p-51 Drop Tanks

[MPicciotto]

Any thoughts on how I could replicate these drop tanks for our 490th Bomb Squadron impression this summer at an air show?

http://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com/341st_web/

The link is not working for me and neither is photobucket. SO... If I can pain you to follow these directions.

Click on link above.
Click on "Memorabilia"
Click on "Clyde Dyar"
4th Picture down.

We have a "shower tent" So I could even make these from paper (oh wait some of the real ones were...) They just have too look the part, not actually function.

Thanks
Matt

 

[Dinerman]

You can get fiberglass P-38 ones. Not sure if that would work for your purposes.
Here
and
Here

 

[Stearmen]

You can get fiberglass P-38 ones. Not sure if that would work for your purposes.

Ahh, the Tank Cars, the coolest racers ever! We had two P-38 droptanks that we were going to mount on a PV2D Harpoon. The one tank had its tail run over by a truck. We cut the forward section off, then got in there with various hydraulic scissors and jacks, then just hammered and dollied untile it was smooth! What, speck up I can't hear you! I would do the 110GAL tanks made out of paper for the P-51, you could make a bunch cheap.

 

[MPicciotto]

You can get fiberglass P-38 ones. Not sure if that would work for your purposes.
Here
and
Here

Thanks. Those are 1. Really COOL 2. Too large it looks like I need 75 gallon or 110 gallon. I need to be able to move these around to air shows. and 3. Out of my budget

Stearmen I like your thinking. Anybody know where some "plans" or clear drawings are? I figure armed with decent drawings and dimensions I could make forms from plywood, use a couple of strips of plywood to hold them together then skin it, not unlike building a canoe.

Matt

 

[Windsock]

Spotted these still on active duty at the local country markets...

 

[Spitfire]

Soooooo nice, Andrew!!!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[MPicciotto]

Andrew,

Those would be perfect! But I think the little tykes might get upset at me...

So I did some more research and it looks like the 75 gallon is what I need for CBI. Looks like the paper tanks were ETO item. I'm still up for making them out of paper mache, doped cloth or fiberglass over a wooden frame, I can get aluminum paint to replicate the original aluminum.

Matt

 

[BellyTank]

Ahh, the Tank Cars, the coolest racers ever!

...and you know what they call them..?


B
T

 

[Sgt Brown]

One of our guys built a replica "paper" drop tank as part of his display (Only two originals known in existence.) It is constructed of a wood framework but, instead of the original paper mache covering, he used Ceconite aircraft fabric for durability. Here is a photo of it at our display at the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends a couple years ago. Anyhow, MANY hours and considerable expense.

Tom

 

[David Conwill]

...and you know what they call them..?


B
T

Lakesters!



-Dave

 

[BellyTank]

Thank you, David Cogwill.


B
T

 

[MPicciotto]

One of our guys built a replica "paper" drop tank as part of his display (Only two originals known in existence.) It is constructed of a wood framework but, instead of the original paper mache covering, he used Ceconite aircraft fabric for durability. Here is a photo of it at our display at the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends a couple years ago. Anyhow, MANY hours and considerable expense.

Tom

Tom,

That's pretty cool. I've no doubt many hours. But I hope to do it "on the cheap" as I'm a scrounger and have ready access to a variety of materials. Of course I plan to put ours above the shower tent so they won't have really close inspection and "plumbing" and "fittings" will be to a minimum.

Matt