A very, Special, Request...

[O.P.]

I'm going through my T-6 book's trying to find pictures of a reconnasance T-6 or SNJ, with the big camera in back and the swivel chair, and am coming up short. If anyone has any pictures of this type of plane, especially an SNJ, I'd be a very happy camper.

Thanks in advance,
Orvis

[O.P.]

O.K. that's a super hard one. Plus....the title phrasing is wrong, it kinda sounds like "Tonight, on a very special Blossom". This isn't a contest, I really super, duper need to see a couple of pics of Recon T-6's with the big camera. If anyones got a couple of leads on some internet pics, that would be cool. In the interim.....

Barring the finding of a recon pic...

If anyone has pictures of T-6's in U.S. Navy Reserve colors, or ANG colors, I would like to see them. I like the look. There is a picture in one of the magazine's I got from Brandon, that had a T-6 that said CALIF-ANG on it. I'd like to see more like that, pretty please. Especially if they have a name of a state or a base on them.

I have a plan, I just need to see a couple of pictures, and I'll tell you guy's, and you all can tell me if I'm full of c-r-a-p.

Thanks,
Orvis

[O.P.]

Hi Col!

The one picture I have in a book, is really close. All you can see is the camera dude peeking out from behind the camera and smiling. It has the swivel chair, and instead of a machine gun, it has a giant camera mounted for the rear passenger to operate. The camera looked like it was 2 feet square. Time period doesn't matter. I'd really like to see the markings on the plane. It was flying with an operational unit, not a training unit. Maybe its a combo FAC and RECON. Mosquitos? I'm still looking for the picture. I'll take anything you have.

Thanks Col.

[O.P.]

Anytime is cool. Thanks dude. I need to make a decision in the next month. Thats what my warbird mentors/bro's have told me. I've just become the owner of several big piles of T-6 spread over four hangars. Theres dupes, triples and quadruples of parts spanning the whole production period. They said to "figure out what you want""inventory and sort this stuff""trade or sell whats left to get more parts""start cleaning".

I would like to build an SNJ in USNR colors(me=ex Navy), I'd like to put my pissant enlisted rank and rate, and my name on the side in the normal place. I was talking to my brother, and checking out Tony B's, Barry S's, and CAF Oaklands T-6's, and my brother said he liked the swivel rear seat, and the canopy that went with it. I don't really like it, until I remembered the recon aircraft picture. If it was in some cool operational colors, that could be pretty cool. The other bonus, assuming I could find the original camera, would be hitting the beach at about 15 hundred feet, and taking some really cool recon pictures of sunbathing warbirdettes (I like California).

I think I'm pretty much in over my head. But a lot of excellent warbird people are giving me the best advice, encouragement, and help over at LVK, and here too.

I need to make a decision, then start sorting. It's gonna be a fun 4 years.

[HarvardIV]

Hello O.P.:

Where did you get all of those parts?

Thanks,

Chris

[O.P.]

The A&P I got the project from has been collecting parts for this project for a long time. I've got the impression that besides having a viable project, he's been buying the remainders from other finished projects from around our area.

As far as parts go, I've learned something new already. Three people have put it to me this way, independantly of each other, as in, the first thing out of their mouths.

There's a place in Auburn Ca, that has a lot of parts. I said this to these guys, and all of them said, "they have five, maybe seven planes". I said "What does that mean?". They said that the amout of parts they have will probably build five to seven T-6's. They gave me several places that have T-6 parts, but the only one that stuck in head at the time, was a place in Texas, that has 20 plus planes"in their terminology". I wanna say Dallas, but I'll find out for sure sunday.

[HarvardIV]

I was going to ask you that too. Do you have any parts you want to sell?
I need just a few odds and ends.

Thanks,

Chris

[O.P.]

I know there's gonna be extra landing gear and throttle quadrants, the more exciting stuff that I've seen, but I gotta inventory first. Gimme 60-90 days. I'll trade before anything else. But, Dude,,,,I have a feeling I'm going to be asking you those questions more than your asking me as time goes on. Your evidently farther along. Whats your plane gonna be like?

[Jeffrey]

The other bonus, assuming I could find the original camera, would be hitting the beach at about 15 hundred feet, and taking some really cool recon pictures of sunbathing warbirdettes (I like California).

You've missed an even more important possibility for this aircraft. who says you have to always have the original camera in place?

make a good interchangable fitting, cushioned or vibration proofed if possible, that will take today's cameras, various types, and use it for air to air stuff. I'm sure a good mount that ensures the safety of the camera and unobstructed view would be something people like airic would adore to use when the chance comes up.

[Steven M. Dennis]

Hi O.P.,

I'm sure renowned Warbird photographer Bill Larkins could help you out with photos of ANG T-6's, etc. As he has been shooting pics of T-6's much longer than I have been alive. He runs the T-6 group over on Yahoo, you can catch him over there, otherwise fellow Wixer Roger Cain (who also contributes to the T-6 yahoo group) might be able to help you too. He has shot lots of T-6 pics.

And I think the big T-6 parts dealer you are thinking of in Texas might be Lance Aircraft Supply?????

Let me know if you need help getting ahold of Mr. Larkins, and good luck with your '-6 project. You're gonna have LOTS of fun!!!

Steve

[O.P.]

Thanks Steven! I've signed on to Bill Larkins T-6 group. Hopefully he has a camera armed T-6 in there. I looked at his site. Pretty impressive resume!

Hi Jeffery!

Thats a good idea. I think I might have found the camera I saw mounted in the picture. It might be a Kodak K-24 camera. Theres a picture of one here,

http://www.nwmangum.com/Kodak/K24-1.html

I looked around, they're surprisingly cheap.

[Jeffrey]

Thats a good idea. I think I might have found the camera I saw mounted in the picture. It might be a Kodak K-24 camera. Theres a picture of one here,

http://www.nwmangum.com/Kodak/K24-1.html

I looked around, they're surprisingly cheap.

That's great but what about film availability?

might be like the kodak instant cameras. nice little user friendly cameras but absolutely impossible to get film for since polaroid sued kodak for making them.

You're right about that. I've also found some specialty film shops that stock the film and develop it too. It's more expensive, buttt, I think the novelty of fooling around with it will wear off pretty quickly. If the rear gun/camera mount is tweaked, you should be able to put any normally mounted camera on it.

I finally found the one picture, The K-24 is the camera, only it has a shield lookin thing around the lense.

[O.P.]

Me above.

[Jeffrey]

You're right about that. I've also found some specialty film shops that stock the film and develop it too. It's more expensive, buttt, I think the novelty of fooling around with it will wear off pretty quickly. If the rear gun/camera mount is tweaked, you should be able to put any normally mounted camera on it.

I finally found the one picture, The K-24 is the camera, only it has a shield lookin thing around the lense.

well, we have a photography studio locally that makes a big special song and dance about having your photos done the old fashioned way with a box brownie camera so you never know what uses or outcomes might come from that camera.

as for the shield type thing you can buy and sometimes get given a shield type thing to prevent flare from the sun on the lens with new cameras and lenses. it might be one of those so the camera can be used easier for air to air photos.. try posting the pic as I am reasonably sure that's what it is.