Ever ready case for my Olympus 35RC

[philslizzy]

I wanted an ever ready case for my Olympus Trip and for my 35RC, I don't know if these were ever available but I can't find anything. The original pouch cases are always in pretty disgusting condition.

One day I was in Real Camera in Manchester and near the door are several 'rummage bins', remember them?? I picked up a couple of cases about the right size. An Halina and a Konica. The Trip fitted right in it's Halina case with no no mod necessary. The 35RC being smaller needed a smaller case. The Konica one was ok but needed some adjustments to fit. This project took about half an hour.

My lovely 35RC



With the case bought for it



The tripod bush is off centre in the 35RC so that needed changing. I lifted the red lining with the blade of a knife and wormed it under the metal clip holding the screw. in I eventually got it out. Theres quite a big hole in the case where the screw goes so I looked around for something to fit the hole and a 5p did the trick. I glued it in with epoxy and covered the hole on the outside of the case with some gaffer tape.

I needed to make a new hole in the case so I drew round the camera and marked where the tripod bush was and made a pattern.



I cut it out and put it in the bottom of the case and marked the exact location.

The case itself appears to be made of card with a vinyl covering and a hard plastic top and nose. So I was to drill through card.

I used a 7mm wood bit - the type with the little point - and drilled through the bottom of the case. Slowly. It came through the lining ok. I heated a screw head and pushed it into the hole from the lining side. That sealed the edges of the lining fabric. I tried the retaining screw for fit and closed the case. Obviously the screw is now in the wrong position but using a pen I marked a new hole on the bottom flap and cut it out carefully with scissors. I used the bit of lining to cover the old hole inside the case. Plenty of glue and clamped for 10 minutes.

The thin screw retaining ring was relocated and the screw put through it. More glue and its now firmly in place.

The strap lugs on the camera got on the way of the metal trim on the case so I simply sawed the piece out and removed it with a craft knife. The lugs also caught on the bottom of the case behind the strap retainer I cut a small piece out of that and the camera fits and the lid closes perfectly. I filed the edges of the metal and put a thin liner of epoxy glue round the inside of the cutaway to protect the camera and to stop the metal catching.







I reinforced the flap connecting the plastic nose of the case to the top with a piece of gaffer tape. The camera rubs on this when the case is closed and its previous occupant had made quite a mess. When I get a thin bit of leather I will replace it. I've not figured out how to close the original tripod screw hole on the bottom flap yet but its not important at the moment.

The original strap on the case was thin, hard, twisted leather (?) and not nice to use. I found a belt in the charity shop a while ago and its perfect for the case so I cut off the old one and riveted on the new one. Its the perfect length.

I cut a bit of leather and glued it over the Konica name.

The finished article.



I would like the case to separate but thats going to involve industrial size press studs and grinding out of original rivets. I'm afraid of making a mess. But for now its just fine!

Thanks for looking.

edit:
I made the leather wrist strap a while ago, I didn't want to keep taking it off so the case is cut slightly to acommodate it.

[philslizzy]

shameless bump

[scsambrook]

I think Olympus did indeed make an 'erc' for the 35RC but it was an extra and consequently not often sold. That's an excellent job of bespoke tailoring you've done there

[philslizzy]

Cheers Stephen. It cost next to nothing - only the time involved. I like ERC's unlike many others here. More than anything else, it keeps the camera in tip top condition.

The Nikkor's had a tryout, great, better than my 80's version in my opinion. I'm not sure whether to 'chip' it or not if I don't have to remove any metal from the mount I may. I'll see when I get the next chip.

[Lloydy]

I've got a big box of cases, hate the damn things.