I stand corrected! It seems that most people take it that far and paint the hood. I'm going that route as well, thinking satin black. Thanks for the feedback, all!
Now, for an update on the build. I had a productive holiday weekend, though I'm just now getting around to posting these photos. I've actually made some more progress since, and will have another update coming soon:
Tore down all of the cameras! Had to use my precision screwdriver kit to get to all the tiny screws/crevices:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4535/23867617547_d7bf0834b7_o.jpg
Eumig Broken Down:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4580/23867622367_3c89e9185e_o.jpg
Lots of cool potential greeblies inside of the Eumig ... I think I'll use these on a custom build!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4571/38700722372_ffbef265fe_o.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4547/23867620587_0a0a3e67ea_o.jpg
Measured the Eumig to find center for mounting the lens plate:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4531/38700720302_58a5416bf4_o.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4536/23867615637_d1116a020a_o.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4547/38700716772_6567ee8072_o.jpg
Test-fitting the lens plate ...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4580/38700715532_a32cf06cea_o.jpg
Looks pretty good!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4562/23867612567_e9f8770dd1_o.jpg
Pried off the front plate, revealing the Eumig knob. It was cool to see the aluminum cone hiding underneath the knob, as seen in everyone's depiction of the mystery wedge ...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4581/38700721292_72f2dc9147_o.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4569/23867619137_c10df9d1a7_o.jpg
Bare front plate:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4542/38700712152_9190618b50_o.jpg
I snipped the needle from the piece to which it was oriinally mounted and just used a small piece of gaff tape to hold it in place ... splitting F4 & 5.6!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4571/38700713622_85a3259b2c_o.jpg
I just sort of started laying into the Seagull in an effort to get the big knob off, and only afterwards realized that this could have been accomplished by opening up the knob, removing all of the interior components, then screwing the knob off. I did manage to remove the vinyl very cleanly, and can always close it back up if I want to:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4573/23867608357_222c2cc71a_o.jpg
I also removed the Bell & Howell knob, and prepped the Seagull patterned plate by dremeling off the side tabs, and drilling two holes to allow it to sit between the B&H knob base and the red plastic piece (which I still need to paint grey before I close this thing up) I tried my best to replicate the rotation of the Seagull patterned plate in reference to the B&H cross-bar, as seen in stills ...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4580/38700714112_2d996357a5_o.jpg
After fiddling with all of the pieces from the two knobs for a good while, this is the configuration I settled upon (starting with the Seagull knob on the left, and working towards the right) which seems to be at least close to the approach others have taken here:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4554/23867610927_7605c5971b_o.jpg
Does anybody have suggestions as to the best way to mount the whole knob setup to the Eumig while allowing it to turn freely?
I also stripped the Kalimar, removing the viewer mounting bracket and the two small knobs:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4583/38700719002_49e0840e61_o.jpg
Also took advantage of the warmer weather today and painted the lens plate ... still waiting for it to dry:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4556/38700717322_36c6da3a5e_o.jpg
Finally,
does anyone have suggestions on how to remove the small Seagull knobs? Is cutting them out the only option, or can they be pried out without damaging the housing? All feedback welcome!
More updates coming soon.