks and small surfaces. You have to let it dry well between two coats. Once dry you can if you have the material reproduce the streaks of the vulcanite but you have to be an artist...

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[TomB_tx]

I’ve used milliput to repair a couple of patches on Leicas, and it can be an almost invisible repair. However, on the two old cameras soon more vulcanite came loose elsewhere on the body. So I recovered both with aki-asahi replacement skins, which look perfect. Now I’m not sure which of my old Leicas were recovered!

[spydrxx]

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I just recovered my M2 with a skin from Hugo Studios in Texas. It seems to have just a smidgen less depth than Aki-Asahi skins, but applies easily and these days costs about half of the cost, including shipping from Aki Asahi. Just tossing that out there for anybody interested.

[Zenchicowboy]

Thank you ! To everyone who responded,…,appreciate all the suggestions…..Best.   James