[Collins] R-390/A help

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

Yes, that's the GC 5092 still in their catalog. Could be made buy taking 
some number 9 fence wire or #10 copperweld telephone or antenna wire. 
First with maybe a foot or 15" of wire straight, pound a couple inches 
flat at each end. Then bend in a U with the flats facing and space about 
3/4" apart. Then dip in liquid tape, like used to insulate tool handles. 
After curing its not as sophisticated as the GC part, but should work. 
Or shrink a rubbery heat shrink tubing or stretch some thin walled 
neoprene or gum rubber tubing over the flats. The steel wire will 
flatten much easier if heated red in the flame of a propane or acetylene 
torch. Then maybe I work too hard and a 1/4" wide by 1/16" or 1/32" 
strip of brass from the K&S hobby metals line would be quicker though 
probably not as springy whether bent in a U or made of two pieces 
screwed to a wood, plastic, steel, or aluminum spacer. Three or four 
strands of hobby shop .040 or .063 piano wire soldered side by side in a 
flat would be springier than the steel wire or brass strips. And thin 
bamboo strips spaced by a wood block might work  too, if coated with a 
suitable rubber.

Look in the hardware store or home centers for drawer matting. Its often 
like a screen and it keeps stuff from sliding when you open the drawer. 
It could help finger tips grab the barely exposed tube. Like Contact 
Brand Grip liner comes in a 12" x 12' roll bar code sticker says 6C5912 
that I picked up at Home Depot. www.kittrich.com to use for keeping a 
double bass peg anchor from slipping on a polished floor where making a 
hole for my tool steel peg is frowned on. It should also be good for 
getting a better grip on jar lids.

The better of the spark plug connector pliers are just a bit bulkier and 
tend to surround the plug connector more than these from GC. So they 
might benefit from taking off some of the metal and recoating them.

73, Jerry, K0CQ, Technical Adviser to the Collins Radio Association

On 12/20/2011 12:15 PM, Jim Whartenby wrote:
> This is what I used when in the Air Force, in fact I still have them but I have
> to re-coat the neoprene cushion.
> You can remove just about any type tube shield or vacuum tube from the
> most crowded space.
> A bit pricey but effective, eBay 160361805626
> Jim
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