PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:16 pm

Hey Mike,

I did get the first 6 photos before it filled up my inbox. I am out of the country right now and e-mail is sporadic. I have saved the photos and opened up my e-mail again so I can take some more shots. I appreciate what you have sent so far as they are certainly cool shots! Any interior photos there? Which record group did you get them from? Thanks again for sending them.

As Roger mentioned the Harpoon made it to Santa Rosa a week early for the air show. Since I was going to be out of town a bunch of the guys busted ass to get the leading edges cleaned out, repaired and back on. Ricky, Larry and his Son in Law (sorry I forgot his name) put in some long hours to get her buttoned up. I hope the show went well and I'll fly her back after I return later this week.

Thanks guys for the hard work and dedication :drink3:

I hope to post some photos soon but I have been a bit busy on this trip with not much time to spare.

peter · **Posted:** Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:22 pm

Man,
everytime I see a new post on this this thread, I think oh man this must be the big one Taigh has her painted!!:drink3: Then disappointment.. :lol:

cco23i · **Posted:** Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:32 pm

Hell Peter I don't think there's any disappointment in Taigh's posts. :supz:

Scott

Roger Cain · **Posted:** Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:17 pm

At the Santa Rosa Wings Over Wine Country air show.

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Sat Aug 27, 2011 11:06 pm

peter wrote:

Man,
everytime I see a new post on this this thread, I think oh man this must be the big one Taigh has her painted!!:drink3: Then disappointment.. :lol:

More dissapointment for you Peter...

We have the prep and alodyne all ready. We have the people and the gear ready to shoot paint. The aircraft has been scrubbed and is about 90% ready for paint after final cleaning. All we need is the money to buy the paint.

We picked out a great Sherwin Williams commercial paint (MIL-PRF-85285D type 1 class H) that is perfect in color and 'flatness'. The distributor says he has given us a good discount but the price is still $5700 for the primer and paint. We have about $1600 in the museum's account a lot of which we need to make the insurance payments so we simply cannot afford the paint quite yet.

We are going to continue working on her ongoing maintenance issues and maybe start fitting out the gear inside until we can come up with the funding to secure the paint. If anyone would like to help us with our paint needs we sure would appreciate any donations no matter how small as it all helps toward getting this old gal back into her fighting colors. We are also a 501C3 nonprofit organization so any donations are tax deductible.

We want to paint her real bad because she will look amazing in overall non specular sea blue.

Today we brought the Harpoon home from Santa Rosa where she was sitting for the last two weeks while I was out of town. I am told the Harpoon was well received at the air show and there were several Harpoon veterans that were also happy to see the PV-2D.

Ricky was once again in the right seat keeping a close eye on me

Here is a shot of Larry and his daughter who came along for the ride home. Both of them have been working on the Harpoon but Larry has sure been putting in the hours. This was his second ride in the PV-2 and I think he likes it.

We flew by the mothball fleet on the way home. This is the USS Iowa BB-61

Redtracer · **Posted:** Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:29 pm

I really have to echo Taigh's plea for help. If anyone has considered making a Warbird donation this year, please keep us in mind. We are so close to having her back in her fighting colors as a proper tribute to our Veterans. We have come a long way in such a short time through blood, sweat, and tears, but we could use a little help from our friends.

I personally think the least enjoyable part of restoring a non-profit Warbird is the soliciting of donations. I'd much rather break my nose on a prop for a third time than have to ask for donations, but that's the only way she is going to get to where she needs to be. I know there has been talk in the past of the members of WIX pooling funds together and purchasing a Warbird, which is a very noble cause and I salute you. But WIXers can still accomplish this in a way by donation to any of the non-profit Warbirds out there, including ours. We are just the caretakers of this rare and wonderful piece of living history, which belongs to us all! And, if you make a donation, you can truly consider yourself as having a hand in bringing her back to life.

We can really use your help! No donation is too small, and soon PV-2D Harpoon "062" will be coming to an air show near you for us all to enjoy!

All donations are 501(c) 3 tax deductible.

Stockton Field Aviation Museum
7430 C.E. Dixon Street
Stockton, Ca 95206

peter · **Posted:** Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:21 pm

Guys,
I am never disappointed in Taighs posts! This thread and the resurection of the Harpoon is a benchmark project I think! If I wasnt out of work I would donate but I hear you regarding fundraising.. We are looking after a large steam locomotive and it is tough getting help

Shay · **Posted:** Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:22 pm

In an effort to change the mood of the forum I thought I'd bring back a more pleasant thread and see if there were any new updates with 101??

Are there any?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Redtracer · **Posted:** Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:49 pm

There maybe? :wink:

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Mon Oct 31, 2011 12:07 pm

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. It hasn't been for a lack of work being done on the old gal but simply because I have been so swamped lately. I know a lame excuse so here goes:

We seem to have a sponsor for paint so we are all keeping our fingers crossed for progress on that front. It is looking very promising so stay tuned.

In the mean time we have been hard at many other projects. Ricky has adopted the engines and they are coming along nicely under his good care.

Ken has been cleaning and helping with the radio gear. Our plan is to build all of the racks for the radio and radar and install the equipment. Next we will find/make/install all of the cannon plugs (electrical connectors) and junction boxes. Then wiring. The shock mounts and connectors are usually the hardest parts to find. We have had to make a lot of them already.

Bernie was out for a while and was working on the radio rack fabrication and installation. He and Mark have made good progress on the radios in the mid body area. Mid body is a Lockheed term by the way.

Here is a shot of Bernie and Mark working on the mid body radio racks

I started on the radio compartment just aft of the pilots. We are very lucky to still have the original bulkhead installed as most have been removed for spray/tanker operations. Ours is a bit Swiss cheesed but are in real good shape.

First is the fabrication of the radio control head mounting brackets which are simple hat sections. It is a blast to find the correct screw holes and paint differences to locate the original positions for these brackets and components on the airframe. There is so much information on radio configuration and modifications in these hole patterns so it pays to look closely. I love to figure out what a set of holes is for in the aircraft because it likely has an original purpose which many times does not show up in the manuals or other technical information. Maybe the answer will be found in a photo or change order. Its a giant puzzle with its parts and pieces spread all over the place and you don't even have a complete picture on the box top to help you figure it out. This is the best part of Warbird restoration for me is to figure out the details. Back on the subject at hand...

Here is the main radio operators panel and a set of original control heads being fitted

It is actually hard for me to drill mounting holes a new old stock radio box that has never had holes in it!

The bracket is then drilled for the nut plates

It sure is nice to have original WWII hardware. I bought this and a large stash of hardware in Burbank 25 years or so ago. Who knows it could have been Lockheed surplus from Harpoons!

Gotta love new old stock radio gear. In this condition it is practically plug and play

Some radio gear is not clean and nice and needs attention. This is one of three main interphone control boxes for the AIC-2A system. It was one of the first "audio panels" just like what we use today which can select each of the radios for reception and mic control. The pilot, copilot and radio operator had one of these. Ours are not the best of shape so if you all know of any better ones out there please let us know. Here is one getting a wash job

And it already looks better

Here are the newly made brackets in place. You can see some of the Swiss cheese holes from the controls for the retardant tank doors. The big crude looking hole at top with the grommet thing is actually a factory cut out for the ARC-5 wiring from the modulator to the receiver rack. The holes that don't belong will be repaired in the future. Some real hack jobs in places!

Mounting plates and boxes going in for the control heads

The heads themselves in place

Now on to the radio table...

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Very cool.

Nice job and thanks for the updates! :drink3:

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Mon Oct 31, 2011 12:44 pm

The radio operators table was fabricated from 1/2 inch Birch 9 ply plywood just like the original. Its mounting angle was bent up and fitted to the table and the airframe.

Here are the components ready for installation. It is interesting how many of the radio and radar racks are made up of steel tube bent to radius and simply mashed flat at the ends for mounting. Right out of the drawings. When I make parts from the drawings for the Beech 18 it is a crap shoot if the parts will fit. So far when I make parts to the Lockheed drawings they fit perfectly.

The rusty looking rods under the table are where the Sperry A-3A autopilot cylinder/actuators mount. Our PV-2 still has the mounting bracket and tray that was to catch any leaking hydraulic fluid. The rusty rods were removed from the inside of the cylinders and left installed in the control system

Bernie donated a clock he has had for many years. There are four of these in the Harpoon one each in the instrument panel, the radio operators table, Navigators station and radar ops rack. Thanks for the great clock Bernie! The original bracket for the clock is a simple bent bracket mounted to three shock mounts which bolts to the table.

The radio station coming together

I am making patterns for all of these parts for other Harpoon folks in case they want to trade or buy parts. I made an extra radio table for the king folks at Hot Stuff as we are trading goodies for goodies.

Craig59 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 31, 2011 1:27 pm

Taigh,

This continues to be a great thread and an amazing transformation for the PV-2D. Thanks so much for letting us share in the restoration.

K5DH · **Posted:** Mon Oct 31, 2011 2:29 pm

I'm really diggin' this thread! The radio stuff is especially interesting to me, but I love it all. That 24 hr. clock is really great. I've sorta been looking for one, not for an airplane, but just to use as a desk clock. I see 'em for sale now and then, but they're priced way outta my league. Big $$$ :shock:

Keep the info and pics coming, Taigh! :supz:

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Awesome stuff!

Trying to keep as close to the original, which is great!

To save on weight.., any thoughts to going with plastics for table surfaces, etc..., not authentic.., but same look and most likely half the weight.

Use a bull nose on the front to make it look thick like plywood.

Guess, same if not more work, so why skimp. Not like you are going to be carrying a bombload over long distances.

Amazing thread.., this is my most watched.., right up there with Meir Motors and Mary Alice!

Many thanks! :drink3:

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PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life

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