Sort of Scratch Built

Hi John, nice work, I was thinking you can add some piping to it, as for the light on top you can get a red light just about anywhere. If you have a LHS near by I'm sure you can get a light with socket and wiring.You can also weather it if you want.

Alex

Alex:

Thanks.  Piping is a great idea.  I was also contemplating some type of 'maintenance' ladder up the side.

The one 'issue' is that the thing is sealed at the top and bottom.  I can not take a can opener to it on the bottom (lip is too large), so I will probably need to run wiring outside the 'tank' for any light.

Believe ot or not, the real life Fleming Oil tanks are spotless.  Weathering, however, is a good option.

Appreciate your kind words and encouragement.

John 

Pipes and a maintenance ladder are good ideas.  If you don't want to drill holes in the can use small tubing to construct the pipes and conceal the wires going to the top inside the pipes.  Check out Evans Designs http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/ they have pre-wired LEDs that burn constant, flash or fade on and off.  I used one of the fading LEDs on a communications tower and love the way it looks.  Keep us posted on your progress.

Listen to your gut.

Steve:

Thanks for the idea and the lead.  Much appreaciated.

John

Good morning John, Take a look at weekend photo fun, Keith just finished two storage tanks that will show you some piping and ladders. Hope this helps.

Alex

You could add a small pump house next to it for added detail.

You could also add a loading or unloading rack for the tank trucks.

Flood lights might be an attractive alternate to a beacon on top of the tank.

Thanks everyone.  Please keep the suggestions coming. 

I went through my box of 'excess parts' and found a few ladders.  Will try those out.  I ordered a flashing red beacon from the web site Steve suggested.  Thanks, Steve. Also will add some piping to possibly hide the wiring for the light.  That is another great idea. 

I like the flood light thing too.  Let me digest that one.

Charlie, you pointed out something I failed to note.  My set is incomplete.  I just decided to paint it yesterday, but that corner of the table is not finished, so I plan to add some things around it.  Pumphouse is good idea.  Thanks.

Also, I have decided to paint over the 'Premium Quality' label that was on the original Heineken can.  To me it looks too much like 'oops, missed that spot in painting'. 

Again, many thanks to all, but please add comments as you think of them - even if 3 weeks after I originally posted this!

Update as of 10/8/12:

• I painted over the "Premium Quality" logo from the can - looked bad becasue the background was silver. 
• I added plumbing.  I was going to get something a bit more 'delicate' and subtle, but while at Home Depot, I cam across the handle and I built the rest from there.  I bit large, but I'll go with it.  Need to paint the pipes.
• I added a ladder on the right side.  Held in place with modeler's putty - thus the yellow specs.

I'll try to get a better pic next time - the white washes out the picture.  Thanks again for the input.

That's quite innovative John; a bit big for O scale but resourceful.  Personally I would have used something smaller like ice maker tubing with an O gauge brake wheel for the cut off valve.   Check the beginning of this section (Scenery and Structures) where you will find a thread covering modeling resource lists.  Keep at it and keep us up to date.

Fred:

I agree, the 'pipe' is a bit big, but it's the Alaska Pipe Line going directly into the tank??!!  :-)  That will be my explanation for a little while.  The good news is that it is not permanently attached, so I can considered better scaling if I want to go the non-direct-pipeline-into-the-tank route.

Thanks for the heads up on the links for resource materials.  I will look for those.

Sorry Steve, I mean to type your name, not "Fred". 

John,

The boys here were all set to pay you a visit until I explained to them that it's an oil tank now - no more beer. By the way, they wouldn't have had any trouble at all cracking that big valve!

Looks good - very imaginative build.

Jim

Hi John, pretty cool I like it.

Alex

I don't think the piping is to big.  Suppose you are the marketing guy that talked the boss into making one of the storage tanks look like a GIANT beer can.  How would you continue the theme with the piping?  Yep, how about a GIANT valve to control it!  Looks great, keep it going!  Russ