To Velcro, or not to Velcro. That is the question

[Gary Dowler]

I see advice of ye learned colleagues.

Scale plane. No stunts. (Hopefully).  Metal fuel tank that will sit on a flat balsa platform, inside a compartment with a removable top for access. I was debating how to secure it inside a limited space. Velcro came to mind. Vibration should be bother it. Might even survive a inadvertent nose over at landing.

Thoughts?

Gary

[Brett Buck]

I see advice of ye learned colleagues.

Scale plane. No stunts. (Hopefully).  Metal fuel tank that will sit on a flat balsa platform, inside a compartment with a removable top for access. I was debating how to secure it inside a limited space. Velcro came to mind. Vibration should be bother it. Might even survive a inadvertent nose over at landing.

    Uncle Jimby uses velcro for his tanks, and for his electric batteries, with straps (not flat pieces).

    Brett

[Al Takatsch]

I have a Cardinal that has the tank mounted with Velcro, It is backed up with one rubber band which presses the tank against the velcro which removes the wobbling.
Velcro has a great benefit easily allowing vertical tank adjustment on profile fuselages if motor speed varies from up right to inverted flight.
Al Takatsch

[Dennis Toth]

Gary,
I have used Velcro straps for electric batteries on several ships. I have used zip ties for fuel tanks, same basic approach. The way I do it is to cut 1/8" groves around the motor mounts that allow me to slip the zips around and under the mounts, closing over top of the tank. You would do the same thing with the Velcro straps. If you are using a metal tank you could use some magnets as long as it has a secure tank box.

Best,    DennisT

[Tim Wescott]

I use zip ties on profiles; on my (two!) big stunters so far I wedge the tank in with foam.  I'm willing to believe that velcro will work -- but I think I'll keep on using what I use!

If you do use zip ties, you don't want to tighten them up against balsa -- you'll just cut a groove in the wood; it wouldn't effectively hold the tank without really chewing up the wood.

[billbyles]

I see advice of ye learned colleagues.

Scale plane. No stunts. (Hopefully).  Metal fuel tank that will sit on a flat balsa platform, inside a compartment with a removable top for access. I was debating how to secure it inside a limited space. Velcro came to mind. Vibration should be bother it. Might even survive a inadvertent nose over at landing.

Thoughts?

Gary

I copied Bob Whitely's idea back in 1997 and used Velcro to hold the tank in my Impact and it held up fine for over 2,500 flights.  I still use the idea.