Gas Storage Tank

Trainhead,

I can tell you how to make them. I have been constructing models of storage tanks for many years and make spiral stairways on tanks all the time.

Alan Graziano

Please share (or is it a company secret?). 

It is not a company secret. This method will work on ABS or Styrene tank shells.

I use .060" styrene or abs sheets and I cut stair treads 1/4-inch wide x 5/8 inches long. I scribe the stair treads with lines so they look like grating. For the posts I cut .060" square styrene strips 7/8 inches long. The top handrail is a .010" x .060" styrene strip.

I made a stair template stringer out of .015" styrene sheet so it is flexible enough to wrap around the tank. The graduations of the stringer template are 1/4" x 1/4" giving you a 45 degree stairway.

The template is laid on the tank from top to bottom and the step locations are traced on with a pencil.

Each stair tread is glued in place on the pencil marks of the template. I glue them with plastic weld cement. As the stair treads dry in place, I adjust them with my hand to make sure they are level. The stair posts (.060" styrene square strips) are glued to the top of the stir tread and the front edge of the next step. This will keep the treads level and square. Use plastic weld cement. The top rail is glued to the top of each .060" square strip post.

This can be pretty difficult to do, so it is best to take your time with this aspect of building a model storage tank.

Alan Graziano

Great explanation of how its done Alan!! 

Thanks!

Alan

Excellent. Thank you. I will have to try that when I get the courage!

Alan,

Are you a TCA  member?

Thanks.

Trainhead,

i am a TCA member. I stopped attending York meets about 8 years ago because I did not have any time to build speculation models for the meet.

Alan Graziano

Another method involves buying the white styrene stairway from Plastruct. Cut one stringer side in the middle of each stair tread. Once done the stairway has a natural bend to it. Position the solid stringer on the tank and glue into place at the 45 degree angle. I usually cut a right triangle out of paper and tape to the tank as a reference line. the railing is Plastruct angled design. The result is pretty good and less time consuming though no where as elegant as Alan's stairways.