Graflex RH8 rollfilm holder - removing the 4x5 metal plate

[pbo]

After slapping together a Holgagon (Holga panoramic 120 camera + 90 Angulon), I got a bit of a camera building bug

As my next project, I want to make a 6x9 wide angle camera by putting together a Graflex 6x9 rollfilm holder + Koni Omega 58/5.6 lens, which conveniently comes in a shutter and covers 6x9.

The "problem" is that the rollfilm back has the 4x5 graflok portion attached to it (the metal plate that locks into the back of a view camera), which would increase the size of my camera without any added benefit.

So, I'm thinking about removing it from the holder. It seems the actual holder is held to the metal plate with some pins/studs (circled in attached pictures - sorry for their crappy quality). I think if I take a center punch, align it with the narrow side of one of those pins, and hit it, it should come out. This will make it a destructive "mod", but I'm fine with that.

What do you guys think? Any good alternatives to my approach?

 

[shutterfinger]

The "plate" is an intergal part of the holder, removing it will render the holder unusable.
Get a RH8 or Graphic 23 for 2x3 format cameras and adapt it to your application, it will likely be a direct fit.
Check Dead Link Removed ; http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/ ; or as a last resort http://www.ebay.com/ where if you wait long enough you can find one for a reasonable price.

 

[shutterfinger]

same shell used on all versions of Graphic Roll film holders. Those pins hold the various sub pieces that make up the frame assembly, item 5.

 

[Dr Croubie]

Yeah, I also thought about taking the graflok-surround part off of my RH-50. Not sure why I wanted to though.
At any rate, I had a detailed look and it does seem to be rather integral to the whole structure, ie I don't think it can be taken off without the whole thing falling apart.

As said, these holders do also come up for 2x3 graphics, best wait for one of them. But possibly rare and/or expensive?
I paid something like $15 for my 4x5-graflok sized '23' graphic back, for that price you can afford to kill one if you really want.

Edit: not so expensive. Here. Go nuts.

 

[pbo]

So much for the center punch idea haha. Thanks for the advice everyone, I will not butcher this back then and instead i'll hunt down the appropriate 2x3 back.