[MRCA] WTB BC-459-A Update

Mon Oct 19 09:24:48 EDT 2015

Jon,

A nice find, indeed.  Couple of points to reinforce other comments 
you've received.  The observation that "hacked" connectors are attached 
is a good sign.  Truth told, unless someone has tried to add 10 meters, 
or the like, the chances are that your unit is stock.  That it came from 
a drone-destined B-29 is a subject for "possible conversation", so to 
speak.  One does not hack cables and then send the airframe off to 
fly.    You can further check the lineage/age of your unit by looking 
for a Collins logo on the shelf casting that has the modules attached.  
Also, is there an interlock on the transmitter cover?  Are there MWO or 
TCTO, etc, stencils on the right hand side of the unit, adjacent to the 
nomenclature tag?  All these are indicators.  You can use any 
calibration book.  Its just that later versions with the vernier dial 
can be set more accurately.  To confirm this, look closely at the 
calibration points and you'll find some will jibe with both book 
series.  The linear PTO is typical Collins.  Of course, the manual has 
the calibration tables, too.  What you'll need is about 8 amps of 28v 
DC, 400v at about 270ma and 1000-1300v at about 400ma, peak.  If you 
don't want the auto-tune to work, the DC requirement will be about 5 
amps.  Additional connectors can be had from Wm Perry Co.  Books, good 
books, come from Robert Downs. Anyway, there is simply not much, if 
anything, one has to do, internally, to get an ART-13 going.

There are a number of other nuances about the ART-13 that you really 
should know about.  Those "Necco-wafer" tuning trimmers (a stack of them 
can be seen on the bottom of the chassis) are very delicate and are 
often frozen.  If forced, they will crack and replacement is nearly 
impossible.  The Comco addition came about as a stop-gap after an RTCA 
and CAA symposium in the early 50's.  VFO tuning was not accurate enough 
and crystal control was the only good way, at the time, to comply.  
Hence, the mod kit. The Collins 18S-4, et al, came into service about 
that time to provide compliant equipment.  Astute observers will notice 
that the 18S is a re-packaged ART-13, plus receiver!   That said, my ATC 
came from a NASA aircraft based at Moffet Field.  The date of the tuning 
chart was 1963!  Obviously, the military and Govt had waivers until very 
late.  By the late 60's, AM was almost entirely gone from aeronautical HF.

I currently have two complete ARC-8 setups going here.  Just this 
weekend I migrated one of them over to ARR-15 receivers (vice the 
BC-348).  Its pretty amazing how this transmitter, sans modifications, 
will generally function and fill the bill some 70 years after 
manufacture.  Try and get your unit going.  You will not be 
disappointed!  .... Also BC-348 receivers, in good condition,are out there.

I, and others, are around to assist.

Jeep - K3HVG

On 10/19/2015 6:40 AM, Jonathan Jesse wrote:
> All good info Mike Including the receiver stuff.  Thanks.
> The gent that I got it from said that he had personally removed it 
> from the B-29 but he could have been mistaken.  He said that it was 
> working when removed and hasn't been powered on since.  Plugs U-7 & 
> U-8 have their mating connectors plugged in.  Each has a few inches of 
> original cut wires attached to the connector.  So this would lead me 
> to believe that it hasn't been "ham-hacked". Of course actually 
> looking inside would be the sure way to know.
>
> Is checking the crystals in the crystal oscillator as simple as 
> removing the transmitter top cover and then the top cover of the 
> oscillator?
>
> Thanks,
> Jon
> WS1K
>
>
> On 10/18/2015 5:39 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
>> If it has not been ham-hacked, then you have a very very nice
>> T-412/ART-13B.  These were converted from units that were earlier
>> ATC, ATC-1, T-47/ART-13, or T-47A/ART-13 units.  Yours appears
>> to have been converted from the T-47A/ART-13...making your unit
>> the very best version of the T-412/ART-13B.
>>
>> A T-412 was too late to be on a B-29...maybe the earlier transmitter
>> was.  Certainly it could have been on an early B-36.
>>
>> The calibration book that should be used with your T-412 is the
>> one for the T-47A/ART-13 (AN/ART-13A).
>>
>> It weighs nothing like 100 lb.  It is a mere 70 lb cream puff. :-)
>>
>> If yours has any crystals in the CDA-T oscillator unit, I'd
>> be very interested in what the frequencies are.
>>
>> Great find...that best version of the last model of the Collins
>> 17H-2 that was used by the US military.  (However, it was made
>> by Stewart-Warner...just as good.)
>>
>> Mike / KK5F
>>
>> -----Original Message----
>>        I went to the MIT Flea today in
>>        Cambridge.  I help my ham neighbor who sells at  fleas. I try to
>>        sell a few things too.
>>
>>        Anyway, I was feeling lucky today and thought maybe I'd find a
>>        BC-459 even though there usually isn't a lot of radio stuff 
>> there.
>>
>>        I didn't find any ARC-5s but I did come home with this. Not even
>>        close to an ARC-5.  I have no idea why I did it.  I don't have 
>> the
>>        room nor a power supply for it but I just couldn't just see it 
>> sit
>>        there without a home.  It is in "As cut out of the B-29 before 
>> the
>>        plane was shot up for target practice condition.
>>
>
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[MRCA] WTB BC-459-A *Update*

[MRCA] WTB BC-459-A Update