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I am thinking about making some homemade tank cars.  Can someone suggest where to find center domes, platforms,  and ladders.   

Also open to suggestions on how to scratch build thes items inexpensively. 

If things go right I would have tank cars that I  can swap out different cans of soda or other beverages for a different look at a whim, and a readily available beverage 

 

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Originally Posted by jhz563:

I am thinking about making some homemade tank cars.  Can someone suggest where to find center domes, platforms,  and ladders.   

 

Precision Scale makes everything you need except for the tank.  You can still find the Walthers parts for most of a tank car as well at swap meets, shows, and on eBay

 

Also open to suggestions on how to scratch build thes items inexpensively. 

 

Take a look in the plumbing dept. at HD and/or at the electrical conduit tubing - makes an excellent tank,

 

If things go right I would have tank cars that I  can swap out different cans of soda or other beverages for a different look at a whim, and a readily available beverage 

Beer can tank car kit was available years (decades?) ago from Walthers.  Every so ofter you see one on eBay or at a swap meet

Originally Posted by jhz563:

I didn't even know beer can tank car kits used to be a thing. I just thought it would be afun project. 

 

Just when you think you've had a new idea, you find out that someone else beat you to it a few decades back. 

 

I looked at the wesite for precision scale but I  did not much in the way of tank car parts. 

Only a very small part of the PSC catalogs is actually up on their web site; the majority of their items are only listed in their paper catalogs.

Other option is locate an older Walthers kit that supplied a dowel for the tank and replace the dowel with some plastic tubing. Of course, if you're good with sanding sealer and take your time, you make that dowel look pretty good.

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