Belly Tank Lakester - 2nd Attempt - Update 08-19

[Bernard Kron]

I’ve gotten the basic work done on the engine and suspension mountings. Below are pictures of the preliminary mockup.

The motor is a Revell ’40 Ford block with resin heads I got a few years back. I will have to trim some material off the back end of the transmission in order to make room for an angle-mount magneto on the front of the block. The fit is very tight! The good news is that Ardun heads came with 3 water outlets on each head, one on the front, a center ne and a rear one. You chose which you wanted to use and blocked the other two. I plan to put the water overflow tank behind the motor using the rear outlets.

The front axle and spring are AMT ’29 Ford with the spring relocated behind the axle. Once I determine the wheels and tires I may have to raise the axle height (lower it relative to the suicide bracket) to dial in the stance.

The pretty track-style quick change is a cast metal piece from Herb Deeks. The axle tubes are 1/8” aluminum tubes. The axle assembly is held in place by side plates welded to the main chassis tubes.

I’m looking forward to getting some wheels and tires picked out and mounted to see this chassis up on its wheels. I’ve accumulated several options to try on, keeping in mind that I must reserve some of them for the other two tankers.

Thanx for lookin’,

B.

[southpier]

fantastic.

thanks for the link, too

[Jairus]

Here are some belly tanker ref pics.

(Just click the pic)

[southpier]

can i add links or is that considered a highjack?

[Dr. Cranky]

The fine work and detailing continues.

[Bernard Kron]

Thanks again!

Here are some belly tanker ref pics.

Thanx Jairus. I had seen this car but not quite so many pictures. The shift linkage detail is particularly useful.

can i add links or is that considered a highjack?

Go ahead!

The wheels and tires have been selected. They’re the LSR Big ‘n’ Littles from Early Years Resin with they’re smaller moon discs. Here are some pictures showing the resulting stance, including a Photoshopped mockup of the completed body shell.

Thanx for lookin’.

B.

Edited August 14, 2012 by Bernard Kron

[Dr. Cranky]

Looking real good.

[southpier]

ok; here we go:

http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,862.0.html

http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,7618.0.html

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=555655

http://www.fast-rc.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=835.0

http://public.fotki.com/carsntrucks4you/model_cars_related_stuff/aftermarket/aftermarket_stuff/bellytanker0005.html

http://earlyyearsresin.webs.com/lsrparts.htm

http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,8285.0.html

http://mccainautomotive.com/

http://public.fotki.com/molderone/belly-tanker-infoea/pict1497.html

http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,6944.0.html

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=1249

http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,4354.0.html

http://public.fotki.com/carsntrucks4you/model_cars_related_stuff/aftermarket/aftermarket_stuff/bellytanker0003.html

http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Prewar_Dry_Lakes_Hot_Rod_Racing_in_8mm&mt_=933_i

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=906137&d=1266803371

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=9686

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=849223&d=1261395091

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=906135&d=1266803371

http://www.legendarycollectorcars.com/featured-vehicles/race-cars/so-cal-belly-tanker-stripped-naked-we-have-the-photos/

http://www.hotrod.com/eventcoverage/113_0601w_vintage_race_films_movies/photo_01.html

http://www.resinrealm.net/Star/BellyTanker/BellyTanker.html

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/mtrcitymuscle/kits%20completed/DSCN1863.jpg

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=906134&d=1266803371

[Bernard Kron]

Well, that's a lotta links!!! I'm familiiar with with a few of them but some are new to me. Many of the scale model tankers you link to are based on the old California Model Works resin kit you have pictures of, and which is no longer available. Also you have pics of some of the pretty little tankers someone at last year's NNL West was showing, most of which were missing a chassis but which were beautifully done none the less. My favorite perimeter style frame of the ones you linked to is this one:

I got the body cut out and fitted today. Unfortunately the plastic in the lower half of the body has gotten very brittle over the past three years and fractured badly in several places. Happpily the body is relatively inexpensive and Early Years gives excellent service so I have gone ahead and ordered a replacement. In the meantime I am using this one to gain experience cutting and fitting a vacuum formed styrene body and it will be short work to make a duplicate once its replacement arrives.

In the meantime here are pics of the real deal, no Photoshop this time, at least in terms of of faking the actual body. I did do a couple of colored body versions with a mocked up cockpit opening to get an idea of the final look. I’m working on a yellow and black color scheme.

Thanx for lookin’,

B.

Edited August 15, 2012 by Bernard Kron

[cobraman]

Very cool !

[cnaind]

Very nice Bernard! Your attention to detail is wonderful

[Bernard Kron]

Once again, Thank you!

Small progress is being made on multiple fronts. I’ve gotten the motor started with the block painted Ford Engine Green. I’ve decided to go with Hilborn injection to keep the engine height down. I want to do this tanker with just the pure belly tank shape with no headrest. By 1952, the rough target date of this build, Hilborn injectors were being installed on a broad range of competition engines. As with just so much with this project, I’ve had to fabricate almost everything. I made a ribbed valley cover and fuel block from styrene strip shapes of various kinds and have begun mocking up the injectors. The stacks I’ve gotten, although the shortest I’ve been able to find at 7 scale inches, will need to be cut down to about half their height. They’re aftermarket pieces from Speed City Resin, very thin and beautifully made of silver plated copper. I’ve sent them an e-mail asking for any tips on how to accurately shorten them without butchering them – or, preferably, if they could cut me some shorter ones…

The other area I got done was to cut the cockpit opening into the upper half of the shell and fabricate some trim for the edges of the opening. I managed to do it without butchering the body by making a template and then carefully cutting out the main hole, then covering it over with a similar shape, although slightly larger, in .010 styrene sheet, and then removing the material in the opening itself, leaving the trim piece behind.

Here are a couple of pictures.

Thanx for lookin’,

B.

]

[ronr]

Looking good B! With your frame it looks like the lower half of the tank should retain it`s shape. The top, I think I would make some bulk heads to install in it before cutting. But never fear I have extra upper halfs laying around. Like the injection on the Ardun. When I get home today I`ll se if I can look up the class it would run setup this way.

Edited August 20, 2012 by ronr

[Dr. Cranky]

Looking forward to more, and more . . .

[Gluhead]

Neat!

[Davewilly]

Looks pretty cool!

[Randy D]

Hi Bernard, This looks like a really fun project!! Always enjoy your builds.

Randy

[Drucifer]

anything else?

[cobraman]

Give him time, it hasn't even been 3 years yet ! : )

[misterNNL]

Great looking frame work!

Edited May 9, 2015 by misterNNL