Shok

My Feedback: (28)

So I decided that I wanted to make a fiberglass tank mold.

I have made a tank before using the lost foam method, this time I'm going to go the whole 9 yard with a reusable mold.

Later on today I will be claying up the plug in the parting board and hopefully getting my surface coat down on the first half by sunday.


For the plug I just went to a local store and bought some of that dense green florist foam.
I had LimeyBob draw out the dimensions for me for a tank to fit in the JetMach Super Sport.
According to his calculations it will hold about 125oz of fuel.

After some rough sanding I got approximatley the dimensions sanded in, but just a tad shorter overall.

I think mixed up some zpoxy resin and painted it on.
After that dried I followed up with another thick layer and scraped it out.

Here is a pic

It was dark and with a cell phone, sorry for the quality

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

after that I sanded, filled and primed.


Everytime I filled and primed it seemed like it was getting worse and worse.
Then added evercoat, sanded primed again and again.

Still is not perfect by far

but good enough

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

I made my parting board

drew out the plug on it and cut it out with a jigsaw

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

plug fits nice and tight.

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

So this is where I am up to now.

I will be putting about 8 coats of wax on the plug and the parting board.

After that I will insert the plug and put down some clay around the plug.

Next will be a few coats of PVA, then the surface coat will go dow.
I will use 2 surface coats then add the fiberglass.

I will take as many pics along the way and post them.

I am using West System epoxy resin and hardner.
Also will be adding black pigment and cabosil to the resin for the surface coat.

wish me luck!

hooker53

My Feedback: (106)

Looking good Shok. Ya got it going on. thanks for sharing!! Roy

KC36330

used to have the same problem, now i glass the floral foam after shaping and it works great.

here's a pic of the plug for my JL F-15 front saddle tanks, they give me 48 extra oz onboard so i can do away with the external fast packs

highhorse

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks for including us. Very useful info !!

readyturn

My Feedback: (9)

Good info.

Thanks

Boomerang1

Thanks for posting Ronnie, of course the methods can be used to make any hollow object from glass.

I need to make some tip tanks for my Macchi 339. With the planes's narrow track I can see them getting damaged often so I'm going to make moulds for replacements.

Keep up the good thread. - John.

timrob

Ronnie,

What wood did you use as the parting board?

Tim

KC36330

that's Luan in the pics.

SCALECRAFT

My Feedback: (13)

Hi

I have also thought about making tanks

So there is no worry of the west sys resin degrading over time from fuel.??? Jet A, gas, nitro. Right.

Steve

rhklenke

My Feedback: (24)

I've never seen it happen. If West System won't stand up to it, I don't know what ever would...

Bob

hooker53

My Feedback: (106)

I have heard a lot about the West System products. I wish someone would do a priemer thread on that stuff.

jetflyr

I've got a set of tanks that is 5 years old and never had an issue. West Systems is good stuff for what we do.
Greg

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

Ok done waxing.

Put the plug in, Im going to start on the bottom side first.

Clayed around the edges....this was tedious!

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

also decided to mix some resin, hardner, pigment and filler to find the right consistency and to see what my pot life is.


Looks like I have about 20-30 minutes to work with it.

Goes on really nice and the brush streaks just unfold.

When it kicks though, its pretty hard and fast and hot as hell!

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

pva sprayed on

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

first layer of surface coat put on

LN-JET

Looking good so far, BUT.. it doesn't look like you have any draft angle on that bottom part?
I have seen recommendations of at least 3 degrees of draft, so that you have a chance getting the parts out without destroying them.

Lars

timrob

Thanks KC,

I have never heard of Luan. Is it an expensive wood, and what other alternatives are there for a parting board?

Tim

KC36330

Luan is a cheap and very widely used plywood. everything from cabinet backing to wall panneling. i use MDF for a parting board.

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

masonite is what I wanted to use and is ideal.

unfortunately I couldnt find any that wasnt perforated.

this was as slick and smooth a surface as I could find as an alternative

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

there is a bit, it's just dosnt seem like it in the photos