Warbird Information Exchange

Amazing news !!
beautiful job !

Fantastic stuff Taigh! Thanks for keeping us chair-hounds updated!
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

That's a good one and a great price too. Earlier PV-2's used these for torpedo training and had them mounted under the left wing but our late Harpoon did not. Too bad as it would be cool to bolt one on. There was a big bulbous fairing that covered it. The more bumps and bulges the better.

We have one in the collection along with the torpedo assessing equipment. They would use the photos from the torpedo camera to determine how the pilot did on the training run.

Thanks for the heads up.

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To donate to the PV-2D project via PayPal click here http://www.twinbeech.com/84062restoration.htm

We brought her from: to this in 3 months: Help us get her all the way back

All donations are tax deductible as the Stockton Field Aviation Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tell a friend as the Harpoon needs all the help she can get.

Thank you!

Taigh Ramey
Vintage Aircraft, Stockton, California
http://www.twinbeech.com
'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'

No worries on the color difference. Jeana told me ahead of time. I still wanted the shirt and be able to help you guys out. Awesome work with the castings. Hopefully I'll get to see the Harpoon in person someday.

Doug

Anytime, Taigh!

Amazing work as always. It is neat to see the sand casting process. I need to get the supplies and try it sometime... I know a few guys that could use K-20 camera mount rings for L-5C,E, and G's (mainly me!)...

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Taylor Stevenson

Taigh, and all the Harpoon volunteers, you guys are doing fantastic work!

I got to stop by a few weeks ago and, by following this thread, I am continually impressed with the attention to detail and the dedication to making it as original as possible.
It is surprising to me to see all the equipment was installed in these planes.

While so many restorations are compromised by little things like weight, drag or parts availability, nothing stops Taigh and the gang from being true to the original.

Beautiful work guys! I can't wait to see it as OSH or sooner?
Thanks for the updates too.
John Hess

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"Experience is what you get, just after you needed it."

Taigh, I love that you poor your own parts. Thanks for a great update. Also, have the other two fliers contacted you about making the same mounts for them?
thanks again

Travis

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/74595482@N04/

Making these kinds of castings is fun and cheap to do in house. The museum is poor so we have to pour our own metal. The cost is pretty much the volunteer labor and since it's a labor of love it ain't much work at all.



I will gladly make parts for them if they ask. I would love to find a customer who would want a bone stock original Harpoon. We have tooled up and been through so much of a learning curve and acquired a vast amount of technical material that the building a second one would be a cinch.

speaking of making parts for other Harpoon operators:

To the Hot Stuff gang, who asked me to make them some tunnel gun glass- I bought the material and have been trying to make the glass but ran into one snag. I made a rolled steel form for the glass and it is missing in action. The guys cleaned up after me when I went on a trip and put the form in a safe place. So safe we cannot find it. If I do not find it I will make a new one. Once again I am sorry for the protracted delay.



Thanks for the kind words John. I like that you are the newest AT-11 owner who is enthralled with the Beech and it's history. Nice to see you again at Tullahoma. I am glad you are having a good time with your new AT-11.

It looks like we will be going to OSH in the Harpoon. I am keeping the fingers crossed and hope we can get Hot Stuff and Attu Warrior to join in.

_________________
To donate to the PV-2D project via PayPal click here http://www.twinbeech.com/84062restoration.htm

We brought her from: to this in 3 months: Help us get her all the way back

All donations are tax deductible as the Stockton Field Aviation Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tell a friend as the Harpoon needs all the help she can get.

Thank you!

Taigh Ramey
Vintage Aircraft, Stockton, California
http://www.twinbeech.com
'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'

This is the season of giving and all of us who work on the Harpoon want to thank our favorite anonymous WIX member for the donation his foundation just made to the project. Their contribution last year was what saved our bacon when the donated paint went sour. The paint problem was a real hard pill to swallow but the money did go to a worthy project and the paint job looks real good.

Their donation this year will be a real drag...It will be put toward hanging the drop tanks and rockets on the wings and much more.

As I wrote to him earlier it is like being given a gold nugget. I will work that nugget and hammer it into a gold sheet that will cover as much of the Harpoon as I can. Making the most out of what we have is what we do best.

Thanks for giving us more to work with!

_________________
To donate to the PV-2D project via PayPal click here http://www.twinbeech.com/84062restoration.htm

We brought her from: to this in 3 months: Help us get her all the way back

All donations are tax deductible as the Stockton Field Aviation Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tell a friend as the Harpoon needs all the help she can get.

Thank you!

Taigh Ramey
Vintage Aircraft, Stockton, California
http://www.twinbeech.com
'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'

Taigh, and Crew....It's the attention to detail that makes it a joy to read your latest additions. Outstanding ! Well, hope you find the rollers before long, I know of another Poon that is in need of the glass in the tail! I can't go bucket mouth yet, but there is a great chance that there may be yet another Poon getting ready for flight!
G.

John
I don' know if Taigh inspired you to change your VOR antenna on the AT-11 or not but you need to post before and after shots! If you have problems with pictures I can do it for you.

Steve

I see you did. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=48117&p=482169#p482156

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"Any excuse is good enough if you're willing to use it!"

Wait... did I just see Taigh make cast metal brackets using KITTY LITTER?!




Kidding aside, once again your devotion to detail leaves me slack-jawed in wonder and appreciation. And that's the first lesson I've ever seen on casting metal- looks a lot like casting resin for model parts, actually, except for the different materials. Thanks for that!

Cheers, and keep up the GREAT work!

Lynn

PS: If all the 'Poons can make it to OSH, I wonder what the odds are that the others might get more period-accurate paint, to complement 062... how awesome would THAT be!

Yes, I had to use kitty litter and playground sand! Pretty crude and the finish on the parts right out of the sand mold matched that level of sophistication perfectly.

Then I picked up beautiful 120 mesh sand and actual pure, powdered Bentonite clay, not the big grained kind found in kitty litter with perfume and other crud added to make your cat's backside smell nice, and the results were a lot better.

When I have the motivation to make the brackets for the gun sight, or any other project on the Harpoon for that matter, I like to press on and get it done. Sometimes getting there ain't pretty but then, neither am I!

Cool GIF!

_________________
To donate to the PV-2D project via PayPal click here http://www.twinbeech.com/84062restoration.htm

We brought her from: to this in 3 months: Help us get her all the way back

All donations are tax deductible as the Stockton Field Aviation Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tell a friend as the Harpoon needs all the help she can get.

Thank you!

Taigh Ramey
Vintage Aircraft, Stockton, California
http://www.twinbeech.com
'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'

Bentonite is used for drilling mud .

Thats funny right there I dont care who ya are.

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Hang The Expense