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Old 10th Aug 2018, 10:44 pm   #1
CJK_303
Retired Dormant Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Posts: 1
Default Old Polish Portable Radio Modification

Hello everyone this is my first post ever. I wanted to share with you something I did with the shell of an old polish radio made by Unitra in the 1968. Kamila MOT-631-2.
I modified every single piece of it therefore I am aware that some people may not like it however, when I got this radio all that was left of it was the outside plastic shell, broken piece of plastic with the scale on it and a rusted and eaten away faccia plate.

https://image.ibb.co/eorb1U/radio1.jpg

I decided to modify the case in order to give the radio a new life. I filled in the holes on the sides of the case with epoxy and glass fiber then sanded down the epoxy evenly and then smoothened it out.

https://image.ibb.co/j2JCap/radio2.jpg

Then I took away the metal faccia part. Underneath it was rusty, corners were eaten away so I remade the missing bits with epoxy also.

https://image.ibb.co/jP5B1U/radio3.jpg

The case was empty. I didn't have the electronic bits only the plastic case so I decided to buy a modern welleman radio kit that I assembled because the dimensions were nearly perfect to fit inside the radio. I decided to use metal buttons and put them on top of the case to control the new electronics. So I made this template to cut holes :

https://preview.ibb.co/nq6qvp/radio4.jpg

https://preview.ibb.co/b3G7ap/radio5.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/bMFHap/radio6.jpg

Here it is with holes cut for the new buttons and a new retractable antenna.

https://image.ibb.co/nzqN89/radio7.jpg

I filled in the original screw holes. I decided to just glue this thing together when its finished to give it a smooth look.

I bought chrome plated buttons, a retractable antenna and a bunch of other bits I needed. Test fit :
[img]****************/fCv5T9[/img]

https://image.ibb.co/k7qVT9/radio9.jpg

After that I started to work on the faccia plate, i cleaned it up , removed the remains of the 50 years old net glued to the back of it, I got rid of the rust and I remade the missing parts using epoxy resin.

Here it is ready for chrome :
https://preview.ibb.co/cpo61U/radio10.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/kp3OgU/fr_146.jpg

I used vacuum metallization to achieve the chrome effect considering the fact that epoxy cannot be galvanized. Here is the result :

https://image.ibb.co/nmC5vp/radio11.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/cqHS89/radio12.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/kbGFvp/radio13.jpg

I made a battery compartment part inside of the case in the meantime before sending it over to be turned into "wood".
It turned out really beautifully. In the meantime i designed a new plate that would go in place of the original broken plastic bit with scale imprinted on it. I decided to make it out of brass, laser engrave it and then galvanize it in chrome. The new plate would just have icons that would show what each button does. Also I sent the case to have wood grain water transfered over it and lacquered. This is the result :

https://image.ibb.co/cChkT9/radio14.jpg
Below you can see the new chromed plate and the water transfer wood grain coated and lacquered case.
https://image.ibb.co/iKD9o9/radio15.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/nCVuMU/radio16.jpg

Assembly time :
https://image.ibb.co/iETygU/radio17.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/fC4zo9/radio18.jpg

And ITS ALIVE !

https://image.ibb.co/gLDvvp/radio19.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/dkLsap/radio20.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/iaJTFp/radio21.jpg

And a short little movie showing how it works and plays.

https://youtu.be/tXzGTal9mNw
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Old 13th Aug 2018, 1:11 am   #2
retailer
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Default Re: Old Polish Portable Radio Modification

Excellent job - how did you do the vacuum metallization ?
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Old 13th Aug 2018, 6:16 am   #3
kellys_eye
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Default Re: Old Polish Portable Radio Modification

I suspect the metallization is done on a similar line to vacuum deposition of mirror surfaces on amateur telescopes. There are companies that will 'aluminize' telescope mirrors that would (should?) take on small jobs like that.

http://www.scientificmirrors.co.uk/aluminising.html

Pricing for plastic work should be considerably lower given the majority of mirror coating is spent cleaning and preparing!
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Old 13th Aug 2018, 11:31 am   #4
retailer
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Default Re: Old Polish Portable Radio Modification

Is it possible to do it your self as it looks to be a costly process compared to the cost of a new radio - then I guess it depends on how much one values the hobby.

I have a small kiln that I plan to use in model engineering for heat treating metal - I investigated quite a few diy kiln controllers based on Ardunio before finally deciding on a complete ready made kit for AU$16 (ex Hong Kong) PID controller, solid state relay and thermocouple - a basic Ardunio board is AU$16 ! why would any one go to the trouble of all that development when the complete kit is available at such low cost. I guess the answer is the same - how much do you value your hobby.
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Old 13th Aug 2018, 11:48 am   #5
Reelman
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Default Re: Old Polish Portable Radio Modification

Welcome to the forum CJK_303!
That looks a great job and a good use for an old tired radio.
Peter
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Old 13th Aug 2018, 3:22 pm   #6
David G4EBT
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Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
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Default Re: Old Polish Portable Radio Modification

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for your impressive 're-purposing' of a radio that was past its best.

Very innovative, with several specialist techniques involved and a great end result.

The water transfer printing technique used to attain the woodgrain effect on the cabinet is interesting.

It goes under a range of titles - Hydrographics, immersion printing, water transfer printing, water transfer imaging, hydro dipping or cubic printing. It's is a method of applying printed designs to three-dimensional surfaces. Widely used to customise alloy car wheels, motorbike helmets & fuel tanks, cycle frames - even guitars, often with striking results. Some examples:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...98&FORM=WRVORC

No idea how much it costs. Quite a lot would be my guess!
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