Can you identify this Sure Start fuel tank?

Fuel take-off is in the middle so it doesn't appear to be for C/L. Possibly same mounting pattern as a Babe Bee though by the look of it.

Rod.

I like that! It definitely makes the choke-tube back-plate more useable without having to modify/design a firewall with a slot (which wouldn't be as strong)

The little tank could be capped-off and just used as a mount, running a separate external tank.. with the benefit of being able to choke.

Bernie/Matt should look into getting info on these, and possibly offering them for sale as an accessory, and as a combo with the engine... making it a more attractive option for modelers having airplanes/kits with traditional Cox "Bee-style" radial firewall mounts. (Sig Skyray, Brodak Stuntman 23, the "Blackhawk" models and numerous others)

How much fuel does it hold? Cool idea for a neater package than the external tanks for some models

roddie wrote:I like that! It definitely makes the choke-tube back-plate more useable without having to modify/design a firewall with a slot (which wouldn't be as strong)

Roddie ---

I picked up a couple of packs of square hardwood dowels from Walmart (craft section, IIRC) for a couple of bucks. The 3/8" square size is ideal. Cut to length so it extends just above and below the Sure Start backplate. Drill and use these as spacers to clear the choke tube -- mount on your firewall and you don't have to worry about a slot or eventual oil incursion.

andrew

Thanks Andrew, That's a great idea. I don't have any choke-tube back-plates... but if I get one, I'll set it up like that.

These tanks went into one or more of the Cox RTF planes.

A mould would be cost-prohibitive (around $10,000) so this would hardly be a project that makes sense for us.

That's a sweet tank set-up!

Cox International wrote:These tanks went into one or more of the Cox RTF planes.

A mould would be cost-prohibitive (around $10,000) so this would hardly be a project that makes sense for us.

Too bad.. I guess I thought that someone may have been (re)producing them aftermarket. I have to wonder if Cox bought the mold.. but as you pointed out it's limited production.. it was probably an out-sourced part... especially in the later years when it was used.

I wish I had CAD, I'd do some drawings for free... just to stay in practice.

WingingIt74 wrote:I wish I had CAD, I'd do some drawings for free... just to stay  in practice.

A choke-tube radial mount would be a piece of cake for Jason or Ian to produce on their 3D printers. (not a tank.. just a mount)

If someone has time to generate the cad for this I can print a bunch up. The last 3 weeks I have been working 60 hour weeks. Now recovering from the flu the last 2 days.

Jason_WI wrote:If someone has time to generate the cad for this I can print a bunch up. The last 3 weeks I have been working 60 hour weeks. Now recovering from the flu the last 2 days.

Sorry Jason, I hope you feel better.

Has anyone even used one of these?

What if it works no better than a regular cox metal tank?

Just thinking out loud.

roddie wrote:

Jason_WI wrote:If someone has time to generate the cad for this I can print a bunch up. The last 3 weeks I have been working 60 hour weeks. Now recovering from the flu the last 2 days.

Sorry Jason, I hope you feel better.

Man, I feel for you. Get well soon!

Jeez yeah Jason.
Quick recovery.
Bob

Thanks guys. Starting to feel better tonight.

One for sale

http://www.ebay.com/itm/cox-engine-049-airplane-new-with-fuel-tank-and-screws-to-mount-/281286941103?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276

Cribbs74 wrote:Has anyone even used one of these?

What if it works no better than a regular cox metal tank?

Just thinking out loud.

The tank looks to be about the size/capacity of the Babe Bee... maybe smaller? It still has to be run "vents upright".. but you could attach a loop of fuel line connected to both vents routed under and around the bottom with a slit/notch cut in the center (bottom) of the line for flying inverted.

I like it more as a mount than anything else, because I mainly run external hard-tanks on my airplanes that have Cox reed-valve engines on them.

Many thanks for the responses everyone.
I did state the capacity in my original post, 5cc.
I've been collecting Cox models and engines for years and I've never seen this type tank
on any of their ready to fly models or in any of the Cox catalogs.
The one that was listed on eBay did not sell, it was not mine and it is the only other
one I have seen.
If this was used on a Cox product I'd sure like to know which one.

I picked up one of these tanks recently. It was on a throttle ring surestart with red rubber spinner. Neat little tank. I bet the production numbers were low.

Because of the pickup placement I would glean that it is for either FF or RC, not CL and the frontal size, suggests it is for RC. Of course this is just a guess, never saw one before.

George

Maybe a vehicle rather than a plane??

Oldenginerod wrote:Maybe a vehicle rather than a plane??

 
Perhaps both, but the one in question came with a prop and a red soft-nosed spinner.

Also, the *bay listed the use for one as "airplane".

Perhaps they WERE created for a project that... (grin) never got off the ground.

George