Acme fuel tanks

[Bill Morell]

I am planning on using one of these tanks in my latest project. This one looks like a mail box and is made out of brass. Anyone else ever used one of these and had good results? I am putting it in a full bodied plane. Reason for the choice of this tank was the limited amount of room and where the feedline lines up with the engine.

[Bill Little]

I am planning on using one of these tanks in my latest project. This one looks like a mail box and is made out of brass. Anyone else ever used one of these and had good results? I am putting it in a full bodied plane. Reason for the choice of this tank was the limited amount of room and where the feedline lines up with the engine.

Hi Bill,

I have an ACME 4 oz. brass wedge (looks like the Perfect #11 IIRC) that works just fine.  It "wrinkles" pretty easy, though.  I have it on a profile and the rubberbands will crease it a little.

Bill <><

[Bill Morell]

Thanks Bill. Wrinkling should not be a issue as there will be no rubber bands holding this one in. It sure has been one of those nights. Was trying to put the controls and tank in and ended up just having to turn off the lights. Nothing was turning out as planned. Time to fall back and punt.

[Garf]

Both of my Trickster Barnstormers use the Acme tanks. They work pretty well.

[Russell Shaffer]

Good point, Bill, about falling back.  I've come to the conclusion that when things start going wrong or something is complicated or just looks hard, if I give it a day or two very often the problem becomes much easier or there is a better way to do the job.  Works for model airplanes, household problems, and even stuff at work if there is time to wait a day or so if necessary.  It's when "it absolutely has to be done right now"  that stuff often happens. 

[Howard Rush]

Mine leaked.  I eventually learned that fuel attacks brass, but only after several decades of trouble with brass tubing. 

[Bob Zambelli]

If anyone is interested, the last time I visited the Brodak Hobby Shop, I saw a rather large assortment of brass tanks. I think they were the ones shaped like little mailboxes.

You can probably contact Patty for more info.

Bob Z.

[Jim Kraft]

I have used one in my Taurus with a Fox 59, and it worked just fine. I did rework it to make it a uniflow. The tank was marked U-6, but only holds about 5 oz.. Should work well for catching roadrunners!!

[peabody]

The Acme Company is here in northern New Jersey......I've been there....
Interesting place....besides the tanks, they make HO gauge train widgets.....
It's like time stood still....rotary phones, yellow pages open....nary a compute in sight!
They don't seem to know about uniflow...

[Bill Gruby]

DANG;

  My inquisitive nature got to me again, I just had to go look after "Rich" posted. Take a look.

                            http://www.acmemodel.com/tanks.htm

  "Billy G"   

[Bill Little]

Darn it!  They don't carry the "BIG" wedges anymore.........

Bill <><

[Ward Van Duzer]

Although the "U" shaped tank looks good, I too have heard that the brass will crack. And the fuel will attack the brass creating green goop inside the tank. Pretty much all the same reasons we switched from brass tubing, to copper in our current tanks...

[Bill Morell]

Is there anything that can be used to flush out the tank after a flying session to stop the green crud from developing?

[Mike Spiess]

What I love about them is that a little polishing and clear sprayed over them they look really cool on a profile plane. I glue them to a plywood base plate and use screws throu that to hold them on. As for flushing acetone and paint thinner is what I have used. As for how long they last I don't know I crash alot so the get holes and break befor too long.

[dennis lipsett]

I just took one apart that I'd used for 5 years. I had flushed this tank at the end of every season. That really didn't matter as the inside was really green and it required a toothbrush and cotton swabs to get most of it out. Strange though I never had any problems with the tank on the plane and wouldnt have known about the inside until I punctured it  last week. I have another one on a TCI Walker/ Firecat with a fox 35ABC that has been flawless in operation for a lot of years. Believe it or not the tank is silicon glued directly to the fuselage and there are no run problem...ever!
Dennis

[Phil Coopy]

Hope you get better results than Wiley Coyote did.......

Phil

[Wayne J. Buran]

I stock several sizes of Acme tanks. Some of the Navy Carrier guys find them usefull because of the shape and they are good for replumbing. The Acme tanks are no differant than any others you just have to take care of them.
Wayne Buran
Northcoast Hobby

[jjramjett]

Most of us old farts started life with Darwin tanks, made the same way from the same material, as well as Thomas and Acme and other brands. Brass tanks are good, they take a little  care, like dont put it up with fuel still left in the tank. I never had a cracking problem, probably because I broke them before they broke themselves.  I have used Acme from time to time because of space limitations and had no problems in fuel draw, just some green junk.  No reason to be afraid of them.