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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: roger on June 24, 2010, 01:32:53 PM

Title: tanks a lot
Post by: roger on June 24, 2010, 01:32:53 PM: anybody ever build a fuel tank from a 35 mm film can? need some diagrams ...
Title: Re: tanks a lot
Post by: Steve Helmick on June 24, 2010, 08:53:28 PM: There was an article in Flying Models within the last 5 years or so, about making tanks from various things, including plastic 35mm film "cans" and plastic bottles. The guy drilled holes, pushed silicon fuel hose in, then pushed metal tubing through. The silicon fuel tube worked as a grommet or o-ring sorta thang. No reason it wouldn't work for a 1/2a or .09. There weren't any actual diagrams of where tubes should go, and of course, it was really all about arcee. D>K Steve
Title: Re: tanks a lot
Post by: john e. holliday on June 25, 2010, 08:35:35 AM: Contact MinnesotaModeler. He posts on here and I think he was the first. Don't trust my memory tho. H^^
Title: Re: tanks a lot
Post by: Bill Little on July 05, 2010, 03:11:02 AM: Quote from: john e. holliday on June 25, 2010, 08:35:35 AM
Contact MinnesotaModeler. He posts on here and I think he was the first. Don't trust my memory tho. H^^

Ray does use the film can, but IIRC, he uses a balloon inside of it, now. The balloon is not *pressurized, just a *floppy* balloon. The can is for protection now, I guess! ;D (and it works great on 1/2A's!

Big Bear
Title: Re: tanks a lot
Post by: Larry Renger on July 09, 2010, 09:47:05 PM: The Flying Models article was "Tanks fer nuttin' " written by yours truly. The key is to get things like travel mouthwash, 35mm film cannisters, etc and use them as fuel tanks. Goop adhesive works really well, and it almost perfectly fuelpproof, though it does degrade with time. The article was in the April 2002 issue. Also there have been many discussions and some good how-to's in the 1/2A forum section here in Stunt hangar.

I have shot some photos of one of my current film container tanks, but as I am "breaking in" a new computer, I can't downsize the files at present to show here. HB~> Perhaps in the next day or so.

My favorite is the old (obsolete) APS film containers from Fuji film. They are clear, have a great seal, and the cover is square, so the tank it easy to align.
Title: Re: tanks a lot
Post by: minnesotamodeler on July 10, 2010, 06:13:49 AM: I seem to be a little late to this party, but here's some pix of a "hard" tank made from a canister, alum. tubing, and Goop. The silicone fuel line is forced through a slightly smaller hole, if sized right it seals up fine. This one is set up as a uniflow clunk. It worked fine for a couple of years in an .061-powered stunter now crashed, repaired and retired.

I've done several other configurations, with round canisters as well as this oval one, fixed lines as well as clunk. Made some oversize ones (my .061s are thirsty) by cutting out the bottom of one and splicing it to another, gooped together.

Couple of caveats: Choose a canister with a tight-fitting lid (they vary). Rough up the plastic with sandpaper before applying Goop. Let the stuff cure for a week or more before exposing to fuel.
Title: Re: tanks a lot
Post by: Larry Renger on July 12, 2010, 06:28:43 PM: And, here are my photos. ;D
Title: Re: tanks a lot
Post by: minnesotamodeler on July 12, 2010, 07:44:20 PM: Love the Hornet...I don't spose you've got an extra laying around, huh?
Title: Re: tanks a lot
Post by: Larry Renger on July 13, 2010, 03:21:03 PM: 3 more, actually. ;D
Title: Re: tanks a lot
Post by: minnesotamodeler on July 13, 2010, 03:50:03 PM: Any for sale? That was my dream engine as a young teen.
Title: Re: tanks a lot
Post by: Bill Little on July 13, 2010, 09:44:53 PM: Quote from: minnesotamodeler on July 10, 2010, 06:13:49 AM

Thanks, Ray! (and Larry, too! ;D )

Don't you use party balloons to make tanks?

Bill
Title: Re: tanks a lot
Post by: Larry Renger on July 13, 2010, 10:58:49 PM: Yes, well documented here. Do a search on balloon tanks, and it is all layed out for you in detail with photos. Several times, actually.