Modeling Storage Tanks

[jday]

Here's mine, Made from pvc pipe for a plastic pipe factory loosely modeled after one of the customers we serve on the shortline railroad I work for.



And the prototype.


Still need to add some details like ladders and railings.

[packers#1]

Rix sell the tops separately.  You might be able to get away with using one of them for the bottom as well.

I actually could probably flip the bin since the prototype looks like it has a flat top.

jday:  That looks great for my facility, versus what I'm trying to model...

[peteski]

Also, when modeling storage tanks which would house hazardous liquids, don't forget to model the bunding (dyke) around them Which would contain the liquid after a rupture of the tank.  That detail id often missed on the models.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunding

I included bunding in the model of Poole Fuels.  It is not quite high enough to contain all the liquid, but it is there.   

[packers#1]

Peteski, these will be holding plastic pellets, so I don't believe the bunding is necessary, but definitely a cool detail; I may be adding a fertilizer tank or two for liquid fertilizer; would bunding be required then?

[peteski]

Peteski, these will be holding plastic pellets, so I don't believe the bunding is necessary, but definitely a cool detail; I may be adding a fertilizer tank or two for liquid fertilizer; would bunding be required then?

Um, if liquid fertilizer is considered a hazardous liquid then I would say that bunding is be a good idea.

[nkalanaga]

It also depends on the era.  As late as the mid 70s many fuel tanks didn't have any containment.

[Flagler]

Did the roof on the building come that way in the kit?My Roof on that kit is rounded.

Also, when modeling storage tanks which would house hazardous liquids, don't forget to model the bunding (dyke) around them Which would contain the liquid after a rupture of the tank.  That detail id often missed on the models.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunding

I included bunding in the model of Poole Fuels.  It is not quite high enough to contain all the liquid, but it is there.   

[MichaelWinicki]

It also depends on the era.  As late as the mid 70s many fuel tanks didn't have any containment.

Valid point.

As I've been working on my refinery, representing 1970, I decided not do the bunding because of the refinery pictures that I had come across from that time period that didn't utilize that feature.

[packers#1]

ok, finally have a plan for the tanks:
1/2" PVC pipe arranged like the tanks in Jday's picture, with sprues forming a simplified pipe formation beside and in front.

The question to be asked now is how to cut the PVC pipe straight? I've cut it with a mitre box before, but that didn't give me a straight cut. Anyone have experience cutting PVC completely straight?

[Philip H]

HOme depot makes PVC pipe cutters that can easily handle 1/2 in PVC and look like big red wire cutters.  Easiest way I know of.

[billvassar45]

i use a carbide blade in my chop sae works very well, no problems with them so far.

[packers#1]

HOme depot makes PVC pipe cutters that can easily handle 1/2 in PVC and look like big red wire cutters.  Easiest way I know of.

I'll hopefully be picking one up then; the carbide blade sounds cool too, but might be more expensive.

[nkalanaga]

Can't help there.  The last PVC pipe I wanted cut square and identical was 2 inch, and I took it to a local cabinet making shop.  They cut it on their cutoff saw for a dollar or so - a dozen years ago, more or less.

For square cuts I usually wrap masking tape around the pipe and use that as a cutting guide, but getting all of the pieces identical is a little tricky, as one has to measure, wrap AND cut precisely.

[Pomperaugrr]

I would not recommend the PVC cutter for making squared off cuts.  I have two different versions of the PVC cutters.  They cut great, but at a slight angle.  You would still need to sand the PVC pipe so it had flat ends.  I have had very good luck cutting PVC pipe with a very fine toothed plywood blade in my chop saw.

Eric

[RWCJr]

I cut the pvc pipe with a miter box, then made a crude wooden king size version of the NWSL sander, and sanded the ends square. And I had a several silos to combine.