Cox P-51 Sweet Cindy Fuel Tank Question

dondaniels59 Sun Oct 23, 2022 12:19 pm

Can the fuel tank from the airplane be removed and replaced? The nipple on the bottom is broken off on mine.

I would like to it original and replace the fuel tank if that's possible. Otherwise I'll just have to rig up a fix.

Thanks,
Don

rsv1cox Mon Oct 24, 2022 7:48 am

dondaniels59 wrote:Can the fuel tank from the airplane be removed and replaced? The nipple on the bottom is broken off on mine.

I would like to it original and replace the fuel tank if that's possible. Otherwise I'll just have to rig up a fix.

Thanks,
Don

The short answer is no. Those fuel tanks are molded in, but anything is possible but may not be practical.

Those supply fuel tubes go all the way to the bottom of the tank and broken nipples are difficult to fix. You can drill it out and replace with a brass substitute or a straw from an aerosol can and cement it in, but the results can be mixed. I have done it, often. Those nipples are the Achilles heel of plastic model airplanes.

You could cut the tank out completely and replace with one of the smaller plastic or "Perfect" tanks or build your own. The old plastic 35mm film containers were perfect.

Try something. You have nothing to lose.

Mark Boesen Tue Oct 25, 2022 9:09 am

Use the small size R/C muffler pressure tap and a dab of JB Weld

dondaniels59 Tue Oct 25, 2022 9:13 am

Great ideas guys.

And I do miss the old Kodak 35mm film containers! They were good for a lot of things. I used to make pop rockets out of them using Alka-Seltzer and water inside them and a paper rocket over the filmcontainer. They would go about 15 to 20 feet in the air when the pressure from the dissolving Alka-Seltzer inside would pop the bottom off and shoot the pop rocket up into the air. The kids loved it!

rsv1cox Tue Oct 25, 2022 10:27 am

I think that Mark is on to something. The smallest muffler pressure tap that I have is still too large to get a fuel line on and it wouldn't have the tube to reach the bottom of a tank. But a small engine needle valve assembly would be usable when adapted and cut to length.