Levent Suberk Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 I cut parts from 2 mm sheet balsa. Fuel tank capacity is 25 cc / .85 oz. Size is 50 mm x 50 mm x 10 mm inside and 54 mm x 54 mm x 14 mm outside. I couldn't find copper or aluminum tubing, so I used a 3 mm telescopic antenna tubing. Total weight before applying epoxy is 5.0 grams / .177 oz. I applied thinned 24 hr epoxy on parts and vacuumed. Assembled box, opened fuel tubing holes and sanded the out of box. Then applied second thinned epoxy coat to inside of box and cover. After drying I glued tubings with metal epoxy and glued cover on box. Then applied two coats epoxy on out of box, last coat is metal epoxy. I think that last coat metal epoxy is a little heavy. 24 hr or 30 min thinned epoxy must be used instead of metal epoxy. Total weight is .547 oz. I have been trying it with fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 hello Levent . Very interesting project. Why are you going to such extremes for a light fuel tank ? Would a tin plate tank be too heavy? What type of fuel is it for ? Just interested . E.D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levent Suberk Posted January 3, 2021 Author Share Posted January 3, 2021 Hi, I wanted to make a special shaped tank to fit inside of a profile fuselage. It can be made with tin plate, however balsa is easier to work than tin plate. I am going to use it with glow fuel 15% nitro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich too Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Mmm, no experience, but balsa would be my last choice. Have you consider a bag? **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Tin plate is fairly easy to work with, I think. It's thin enough to cut with scissors. It solders easily and, at this small size, wouldn't even need a big soldering iron. However, it's worth a try and I'll be interested to see if proves to be fuel leak proof. I wonder if it will survive a heavy landing? Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levent Suberk Posted January 3, 2021 Author Share Posted January 3, 2021 Posted by Rich too on 03/01/2021 13:46:35: Mmm, no experience, but balsa would be my last choice. Have you consider a bag? **LINK** Hi, I have balloon fuel tanks and they work, however I wanted to try a novelty idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levent Suberk Posted January 3, 2021 Author Share Posted January 3, 2021 Posted by Geoff S on 03/01/2021 14:12:24: Tin plate is fairly easy to work with, I think. It's thin enough to cut with scissors. It solders easily and, at this small size, wouldn't even need a big soldering iron. However, it's worth a try and I'll be interested to see if proves to be fuel leak proof. I wonder if it will survive a heavy landing? Geoff Hi Geoff, it seems that there is no leak any. I will send a message after testing it with raw fuel and also with a running engine. I think that it can survive a heavy landing, and even a crash if it is small model that uses 1/2A engines or similar size. It look like a fibreglass tank and light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Interesting but I suspect for the same weight and capacity a fibreglass tank would significantly more crash resistant. I also wonder just how resistant epoxy is to long term exposure to nitro? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brokenenglish Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 This idea isn't new. Balsa fuel tanks weren't rare on small CL models in the fifties. Just using plenty of dope and balsa cement works OK for a half-cc diesel. The real problem is handling, attaching and removing fuel tubing, etc. The Aeromodeller article published with the "T-Tray" control liner plan (article available on Outerzone) gives detailed instructions, which are similar to the above, but limited to diesel fuel because of the lack of modern adhesives/finishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 I have suspicion that it may be prone to cracking and seepage without glass cloth internally. Also, I hope your tubing isn't externally plated brass as it is probably rather thin walled and corrosion will make it brittle fairly quickly. Interesting concept... Edited By Martin Harris - Moderator on 03/01/2021 16:06:31 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil McCavity Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Thank you for sharing this Levent, a novel idea that I at least will be interested in seeing the long term results of, even if it doesn't work it's an experiment into the durability of balsa and epoxy when they are constantly exposed to Nitro. A worthwhile exercise in my eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Hmmm, I have a suspicion that the airframe will out-live the fuel tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Tin plate is very easy to use , the downside is that if used with glow fuel it rusts quite quickly and if high nitro is used it will eat/ dissolve the copper content of the brass tubing that then get brittle and pin holes appear. I've seen balsa silencer boxes built into fusalges years ago but not fuel tanks. Interesting concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Why bother when polythene bottles of all shapes and sizes are thrown away every day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil McCavity Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Posted by kc on 03/01/2021 18:49:28: Why bother when polythene bottles of all shapes and sizes are thrown away every day? Why bother making anything in that case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Maybe carve a tank from foam and wrap in fiberglass. Dissolve the foam with acetone. Presto, a seamless f/g fuel tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Posted by kc on 03/01/2021 18:49:28: Why bother when polythene bottles of all shapes and sizes are thrown away every day? Hi kc . Agreed but you will not find a bottle of the correct size for small models like the one in the OP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike T Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Posted by kc on 03/01/2021 18:49:28: Why bother when polythene bottles of all shapes and sizes are thrown away every day? Now post a picture of a readily available poly bottle, external dimensions 54 x 54 x 14mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Griff Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 Hi levent, how did your bespoke fuel tank perform, any leaks ? Iwhat was its final weight, and was it lighter than a tin tank ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levent Suberk Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 Posted by Rich Griff on 25/01/2021 15:03:13: Hi levent, how did your bespoke fuel tank perform, any leaks ? Iwhat was its final weight, and was it lighter than a tin tank ? No leaks any in raw fuel. I didn't test it with a running engine yet. Total weight is .547 ounces. It is a little lower than a tin plate fuel tank. Final metal epoxy add much weight. I think that two clear coats on inside and outside are enough. I also want to try an epoxy model paint coat after applying a coat of epoxy glue to save weight, however I could't find epoxy paint in my country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Griff Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Your using it for glow fuel, yes ? I was thinking for diesel, bespoke tank made to measure from the space available, even tank as part of the structure maybe, but need to kiss, keep it simple. Edited By Rich Griff on 28/01/2021 17:17:35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Stainforth Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Sounds a bit like a chocolate teapot to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil McCavity Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Posted by John Stainforth on 28/01/2021 17:25:52: Sounds a bit like a chocolate teapot to me! The guy has been good enough to share this with us, the usefulness of his project goes beyond the actual fuel tank itself, if you don't like it scroll on, its been said on here before, "If you've got nothing good to say then say nothing"!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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