[johnielvis]

Looks like that bleach caused the weakening/emulsion problems--Use dichromate bleach if you can, it's way better--that will take away one of the variables/problems.

reversal processing has many variables and it's best to keep them to a minimum by using the simplest chemicals and figuring out how to get them to work together in your process.

One variable and source of never-ending trouble is the hypo in the first developer and the various first deveoper concoctions that people seem to come up with. You need no hypo in the first developer...you can use straight d-19 with no hypo--or d-19 cut 1:1...then you can use the SAME developer for the second development. If you stick to a simple developer with no "monobath properties" you will have a controllable, repeatable process.

There are no set processes and everybody seems to have their own that work for them. hp5 is done successfully using only d-19 or d-19 1:1 with water, dichromate bleach, sulfite clearing bath, 2 minute reversal in regular roomlight/flourescent fixture, and using the same d-19 as second developer.

ANY developer can be used, so long as it's strong enough, as a first developer with NO hypo....paper developer is nice and strong stuff like d-19.

Eliminating the "hypo variable" in the first developer and using a more reliable/gentle bleach, will allow the process to be "dialed in" with a minimum of time wasting failures.