Projects Belly Tank Build, NZ.

Will finish the primer tomorrow. Most of the parts to be painted have been and are waiting to be reattached, that will happen during the week. JW

 

Gotta be proud when you look at that chassis photo. All scratch built from your mental picture. Impressive task - well done sir.

Cheers,
Harv

 

Great progress.

 

It will be hard to see brush marks at 150mph +....

 

Thanks, James, I have no time for slacking off at this point. JW

 

It is my goal for it to do that.........but we will see JW

 

Progress! Looks good

 

Thank, Dave. JW

 

I forgot to make two patches on the bottom of the fire wall, made them, fitter them and then had to fit the lower body to check for clearance, Will start the top coat of paint tomorrow but still have a couple hard to reach bits that need primer, may need to modify a small brush. This is starting to get a bit exciting !! JW

 

Gave the frame a slightly less than average rattle can spray job of machinery grey and today started putting it back together. Need to get bolts of the correct length and nyloc nuts and washers. JW

 

Got the steering box in along with all but one hydraulic lines (still have one to make) in and the front axle and shocks. JW

 

Man that photo makes me think "WW2 bomber chassis and hydraulic lines".

Rust Guard rattle cans?

Cheers,
Harv

 

The primer was a product i used over 25 yrs ago when i was working for a gate maker, the best anty rust primer i have seen/used, that was brushed on and the Machinery grey was rattle can (9 of), it wasn't how i saw it in my mind but i,m OK with that.
I guess the whole aircraft thing stems from the drop tank thing and maybe my passion for WWII Fighter planes. Next on it will be to finish the front end, refit the wiring harness and anything else that's left in a sequence that works and last in will be engine/g-box. Then bolt the body back on and maybe another try at some fiber glassing if i have time before i take it to the show, 7 days to have it on the trailer. More very soon. JW

 

That's some great progress.

 

I wonder if nose art would look out of place on a belly tank?

Cheers,
Harv

 

Maybe but i have some subtle scallops in mind, not sure of the main body colour yet but an aluminum look sound good or a medium grey. What ever it is it will have a vintage style to it. JW

 

Got a bit more put back on today, spindles and steering arms, peddles and put the wiring loom back in. JW

 

Also got the fuel tank in and the fuel control stuff, pump, reg. ,filter and the relay and fuse panel. JW

 

Got lots of little bits done over the last two days, made the last hydraulic line, seat, brake, harness and got it back on all wheels plus other stuff. JW

 

Yeah it feels good to get to this point in the build. About to put the g-box on the engine and then drop it in and dummy it up. JW

 

Looks good standing there.
I hope you feel proud of yourself.
That is a lot of progress in a short time.

 

Feel fairly proud of getting it to this stage, still a couple of safety things to take care of and getting the front to hinge and latch and of coarse finish the dreaded fiber glassing.
Engine/g-box go in tomorrow and then fit the body back on then on the trailer for the show, the wether looks crap for that so will need to wrap it up good and drill a drain hole in the bottom. JW

 

Engine etc in, not long to go now. The next two nights will be small stuff and fitting the the body. JW

 

Looks great.

Is the plan to have it running for the show (cackling?) or static display? Looking forward to a video of the beastie running.

Cheers,
Harv

 

Just static, the engine still has good compression so i may check a few things on it and if it checks out i hope to fire it up and see how it feels then rebuild it with some new bits and a balance. Maybe soon but i need to finish the body first. JW

 

You go JW coming along nicely.

 

Thanks again Bryan and have fun at TROG.
Craig is coming over next weekend to do a feature on the T for NZ Rodder mag and may include the Belly Tank, must be my two years for getting in magazines. JW