Grid Compass questions

[DoubleEnder]

Ladies and Gents, I have a few questions re grid compasses. All help gratefully received.

I want to fit a grid compass, to be fitted on/in a shelf at the aft end of the cockpit. There is nowhere really suitable on the forward bulkhead, and I will be reinstating the original configuration. he card will be viewed from above and to one side, if you see what I mean.

There seem to be a fair number of Heath (or Sowester) Bosun compasses for sale at reasonable prices. However, they all seem to have a bubble, and none seem to have the mounting plate that screws to the bulkhead and allows easy removal.

Question #1 - how easy/expensive is it to refill this model with fluid?
Question#2 - does anyone know where I can find the said mounting plate (its a trapezoidal shape with bevelled edges on the long sides). I'd prefer not to have to get one made.
Question #3 - None of them have a light. Anyone got any good suggestions as to how to illuminate? I am thinking LED, fibre optic....Quite happy to have something that is independent of the 12v system if there are good ideas.
Final question. Does anyone have any experience of compasses made by Saura? It is a Japanese company, that's as much as I know.

Thank you

Graham

 

[Seagreen]

Sort of doing this myself with an old sestrel compass.

Compass fluid is usually a 50/50 mix of alchol and water. I posted for the recipe some time ago, search for "compass fluid" on the forum.

Can't find any spare mounting brackets, but they are an easy job for a local engineering works.

As for lights, a cheap low intensity yellow led with a dedicated button battery made in either a small brass fitting glued to the compass (brass bits from B&Q) or an led set in a small resin block made to be in direct contact with the perspex cover - eliminates bad light reflections.

Warning! Never try to strip old paint from a brass compass with paint stripper - especially whilst being distracted by a 6 year old boy.. Does anyone know where I can get replacement perspex domes?