Braithwaite tank panels in 7mm scale?

[Mol_PMB]

Braithwaite tank panels were and are widely used for loco water tanks. They're still made:

https://ideastatica.uk/braithwaite-steel-tank-hot-pressed-steel-sectional-water-tank/

My prototype tank was built about 80 years ago, but the panels are identical to the present-day ones:

 

I'm looking for a source of Braithwaite panels in 7mm scale.

CW Railways offer 3D printed ones, but they don't look right. I think the discrepancy will annoy me in 7mm scale as the water tank will be quite a dominant feature.

https://www.cwrailways.com/building-parts.html

 

I understand that Alan Gibson make etched ones in 4mm scale, and they are mentioned in this old rmweb blog but sadly the pictures have all gone apart from the header pic where the water tower is just about visible. The pattern of the Alan Gibson etches looks better, but I wonder if an etched panel would look rather flat in 7mm scale (and 7mm scale panels are not actually listed by Alan Gibson). It's not clear whether they include rivet detail and it sounds like the joining angles and tees have to be added separately (not necessarily a problem):

 

Are there any other readily available options for Braithwaite water tank panels in 7mm scale?

 

Failing that, I'm wondering about:

(a) Designing a custom etch for the panels

(b) Asking CWRailways if they can make an alternative 3D print that's more like my prototype

(c) Making up some sort of press tool to press them out of thin copper sheet or similar.

 

Cheers,

Mol

 

 

 

[Peter Eaton]

How strange you ask.

The company I attend for weekly payments has just had a coolant tank assembled & it too the same design & the panels are made of moulded GRP material

some things never change.

Peter

[figworthy]

 

Is this close enough ?

 

http://www.stoneybridge.co.uk/product_details.asp?PID=03-306

 

Adrian

[Mol_PMB]

12 hours ago, figworthy said:

Is this close enough ?

Many thanks for helping to find an alternative.

It still seems to be representing a cast panel whereas I'm after a pressed panel shape.

I'm probably being too fussy!

Cheers,

Mol

[Mike Bellamy]

Chris Ward, who started (and sold) CWRailways linked above has come out of retirement and set up Chris-Draw and says on his website he will provide a quote for commission work - might be worth contacting him. Following on from the Tar Tank wagon discussions in another topic, the hemispherical tank looks interesting

 

https://www.chris-draw.com/

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[Mol_PMB]

13 minutes ago, Mike Bellamy said:

Chris Ward, who started (and sold) CWRailways linked above has come out of retirement and set up Chris-Draw and says on his website he will provide a quote for commission work - might be worth contacting him. Following on from the Tar Tank wagon discussions in another topic, the hemispherical tank looks interesting

 

https://www.chris-draw.com/

.

Ooh - there's some lovely looking items there! Many thanks for the link.

I'll ask about the Braithwaite panels.

That boiler would be a talking point on my Manchester Ship Canal layout, though judging by the prototype photos I might need a bigger one...

 

 

[Mol_PMB]

On 28/12/2023 at 09:22, Mike Bellamy said:

Chris Ward, who started (and sold) CWRailways linked above has come out of retirement and set up Chris-Draw and says on his website he will provide a quote for commission work - might be worth contacting him. Following on from the Tar Tank wagon discussions in another topic, the hemispherical tank looks interesting

 

https://www.chris-draw.com/

.

 

This approach worked very well, thanks for the recommendation. Here are the panels for my tank, made by Chris:

There are some corner pieces as well.

Now available on his website too:

https://www.chris-draw.com/water-tanks.html

 

Mol

 

 

[Mike Bellamy]

11 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

This approach worked very well, thanks for the recommendation. Here are the panels for my tank, made by Chris:

There are some corner pieces as well.

Now available on his website too:  https://www.chris-draw.com/water-tanks.html

 

Happy to help and pleased that Chris has produced exactly what you wanted - we all now look forward to seeing the completed model!

.