Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:54 pm
Yes, it quite a smart snap that you can feel in the pilots seat (without the engines running) when the tail gear goes down and locks. I like that.
You are hearing the sound of a spring loaded one inch steel pin coming off of a ramp and snapping into place in its recess.
Ken and Rick said that if you are in the aft fuselage in flight there is no mistaking that it is locked down.
We had an issue with the gear not locking up when we first started the cycling as you can see in the video but after we bled the system the problem went away and it locked up and down. It seems the problem has reoccurred with our flight to and from Nut Tree as can be seen in the air to air shots. Going down and locking has never been a problem and I couldn't ask for a more positive lock. Now we need to get jack it up again and figure out why it isn't locking up.
At least we have the important part working!
You are hearing the sound of a spring loaded one inch steel pin coming off of a ramp and snapping into place in its recess.
Ken and Rick said that if you are in the aft fuselage in flight there is no mistaking that it is locked down.
We had an issue with the gear not locking up when we first started the cycling as you can see in the video but after we bled the system the problem went away and it locked up and down. It seems the problem has reoccurred with our flight to and from Nut Tree as can be seen in the air to air shots. Going down and locking has never been a problem and I couldn't ask for a more positive lock. Now we need to get jack it up again and figure out why it isn't locking up.
At least we have the important part working!
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Fri Oct 26, 2012 2:50 pm
Taigh,
Sorry if this has already been asked and answered.....is this the final form of the paint scheme? This is how it would have appeared as it rolled off the production line?
Love the factory original look.
Chappie
Sorry if this has already been asked and answered.....is this the final form of the paint scheme? This is how it would have appeared as it rolled off the production line?
Love the factory original look.
Chappie
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Fri Oct 26, 2012 4:39 pm
Yes, to the best of my, and several other historians, knowledge and research this is the paint scheme she wore when she came from the factory. Non specular sea blue on the fuselage, nacelles and verticals and semi gloss sea blue on the horizontal surfaces of the wings and horizontal stabilizer. This also matches what was found in several places on the airframe where some of the original paint was still present.
The paint shade was a great match to original samples not only on our aircraft but it was also found on NOS parts we have. The sea blue color is also the upper surface color that was used on the earlier three tone paint schemes. It was supposed to match the color of the ocean when looking down and then they decided to change to the overall sea blue scheme late in the war.
The stenciling is what was found on aircraft within a few BuNo's of our aircraft from photos taken at Litchfield and other places. The national insignia on the fuselage differs from earlier aircraft blueprints in size and location I think due to the addition of a camera hatch with window on the left side of the fuselage. Once again I referred to the the wonderful Brian Baker shot of 84060 at Litchfield as the best example of what scheme and markings our aircraft would have had.
Here is Brian's photo of 060 which has been invaluable:
The 062 on the nose was a challenge. Thanks to Rick Turner for his great help on this. He is the guy who pointed out the large numbers on the nose to me way back when we started. The last three of the Bureau Number were stenciled on the nose of what looks like most late war aircraft from the factory. I have not seen the documentation for this and i don't think it showed up in the SR-2 (Navy paint specification) either. Anyone have some documentation on this?
Rick gave me a great shot of his Dad's PV-2D 84059 which allowed me to scale up the numbers on the nose. When scaling from photos I would have expected that the numbers would round out to an even inch and sure enough it worked out as expected. The nose numbers are 24 inches tall. Earlier aircraft had these numbers but there weren't any stencil breaks as seen in his Dad's aircraft. They must have been screen printed. Rick, Bernie, my daughter and I also debated for awhile about the corners of the numbers for the big 062. Were they squared or rounded? We came to the conclusion that they were rounded and thats what is on the nose.
I feel pretty good about how it turned out. It looks like the period shots except it is too clean! I am sure that will change with time though.
The placards and decals are coming along slowly. By daughter did a wonderful job on recreating the main entry door placards from an original found at Joe's place. Wow it looks good and will be the subject of a post all its own. You can see the large placards on the inside of the door in photos above. All of the placards and decals really make the aircraft look like it should and they are real important to me. Lots of little rectangular decals that give warnings and service information were found on most all aircraft at inspection and service points. We have about a 4 foot square sheet of artwork coming together so far not including the large ones on the door. More to come. Gotta love the details! Lots more to come.
The paint shade was a great match to original samples not only on our aircraft but it was also found on NOS parts we have. The sea blue color is also the upper surface color that was used on the earlier three tone paint schemes. It was supposed to match the color of the ocean when looking down and then they decided to change to the overall sea blue scheme late in the war.
The stenciling is what was found on aircraft within a few BuNo's of our aircraft from photos taken at Litchfield and other places. The national insignia on the fuselage differs from earlier aircraft blueprints in size and location I think due to the addition of a camera hatch with window on the left side of the fuselage. Once again I referred to the the wonderful Brian Baker shot of 84060 at Litchfield as the best example of what scheme and markings our aircraft would have had.
Here is Brian's photo of 060 which has been invaluable:
The 062 on the nose was a challenge. Thanks to Rick Turner for his great help on this. He is the guy who pointed out the large numbers on the nose to me way back when we started. The last three of the Bureau Number were stenciled on the nose of what looks like most late war aircraft from the factory. I have not seen the documentation for this and i don't think it showed up in the SR-2 (Navy paint specification) either. Anyone have some documentation on this?
Rick gave me a great shot of his Dad's PV-2D 84059 which allowed me to scale up the numbers on the nose. When scaling from photos I would have expected that the numbers would round out to an even inch and sure enough it worked out as expected. The nose numbers are 24 inches tall. Earlier aircraft had these numbers but there weren't any stencil breaks as seen in his Dad's aircraft. They must have been screen printed. Rick, Bernie, my daughter and I also debated for awhile about the corners of the numbers for the big 062. Were they squared or rounded? We came to the conclusion that they were rounded and thats what is on the nose.
I feel pretty good about how it turned out. It looks like the period shots except it is too clean! I am sure that will change with time though.
The placards and decals are coming along slowly. By daughter did a wonderful job on recreating the main entry door placards from an original found at Joe's place. Wow it looks good and will be the subject of a post all its own. You can see the large placards on the inside of the door in photos above. All of the placards and decals really make the aircraft look like it should and they are real important to me. Lots of little rectangular decals that give warnings and service information were found on most all aircraft at inspection and service points. We have about a 4 foot square sheet of artwork coming together so far not including the large ones on the door. More to come. Gotta love the details! Lots more to come.
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Sat Oct 27, 2012 1:20 pm
Taigh Ramey wrote:
Jerry paid for our fuel in the Harpoon and he also flew our Twin Beech over to the show. Roger Cain, Eric Preston and my daughter shot air to air still and video on the way. We were able to get Jerry in the right seat of the Harpoon for the flight home (I'm mad I didn't get a photo of him flying) so I hope he had a good time flying. Jerry is a great guy and an even better pilot. Thanks again Jerry for your kindness and generosity.
Taigh, just got home from vacation last night and spoke to Jerry, prior to seeing this post today. He told me all about the flight and his stick time in the Harpoon, he had a great time, even told me about the brake system on taxiing the plane.
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Thu Nov 01, 2012 8:37 pm
Two of the radios that haven't been installed until recently were the ARB Liaison receivers. These receivers were the main ones used for long range and general communication. I had found a couple of ARB's on eBay a while ago but finding the shock mounts was hard. I considered making them but I wanted to find a good example so I could make something reasonably close.
After putting out the word that we were looking for an ARB mount or two a guy emailed to say that he had a full ARB set available complete with the shock mount. The set looked amazing in the photos but was real pricey. I held off hoping to find another option over time. After a year and a half of looking it was clear that these items were quite elusive. A friend who has been helping with the radios on the PV-2 has also been looking for the same set and met with the same results.
I decided to try and get the expensive set and the owner came down a little on his price but didn't want to pack up the set for shipping. We were hoping to swing by Washington state to pick it up but no trips to the area presented themselves. Then Chris (fellow WIXer of the same name) came in to save the day. He was driving near by and diverted to pick up the ARB set and pack and ship it to us. Thanks Chris for your kindness!
What a beautiful set. Not only an unmodified receiver on its shock mount but the control heads, tuning shafts, complete set of connectors, manuals, the ZB direction finding adapter and the spares box for the ARB and ZB with full contents. There was even the original canvas radio cover for the receiver. Pretty cool!
Here is a shot of the inside. Unmolested and complete with the dynamotor which is usually the first thing removed and thrown away as the radios were modified for ham use and a non rotary power supply was often fabricated.
Check out the JAX overhaul decal on the front face of the ARB and on the dynamotor and matching ones on each of the control heads. A JAX overhauled set. Should still be under warranty.
I think that almost every Navy radio set came with operating spares usually in a metal box just like this. I have found the spares boxes for the APX-2, ARC-5 and others but sadly they were just empty boxes. Check out the spares box that came with the ARB
The newspaper used for packing...
Dated October 16th, 1943!
Tubes, capacitors, chokes, dynamotor brushes, the works
This is the ZB set which was a homing adapter used with the ARB and a loop antenna. The earlier PV-2's used it but our late PV-2D did not. Too bad
Check out the CONFIDENTIAL decode card. This was used to find your way back to the carrier with the codes of the day. The ZB was replaced with the ARR-1 and the ARR-2 later in the war used for the same purpose if I am not mistaken. It was kind of like a VOR and would give you a bearing to the carrier once decoded
The spares box for the ZB even has a little paper tamper tape on the latch with a little Navy anchor stamp on it
The ZB homing adapter itself with its cover. This set attached to the top of the ARB (and others like the RU series of receivers) with snap slide fasteners and would connect to a manually operated loop antenna. It was used to home in on the signal from the receiver and was used for homing in on ships
The first ARB installed
And both of them with their protective covers in place. Notice the local manual cranks visible at the aft inboard corners. When you crank the coffee grinders these spin too. A good visual for the visitors to see.
Then the tuning shafts are connected to the control heads already mounted near the radio operator. These shafts are like a speedometer cables that the crank to tune remote control heads or coffee grinders use to tune the receiver. When hooking them up you need to set the receiver and the control head on the index mark and then hook up the shaft for proper calibration.
The next step will be to wire the control heads to the receivers and run the power circuit. The antenna leads will be run to and through the transmitter which disconnects the antenna from the receiver when transmitting so the transmitter doesn't fry the receiver. After its all hooked up then its time to fire them up and see if we can hear the latest from Tokyo Rose!
Funny thing that has happened a few times now; I made a large stainless steel shock mount for the APS-3 radar modulator only to go on a driving trip around the country. At Albert's place in St. Louis guess what I came across not a week after I made the rack? A nice NOS original rack. Bitter sweet but I was still all giddy to find it, right Albert?
So I made an ARB rack using the original that came with the nice set and it turned out...ah... so so, kinda ugly but it did the job. So then Nick Veronico and I head off on another road trip to do a trade with a museum and guess what that museum has sitting on a table? A nice looking ARB receiver complete with a nice shock mount. Since they were more than happy to make it a part of the trade l was all giddy once again. Its the little things that makes some of us Warbird Nerds happy
I am noticing a pattern that as shortly after I make something I am craving that the very same item shows up. Hmmm...
I figure that I should get cracking on fabricating the drop tank pylons so as soon as they are finished I can find a set of NOS ones likely serial numbered to 84062!
With the ART-13 running and the ARB soon to follow we will have LF and HF communication capability. Next will be wiring the ARC-5 set which brings 8 channels of VHF and more HF on line. Then radar...
Slow but steady
After putting out the word that we were looking for an ARB mount or two a guy emailed to say that he had a full ARB set available complete with the shock mount. The set looked amazing in the photos but was real pricey. I held off hoping to find another option over time. After a year and a half of looking it was clear that these items were quite elusive. A friend who has been helping with the radios on the PV-2 has also been looking for the same set and met with the same results.
I decided to try and get the expensive set and the owner came down a little on his price but didn't want to pack up the set for shipping. We were hoping to swing by Washington state to pick it up but no trips to the area presented themselves. Then Chris (fellow WIXer of the same name) came in to save the day. He was driving near by and diverted to pick up the ARB set and pack and ship it to us. Thanks Chris for your kindness!
What a beautiful set. Not only an unmodified receiver on its shock mount but the control heads, tuning shafts, complete set of connectors, manuals, the ZB direction finding adapter and the spares box for the ARB and ZB with full contents. There was even the original canvas radio cover for the receiver. Pretty cool!
Here is a shot of the inside. Unmolested and complete with the dynamotor which is usually the first thing removed and thrown away as the radios were modified for ham use and a non rotary power supply was often fabricated.
Check out the JAX overhaul decal on the front face of the ARB and on the dynamotor and matching ones on each of the control heads. A JAX overhauled set. Should still be under warranty.
I think that almost every Navy radio set came with operating spares usually in a metal box just like this. I have found the spares boxes for the APX-2, ARC-5 and others but sadly they were just empty boxes. Check out the spares box that came with the ARB
The newspaper used for packing...
Dated October 16th, 1943!
Tubes, capacitors, chokes, dynamotor brushes, the works
This is the ZB set which was a homing adapter used with the ARB and a loop antenna. The earlier PV-2's used it but our late PV-2D did not. Too bad
Check out the CONFIDENTIAL decode card. This was used to find your way back to the carrier with the codes of the day. The ZB was replaced with the ARR-1 and the ARR-2 later in the war used for the same purpose if I am not mistaken. It was kind of like a VOR and would give you a bearing to the carrier once decoded
The spares box for the ZB even has a little paper tamper tape on the latch with a little Navy anchor stamp on it
The ZB homing adapter itself with its cover. This set attached to the top of the ARB (and others like the RU series of receivers) with snap slide fasteners and would connect to a manually operated loop antenna. It was used to home in on the signal from the receiver and was used for homing in on ships
The first ARB installed
And both of them with their protective covers in place. Notice the local manual cranks visible at the aft inboard corners. When you crank the coffee grinders these spin too. A good visual for the visitors to see.
Then the tuning shafts are connected to the control heads already mounted near the radio operator. These shafts are like a speedometer cables that the crank to tune remote control heads or coffee grinders use to tune the receiver. When hooking them up you need to set the receiver and the control head on the index mark and then hook up the shaft for proper calibration.
The next step will be to wire the control heads to the receivers and run the power circuit. The antenna leads will be run to and through the transmitter which disconnects the antenna from the receiver when transmitting so the transmitter doesn't fry the receiver. After its all hooked up then its time to fire them up and see if we can hear the latest from Tokyo Rose!
Funny thing that has happened a few times now; I made a large stainless steel shock mount for the APS-3 radar modulator only to go on a driving trip around the country. At Albert's place in St. Louis guess what I came across not a week after I made the rack? A nice NOS original rack. Bitter sweet but I was still all giddy to find it, right Albert?
So I made an ARB rack using the original that came with the nice set and it turned out...ah... so so, kinda ugly but it did the job. So then Nick Veronico and I head off on another road trip to do a trade with a museum and guess what that museum has sitting on a table? A nice looking ARB receiver complete with a nice shock mount. Since they were more than happy to make it a part of the trade l was all giddy once again. Its the little things that makes some of us Warbird Nerds happy
I am noticing a pattern that as shortly after I make something I am craving that the very same item shows up. Hmmm...
I figure that I should get cracking on fabricating the drop tank pylons so as soon as they are finished I can find a set of NOS ones likely serial numbered to 84062!
With the ART-13 running and the ARB soon to follow we will have LF and HF communication capability. Next will be wiring the ARC-5 set which brings 8 channels of VHF and more HF on line. Then radar...
Slow but steady
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:46 pm
Glad I could be of help Taigh. I've always felt that as small a community as we warbird nuts are, we ought to do as much as possible to support one another and not cut each others throats. Sorry you were gone when I stopped by but Rick, Cade and Ken took good care of me. Also made good buddies with the cats. I was just really glad to hear that everything made it there OK. Having worked for UPS for 25 years as a driver, I know how stuff can end up. I always joked that we (UPS) could turn a cannonball into a cookie sheet in a heartbeat.
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:59 am
Speechless Taigh.. what a find!
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:52 pm
WOW!!! OUTFRICKENSTANDING job, once again!!! 
Are you all going to use throat mikes for the torpedo camp flying next year? JUST CURIOUS. 
Are you all going to use throat mikes for the torpedo camp flying next year? JUST CURIOUS.
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:43 am
Great Job. I love how you are working towards having all the radio gear in full working order as well as the radar. Wish you guys could make it to the east coast.
Travis
Travis
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Sun Nov 04, 2012 5:30 pm
Taigh and your crew,
Love seeing true history preservation coming together. I hope at some point you all will make the final jump and crew the airplane wearing the proper flight attire for the time. From personal experience, to see a piece of equipment that is operated to the historic level you guys are going to achieve, I can only believe that you all will set a higher standard for the majority of the T-shirt flyers we have today
Love seeing true history preservation coming together. I hope at some point you all will make the final jump and crew the airplane wearing the proper flight attire for the time. From personal experience, to see a piece of equipment that is operated to the historic level you guys are going to achieve, I can only believe that you all will set a higher standard for the majority of the T-shirt flyers we have today
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Mon Nov 05, 2012 8:55 am
See, this right here is what keeps me so enthralled with warbirds. What you're doing, Taigh, is so much more than a simple restoration or cosmetic warbird puff piece (not that those are bad, mind you)... this is LIVING HISTORY, creating a living, breathing, fully functional period piece of equipment right down to the radios and internal gadgetry. It's just a gorgeous, amazing, fantastic bit of work, and your dedication to detail is absolutely inspiring. And I'll add my voice to those suggesting you and the crew fly in period flight gear; I know, "dress to egress" and all that, but to have 84062 turn up at a show and several fully kitted-out aviators step out of it would really be a fantastic finishing touch. 
Of course, as a USAAF living historian (not a reenactor- I don't reenact squat) I'm biased, but I still think it's a good idea.
Cheers!
Lynn
Of course, as a USAAF living historian (not a reenactor- I don't reenact squat) I'm biased, but I still think it's a good idea.Cheers!
Lynn
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Mon Nov 05, 2012 9:38 am
Already have my stuff and we are working on the rest. Our dream is to have a pool of USN flight gear in different sizes for our guest crew members to wear during flight to really feel what it was like! If anyone has anything that doesn't fit or is just hanging around send it our way! We will put it to good use.
Thanks
Thanks
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Mon Nov 05, 2012 2:57 pm
lmritger wrote:See, this right here is what keeps me so enthralled with warbirds. What you're doing, Taigh, is so much more than a simple restoration or cosmetic warbird puff piece (not that those are bad, mind you)... this is LIVING HISTORY, creating a living, breathing, fully functional period piece of equipment right down to the radios and internal gadgetry. It's just a gorgeous, amazing, fantastic bit of work, and your dedication to detail is absolutely inspiring. And I'll add my voice to those suggesting you and the crew fly in period flight gear; I know, "dress to egress" and all that, but to have 84062 turn up at a show and several fully kitted-out aviators step out of it would really be a fantastic finishing touch.
Cheers!
Lynn
Lynn,
We too are living historians and in "cahoots" with Taigh, Kenny and the gang. We are the Navy ground crew for the "Poon" when we are there, and we have a BLAST!
Scott
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Mon Nov 05, 2012 3:03 pm
Here a couple of us are adding oil to the number one motor.
Re: PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life
Fri Nov 23, 2012 2:25 pm
Sorry it has been a while since our last update. Lots of projects are moving along but not a lot of visual progress that I can take pictures of.
Looking back on the last year brings a smile to my face when I think about all we have done to the old gal. A worthy project to say the least we all are pretty happy about the changes and progress.
There is still a lot to do though so I thought I would mention a few of the projects that are in the works for 062's future.
Like anything in Warbird restoration work it is a juggling act keeping all of the projects moving along. Some move pretty quick and some take lots of time for all of the pieces to come together.
Inside we still have to install the fuselage fuel tank so this means finishing the fabrication of the installation hardware, removing the nav table and radar ops seat and main cabin door. This will allow the 160 gallon rubber tank to be installed under the nav table. Once it is secured it will be plumbed into the fuel system and made operational. We still need a fuel gauge that looks like the same direct reading one used on the fuselage tank of a P-51 Mustang. It has a float and a dial in a hood with a needle that moves with the float. I will try to post a photo because I bet someone has one of these in their collection.
Progress continues on the radio wiring and making them work. Our volunteer Mark comes up a day or two a month and helps wire radios. We could use more help in this area for sure as there is a lot to do. We now have the cloth covered wiring just like the original stuff so it will look just like it should.
Two radios are presently operational with more to come. The ART-13 transmitter works and the ARB receiver is coming on line shortly.
Still trying to trade for a set of radar wiring but no luck so far. If I can get that set I can make the radar work which would be magnificent as it will be the only flying/operating WWII aircraft radar left. Legal too!
Some of the big external projects that are in the works are the the external stores (modern term) on the wings namely rockets and drop tanks.
The rockets were 5 inch HVAR which stands for High Velocity Aircraft Rocket. These brutes are close to 6 feet tall and pack a 50 pound warhead. We have the rails ready to mount. We have the rocket tubes (motors) and mounting hardware to hang them but we are short on projectiles and fins. Short of finding the fins and heads we will have to fabricate them. Any fins and warheads out there guys? How about fuses? Pictures to follow.
The wing pylon/drop tank project has made progress. Three very kind gentleman have loaned us the parts so we can reproduce them which we are starting to do now. We have one drop tank and it looks like we have found a second. After knocking out a few dents, some body work and paint then they should be good to hang once the pylons are done. Building the pylons is no simple project so it will take some effort and funding to make happen. like everything else I suppose...
Rockets and drops will complete the outside look of the Harpoon and to me are essential.
The gun project took a big hit when we had to use the funding to get us out of our paint disaster. The funds were wiped out but the guns will happen once we can build up the bank account again. Getting all 10 guns built (8 in the nose and two in the turret) is going to be a great project once finished. Imagine the nose dropped down at any air show where you can look in and see a V formation of 8 -50 caliber machine guns complete with ammo boxes, feed chutes, chargers and ammunition. What a sight it will be.
This winter is also our maintenance time where we will be going through the aircraft from head to toe for the inspection and servicing needs that are always ongoing.
It looks like we just might be able to make it to Oshkosh in 2013 for Airventure. We would like to have a lot done before we take her there. Pretty much everything on the list above. Lots to do but we seem to really kick butt when we are working toward a deadline. Now we just need to coordinate with Attu Warrior and Hot Stuff to be sure to get all three there together. (Hot Stuff-sorry to be agonizingly slow on building the glass I am making for you all. Have not forgotten. Sorry
)
Other projects include the bomb bay. We need to clean and paint the whole area. Reproduce the decals and placards that are all over the bomb bay. We will fix up our racks and hang appropriate ordnance in place. Still looking for a Mark 13 or MK XIII torpedo to hang in there. Anyone have a lead on a MK 13 or parts? We have the center section or air flask so far but need a head, motor and tail assy. It looks like we may also be getting a WWII torpedo for a submarine which is too large for our bomb bay but we can use it to trade for the correct MK 13.
We have depth bomb fins but no depth bombs. We have 500 pound fins but need more 500 pound GP bombs. A 13 inch Tiny Tim rocket or two would also be cool. Rotating bomb/torpedo/depth bomb loads would nice to see at different shows.
We have come along ways from the dust bowl where she sat for 16 years to today but we also have along ways to go. Slow but steady.
I want to thank all of you for the support you have given us throughout this project. We really appreciate all the different kinds of help too. From your accolades and positive feedback to your coming out to work on the old gal to your financial help. It all has brought this project along a lot quicker and for that we all are grateful.
The Harpoon says THANKS FOR GIVING!
And we do too
Looking back on the last year brings a smile to my face when I think about all we have done to the old gal. A worthy project to say the least we all are pretty happy about the changes and progress.
There is still a lot to do though so I thought I would mention a few of the projects that are in the works for 062's future.
Like anything in Warbird restoration work it is a juggling act keeping all of the projects moving along. Some move pretty quick and some take lots of time for all of the pieces to come together.
Inside we still have to install the fuselage fuel tank so this means finishing the fabrication of the installation hardware, removing the nav table and radar ops seat and main cabin door. This will allow the 160 gallon rubber tank to be installed under the nav table. Once it is secured it will be plumbed into the fuel system and made operational. We still need a fuel gauge that looks like the same direct reading one used on the fuselage tank of a P-51 Mustang. It has a float and a dial in a hood with a needle that moves with the float. I will try to post a photo because I bet someone has one of these in their collection.
Progress continues on the radio wiring and making them work. Our volunteer Mark comes up a day or two a month and helps wire radios. We could use more help in this area for sure as there is a lot to do. We now have the cloth covered wiring just like the original stuff so it will look just like it should.
Two radios are presently operational with more to come. The ART-13 transmitter works and the ARB receiver is coming on line shortly.
Still trying to trade for a set of radar wiring but no luck so far. If I can get that set I can make the radar work which would be magnificent as it will be the only flying/operating WWII aircraft radar left. Legal too!
Some of the big external projects that are in the works are the the external stores (modern term) on the wings namely rockets and drop tanks.
The rockets were 5 inch HVAR which stands for High Velocity Aircraft Rocket. These brutes are close to 6 feet tall and pack a 50 pound warhead. We have the rails ready to mount. We have the rocket tubes (motors) and mounting hardware to hang them but we are short on projectiles and fins. Short of finding the fins and heads we will have to fabricate them. Any fins and warheads out there guys? How about fuses? Pictures to follow.
The wing pylon/drop tank project has made progress. Three very kind gentleman have loaned us the parts so we can reproduce them which we are starting to do now. We have one drop tank and it looks like we have found a second. After knocking out a few dents, some body work and paint then they should be good to hang once the pylons are done. Building the pylons is no simple project so it will take some effort and funding to make happen. like everything else I suppose...
Rockets and drops will complete the outside look of the Harpoon and to me are essential.
The gun project took a big hit when we had to use the funding to get us out of our paint disaster. The funds were wiped out but the guns will happen once we can build up the bank account again. Getting all 10 guns built (8 in the nose and two in the turret) is going to be a great project once finished. Imagine the nose dropped down at any air show where you can look in and see a V formation of 8 -50 caliber machine guns complete with ammo boxes, feed chutes, chargers and ammunition. What a sight it will be.
This winter is also our maintenance time where we will be going through the aircraft from head to toe for the inspection and servicing needs that are always ongoing.
It looks like we just might be able to make it to Oshkosh in 2013 for Airventure. We would like to have a lot done before we take her there. Pretty much everything on the list above. Lots to do but we seem to really kick butt when we are working toward a deadline. Now we just need to coordinate with Attu Warrior and Hot Stuff to be sure to get all three there together. (Hot Stuff-sorry to be agonizingly slow on building the glass I am making for you all. Have not forgotten. Sorry
)Other projects include the bomb bay. We need to clean and paint the whole area. Reproduce the decals and placards that are all over the bomb bay. We will fix up our racks and hang appropriate ordnance in place. Still looking for a Mark 13 or MK XIII torpedo to hang in there. Anyone have a lead on a MK 13 or parts? We have the center section or air flask so far but need a head, motor and tail assy. It looks like we may also be getting a WWII torpedo for a submarine which is too large for our bomb bay but we can use it to trade for the correct MK 13.
We have depth bomb fins but no depth bombs. We have 500 pound fins but need more 500 pound GP bombs. A 13 inch Tiny Tim rocket or two would also be cool. Rotating bomb/torpedo/depth bomb loads would nice to see at different shows.
We have come along ways from the dust bowl where she sat for 16 years to today but we also have along ways to go. Slow but steady.
I want to thank all of you for the support you have given us throughout this project. We really appreciate all the different kinds of help too. From your accolades and positive feedback to your coming out to work on the old gal to your financial help. It all has brought this project along a lot quicker and for that we all are grateful.
The Harpoon says THANKS FOR GIVING!
And we do too