[NJARC] looking for panel meter

Wed Apr 24 09:49:53 EDT 2013

Bill,

I forgot to include the alternate process in the event the meter scale
cannot be removed:

If the old meter scale cannot be removed from the meter, we need to take a
careful photo of the old meter scale. (High resolution camera with a good
lens works best, although if only an ordinary camera is available a
relatively low resolution photo can be cleaned up well enough in Photoshop
with a bit of work.) Camera must be positioned exactly perpendicular to the
meter face and at an appropriate distance and lens focal length to minimize
distortion. (This usually means as far away as possible.) Photo best taken
with the meter glass removed. Although it might be possible to get a
useable photo using just available light or flash, lighting would ideally
be very diffuse and coming in from every angle to minimize shadows and to
get light onto all parts of the scale. This can be achieved by "tenting"
the subject. Tenting means constructing a box or 'tent' of light diffusing
material to surround the object. Diffusion can be professional material
such as spun fiberglas or frosted plastic, but it can also be as simple as
a shower curtain or bedsheet. Shine light through it from the sides and
voila, your meter is bathed in a soft glow of directionless, shadowless
light. By the way, this setup is also ideal for taking great photos of
radios and tubes!

Cleanup would be more involved in this case. It would entail removing the
meter pointer from the image (using Photoshop) and recreating that portion
of the meter scale that was hidden behind the pointer in the photograph,
cleaning up the image to remove everything in the photo beyond that which
constitutes the meter scale. Recreating any areas hidden by the bezel,
screws, etc. Checking geometric accuracy and making corrections if
necessary.

Then continue on same as working with a scanned image.

---------- Original Message ----------
From: David Sica <dave.sica at njarc.org>
To: Bill Zukowski <n2yeg at optonline.net>
Cc: "njarc at mailman.qth.net" <njarc at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [NJARC] looking for panel meter
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:12:35 -0400

Just remember
Reply = Poster
Reply All = Everyone

_________________________________________________________
Bill,

If the old meter scale can be removed from the meter, step one would be to
take it out and scan it at a high resolution. (Or send it to me to be
scanned.)

Then, I'd enlarge it (to make it easier to work on and to increase the
precision of the work.)

I'd clean up the scan, keeping the scale divisions if they worked with the
new range or replacing the divisions with ones that were appropriate . Then
I'd add whatever numbers were needed to indicate appropriate points on the
the scale.

Finally, I'd print it out and trim to fit. It could be printed on good
quality white paper, thin cardstock or perhaps photo paper. I've also had
great success sending artwork created in Photoshop out to be printed as
real photos. This results in a terrific quality print. If the meter scale
includes color, those colors can be included in the recreation (or color
can be added) and if the background is some color other than white (I can
not recall ever seeing a meter with a scale background in any color other
than white) that could also be added.

I made a replacement radio tuning dial using conventional drafting tools
and techniques and press-on lettering back in 1979 and it was Difficult
with a capital "D."  As with every aspect of radio restoration, it still
takes too long even doing it with Photoshop, but it's infinitely easier,
far more precise and a lot more fun!

-- Dave

732-382-0618
973-873-6347

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Bill Zukowski <n2yeg at optonline.net>
To: Dave Sica <davesica at juno.com>
Subject: Re: [NJARC] looking for panel meter
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:34:53 -0400

Dave,

Thanks, that may be an alternative.� Marty has a meter that has 2 scales,
and my meter has the wrong scale.� Perhaps instead of taking Marty's meter,
I just change the scale on mine.

I have changed meter scales in the past using rub-on lettering.� They look
fine, but the process is time consuming, and not always perfect the first
time.� Plus, I can't seem to find small enough lettering.� The company that
made them, Datak, is out of business.

What would you need to make a new scale?

Thanks for offering,

Bill

On 4/23/2013 10:12 PM, Dave Sica wrote:

Bill,
�
I should be able to do something with Photoshop to come up with a meter
scale more credible than transfer lettering ever could have done.
�
-- Dave
�

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Bill Zukowski <n2yeg at optonline.net> <n2yeg at optonline.net>
To: njarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [NJARC] looking for panel meter
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:39:25 -0400

Just remember
Reply = Poster
Reply All = Everyone

_________________________________________________________
I'm looking for a 300ma DC panel meter, 2.75 diameter, for trade or $. �
I have over 100 meters, but none 300ma.! �Need a meter?

I was able to make a few with external shunts, but no longer have
anymore transfer lettering to make the scale, so looking for an easy way
out.

Thanks
Bill
N2YEG
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