Hi everyone, I am curious how other people model large oil tanks on their layouts. I am considering using the Walthers HO scale wide oil tank (933-3167) with the stair railings cut down to an N scale size, since this would be true scale size for a 100' diameter tank. However, it would barely fit in my space, so I am considering other options. Has anyone tried cutting down the tall tank (933-3168) to be shorter? Alternatively, what else have people done?
Visit your local lumber store or craft store for wood dowels. Seal the wood well before painting and use rivet decals. Or get plastic PVC pipe and cut to length. A number of stair and railing kits are out there which may take some kit bashing to fit. For weld lines consider Evergreen or Plastruct rod at .025 or smaller or strip at .010 or .015 or smaller.
A 100 foot diameter tank would eat up about 7.5 inches of space and that is a lot of space unless you have a very large layout. A cluster of smaller tanks would add better visual effect.
Here's a work in progress assortment of different tanks. The one that looks like the oil/gasoline storage tank with the railings and stairs is actually a pair of Bachmann oil storage tanks stacked one on top of the other. The cluster of six tanks with the walkway on top is made from those plastic cores from rolls of tape.
On a past layout I had done a couple of large tanks by using a short length of ABS drain pipe and added a styrene roof. By cutting off one of the side beams from a Plastruct stairs, I was able to wrap it around the tank and then add the railing to the stair. Sorry can't seem to find any surviving photos of those models.
Here is an image of DIY crude oil floating roof storage tanks that I made about 5 years ago. They are 3"pvc pipe caps turned upside down and fitted with the goodies. The 3" diameter is 40' in N scale. They are good representations of what I worked around in my 1:1 career. Keep in mind storage tanks can be just about any size you can think of. In my N scale refinery I used medication bottles, pvc slip connectors and even an aspirin bottle. let your imagination go wild. This pipeline gathering station / pump station has another 3" pvc cap as well as a couple of uprights made from 3/4" pvc pipe or 10' scale diameter. Hope this gives you some ideas. BTW, the curved ladders on side of these tanks are very easy to make. I can probably round up some more images if you need. Be well, Carl PS: I could not resist, here is the refinery that I built and continue to add to. Recently added a delayed coker unit and am thinking about a new FCC unit .......
The white 3 floating roof fuel tanks are used plastic push up pain med cream jars installed upside down. There are holes drilled under them. I can push the roofs down and use a skewer from under the layout to push them back up. It keeps the scene fresh with them at differing levels every time I go out and run trains. The small black water tank on this side of the turntable is a cap off an old paint rattle can. I just cut some plastic sprues to make piping on it yesterday. The big one in the top corner is a 6" ABS cap. It was originally used...upside down... to catch dripping water in that corner from a now fixed roof leak. You can buy most any size PVC or ABS 'caps' at any hardware store.
While not exactly large these two tank farms go well on my layout. To the left is the power plant tank farm and to the right is the marine fuel depot. 100_1235-2 by John Moore posted Aug 16, 2021 at 11:29 AM Both started life as Walthers tank kits.
If you want big tanks, go to Lowes and get the 6 inch pvc pipe connectors. They cost less than $7 each and scale out to about 80 feet in diameter and a little less in height. Add a top from some plastic 'Garage Sale' signs from the dollar store and for about $14 and a little modeling you have two nice large oil tanks.
If you would rather shop online as opposed to going to a hardware store.... Go on Amazon...search for either PVC CAP or ABS CAP. You can even search the caps by size that will fit the area you have on your layout. Here is a 6 inch PVC cap....for $6.88... https://www.amazon.com/NDS-6P06-Sol...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583520382247978&psc=1
The floating tanks look incredible! I haven't seen those before, what are they used for? I am wondering if it is something about maintaining constant pressure inside the tank. Edit: Just read up on how it prevents vapor build-up. Neat!
Never had a problem returning anything I bought on Amazon. As far as shipping and wait time... FREE delivery: Tuesday, Aug 24 Order within 13 hrs and 49 mins Details & FREE Returns
Me personally...I would shop local for PVC Caps at an Ace Hardware store less then a mile from my house. I can go to the Post Office and right next door is Ace. Do all that and be home in 30 minutes and be making and installing Storage Tanks for my layout all in the same day !! I only shop online as a last resort !
Just a possibility: ran across N scale stairs for 3" (40' in N) PVC the other day on shapeways: https://www.shapeways.com/product/AFBZTTUY7/n-scale-oil-tank-stairs-o75mm-h63
I love our local Ace also. Locally owned, customers and employees treated with respect and dignity. Very low employee turnover. The best customer service I've ever experienced. They did not carry the half face respirator I wanted. The manager gave me a list of several local industrial supply houses that had it in stock including prices. Who else does that anymore? It's a stones throw away. I can park right by the door and be in and out in minuets. Post office, groceries, liquor, beer, bakery, pizza, Chinese and bookstore right across the street. Not to mention the political side of it.
I prefer my True Value Hardware. It's across the streets from a cluster of businesses. And most entertaining is the Huge train that runs around on it's track hanging from the ceiling. And It's only 1/2 mile away.
I rolled my own, I printed out a texture on a 8x11 printing label, and wrapped it around larger diameter PVC couplings..., the roof is sheet styrene
