WTB: Navy APS-3 radar equipment

[Pooner]

I'm seeking some old WWII era "boat anchor" radar components for a project. Here's a short list of APS-3 radar components in need:

MD5A/APS-3 Radar Modulator

R18/APS-3 Receiver

C17/APS-3 Control

C20/APS-3 Antenna Control

1D19/APS-3 Indicator

RT10/APS-3 RT unit

APS-3 Sweep Antenna (dish system)

WE 725A Magnetron

Seeking complete and presentable pieces with no mods or components missing. And yes, any related vibration mounts, connector ends or specific cables for this system of interest, too. Willing to buy or trade - anyone?

[mrmoto]

I have a Bendix antenna from PV2 Harpoon or else a DC-7. The antenna says ANT IB Antenna, Bendix Radio, serial number P404R, EP Model 40024-2
I can send you photos. I already used the fiberglass nose as a dog house.
thanks
Jim

[Pooner]

Thank you, Jim. I remember you'd sent me some pics of the sweep antenna, and I think it's the civilian production dish for the DC-6 or -7. It's close, if I recall, but just a little different from the wartime APS-3 unit and I'm not sure if it'll mount correctly to the brackets... but I will have a closer look just to make sure! - Rob

[mrmoto]

thanks Rob,
How is it going down there?
I am sorry that Gary's great Wyoming Wing Ding did not happen this fall. I look forward to meeting you in May.
Jim

[astixjr]

Pooner,
I'm finding lots of early search radar bits and pieces in the turret parts pile. I usually do not tip drums of parts if I can see they are not turret related but sometimes, stuff from early radar units are mixed in. I have a small stack of radar dishes but I do not know if they are AN/APS-3. I'm headed down there this evening in an attempt to get some parts shipped for the USAFM (Memphis Belle) and the Austrailian B-24 project. I'll take some photos of the dishes and get back to you. The photo below is a part that was in a box marked AN/APS-3. Thanks,
Albert

[Pooner]

Waaay cool, Albert!

Your magnet is a piece of the "heart" of the magnetron system. I had one of these as a kid from a radar system my old man must've taken apart from a poor old radar and gave to the kid to play with. Maybe it was this very piece that fueled my lust for these old boat anchor systems four decades ago... who knows? The magnetron as mounted in the PV is a big old round thing that looks like a black stew pot with cooling fins. We need at least one of these to trip visitors when they attempt to walk through the back end of the PV-2 on the way to the gun turret...

Let's see if I can do this... several folks had asked about the radar dish - first being Jim in Montana. If my Photobucket account works here, well, we should have two images of a minty APS-3 dish that Cadet77 found on-line for me. I haven't bought this one, but this is the type of beast I need...




And a closer one of the "back end:"


This is at least one piece of the APS-3 system - the sweep dish antenna. Sure hope yours look like this, as I'd be happy to hide it where no one will ever see in the nose cone of a PV-2.

Yup, drag out some of the other radar pieces as you get 'em and share with us!

[D Hansen]

Please...Just remember...there is more than one Harpoon that would love to install the radar equipment

[PJ]

You said it Dave!

PJ
PV-2 Harpoon "Hot Stuff"
www.amhf.org

[D Hansen]

Hey Rob
Not trying to steal your thread or parts...there has got to be some of this stuff floating around. Maybe we can get it if we purchase more than one set
Will give you a call with regard to getting AW down your way
Dave
Attu Warrior

[Pooner]

No thread stolen or taken away, Dave - (or PJ!) - we're all in this together. The whole idea from my perspective is to restore multiple airplanes and save a little history on the process. The more interest, the better for us all... that means you too, Hilton....

Not much luck on leads for the APS-3 stuff. I've found plenty of APS-4 for the TBM guys, but not much for us. It'll surface, and when it does, we'll share in the spoils.

Truth be told I'm hard pressed to mount a dish in 57C right now anyhow, as all of the brackets are loooooong gone. Of the two PVs down here in the "collection" (and I use that term VERY loosely!) old 57C seems to have every darn internal bracket removed. Even the oddest little bits and pieces that never would have interfered with "tanking 'em up" back in the days of firefighting and ant killing were pulled from 37270 and it's a little bit maddening to hunt some of these things down.

The hunt continues - any spares or leads and ya'll will be getting a PM or phone call anyway!

[D Hansen]

Brackets are easy.....I have the prints and some photos of one installed. You get the dish and we can get it mounted.
Dave
PV-2"AW"

[GARY HILTON]

Pooner,
I have the nose section from a PV-2 at home, I believe it still has some brackets inside, if Missy didn't chew them off while using as a dog house....When I get home I'll take a closer look...I need to photograph all the stickers and printing anyway...

Gary
H.O.G.
Harpoon Owners Group
Founder and Chief Poon Ballast

[astixjr]

I found a few interior photos of the PV that went down in the early 90s. I think the owners name was Doug Lacey but my memory is not very good. He was a really nice guy and his PV was one of the most original I've ever seen. Sad day when that plane and all those people went down. If you want, I can try to scan and post the photos on Friday.

Spent nearly six hours in the turret parts hangar Tuesday evening before I ran out of propane. I forgot to bring my camera but I pulled the radar dishes out. I suspect they are post WWII but I'll try to get some photos taken this weekend.

[Pooner]

Please post the pics of the late Mr. Lacey's bird, Albert. I'd like to see them. Indeed, the loss of that airplane and the folks in it made for a very sad ending to a neat airplane.

[halsey]

I was one of Doug Lacy's best friends and helped restore the PV and the BT-13 before it. There is an Air Classics ? from 1990 that had some photos of the interior. When I find it I will look and post.

If anyone has any friends with warbirds in Texas I would enjoy hearing about them.

Cheers,
John Paterson
Orion Flight Test (not the aircraft !)
Houston Tx