Robert Myers Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 I thought I would post this on a new thread. You may find it interesting. On the survey thread we were posting about the lack of eliptical tanks for the back of trucks or for a full length trailer. This was my reply. You could use PVC pipe that is available in most stores that carry lawn sprinler system parts. It makes a great round tank, it is CHEAP and you can either make flat ends or build your own as fancy as you please. Just a note use an epoxy glue on the PVC, don't use model glue, it won't hold and don't use PVC cement, it will eat the plastic so fast the fumes won't have time to get you. OR TRY THIS..... Back in the mid-1980s Steve Port and I sold an eliptical tank. It was long enough for a replacement for the round tank on an AMT trailer or it could be cut down to any lenght for a straight truck chassis. Ours had flat ends (sheet Plastic). It was made from remolded white PVC pipe like you use for plumbing. You can do the same as we did. Go and get a steel pipe that will fit inside the PVC pipe. Take the steel pipe to a metal shop and have them reform it to the eliptical shape you want. Slip the steel pipe inside of the PVC, yes the PVC will bend, and dip it in a barrel of hot oil for about ten minutes. Take it out and let it cool (completely). When you pull out the steel pipe, the PVC will keep the eliptical shape. Prime it with Krylon or your favorite primer make some ends and you have the tank. (if you don't have a barrel of oil, you can use a BIG pan of water boiling on your stove, just increase the dipping time to 15 minutes) We sold hundreds at $9.00 each. I can't remember the issue, but there was an article in a model car magazine featuring our tank on a straight truck. It was in Quaker State Oil livery. The builder did a great job!!!!!!!
mackinac359 Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 Robert Great info! I would imagine the thinner CPVC would be easier to use ? Tim
Robert Myers Posted January 12, 2008 Author Posted January 12, 2008 (edited) Robert Great info! I would imagine the thinner CPVC would be easier to use ? Tim It might be, but the white (yard sprinkler pipe) is so soft & flexible that you can flatten it with your hands, it just won't retain the shape. The heat is just needed to make the PVC hold the shape as it cools. The side wall thickness is no big deal, it gives a good glue surface for the ends. It is not heavy. I am working on a multi-tank tanker. It is made up of 8 small tanks bundled together. It is a helium tube trailer. Do a google search on helium tube trailer to see one. I am using 1 inch PVC for the tanks. It is a simple design, but should look very nice as a different built model. If any of you experienced builders like it, decide to get one going and get one done before I do (I am slow due to arthritis) please post it!!!!! Edited January 12, 2008 by Robert Myers
mackinac359 Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 Oo! That kind of trailer would be interesting to see built. I've thought about building one, but just don't know where to start (not enough reference material found yet). Tim
Old Albion Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 I agree with Tim. That would be an interesting trailer to see built. Do you have a photo of the real trailer? I'm becoming quite interested in scratch building trailers and believe this would be a very interesting project, would go well with a cab over tractor.
Robert Myers Posted January 12, 2008 Author Posted January 12, 2008 I agree with Tim. That would be an interesting trailer to see built. Do you have a photo of the real trailer? I'm becoming quite interested in scratch building trailers and believe this would be a very interesting project, would go well with a cab over tractor. All I have are the images I got from the Google image search. There is a real one that comes here every few months. I hope to get some pictures of it. If I do, I will post a thread and send anyone pictures.
Semi Trailer Mechanic Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 (edited) What's goin' on... Robert Here's a few more pictures. I was going to build one of those trailers a few years back as well. http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex...1171012&f=0 Edited January 12, 2008 by Semi Trailer Mechanic
Robert Myers Posted January 13, 2008 Author Posted January 13, 2008 What's goin' on... Robert Here's a few more pictures. I was going to build one of those trailers a few years back as well. Good pictures for detailing! Thanks! Did you ever wonder if a helium trailer weighs less loaded than empty? Robert
Jet A-1 Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 I have that magazine with the Quaker State oil truck in it around here somewhere . I'll try to find it and post the issue info. I don't know if I can scan the pics fom the mag and post them or not - it might be violating some copyright laws or something!
Jet A-1 Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 Yeup.... Scale Auto Enthusiast #71 (February 1991) page 60, there is a two page article by Clint Freeman about the build of a Quaker State crude oil truck based on an Ertl S-series F2575 kit....
Robert Myers Posted January 13, 2008 Author Posted January 13, 2008 (edited) Yeup.... Scale Auto Enthusiast #71 (February 1991) page 60, there is a two page article by Clint Freeman about the build of a Quaker State crude oil truck based on an Ertl S-series F2575 kit.... Glad you found the article!!! My magazines were lost in a move, about 14 years ago. As I remember, that was a very nice build, I'd love to see it again if you can post it. Edited January 13, 2008 by Robert Myers
ABC Auto Industry Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 Making fuel tanks out of PVC pipe? Why didn't I think of this? This sounds like a great idea! Any tips on working with that stuff?
Robert Myers Posted January 13, 2008 Author Posted January 13, 2008 Making fuel tanks out of PVC pipe? Why didn't I think of this? This sounds like a great idea! Any tips on working with that stuff? There is nothing special to working with it, except use fine sand paper. The plastic is soft and course sanding paper will leave a lot of deep scratches. I like to spray it with Krylon primer before I put on a coat of paint. Most any saw will cut it with ease, epoxy is the glue of choice and most any putty will stick to it (I use 3M blue or red).
SpreadAxle Posted January 14, 2008 Posted January 14, 2008 Thank you for posting this. I've been wondering how to make an elliptical tank.
Jet A-1 Posted January 14, 2008 Posted January 14, 2008 I scanned the two pages of the article. I hope this works... : Page 1: Page 2: As I said this article appeared in Scale Auto Enthusiast (#71) (February 1991).
Robert Myers Posted January 15, 2008 Author Posted January 15, 2008 Thank you for posting the article!!!!!! I enjoyed reading it again. I had forgotten it was built by Clint Freeman
Jim B Posted January 15, 2008 Posted January 15, 2008 Hmm, gives me an idea for an LTS9000 I've been thinking about but couldn't decide what to make it into. Thanks for the info & the article.
JARRNO88 Posted January 15, 2008 Posted January 15, 2008 It also gives me a good idea for the A64B I just purchased and I've been thinking about what to make it into.
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