Rick L Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 (edited) My next project will be a belly tank racer. I will vacuform the body using model board for the plug. I turned each station to P38 aircraft specs with a .149 hole running down the middle of each one then cut each station 1/2” in thickness resulting in 13 “doughnuts”. Then, I cut them in half and will glue them together to layout on a platen that will have a .149 half rod down the middle for alignment. The photo shows the stations put together laying on an alignment rod unglued and unsanded at this time. I will do the same with the other stations to make two identical halves. I’ll keep updating as I go along whenever my honey loosens the leash. Edited March 7, 2021 by Rick L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedShift Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Very cool. If you want to sell any vacuum formed shots let me know. Like to do a belly tank in 1/25th myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick L Posted March 6, 2021 Author Share Posted March 6, 2021 I’ve built models and prototypes professionally for 40 years and couldn’t really build for pleasure during those years until I retired. I don’t have much of a junk yard at this point so maybe we could make some trades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Cool project. I will be following. Good luck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedShift Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 3 hours ago, Rick L said: I’ve built models and prototypes professionally for 40 years and couldn’t really build for pleasure during those years until I retired. I don’t have much of a junk yard at this point so maybe we could make some trades. What engine do you have in mind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick L Posted March 7, 2021 Author Share Posted March 7, 2021 Flathead, definitely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick L Posted April 30, 2021 Author Share Posted April 30, 2021 Moving right along, I finished my master and made silicone rubber molds to cast solid vacuum form plugs. I formed the halves with .062 thick polystyrene. I will attach a .03 flange all around the top half with MEK and pass them around to friends. The last photo shows a converted master top for my personal use. I’m planning on casting this with a clear .062 PETG sheet in order to mask off the canopy and paint the rest. This will look similar to the 2013 GM belly tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 This is looking GREAT! I’d definitely be interested in purchasing a copy of one of these if you were ever to consider forming any extras! Great work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Henderson Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 nice work and tutorial. Thanks for the ride along! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bainford Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 Cool project. This will be interesting to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocking Rodney Rat Posted May 4, 2021 Share Posted May 4, 2021 This looks like the body is coming along. Check out the pix here for some ideas: https://public.fotki.com/jferren/kr-kustomsrods-bell/ I'll be checking your progress! -RRR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DustyMojave Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 Interesting stuff to me. This is me in the Kelly & Hall belly tank a few years ago at El Mirage Dry Lake, a few miles from my house. The 1st race car I ever sat in was Tom Beatty's in the 1950s when I was about 2 years old. This photo was taken by my dad. Tom and Fat Eddy at El Mirage. 1st car to break 200mph at El Mirage. Was done using a wrecking yard Olds Rocket engine. He had previously used a Ford flat head that he was the 1st to break 180mph there. And you were correct to model your belly tank body using a P38 drop tank. That's what Tom's car used for a body. Tom lived 1/4 mile across the rail road tracks from Lockheed Burbank, where P38s were built. Note that the belly of his car does not have a flat spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick L Posted May 15, 2021 Author Share Posted May 15, 2021 The flat spot in the belly is to get the body to sit slightly lower for the tires that I’m using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DustyMojave Posted May 17, 2021 Share Posted May 17, 2021 I am perfectly aware of why some put flat spots on the belly. I was pointing out that one of the most iconic belly tank cars did NOT use a flat spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterNNL Posted June 16, 2021 Share Posted June 16, 2021 BTW if you're considering casting this plz add me to the list of interested builders! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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