Tank car details

JZ,

What type of tank cars are you considering to detail enhance, the tank cars through the late 1960's typically had full underframes, tank anchor and turnbucket attachment to the car underframe, generally no chemical platform on expansion dome, initially riveted then welded construction and capacities that ranged from 8,000 to 12,000 gallons. During the mid-1960's, I tend to recall the ACF designed and stress tested the stub tank cars that replaced the smaller capacity full underframe tank cars. The general design concept changed from the trainline buff and draft loadings were carried by the underframe of the full length centersill cars, these same forces are carried by the current stub sill tank cars through the cylindrical tank, the full sill cars were almost purely axial compression/tension loads whereas the cylinder of the stub sill cars not only are loaded axially but also have bending monents caused by the eccentical loading of the body bolster centerline and the tank centerline. If you are modeling the full sill car, check steam era freight car websites for ideas on turnbuckles, tank anchor,plaforms and ladders. If you are interested plastruct/evergreen plastics may have material that you can kitbash for tank anchors, ladders and the chemical plarform. I have seen modelers scale sheet brass and wire to make the platfrom, for turnbuckle check with companies that markets custom ship kits in 1/4/(0)scale, these turnbuckes would be common on masted ships.