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 Author  Topic: My ELCO Microfilm Collection Project
Dick

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Dick   Send Email To Dick Posted on: Nov 19, 2009 - 12:54pm
My ELCO Microfilm Collection Project

2020 UPDATE . . . 2020 UPDATE . . . 2020 UPDATE . . .
All the Microfilm files including Higgins and Elco 70' are now free to download -
See the Documents Page from the Navigation Bar.



This has been an on and off project for a while � but I have just finished it.

A while back I purchased six rolls of ELCO microfilm from the National Archives and to view them I was forced to take them down to the local library and rent time on their Microfilm Viewer. After awhile that got to be a real time consuming routine. Then I thought I would simply scan them on my very good desktop scanner, after all their just like a 35mm slide. But to scan at 2400% at 300dpi, each scan took an eternity to complete, I�d be hear for several years just to complete the scans. I then investigated into pricing from microfilming firms and after getting on my knees a begging my wife to spend the money. I sent off the microfilm to a firm. Four weeks later the microfilm was returned with multiple DVD disks loaded with over 3,500 high resolution monotone .TIFF images, about 10MB each. I was able to view and use the 35 Gigabytes of the microfilm drawing data simply by sitting at my computer.

This is when I decided that others might appreciate the same. I decide to convert each of the 3,500 images into separate easily viewed Adobe Acrobat .PDF files, that anyone could view and print from the computer, without spending a small fortune, and experience similar hassles and problems I had.

The DVD (or CD set) contains copies of PT boat engineering drawings (blueprints) produced by ELCO during the war and microfilm copied by the U.S. Navy in January of 1945. The disk consists of Adobe Acrobat PDF files created from over 3,500 Image Frames (pages) contained on the six rolls of microfilm purchased from the National Archives. The roll numbers and number of total frames are identified as detailed below:

#1) Roll 310 ELCO 77� PT boat content 389 Frames
#2) Roll 5535-1 ELCO 80� PT boat content 599 Frames
#3) Roll 5535-2 ELCO 80� PT boat content 704 Frames
#4) Roll 5535-3 ELCO 80� PT boat content 609 Frames
#5) Roll 5535-4 ELCO 80� PT boat content 635 Frames
#6) Roll 5535-5 ELCO 80� PT boat content 615 Frames

I don�t wish to fool anyone, The microfilmed drawings are of various qualities, the Navy did a terrible job microfilming. Please see the link below and read more information on this project. The link is a 10 page .PDF file that discusses the microfilm and shows atactual full size sample of drawing which I believe to be a good cross section of all the images. Please realize these aren�t all pretty PT Boat drawing (there are some) but they are actual blueprints ranging from a boat side view to the most mundane items such as coat rack brackets.

Dick . . . .


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5eaa1d3b27c40737dbcdf0c6f67804ed.jpg

96d731955c9c4522cefdd0d0ffa72f84.jpg

7dd4abc87beb343283e6b75c628592b9.jpg




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PeterTareBuilder

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of PeterTareBuilder  Posted on: Nov 19, 2009 - 1:18pm
Hi there Dick.

I guess that with those we *COULD* build a PT-103 Class boat with a *COMPLETE* interior including the coat racks. A clear deck or hull would make that an awesome model in 1/35 scale. Hey Frank! I think there's another project for your buddy Stan.

Cheers from Peter

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Nov 19, 2009 - 1:33pm
Please I have so many projects on my mind, anymore and I might explode. All kidding aside, I had always wanted to do a cut away boat showing the complete below decks of an Elco 80 Footer. I had mentioned this to Stan on several occassions, but not sure if the look he gave me was one of good idea or don't get any ideas. In any event, all time is being spent of the PT-374 Memorial Project, but my head is always moving on to the next one..............


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PeterTareBuilder

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of PeterTareBuilder  Posted on: Nov 19, 2009 - 2:22pm
Hey there Frank.

When you see Stan reaching for the .45 cal after you've made a suggestion for another diorama project, then you'll know you've suggested one to many.

All kidding aside, I really want to thank Dick for all of his hard work and expense to bring these drawings to us. It's seeing how the PT boat crews lived both on and off the boats that really helps to humanize those iron men who sailed and fought from those wooden boats.

BTW, Master Box now has the "Women at War: US Navy WAVES" 3556 listed in their catalog. I expect it will be showing up in the shops soon. This is the figure set with two Waves, a male officer in dress whites and a mail sailor also in whites and with a monkey on his shoulder.

Cheers from Peter

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

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Black Ops

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Nov 19, 2009 - 3:54pm

Dick

This is really great, I checked out the link plus I ordered a DVD

Can't wait to see them.

BJO


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Will Day

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Nov 19, 2009 - 3:55pm
Dick. Fantastic. Job. As always, many thanks from all the True Believers.

Will

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Hadly

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Nov 19, 2009 - 4:32pm
I second that -

Thanks for all the work, got my order in. Funny, I though I'd order the CD-Set , but to ease your pain I took the DVD. I actually have both.

SH


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Jeff D

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: Nov 20, 2009 - 8:12am
Wow, very nice Dick. I didn't realize the wide variety of plans that are available.



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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Nov 20, 2009 - 11:38am
As always Dick, you have gone the extra mile to insure that all of us can benifit from your hard work. It's nice to know that people like Dick are out here willing to help. Hey Dick can I borrow $500.00...........


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Dick

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Dick   Send Email To Dick Posted on: Nov 21, 2009 - 10:51pm
Funny, funny, funny Frank, I'm already sleeping on the couch.

Well maybe I could do something, meet under the street lamp on the corner of Good st. and Luck ave. at 11:13 pm on Friday, November 20, 2009, wear a London Fog Trench Coat, Jett Nap Finish Porkpie Fedora Hat, a pair of Giorgio Brutini Wing-Tip in brown/white and be smoking unfiltered Lucky Strikes. If you didn't show up, I’ll just assumed you arranged some other source.

Thanks for the nice words, Frank, also, Will, Black Ops, Hadely and Jeff. Your kind thoughts are appreciated.

If I had other materials like Illustrated Parts Catalogs, Maintenance, Overhaul, Operations Manuals, Manufacturing Instructions and Guides, etc and etc. I would love to scan them and make them available to everyone . . . maybe someday I can find the time and money to visit headquarters and see what available and see I can scan them and create PDF files. Although right know it’s a dream.

Thanks again guys,
Dick . . . .

PS: Oh yeah Frank, don’t be late, not only am I sleeping on the couch but I’m on a tight curfew.



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