Creating a hybrid Heiland endcap MPP style.

[MCM]

I have here 2 Heiland endcaps: one knurled edge type and one seriously chewed up number. The crusty one has the same tripod mount (I'm assuming that's what it is. I'm still learning about large format cameras and this thing threads perfectly onto my tripod) that you find on the hexagonal Synchronar endcaps. The plan is to transplant the circular threaded part from the sad endcap into the knurled guy.

I seem to remember reading about people performing similar operations but can't seem to find posts now that I need to :unsure. Anyone have any pointers? I plan on using a dremel to remove the threaded part from the sad endcap, drilling and filing out the center of the knurled one, and finally epoxying the 2 pieces together.

 

[thd9791]

Re: Creating a hybrid Heiland endcap MPP style. Pointers?

Drilling should be easy enough, take the time to buy the right bit. Either a "hole" bit or a twisty one that size...but the other endcap..those are really tough metal. Not sure how to remove the tripod mount.

 

[Probe Droid]

Re: Creating a hybrid Heiland endcap MPP style. Pointers?

It is indeed a tripod socket. Some ref pix if you could use them. Also, not all tripod sockets aren't the same size between the US and other countries, so there are converters which screw into the larger socket to make it smaller. You probably could just drill the knurled cap and glue/solder a converter socket in place. Might work, not sure. Worth investigating though.






Good luck with your build.

 

[MCM]

Re: Creating a hybrid Heiland endcap MPP style. Pointers?

I got the tripod mount removed from the sad endcap and trimmed up. Sad endcap, your suffering is over.

 

[Jedi Reali]

Re: Creating a hybrid Heiland endcap MPP style. Pointers?

I got the tripod mount removed from the sad endcap and trimmed up. Sad endcap, your suffering is over.

I have the same two endcaps, I might try that too. What'd you do, just carve it out with a dremel grinding wheel?

 

[MCM]

Re: Creating a hybrid Heiland endcap MPP style. Pointers?

I have the same two endcaps, I might try that too. What'd you do, just carve it out with a dremel grinding wheel?

I used the cutoff wheel to rough out around the tripod socket, the sanding barrel to get rid of the leftover flanges, and finally I used a needle file by hand to get as round of a shape as I could; it's too easy to get flat spots with a dremel.

 

[MCM]

Re: Creating a hybrid Heiland endcap MPP style. Pointers?

It is indeed a tripod socket. Some ref pix if you could use them. Also, not all tripod sockets are the same size between the US and other countries, so there are converters which screw into the larger socket to make it smaller. You probably could just drill the knurled cap and glue/solder a converter socket in place. Might work, not sure. Worth investigating though.

View attachment 609493


View attachment 609494

Good luck with your build.

Thanks for the reference pics! I'll have to look into the converter socket thing in the future. I still have dreams of doing a Vader saber from scratch and the end cap is always the crummiest part. If there's a converter out there that looks the part, that would be rad!

 

[MCM]

Re: Creating a hybrid Heiland endcap MPP style. Pointers?

Mission accomplished! I drilled a hole in the center of the knurled and cap and filed it to size, painted the tripod socket black, and then used epoxy putty on the interior to hold everything together. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out :cool

 

[Probe Droid]

That's not half bad. Bravo!

 

[tomm1999]

That came out great! Any ideas on where to get the converter piece?

 

[MCM]

I couldn't resist posting some more pics. Got some t-track on this baby, and I must say that it accents the endcap wonderfully.

Obviously, I'm going for a Vader ANH V1 here.
Here we are next to my other Vader sabers. The ANH V2 on the left is a Parks MPP replica, the ESB in the middle is a Synchronar with the hex endcap, and the last one is the new one with the hybrid endcap.

That came out great! Any ideas on where to get the converter piece?

Thanks for the kind words! I haven't begun the search yet for a converter piece; I still ended up using the tripod socket from the beat up Heiland endcap.

Edit:
Also, to semi-hijack my own thread, does anyone have any suggestions as to which type of nail I should use in the clamp? I suppose I could peruse my local hardware store, but if someone's got a suggestion off of the top of their head, I'm all ears opcorn

 

[Probe Droid]

That came out great! Any ideas on where to get the converter piece?

I assume you mean the tripod-socket converted I mentioned. You should be able to found them on ebay or any decent camera dealer no problem. Pretty common item for converting ball-socket heads, etc.

 

[JaxAndTheMoon]

I couldn't resist posting some more pics. Got some t-track on this baby, and I must say that it accents the endcap wonderfully.
View attachment 610014
Obviously, I'm going for a Vader ANH V1 here.
Here we are next to my other Vader sabers. The ANH V2 on the left is a Parks MPP replica, the ESB in the middle is a Synchronar with the hex endcap, and the last one is the new one with the hybrid endcap.
View attachment 610016View attachment 610017


Thanks for the kind words! I haven't begun the search yet for a converter piece; I still ended up using the tripod socket from the beat up Heiland endcap.

That looks awesome. I might have to give this a try!

 

[tomm1999]

Thank Probe. I have a couple more flashes coming tomorrow, maybe one will come with it, if not il; head to the camera store.

I assume you mean the tripod-socket converted I mentioned. You should be able to found them on ebay or any decent camera dealer no problem. Pretty common item for converting ball-socket heads, etc.

 

[thd9791]

Yea, dude this came out fantastic! Great work, you're inspiring people as we speak, I know you've inspired me

 

[Ghost Host]

I did a variation of this myself a few years ago. :thumbsup

 

[MCM]

Yea, dude this came out fantastic! Great work, you're inspiring people as we speak, I know you've inspired me

Glad to hear that I've inspired people! Please share pics of your work if you take the plunge.

I did a variation of this myself a few years ago. :thumbsup

Got any pics? I'd love to see.

 

[Jedi Reali]

I just removed the tripod mount from the center of my Heiland end cap too. My end cap was in great shape though, so I wanted to remove the center without damaging the rest of the end cap. That way I can fill the hole with something else and still use it on a custom saber if I want. The way I did it was I took the dremel's grinding tool to the inside of the end cap, and kept working it around the edge of the tripod mount until I'd removed enough material to pop it out with a hammer. The edges were a little rough, but easily cleaned up with the dremel.

 

[Jedi Reali]

I drilled my other Heiland end cap and fit the tripod mount into it. It's not glued in yet because I need to paint it still, but I got a nice snug fit. Drilled a large hole that was a bit too small and used a file to widen it till the piece fit in. Took a picture of it next to my Larbel end cap too.

 

[MCM]

I drilled my other Heiland end cap and fit the tripod mount into it. It's not glued in yet because I need to paint it still, but I got a nice snug fit. Drilled a large hole that was a bit too small and used a file to widen it till the piece fit in. Took a picture of it next to my Larbel end cap too.

View attachment 611809View attachment 611810

Looking good! I can't wait to see this on a saber. It's been a while since I've seen a Larbel MPP, too. Very cool!