The Atlantic and Southern Build Thread Continued, Part 2

[ACL1504]

I found the center of the 6" outside diameter of the tank, "X" marks the spot.

I then used a short piece of scrap strip wood and drilled a hole through the scrap. I placed this hole over the new template at the X and drilled a hole through the scrap into the cardboard. I used an extra fence post and placed it in the hold. The angle on the top of the post prevented it from falling through.



You can see in the photo above I then placed the 10X10 next to the outside line of the tank.

I then drilled a hole just inside the area of the green on the scrap strip wood.

I placed a pen in the second hole  and moved the scrap wood around the circle. This new outside circle is the area I have to play with.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

[ACL1504]

Before I go any further I need to clean a spot for me to work.



That's better. I have room to move now.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I next cut out the circle from the larger piece of cardboard.



Here I'm just making sure the  inner circle didn't move on me.



Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

I need to test fit the cardboard template to the layout. But first I need to cut out the area where the Tortoise fits.

I marked the area for the Tortoise and made the cut.





More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I cut out the area for the turnout linkage. I made the test fit and so far all is good.



Here is a new look at the first stage of the new concrete pad.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I took some .030" thick sheet styrene from Evergreen to use as a concrete pad.

I then used the cardboard template to outline the pattern onto the styrene.



I'll fast forward here and show the pattern is now cut out of the styrene and it fits as it should on the layout where the tank sits.




Diet Pepsi time now.

[ACL1504]

Now I need to build a retaining wall around the outside of the styrene pattern.

I want the wall to be thicker than the .030" styrene. I chose .040" but it turned out to be to stiff for gluing around the circle.

I decided to use .020" styrene and double the thickness. I glued on band of the .020" styrene around the outside. When dry, I added the second outside strip.

The height is the retaining wall is 3 HO scale feet.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

Here is the new concrete pad and retaining wall.

I'll leave this up for a few days and see if it grows on me. Your opinions are welcome.

For some reason this looks much more realistic than my first attempt at a wall around the tank. Also, I think it looks much like a hot water heater pan. I believe the difference is in the lack of space between the tank and retaining wall.





I could possibly live with this but would like others input.

Tom

[GPdemayo]

Couldn't you have saved a bit of time and used an upside down Cool Whip lid? 

Joking aside, when you get the dirt and weedy covered berm around it , the concrete painted and grunged up a bit, it will look just right. 

[Zephyrus52246]

I think it's great how you take input ideas and try to make them work.  Like the barbed wire and now this.  I looked up some pictures of containment berms, and yours looks too small to me.  You're kinda stuck with it so close to the curve.   Perhaps an earth berm with a bit more area to contain the tank contents would work.  I'll have to look back at the whole scene.


Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I think the earthen berm won't work.  To close to the fence.  If you're going to berm the other tanks as well, try a similar sized wall around them.  Together they should look ok


Jeff

[PRR Modeler]

I think the walls are too thin to look correct. Just an idea, can you move the tortoise a little further back to give you more room? I know it would be a pain to do it.

I am sure even if you keep it as it you will make it look terrific.

[ACL1504]

Couldn't you have saved a bit of time and used an upside down Cool Whip lid? 

Joking aside, when you get the dirt and weedy covered berm around it , the concrete painted and grunged up a bit, it will look just right. 

Greg,

I'm not going to use this retaining wall. I'm just going to place it on the pad and add some gravel.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I think the earthen berm won't work.  To close to the fence.  If you're going to berm the other tanks as well, try a similar sized wall around them.  Together they should look ok


Jeff

Jeff,

The walls are to close to the fence and the tank. Space is the issue here. I don't have it. I'm just going with a concrete pad with a ring of gravel around the pad.

Tom