FVP tank

[Oyster 49]

Gannet's thread about tanks, got me thinking. I've had this tank on the shelf for a while, which I'm planning to fit to a FVP I have that only needs a light clean up. I've never seen a canted 45 degree tank like this before with flat ends, the other one I have has the usual radii on the ends. Looking carefully at it, it feels like a factory tank, rather than one where somebody has gone to the trouble of taking the end caps off and fitting flat ones. I doubt that seagull would have made a one-off tank, so I imagine there are others around.

Has anybody else got one like this on a FVP or FV? Or a SJM/SJP for that matter. Given that this one is pretty much dent free, I'm going to polish it up

[Oyster 49]

Has nobody seen one of these tanks?

[Charles uk]

It's a standard long range FV tank.

[Oyster 49]

Is it though, this one has completely flat ends, unlike other ones which are slightly rounded?

[Oyster 49]

Here are some pics showing a "standard" 45 degree FVP tank, alongside the one with the flat ends, which does not seem to have end caps. With the flatter end with sharper corners it would not be as prone to dents perhaps. However it looks a little "Not right" if you know what I mean.

I will remove all the paint and see how it is put together.

[Charles uk]

OOps, your right.
Sorry!

Charles wasn't this the first iteration of the oval tank? it could be one of the first batch before they standardised on the pressed ends, it does look too Seagull to be home made.

[Oyster 49]

This is the tank with the paint removed. It looks like the ends have been removed at some point, but a fairly neat job in putting them back on

I was going to polish this one, but as there is filler present I shall paint it and put the correct decal on. More to follow.

[Stelios_Rjk]

Polished tanks are always tempting but this one as shiny black would look pretty original with the decals!

[Oyster 49]

The first coat of primer is on! I find it looks awful until the colour goes on though. Must order a little forty decal from John.

[Oyster 49]

Does anybody have a photo showing the location of the decals on one of these canted over tanks? I'm happy with where the seagull decal goes, but what I am really looking for is a photo of an original mixture decal, and is there a makers decal also on this tank?

Thanks

[charlesp]

A trip to the workshop produced the above. The lettering has faded to the point of near illegibility, and the fraction of as pint on the mixing instructions is just a blob; I can't work it out in my head what fraction of a pint to one gallon would make a 12:1 mix. The brain has not booted up properly this morning. Note the strange spacing.

Sadly that's the only one of those in my possesion with the mixing instructions; at least you can get most of it! I've tried with and without flash but that's the best photo I can derive. The thing is in its place in the rack but there's a mound of bits all around it that would make its removal impossible today.

Hope that helps.

[Oyster 49]

Excellent, many thanks, just what I was looking for

[Oyster 49]

Now painted. Just the decal and lacquer to do. One problem with Halfords paints is that they take an age to harden off.

I'd better get the engine this will be bolted to sorted out!

[Stelios_Rjk]

Nice! Waiting to see it with the decals!

[Oyster 49]

The decals are on and the clear coat is also on. I'll leave the tank for a couple of weeks to harden while I tidy up the rest of the engine. This FVP is a fairly tidy engine that does not need much work other than a general clean up. the gearbox had a sludge inside that contributed nothing to lubrication. Seems more like river mud.

This engine has the tiller attached to a bracket, and also has the stub on the crankcase.

One slight mistake with the makers decal, it has "Marine engineers" missing. oops. Once hardened a light T-cut will finish it off.