K&R Kustoms+Rods belly tanker update: 8/12/17

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

I have wanted to build a salt flats/dry lakes belly tanker for many years. These streamlined racers were built using external accessory fuel tanks from airplanes during WWII. After the war, racers realized these belly tanks made suitable streamlined 'containers' for a driver and an engine (and not much else). After looking around on line at a few resin options (always a last resort for me, I prefer to work in styrene), I decided it was time to take the plunge and build a body. The starting point is two of the top halves of the old Monogram Long John Silver streamliner... The driver area portion of the LJS body was hacked off and the head/valve cover indents were cut out and filled with sheet styrene as a start. We are using the LJS body turned around. Then the whole box full of parts was brought up to the Woodstock shop (yes, that messy desk in the last pic, see the coupe sitting there?) on a recent weekend where the real work could begin. I gathered a few options to make the 'nose' portion of the body. A plastic 'easter egg' that we've all seen, another 'egg' shaped container for silly putty and a couple of vacu-form rocket (Estes like) noses I found on line were considered...stay tuned for more updates as we "hit the salt"... KK & RRR

Edited August 27, 2017 by Rocking Rodney Rat

[espo]

Interesting idea. Now that's a work bench I can relate too.

[DrKerry]

Interesting idea. Now that's a work bench I can relate too.

and I bet he knows where everything is too!!! Just like we all do..... lol

[tedd60]

I have been planning one of these in 1/18 scale.  I did some research a while back and found someone who makes and sells them.  On their website they have detailed drawings and measurements sufficient to allow some one to carve a buck and vac form one.  Two sizes ... http://www.classglassperformance.com/P-38 Belly.html

T

 

Hey ... nice desk.  Looks like mine.

Edited March 13, 2017 by tedd60

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

I have been planning one of these in 1/18 scale.  I did some research a while back and found someone who makes and sells them.  On their website they have detailed drawings and measurements sufficient to allow some one to carve a buck and vac form one.  Two sizes ... http://www.classglassperformance.com/P-38 Belly.html

T

 

Hey ... nice desk.  Looks like mine.

I believe Early Years Resin has a couple tankers available in 1/25th scale. I prefer to make my own one-off.... -RRR

Edited March 13, 2017 by Rocking Rodney Rat

[tedd60]

Sorry, I see my post wasn't that clear and caused a bit of confusion.  The site I mentioned builds and sells drop tanks for 1:1 cars.  The measured drawings can be scaled for anything and these are what I will be using to make my own.

What engine are you going to be using?

Edited March 13, 2017 by tedd60

[modelfink]

I like where this is going 

[Rockin' Rodney Rat]

Sorry, I see my post wasn't that clear and caused a bit of confusion.  The site I mentioned builds and sells drop tanks for 1:1 cars.  The measured drawings can be scaled for anything and these are what I will be using to make my own.

What engine are you going to be using?

I understood what you meant.  It's interesting that there are resin/Fiberglas 1:1 belly tanks available. I never considered that. We will be using Revell flathead for power. -RRR

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

After some careful measuring and deliberation it was determined that the pieces that would make the best nose part of the body were the scale rocket nose cones. I had been shipped two of them and since they are very thin it was decided that the best approach would be to use both of them and glue them together. To that end, they were cut in half. To make them thicker and stronger, thin triangle strips of .020" Evergreen styrene were cut and glued to the inside of one cone. Then a liberal amount of CA gloo was poured over that, then the second piece (the inside) was glued in. 

[DrKerry]

Koolness, who knew model cars and rockets would come together!!!! Well except when we were younger and put model rocket engines in model cars, but I'll leave that one alone!!!    As he whistles and walks away!!!!! Lol

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

Next step was gluing the new nose cones to the rest of the tanker pieces....then, a half round piece of Evergreen tubing was added to the rear of the bottom half for the QC to hang out in...then a quick mock-up of where the internal components will sit...next, opening up a hole for the drivers head and a fairing/air scoop on the top...stay tuned...KK&RRR

[tedd60]

Yep ... the photo above pretty much sums up the whole thing.  Just add some carbs, arms and about 3 heads. 

Looking real good.

Edited March 17, 2017 by tedd60

[misterNNL]

Interesting idea. Now that's a work bench I can relate too.

Bless your mess!!

[Dennis Lacy]

R.R.R.'s Opus!

[Kit Karson]

Interesting idea. Now that's a work bench I can relate too.

Yup!  That's my bench... notice the '33 3hree Window Coupe to the left? -KK

[misterNNL]

Thanks for taking the extra time it take the photos and show us how you expanded that egg nose piece.

[chepp]

That's a heckuva start. Please keep posting more pix as you progress. It's great to see someone doing massive re-working like this.

[bobthehobbyguy]

Love it. Great start. Very impressive work.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

It's been a while since I've done anything on the tanker, but it's back on the front of the bench now. It was determined that a slice would be needed to be taken off of the bottom of the belly, so much hacking ensued...I also started on the frame...much more to come... -RRR

[espo]

You should Resin Cast that body before you paint it. 

[GerN]

This kind of project takes real guts to start and persevere.  Kudos! 

P.S.  My workbench is messier.

Edited June 4, 2017 by GerN

[James2]

Interesting project. A lot of imagineering to do these right and yours looks like it is. 

[Dennis Lacy]

Interesting project. A lot of imagineering to do these right and yours looks like it is. 

I was just telling RRR that I don't think many people here understand what he's building and therefor probably can't appreciate the work involved to build one from scratch. I have no doubt that this will be one of the best scale belly tankers around once it's finished. RRR has "the eye."

[afx]

Great project, the frame is particularly nice.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

I was just telling RRR that I don't think many people here understand what he's building and therefor probably can't appreciate the work involved to build one from scratch. I have no doubt that this will be one of the best scale belly tankers around once it's finished. RRR has "the eye."

Thanks, ADL. It's been slow going lately, but I did scratch together the spindles for the front suspension. I am using the stock front spring/axle from the venerable old Revell Model A kit... Next step is to cut out the body where the axle will protrude on both sides and fab up suicide perch for the spring..... -RRR