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This tank is unusual for its octagon shape. It is based on the type of water tank used on the Sumpter Valley R.R. in Oregon.
Originally the tank was to be placed at Bandon on the POC but its size was a bit bulky for that location so it was swapped with the water column at Coos Bay. A brief construction log follows:
The innards are cedar and pt pieces 4" wide on the outside. The 2x6's were run through the tablesaw with the blade at a 22.5 degree angle and then cut to length on a power miter saw. They were glued together with "Welder" contact cement and left to cure overnight.
Sheet PVC was glued and brad nailed to the bottom of the tank and the first framing elements added. They are 1/2" square cedar.
Legs are also cedar and were glued and brad nailed.
A view turned upright.
The tank fitted to the legs. They are very solid even with the weight of the tank on top.
The legs are stained with Behlen's spray stain, Dark Mahogany".
The tank is sheathed with individual cedar strips, glued and brad nailed. The top is enclosed with sheet PVC as the bottom was.
After painting the sheathing a simple rugged roof framework is made from scrap cedar cut to about a 30 degree angle and glued & nailed in place. A center knob was included for a little extra eye appeal. Also a white trim was used over the joints on the tank and emphasize its octagonal shape.
Clear acrylic was used for the roof sections. This material not only stands up well but it is very helpful to be able to see the supporting frames underneath when securing it. It was glued and nailed. No nail gun here because it might shatter the acrylic. Instead guide holes were drilled through to the wooden understructure and the brads individually nailed in place. It doesn't take many as the glue alone would probably hold the roof firmly in place. The brads are just a bit of extra for shear strength.
The tank and legs were masked off and the roof first painted with Bondo black primer. Then a texture coat was added; two coats. Ordinarily I would paint the roof assembly before installing it to avoid masking but in this case I would have lost the advantage of being able to see through it when attaching it. You have to weigh the cost one way or the other depending on the circumstances.
Frame for the spout was cut to fit, prestained and attached. I don't remember who made the spout, it's not a Hartford, but the weights were Hartford left over from a previous project. The chain is from Ozark as are the pulleys (C&S brake chain guides).
The ladder is from an Aristo water tank. Its supports are 7/8" scale lower brake staff supports as are the grab irons on top. The hatch is a 1:20.3 locomotive cab hatch, all from Ozark. It pays to check other scales for useable parts. I prefer 7/8" scale spitoons for 1:20.3 scale for example.
You will notice there are no bands on the tank. That is because it is an enclosed type. What you see is the protective covering and not the actual water tank which is inside (prototypically speaking). I left off the water infeed pipe and its covering as it doesn't show much anyway. Of course if it bugs me later I can easily add it. The Sumpter's tanks had a rather obtrusive type that fed from the bottom and side of the tank. I would use a much simpler one coming up to the bottom center. After all this is a POC prototype!
I think it makes a handsome structure and a relief from the usual round or squarish types. The Sumpter Valley had several such tanks some like this one and some completely enclosed. The construction is very robust and the rectangular tank at the engine terminal was built the same way over 4 years ago and has been as close to bullet proof as anything I've ever built.
