Metal Calumet Disassembly?

[maxbloom]

So I'm making my foray into LF. Hooray! I just scored an old metal-bodied Calumet monorail on eBay for about $50, and I can't wait to start shooting with it. Anyway, of course I'm fine just shooting it the way it is, but that gray color just doesn't do it for me. I was thinking about maybe painting it a different color. Does anyone have any suggestions for disassembly or paint type? I was thinking I could just diagram where stuff goes, take it apart, tape off the important parts and spray paint it with a metal enamel. Or should I not attempt that?

 

[Curt]

I had one, still have one, and it had a rather still rotating back. When you take it apart be very very very careful that the detent ball bearing doesn't come out and you loose the spring somewhere on the floor like I did. In fact I had to replace the spring and just a couple of days ago I was sweeping the floor looking for a screw that had fallen and I found the spring. Other than that it comes apart easily and you can paint it with a good spray paint. Krylon is superior for the project. I painted a metal camera with Krylon Semi Black once and the finish is very hard and doesn't scratch. Tape off the machined surfaces and you won't have any problem. You can put the screws and small non painted parts in a baggie and label it with a felt pen.
Good luck

 

[Kilgallb]

So I'm making my foray into LF. Hooray! I just scored an old metal-bodied Calumet monorail on eBay for about $50, and I can't wait to start shooting with it. Anyway, of course I'm fine just shooting it the way it is, but that gray color just doesn't do it for me. I was thinking about maybe painting it a different color. Does anyone have any suggestions for disassembly or paint type? I was thinking I could just diagram where stuff goes, take it apart, tape off the important parts and spray paint it with a metal enamel. Or should I not attempt that?

So you are the one that out bid me. I was trying to get a second one for parts. Actually this one looked better than mine.

If you want to paint it, take it to an autobody shop. They could mask it properly paint it. The other alternative is to take it to an aircraft service company. Most of the workers there are just masters at that kind of work. I once got field Aviation here in Calgary to rebuild the silver plated parts of a TV transmitter and they did a masterful job.