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Project Builds, Detailing, Painting, Weathering

Tank Car Group Build


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Here's the first Group Build thread, with thanks to Trisonic for suggesting the subject.

 

Tank Cars,

 

Big, round(ish), black (usually?)

 

If I'm honest, I don't know much more about them than that. I think they have specialized uses generally, but I'm not sure.

 

So, to start this off, I'm going to try and work up two cars.

 

First, CALX 3042, a 23,500 gallon car, the model is by Atlas:

 

post-7346-0-64425800-1329057921.jpg

 

Fortunately, there is a picture of this specific car on the WC2scale website, so I can aim for a representation of the real thing: http://wc2scale.org/zenphoto/nonwc-railcars/tank-cars/calx-3042-ben-greuel-photo.jpg.php

 

One obvious job will be to replace the over scale Accumate couplers with closer to scale Kadee #119 shelf couplers - I know these aren't dead to scale, but they're much closer. I haven't tried Sargents yet - but that may be a subject for another day.

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Jon, I think I'm going to enjoy this section, might even contribute, pending on what I am committed to model versus what I'd like to model. Tank cars - Mmmmmmm, my closet passion. To answer your question, yes, tank cars do have specialised uses.

 

Here's a few roster shots for you to get your juices going.

 

http://tonysissons.zenfolio.com/p311385631

 

They may help, if not I have literally thousands more. I best come clean, I'm really a tank car pervert. :spiteful:

 

Cheers, Tony

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Okay - things are a bit hectic but i've a couple that I think I can join in with:

 

Atlas Corn Syrup tank - ADMX16750

Model pic:

http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOFreightCars/hotrinity/6231-1.jpg

 

It's in basically this mid 00s condition

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=124326

 

I'd been thinking about adding the modern yellow striping to look more like this - based on the principle that the ADM 'leaf' logo is a modern one anyhow so adding the yellow would probably increase the years I can use the car rather than reduce it...the paint date for the car is circa 2000.

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2064808

 

 

Second one is ACFX83827 another Atlas 23k, the same tooling as Jon's CALX one topping the thread. Finding an exact match seems hard, it looks like the ACFX83xxx series seems to be filled with small lots of very different looking cars in random orders, but this is the closest I could get to number and looks:

Model pic: http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOFreightCars/ho235gallon/1631-1.jpg

Proto: http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1177970

and: http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1200515

 

Lettering isn't identical, the pics above show the DOT grid on the right hand side that the model doesn't have, not sure I want to add that though as I have a feeling it's an 'era thing' - I want the model capable of being used in a 80s/90s scenario.

 

Getting that greyish patina I think would be a good target to have on this one, i'm not especially fussed about adding any extra detail to either one...

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I think the reflective stripes are a good idea Martyn - they give the model some "future-proofing" I think.

 

I've often wondered if there is a auto striping product we could use for them - they are generally stuck on the real thing I believe, so I thought maybe car pin-striping might give the right effect, even more so if there was a reflective one. Must have a Google.

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I think the reflective stripes are a good idea Martyn - they give the model some "future-proofing" I think.

 

I've often wondered if there is a auto striping product we could use for them - they are generally stuck on the real thing I believe, so I thought maybe car pin-striping might give the right effect, even more so if there was a reflective one. Must have a Google.

 

Why not paint some Tamiya masking tape yellow,it does not actually need to be reflective paint,(unless you are doing a night layout with working car headlights ??)

then cut strips to suit....and stick on ...Simples !!!!

 

Regards Trevor ... :sungum:

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On some of the US forums I read, I found out that some of the US modelers have tried a floor/boundary hazard reflective tape. Now it seems to be black and yellow, but obviously you just cut out what you need from the yellow parts. Scarily the first few I managed to google in the UK were upwards of £50 a role. But there is a roll on ebay for just over £12. http://www.ebay.co.u...=item53eb8d398b

 

Edit: there is also this one too a little cheaper and all yellow http://www.ebay.co.u...=item5ae5170730

 

It does seem to work http://img.photobuck...LUKE/TAPE-1.jpg

 

 

Edit: There is one slight downfall and thats the thickness of the tape, it doesn't look bad front on but I haven't seen any in the flesh.

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Thanks for the links Dave. Might have to get some for a try.

 

Managed to do a little to one of the tank cars yesterday, unfortunately forgot to take pictures whilst daylight held, so apologies for the dodgy shots here:

 

post-7346-0-72586300-1329419449.jpg

 

post-7346-0-04535700-1329419456.jpg

 

Wheels and trucks given varying coats of rust/muck, rusty Kadees fitted (and yes, I accidentally chopped off the bottom shelf on one whilst removing the trip pin). What the shots don't really show is the very light greyish patina I've started to add, from the top downwards, and around the underframe. I also tried to replicate the wheel spray on the undersides of the tank, but its not very convincing so may have to be redone.

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Why not paint some Tamiya masking tape yellow,it does not actually need to be reflective paint,(unless you are doing a night layout with working car headlights ??)

then cut strips to suit....and stick on ...Simples !!!!

 

Regards Trevor ... :sungum:

 

Trevor, Everybody - search on Ebay for "nail striping tape" - it is used by nail salons for decorating ladies finger nails. - very fine and narrow - I have a roll of yellow from Hong Kong, very inexpenxive, but I have forgotten the sellers name although I do have his actual name and address if needed

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  • 3 weeks later...

Jon, unsure if this is the right thread/place to post some tank car images, having a huge collection, being a tank car pimp and all, I thought..... :scratchhead: If posting in this manner is inappropriate let me know and I'll quit adding to them.

 

These five pix show a slightly different angle to the tanks. Hope they are helpful.

 

Cheers, Tony

 

post-6847-0-12149400-1331086964_thumb.jpg

 

post-6847-0-44269300-1331086984_thumb.jpg

 

post-6847-0-28737700-1331087004_thumb.jpg

 

post-6847-0-50322900-1331087018_thumb.jpg

 

post-6847-0-17782700-1331087030_thumb.jpg

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10-4 Jon,

 

FWIW, reflectivity stripes per FRA standards are 4" x 18" and 4" x 36" long, in HO 1.1mm x 5.5mm & 1.1mm x 11mm. Something else to throw into the general discussion here. When newly applied these stripes do a pretty good reflective job, especially if ones brights are still on at a grade crossing. As the car weathers they don't work as well, add some graf here and there and their impact is even less. Just sayin'.

 

Cheers, Tony

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