[Milsurplus] More SCR-284

[Hue Miller]

As i sat looking at the BC-654, i was thinking that this
was really the golden era of man-size radios. No little
toy ricebox with tiny knobs and more buttons than knobs.
Lots of real estate. The BC-654 is pretty much the breadth
and height of the upper human torso.
The SN on this one is 35774 so it's late production. I think
i quoted total production at something like 52k. I sure wonder
where it went before it was MFP'd in '44. Or after.
BTW, this one smells REAL musty. Much more musty or
whatever than several hundred pounds of old radio mags
and books i recovered.
Something else that occurred to me. I don't ever recall seeing
a surplus conversion or simply war surplus use article on some
sets such as BC-1000, BC-654, or BC-1306. Does this mean
these were too highly priced in the surplus era, still having value
to foreign militaries? Looking over the BC-654, for example, seems
like it would have made a decent Novice radio - with some mod for
xtal control transmit. Maybe the Novices couldn't lift it? What about
the BC-1306? I have seen a couple photos of them in early 1960s
missionary stations in remote locations where the hand crank system
was a real asset. I also owned a TRC-2 once that i'm fairly sure did
a stint on a small boat. Maybe these relatively big rigs BC-654 and
BC-1306 didn't put out enuff power for the hams? But would have not
been that hard to plate modulate them?

BTW, "Flying Heritage Collection" at Paine Field in Everett WA
( former NAS ), Paul Allen's collection, has a front section of a
Lancaster with the R-1155 and T-1154 installed (but not connectored.)
Also some other rarities, ME-163 rocket plane, V-1, and the piloted
version of the V-1. Most of the collection is maintained in flyable
condition and flown yearly, except for about 6 craft, including the
ME-163. Probably couldn't find a volunteer test pilot.  The engines
all have drip pans underneath lined with paper towel. I did not see
any egregious oil leak on any of the paper towels. You have to
really applaud Mr. Paul Allen's benificence here. This cannot be
making anywhere near the money it costs. If you're in Seattle this
is worthwhile visiting. You can get quite close to the hardware.
I will be visiting the Museum of Flight in So. Seattle in July. This
museum also has a "restoration center" at the same previously
mentioned Paine Field, but i didn't learn that until after our visit to
FHC.
BTW, there's a firm located up at Paine Field that builds Messer
ME-262 reproductions. I noticed they bear the Balkan Cross but not
the swastika on the tail, sensibly enough. We saw some other
interesting craft undergoing refurbishment around the area, something
that looked like a C-130 but no markings anywhere and no engines,
also a DC-6 with some marking like "Evert Air Transport".

Oldest prop plane i ever flown on was a C-46 from New York
to California on Flying Tiger airline. At one point they landed for
refueling at a little field with a hut and a couple fuel pumps. No
tourist shops or bookstores. In fact, no nothing. But this was in my
short pants days and i spent the trip airsick, mostly deadly boredom,
i really think. -Hue Miller