From our Archive - Renault FT Fuel tanks - Inside Track | Renault TSF Tank Kent

As we are nearing the completion of this project, we thought it timely to look back at our journey. Here is an interesting article from our archive that some of our newer members won't have seen:. Having acquired the FT and TSF bodies we turned our attention to the other parts. Near the top of our wish list was a fuel tank. Happily we were able to locate one in the workshop of Didier Boniface in northern France. Based in the imposing Fort Seclin, Didier had also set out on the long road of restoration with his FT. . In exchange for access to the original we agreed to supply Didier with a newly built fuel tank and a complete set of parts for a second one. Despite the beating it had taken over the years, the fuel tank was able to provide us with all the information we needed to reproduce a number of exact copies. . The first step was to carefully take the Fort Seclin fuel tank apart. This revealed that it consisted of two separate tanks one inside the other creating, in effect, a double skin or bunded tank. This would have provided additional protection in the event of a leak from the inner tank. This meant that in order to produce two finished fuel tanks we would have to produce four separate tanks. . Sandwiched between the tanks were a series of felt strips. These probably were intended to act as vibration dampers to prevent the two metal containers rubbing together. They would also have absorbed any leaks or spills. Analysis of the felt enabled us to source the same type from a classic material supplier. Each panel had to be dimensioned, profiled and cut. A form was made to produce the correct angles. The panels were then riveted together with a final seal being provided by a layer of solder along the seams. The finished tanks were then dispatched to a company in the north of England to be tin dipped. Meanwhile the new felt was cut into strips ready to be inserted between the inner and outer tanks. Finally the various plugs and taps were cast from solid forms based on moulds made from the original components. Each item was then machined and compared to the originals for accuracy.

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