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

[Taigh Ramey]

And another thing...

A while ago I scored the hard to find camera mount from eBay and last week I finally found the main aerial camera from our parts stash so it was recently installed in the mount in the aft body. Now we just need some 8x10 roll film!

[K5DH]

You guys (and gals!) are really rockin' it, Taigh! Keep the updates coming!

[peter]

Wow that panel looks amazing!!

[CAPFlyer]

...Now we just need some 8x10 roll film!

Great progress report Taigh!

Also, contact Kodak. They have said they will be doing special film runs on an on-demand basis if enough is purchased because of new advances in how film is made allowing them to quickly re-tool the machines to do different sizes and types. There's been talk that Kodachrome will come back in limited runs every year organized by the various Kodachrome groups out there similar to how the Warbird community gets rubber parts made on a regular basis through the various co-ops and "friendly groups".

[EK764]

Really enjoying this thread over here in Africa Taigh. Thanks very much for keeping the post updated.

A question:

How much commonality is there between your Harpoon and the Lockheed Ventura? There are quite a few Ventura airframes in South Africa still, as you probably already know - all with the air force Museum.

[Russ Matthews]

Wow, Taigh .. what a difference! Are you even going to know how to fly it anymore?

[cwmc]

Nice Taigh,
I wondered if you made placards and stuff. Computers are a long way from Pat steady with the modeling brush!
Chris...

[Taigh Ramey]

Sorry for the slow response as I have been out of town for the last few days.

Also, contact Kodak. They have said they will be doing special film runs on an on-demand basis if enough is purchased because of new advances in how film is made allowing them to quickly re-tool the machines to do different sizes and types...

That would be cool but I can't imagine what the cost would be to buy and develop roll film that big especially on our below meager budget. Some day I hope we can try it out. When I bought the camera mount it came with a roll film developing kit so maybe we can play with it down the road. Thanks for the lead as I will try to find out what the costs are.

My last experience developing film was in 1992 when the B-25's launched off of the USS Ranger for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Doolittle raid. I thought that filming the event with a WWII 35MM Eyemo movie camera would be a great way to capture the event. Buying the film was not so bad but when I had it processed and converted to tape the cost was astounding. Awesome shots but darn spendy.

Really enjoying this thread over here in Africa Taigh. Thanks very much for keeping the post updated.

A question:

How much commonality is there between your Harpoon and the Lockheed Ventura? There are quite a few Ventura airframes in South Africa still, as you probably already know - all with the air force Museum.

The PV-2 was based on the PV-1 and the lessons learned from it in combat. There are many interchangeable parts some of which we are actively looking for. do you have any contacts with the museums there? Maybe we can work out an agreement or trade for the parts we are looking for? Any help would be greatly appreciated. We would also love to build a PV-1 too. The one we have has had so many modifications it is hard to see it ever being stock again. Thanks in advance for any contact information you can help us with over in your neighborhood.

Wow, Taigh .. what a difference! Are you even going to know how to fly it anymore?

I didn't know how to fly it before so no real difference!

Nice Taigh,
I wondered if you made placards and stuff. Computers are a long way from Pat steady with the modeling brush!
Chris...

Making the decals and placards is a lot of fun and sure makes a difference in my mind. It takes time to get it correct though. Its easy to make a placard that says the same thing but getting the font, size and character spacing just right is well worth the effort. When you layer your newly created placard over the scan of the original and they disappear into each other its pretty cool. Gotta love computers and how they help to make things a lot easier for this kind of restoration work. Restoration nerds!

My daughter Maggie is amazing at it. She is a true artist which probably explains how she did such a good job on the Harpoon air to air video she shot.

I asked her to replicate a Nash Kelvinator contract Hamilton Standard prop decal for me since it was over my present capability and I was amazed at what she turned out. Screen print dot for dot spot on. Do I sound like a proud Papa? I am... Now if i can just get her to make the PV-2 fuel valve placards...

[shrike]

That would be cool but I can't imagine what the cost would be to buy and develop roll film that big especially on our below meager budget. Some day I hope we can try it out. When I bought the camera mount it came with a roll film developing kit so maybe we can play with it down the road. Thanks for the lead as I will try to find out what the costs are.

Black and white is easy enough to do with minimal equipment and chemicals. With a negative that big you almost wouldn't need an enlarger, you could just do contact prints.

[Fouga23]

We would also love to build a PV-1 too. The one we have has had so many modifications it is hard to see it ever being stock again.

Any pictures of that one?

[Taigh Ramey]

Howard Super Ventura. Still certified as a Lockheed PV-1 but she is about as far removed from being a Warbird as possible. Awesome corporate bird though that should be a kick to fly! Some assembly required...

http://www.twinbeech.com/PV-1superventuraN183PL.htm

[Redtracer]

Now that's going to be traveling old school, Sinatra style! Just think, sitting on the couch with a highball from the bar, listening to, or trying to at least, some records spining on the hi-fi! SMOOTH!!!!!!

[k5083]

...Now we just need some 8x10 roll film!

Kodak still makes aerial film in large rolls.

http://www.kodak.com/ek/US/en/Aerial_In ... _Films.htm

I love how most of them have a silhouette of a U-2 on the box!

I believe some of this stuff comes in rolls 9.5" wide. With roll film, there's only a width; the image height is determined by the particular camera. I'm not sure if by "8x10 roll film" you mean you need 8-inch-wide roll film or 10-inch-wide roll film, but it could be that the original format is still used or that the current format could easily be adapted.

If you don't want to actually try to take pictures with it, but just load the camera for authenticity's sake, you could get some outdated film for much less than the several hundred dollars per 250-foot or 500-foot roll that new aerial film costs.

August

[ALAN.L]

I have the great pleasure of walking past an airworthy Howard 500 on my way to work most days,lovely aircraft!

[Taigh Ramey]

I have the great pleasure of walking past an airworthy Howard 500 on my way to work most days,lovely aircraft!

I had heard that your Howard 500 had been sold and was possibly coming over on this side of the pond. Not true then? I am sure glad to hear its flying. One of only two I beleive.