[KrisW]

Time to install the fuel tank.

Since the fuel tank mounting plate came loose, I decided to use it for this installation by moving it to the top of the wing tube.

A fitting of the tank in this location revealed minimal surgery necessary to wedge the tank between the two formers in front and behind the wing tube. Simple notches were cut on the front half of the top fuselage plate, leaving material to mate properly to the fuselage formers. Then, a plate with a slot in it was fabricated from 1/8 lite ply, and mated to the tank mounting plate.

This assembly was glued to the rear former and wing tube socket using Medium CA, then two screws added tot he rear plate to secure it firmly to the fuselage former. Then a piece of 3/8 hardwood tristock was placed across the front fuselage former, under the front of the tank mounting plate, and CA'd into place. See pics for details.

The tank nestles snugly in this spot, being held in place by the front former and wing tube/mount with almost zero up-down movement. A simple single nylon strap around the tank can hold it in place. As seen in the pics, there is plenty of room for the fuel lines to clear the front fuselage former, then be routed forward and down to their proper locations.

This is a 16 ounce DuBro tank, Not the 24 ounce tank supplied with the plane, which would not fit in this location. 16 ounces of gas with a 50cc BME gives well over 15 minutes of flying time. you'll get vbored trying to run the gas out of a 16 ounce tank with a BME44 on the nose.