scratch built water tower 2-14 update

Fantastic idea Steve!  Coming along nicely and very realistic.

Excellent staining it or painting it?

dk122trains posted:

Excellent staining it or painting it?

Don

Thanks for the response. I have a few of them so might try different methods. I was figuring an acrylic paint watered down a bit and definitely weathering them.

Nice bases, and the round filler wrapped in stripwood works well.  I have plenty of kitbashed enclosed-base Lionel water towers, but I just found an unusual enclosed hexagonal one in an old model mag  that I might build, for the heck of it.

Steve

the water tower construction looks good. Instead of building a bunch of stuff I just kept shoveling and plowing snow.

Alan Graziano

I pity you Eastern folks. We had our 4" blizzard here in L'ville and it's off all the streets and everything around our house is now shoveled and plowed. I, at 70, do not lift a snow shovel unless I absolutely have to. Our lawn guy does the snow work when necessary. There's a reason why UPS chose this town as their global freight air HQ; the airport is closed due to weather some of the fewest times in the country, plus it's centrally located.

Re: your great water tower idea... using a tin can makes me think you could actually get water out of it. Of course the trains may not appreciate that level of realism.

Since, for some reason, the paint has been slow to dry on my cucumber car, and as I did not want to sit around watching paint dry ,  I began scratchbuilding that tall, slim, enclosed water tower I mentioned above.  That has gone rapidly, in spite of it being octagonal and the sides tricky to get right.  I found the plans, in O!!, as well as HO, in a 1975 model magazine.  I am contemplating another use for decorative artificial veggies...such as maybe making  a veggie into a water tank, or a caboose for my lengthening pickle train.  Will have to check out available veggies tomorrow.  Unlike the well made timber base of the poster's tank, mine has a low stone base.

Great model, Steve!

how do you are going to make the bands?

Andre.

Andre - Most likely made from wire. However I do notice that on Joey Ricard's new layout his water towers have what appears to be a metal band. If you have any input here would love to hear of alternatives.

Joey - Would love some input here as to what materials you used as the bands on your water towers

L.I.TRAIN posted:

Andre - Most likely made from wire. However I do notice that on Joey Ricard's new layout his water towers have what appears to be a metal band. If you have any input here would love to hear of alternatives.

Joey - Would love some input here as to what materials you used as the bands on your water towers

I have seen very thin brass strips at hobby shops that are very pliable.  You can use those for the bands.  Maybe adhere them with some dabs of epoxy.  You could solder the ends together or use J-B Weld.

Steve,

Here is one I have been working on.  I've kind of lost interest in it lately but will finish it sometime in the future.  I used brass turn buckles, I think from Tichy or Grant Line, and used stripped wire for the bands.

Looks good.  Don't forget the details.

ADDED: from a forum post several years ago. 

Ron,

That is pretty cool!

Absolutely cool!

bands are closer together at the bottom and further apart as you go up the tower to reflect the larger hydro-static forces at the bottom

Completed a smaller Branch Line tower, and made a bit more progress on the main line tower.  Have not yet decided on roof style for the main line towers as yet.  Making a few of each for home and club layout and possibly some for sale

On my tank I used a heavy carpet thread which I stained by pulling it through a folded rag soaked in the stain. I used Grandt Line turnbuckles for each course staggering them per prototype photos of such construction. They were spaced close as I started out on the bottom and gradually became spaced farther apart as they neared the top of the tank. A touch of super glue provided a fast termination as each course was wound. Care must be us used in building these type tanks...a mess is easily made.

Here's a photo of the banding.

Bob

Those bands look terrific!

Excellent!!!!

Bob,

That looks great!

Dave

Thanks Guys.

Bob

Nice job Steve.

Alan Graziano

Alan Graziano posted:

Nice job Steve.

 

Alan Graziano

+1