Gary is correct, the blue-green color has been the same from the first
R-4 through the R-4C series. The closest color I have found is Lee
Lighting #172 gel, used for coloring theater lighting. It is available
from theater supply stores for $5 or so for a 2' square piece. It's a
little thinner than the original material, but is an identical color
match and the thickness differential is not a problem in practice.
The green becomes more dominant when the blue fades a little, the white
paint on the "reflector" housing yellows with age, and the white light
diffuser also yellows with age, resulting in a green appearance.
Repainting the inside of the housing with a flat white paint helps, but
the diffuser is the primary contributor. I have found the plastic used
for the diffuser, it's the plastic used for lighted panels in soft drink
machines, etc. The problem is that it's much thicker than the original,
although the light transmission is almost the same. I haven't actually
measured the additional "loss" of the thicker material, and it may not
be a problem, but my summer was disrupted and I didn't get the chance to
work it out. The material is available in thinner forms, but in those
thicknesses it comes in like a 3000' roll for large dollars. I have a
2' x 4' sheet of the thicker stuff which cost about $20 retail from a
sign shop. Hopefully now that I'm home I'll get the chance to pursue
this avenue!
73, Garey - K4OAH
Glen Allen, VA
Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line & TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs
<www.k4oah.com>
Curt Nixon wrote:
I'll have to see if I can find some pix of mine when they were new.
Mine is as you describe with the meters looking white and the dials
green. And the filter material appears blue from the back. I very
clearly rmember it as being green when new however--maybe I'm finally
losing it ;)
Wish I had a dollar for every mile I have spun the tuning dials on
this pair!
Still working well and getting great on-air reports. JUST replaced
the original finals a couple months ago. The old ones still worked
just a little soft.
Curt
KU8L
Gary Poland wrote:
Best of my knowledge Drake always used blue filter material. As most
of use has witnessed over the years with age the blue filter material
would fade in the area of the #47 lamp and the white plastic dial
background would yellow. The result was a green colored dial
background. The S meter would appear as no filter was installed at
all because of the fading, just colorless lamp light.
73, Gary W8PU
http://home.roadrunner.com/~w8pu <http://home.roadrunner.com/%7Ew8pu>
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