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

[Taigh Ramey]

She could not have found a better home.
Marty Hall
Fairbanks, Alaska

WIX,

Marty is the man who is really responsible for saving this Harpoon. He works for Cliff Everts in Alaska (the folks who owned Tanker 101) and Marty didn't want to see tanker 101 cut up for scrap. He kept searching even until the last minute for some way to keep the scrapper away.

Good for you Marty and thanks to you and Cliff for starting this fun adventure.

I would love to get 062 up to Alaska somehow. Maybe we can tanker up a load of fuel and oil for you all...and use it up on the way!

Thanks again Marty,

Taigh

Last edited by Taigh Ramey on Wed Oct 03, 2012 1:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[martyhall]

I suppose you would. Those B engines are not a lot different than what we have on our C-46's and I know what they drink... and lots of it! But maybe you'll win a lottery and have money and fuel to burn.... Until then, I'll keep track of your adventure here..

Tail winds and only enough rain to keep the plane clean...
Marty

[peter]

What a set back having to strip off the paint back to primer!! Wow talk about a kick in the teeth but you guys pressed on and the end result is fantastic!
I can't help but think that the picture of the two harpoons together could of been taken at a sattellite field to the locheed plant way back when..

[TAdan]

Amazing transformation! Thanks so much for the pictures and updates.

[Warbird Kid]

Simply wonderful! Your hard work has certainly paid off! Now the question is... whats left to do on the old gal?

[CAPFlyer]

Thank you for sharing the trials and tribulations of getting that beautiful plane painted. Can't wait to see her completely finished and in fighting trim!

[Taigh Ramey]

Now the question is... whats left to do on the old gal?

Lots left to do. The paint was one of the last major projects but the engines and guns are the two biggest remaining ones. The engines are running well but I would like Ray Anderson at Anderson Aeromotive to go through the both of them and work his magic. This is just waiting for the funding to be in place so it will be a while. Only $100,000 or so!

The remaining projects are certainly small by comparison but take time and the ever elusive funds. We had a chunk of money saved up for the guns in the nose but we just about wiped that out with the paint job and the bad paint fiasco. The museum is hurting financially from all of the above and will recover in time. I know you have heard it before but any donations are greatly appreciated. Checks or direct payments work better so paypal doesn't take their cut but feel free to use the paypal link below.

We have usual ongoing maintenance of course. Fixing leaks and general replacing of the seals, O rings and gaskets.

The interior is about 70% done with lots of other equipment to go in to make her more complete and then wire up the electronics and make them operational.

Our ARB receiver is supposed to arrive tomorrow and it will go in this weekend. A wonderfully kind WIX'er actually drove out of his way to pick up the receiver for us and then shipped it. One box of accessories arrived today and the ARB receiver and hard to find shock mount should be in tomorrow. It is the main liaison receiver (1 of 2 installed) and looks like it will be fully operational and a good mate to the functioning ART-13 transmitter. Lots of fun to get the stuff up and running. You gotta love the smell inside the Harpoon when the radios and electronics are up to temp.

We are still looking for the wing pylons for the drop tanks. Do any of you have any leads on a set or parts? Here is what they look like:



Hanging the drop tanks is going to be the last external thing to make her look like she should on the outside. We have the rocket rails and tubes but we still need to make the fins and projectiles. The rockets will go on with the drop tanks.

Hey guys please beat the bush to find us a set of pylons. They were used on the P-38, P-61, PV-1, PV-2 and other aircraft. If you find us a set we can find a donor willing to buy them or we can trade some cool stuff for them too. Whatever works. The drops will look amazing hanging on the wings. There has to be some out there somewhere.

[lmritger]

Well, that's the last time I'll ever b!tch about having to strip a 1/48 model because the paint didn't cure right... holy crap, guys. I mean seriously, that would have literally destroyed a lesser team, I think... but seeing how you all pulled through and made this happen is just freakin' awesome, and makes the restoration that much more special.

And I can't stop laughing at the Gangam Style painting... that must've been hilarious.

Taigh and team, I can't give you guys a big enough WELL DONE!!! to cover the magnitude of what you've pulled off here... it is nothing short of inspirational.

Lynn

[Chris]

I hope all the radios got there in good shape. UPS couldnt read my writing on one of the packages so it went to South San Francisco hence the day late delivery. By the way, Dave says he has other stuff he would like to sell you as well. The guys shop is a two story 40x60 foot building stuffed to the rafters with radio gear. Thanks for the shirt as well. I got a lot of positive comments on it at Tillamook a few days later.

Last edited by Chris on Sat Oct 06, 2012 10:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Taigh Ramey]

Hey Chris,

Yes the radio set came through perfectly. Thanks so much for not only going to get it but to pack it and ship it too. It came in a few days ago and I will post some shots of the set shortly.

Ken thought I would have had it installed a few minutes after it arrived which I am itching to do but since the Harpoon uses two of the ARB receivers I need to make another shock mount using the one that you sent as a pattern. That shock mount is harder to find than the radio. Maybe when I post a picture of it someone will say they have a whole barn full of those! Has happened before.

Thanks again Chris!

Taigh

[martyhall]

Send it to me with the part/model numbers I just asked you for. As you just said... you never know. Include part numbers for that also.

[cooper9411]

Taigh, sorry to hear about the paint mis-hap, when it comes to that I feel your pain (been through that). Congratulations to you and your crew for a job well done.

[chasd25]

Saw her today at the Nut Tree, she looked great in the new scheme! Nice work guys.

Charlie

[Roger Cain]

On her way to the Nut Tree Airport yesterday for Mustang Days. My photo pilot was Jerry Anderson.

[Taigh Ramey]

Great shot, as usual Roger. Thanks for that.

Any sharp eyed WIXers notice anything different? Well almost different anyway...