Having put up with my SMMC20EN being black for a while and it annoying me, I decided to do something about it!

What do you think?

It's silver, have you been playing with some photo software?

 

Craig

No! Spray paint!!

Much better

Did you use lettraset for the text Peter?

Chris.

Printed transfers. Probably not as long lasting but easy and less likely to damage the cartridge when being put on. Looks better in real life than on picture as flash accentuates any colour difference. I used aluminium colour car paint. One has to mask the cartridge well!

So that is why it now says MMC20EN and not SMMC20EN.

 

Craig

I thought about putting SMMC on but MMC looked neater!

Peter:

I thought about putting SMMC on but MMC looked neater!

 

 

Just like the original.

 

Craig

Hey, that looks superb!  good job.

Wonderful idea! I dare say you could start a side business doing this! :)

Peter:

What are "printed transfers"? Is this something you print on laser printer and then "scratch" onto the surface? Would you mind sharing the product name?

If this works like  Lettra Set ie not a piece of printed tape label, you can add durability to it by spraying it with a coat or two of matte finish photo graphic lacquer. (available at any camera/photography store).

Use a very light spray with multiple passes only after previous is completely dry otherwise solvents can disfigure the lettering.

 

Derek 

The transfers are just like the transfers one used to get on old Airfix models! However these come as an A4 sheet which you print on. I played around with print settings before making those seen - they are fair only. Once you have printed them, you spray the sheet with several coats of clear lacquer before cutting them out and putting them in water. This lifts the transfer from the backing paper and you can stick them where you want. To make the finish hard wearing, a couple of coats of lacquer would be best. I did some of the above! (Just playing at present!)

I do have Letraset which I have used for receivers in the past but I didn't want to damage the paint finish and the size of the small writing is smaller than 6 point.  

Couple of pictures of the diamond - set at 45 degrees to the B&O ones!

And sideways!
 

Hi Peter

What sort of microscope / camera are you using to get such a fantastic shot of the diamond (the ene jpeg, not the end jpeg)

Cheers

Nigel

I am using a stereo microscope - from Brunel microscopes , an MX3 - using a 10X eyepiece and a 6X objective. When used with the photo attachment, it magnifies a bit more - about 100X. I use a Nikon D70 and play with the image in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements . I reduce the quality a lot so the pictures are not too big to download. The depth of field is obviously very narrow but otherwise is not bad!

Peter, you must have the patience of Job!!
Good job.

Peter:

Very interesting. I've never used these types of transfers before. I'm located in the US, any idea where I might find them?

Is there a trade name that they go by eg. Lettra Set?

 

Thanks,

 

Derek