A group of 8 rivetted tank wagons were built at Newport Workshops in 1928-29 for Esso. These 3 dome tankers had a capacity of 8700 gal and rode on 40 ton cast bogies.
Recently I purchased a box of American tank wagons off a seller on Facebook that included a group of Athearn 3 dome rivetted tank wagons.
The closest VR tank wagons in appearance to these standard American 3 dome tanks are those from diagrams TW58 and TW59:
TW 58 104, 107, 108, 110, 111, 112, 114, 130
TW 59 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122
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| 121 TWF displaying Esso logo. |
I have previously modelled TWF 110, 111 and 112 which have black tanks (from diagram TW58) , and TWF 115 and 122 (from diagram TW59) which have silver tanks. This time I decided to model three from diagram TW58, TWF 104, 108, and 130. For diagram TW59, I choose to model TWF 119, 120 and 121. The last two both carried Esso logos at one time (based on photos from Rob O'Regan and Peter Vincent's collections).
With the Athearn blue box 3 dome tanker the tank can be separated from the frame which makes removing some of the details that aren't required and painting the model (if modelling one of the wagons with a silver tank) easier. You can also use the 3 dome tankers from other manufaxtures that are a single moulding.
I used a file to sand the body and the handrail holders smooth, being careful not to damage the rivet detail. I use modelling putty to fill the holes in the tank where the ladder was on each side.
The underframe has side sills added and handrails added. A hole punch was use to produce the tank empty/full gauge. I still need source suitable decals and to weather the tanks.
On the layout these wagons will be used in the consist of the Mildura or Horsham block oil trains and on the Ballarat pilot's to oil sidings at Redan and Eureka.
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