"Jose" wrote in message
. net...
The thin skin without any thermal mass beneath it apparently warmed
rapidly enough to accumulate little and shed it, whereas the fuel tanks
had enough thermal mass to keep the ice frozen.

So, suppose the fuel tanks were insulated from the skin by about half an
inch of (vented?) air... that should solve the problem, no? (albeit at a
weight cost)

Probably. If it is indeed a problem.