[ARC5] T-18/ARC-5 schematic? And cleaning wrinkle paint?

[Mike Morrow]

For decades I have easily restored just about any intact black or green wrinkle or crackle surface by gentle wash of any dirt from the surfzce, waiting for the surface to dry completely (it'll look horrible), then applying a gun cleaning, lubricating, and preserving product called "Break Free CLP".  After application, wipe off excess with paper towel.  In a few days any excess remaining will usually dry up.  The results are excellent and long lasting.  I have never needed to redo the process even 30 years later.

Break Free CLP is usually sold in gun stores, including Walmart's, in spray or liquid form.  I prefer liquid.  It is slightly expensive, but it is worth the cost in this and many other applications.

As far as that ham-hacked T-18 goes, I'd advise just doing to it what you must to put it on the 160m band.  It is not worth a minute trying to restore to any semblance of original.  It's probable that even the MO coil has been screwed with.  I disagree with the assessment that the T-18 is common.  It's not rare, but for most AN/ARC-5 installations the T-19 to T-22 were supplied one for each aircraft and the T-18 was supplied one for every **five** aircraft.  That semi-scarcity makes it even worse to hack today any T-18 that has survived intact for 77 years.

Mike / KK5F

-----Original Message-----
>From: David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com>
>Sent: Feb 15, 2020 11:35 AM
>To: arc5 at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: Re: [ARC5] T-18/ARC-5 schematic? And cleaning wrinkle paint?
>
>I don't recommend attempting a complete rebuild.
>The T-18 is not rare.  They surface fairly regularly.
>IMHO, once the chassis is drilled, returning the set to original-
>design functionality is more work than the value you will receive.
>Unless the item is authentically rare, I no longer take-on such projects.
>I don't have enough sand left in my hour glass for it.
>
>IMHO, YMMV of course, I recommend taking a look at the
>mods that have been done, fixing anything counter-productive
>or which just doesn't work, install your own ideas and use it
>as the ham rig it has now become.  An intact T-18 will come along.
>
> >...the cabinet is in very good condition and the black wrinkle
> >paint is also in good shape, but dusty and dirty.  And good
>methods to cleaning the surface, and perhaps adding a bit
> >of shine to the paint so it looks like the unit just came
> >out of the box?
>
>No amount of spraying with any cleaning product will get
>all the nano-, molecular crud that is dulling your finish out
>of black wrinkle.   A lot of cleaning products will make
>you regret when you see, after a couple years, the
>green corrosion around screw heads and ground contacts.
>Just don't.  Trust me.
>If it's really dirty, wash it with clean water and a soft brush,
>getting as much as you can off that way.  Clean water
>won't hurt your transmitter.  Powering it wet will hurt it,
>so let it dry  well- like a couple of days.
>If you're going to touch-up the paint, do it and let it dry/set
>before the next steps.
>
>Get a couple of those cheap "touch up" paint brushes
>WallyWorld sells for a buck.  They have middling-stiff
>bristles.  Brush (or wash) as much dirt off as you can.
>Drip 3-n-1 oil on the finish.  You don't need to soak-
>just enough that it will spread evenly.
>Brush it into the wrinkle and keep brushing, gently scrubbing
>it in until it looks "even" from multiple light angles.
>Let it sit for an hour or so, then wipe away
>any excess with a soft towel.  It will look nice and, as
>long as you cover it to keep dust away, it will stay nice.
>
>Somewhere in all this Signal Corps radio training literature
>from WWII, using oil on black wrinkle this way is recommended.
>Need to take the time to find that again.  So much paper...
>
>GL OM ES 73 DE Dave AB5S