Why is fuel tank mount so strong!!! Wow!!!

[KDOG]

Not that I'm complaining mind you!!! ;) I just put it together and when I tightened the bolts up I was flabbergasted at the strength of it. It only holds a 5 gallon tank of gas. It feels like you could park a truck on it!! Absolutely no flex, sway or anything like that at ALL. And I tried to move it after I tightned up everything!! I couldn't make it budge a millimeter.I did mine a tad differently - bolts (AN3-6A) instead of rivets and welds. Trust me - its so stiff and tuff, I'm beginning to think it might be overkill. It bodes well for other parts of the aircraft that I'm working on. Thats why I'm re-considering using those diagonal engine mount pieces that I accidently cut too short since its only a matter of repositioning that end hole in the horiz pcs toward the mast 1/4" or so. *Maybe* We'll see. Anyway not a very interesting topic, just thought I'd share!!!

[Brian Jackson]

Hi Kevin.

I wondered about the necessity of welding/riveting in lieu of simply bolting, but I guess my concern would be the height of the bolt heads and possible interference with, and chafing against, the bottom of the plastic tank. Do you have your tank yet? If so, have you checked to make sure it's not sitting right on the bolt heads? I'd be concerned about puncturing it, especially in flight.

Cheers,
Brian Jackson

[Ralph]

If you get the tank from StarBee, the tank will clear all bolt heads with no problem. This is not necessarily true with tanks from other sources.

Ralph

[KDOG]

I'm getting the tank from starbee, along with the tail, cyclic control, seat and other items. Trust me, and maybe Ralph can comment on this, its plenty'o strong with the bolts... and I don't have the side beams on yet! I ran out of the AN365-1032 nuts - NUTS!!! :) I'll try to get a pic up later of it - including one of the new keel front...

[Doug Riley]

Trivia: There is a type of AN machine screw that has a flat head and a 100-degree countersink. The alloy and temper are the same as for AN hex bolts. You can use these screws in the tank frame if a hex-head bolt would chafe the plastic. I did this, and didn't weld, either.

[KDOG]

Also, I'm sure someone probably makes bolt-head "caps" to keep it from rubbing/cutting anything. You could also file/grind/sand any sharp edges, tape it up if necessary, etc, etc. More than one way to skin a cat fellas!!!