New release for Small Business Saturday: our next production of General American 8,000 Gallon Insulated 1917-Design Radial Course Tank Cars. 

 

By the end of World War I, U.S. production of oil and oil-related products was sharply increasing thanks to the combination of war-related demands as well as demands from home.  In order to move oil and “new” consumer products, tank car producers introduced new car designs.  In 1917 General American Tank Car introduced a new general service 8,000 gallon non-insulated tank car, and quickly followed that production with an insulated 8,000 gallon tank car, which utilized a “jacket” that surrounded the tank and dome.  Built in East Chicago, IN, these insulated cars were easily identifiable by their circumferential rivets that surrounded the tank body, with notably different heights between the courses, and with their “recessed ends”.  These “radial course” tank cars utilized steel bolster plates that rise up vertically to hold the tank in place, complete with a “web” section behind to minimize steel consumption.  At a time of fairly monochromatic box cars plying the rails, these insulated tank cars carried consumable products, and they were typically stenciled for lessees advertising consumer products such as gasoline, wine, and corn products.  The GATC 1917-design family were the most prolific tank cars built during this period and were found everywhere from 1917 to roughly 1970. 

 

The Tangent Scale Models GATC 1917-Design 8,000 Gallon Insulated Tank Car is a highly-detailed tank car model that includes details accurate for each paint scheme, including KC- or AB-brake variations, with or without Cardwell draft sill springs, and different hand brakes.  Other visually-distinctive details for our models include the “see through” bolster section, circumferential rivets, and differing course heights.  Our RTR models include correct “true-to-life” colors and “hyper-accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement.  Finally, our scale replicas operate as well as they look, equipped with free-rolling all-metal wheels and Kadee® scale couplers, meaning our models are truly ready to run.  

           

For steam and transition-era modelers, these replicas will certainly be eye-catchers on your layout!  Check out the radial courses – they look like nothing else in HO!  Our new ready to operate replicas are in stock and available for sale at www.tangentscalemodels.com.  That’s right, no preorders! 

 

Our November 2020 release includes the following two paint schemes, plus two undecorated model options:

 

- NTCX "1922+ Lease" is our offering for “pre-depression” and “pre-diesel” modelers out there who have been requesting “plain” tank cars!  We have listened.  NTCX are the reporting marks for National Tank Car Company, who operated a fleet of 8,000 and 10,000 gallon tank cars.  Their insulated tank car fleet represented more than 30% of their total tank car fleet, which was large percentage-wise.  This model is offered in the “plain leaser” NTCX scheme from 1922 and was stenciled from an actual photo (see our website).  These NTCX cars were nationwide roamers and were likely used for viscous oil products.  Our National Tank Car Company 1922+ cars come with era-correct K-brakes and are available in three road numbers.  Because each real tank car was formed by hand and had individual gallon notations stenciled on each end of the car, all three of our models have the correct gallons stenciled on each end.  Yup, we did the research, so you don’t have to!

 

- ANPX "Anchor Petroleum Company, Tulsa OKLA. 1948+" is available for US modelers that are looking to bolster their fleet of “refined product” tank cars.  These insulated tank cars were likely used to haul refined oil products such as gasoline.  This car is stenciled like the prototype photo on our website, representing the car as it appeared in 1948.  We offer these neat tank cars in gray paint and black stenciling on the tank body.  The cars are offered with six road numbers, and because each real tank car was formed by hand and had individual gallon notations stenciled on each end of the car, all six of our models have the correct gallons stenciled on each end.  

 

- Undecorated RTR Black cars are ready for decaling!  This production includes RTR cars with the AB brake system.  Our last production included cars with the K-brake system.

 

- Undecorated Unpainted Kits are available as well.  When folks claim that “no one” makes kits anymore, well, here they are.  These are ready for building or kitbashing, and painting / decaling.  Great for those who desire to build their own.  This run of kits come with parts for either an AB- or a K-brake configuration.  Instructions for our kits are located on our website under “Other Stuff.”

 

Features for these awesome replicas include:

- Circumferential riveted tank body and riveted underframe (count ‘em, there are many!)

- Radial course tank body – note the “stairstep” appearance!

- All-new underframe for the GATC 1917-design

- “See-through” cast knee above the bolsters

- Accurate dome appliances

- Dimensionally-correct hazardous placards with accurate hole detail

- Separately applied tank handrail

- Separately applied tank strap detail

- KC- or AB- brake variations depending on the prototype car

- Inclusion of Cardwell draft sill springs depending on the prototype car, otherwise “oval” frame openings where the springs were removed

- Different hand brake appliance options depending on the prototype car

- Highly correct “true to life” colors

- “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement, including lettering applied to the underframe and air reservoir

- Durable wire grab irons and coupler lift bars

- Separate air hoses

- “Near-scale” draft gear box with side detail

- Kadee® “scale-head” couplers

- CNC-machined 33” wheels in high-quality Tangent Scale Models ASF cast steel truck with spring plank and with separate brake beams

- Replacement semi-scale wheels available separately from Tangent

- Multiple road numbers for each scheme - these cars often traveled in "groups" of more than one

- Recommended age 14 years and older

 

Don’t miss out on the Tangent Scale Models General American 8,000 gallon 1917-design radial course tank car!  Just like its prototype, this car will stand out on any layout situated from 1917 to 1970, and they went everywhere!

 

Pricing for RTR models is $44.95.  High-resolution images showing these fine replicas are available at www.tangentscalemodels.com and our site also includes prototype images for your reference as well.

 

That wraps up our update for today, and thank you for supporting the family-owned businesses in our industry! 

 

David Lehlbach

Tangent Scale Models

This car is obviously in a train of mixed freight.  When I worked on the Big Four at Harrisburg Il. we had an ocean of NYC hoppers.  There was one little L&N car that showed up between the same two NYC cars from time to time.  Somehow it got caught up in coal train service on our line and nobody ever make the effort to throw it out and send it home.

The point I want to make is that regardless of your era, a foreign car or two would not really be out of place and would give you an excuse to model something different.

Charlie

The car in the first photo looks like it has an "Athearn" platform around the dome.

Charlie

Hey everyone,

I looked at photos of various PFE reefers from the mid 1930s and onward which contain these boxes with lettering in them. What information is put into these boxes and why do they change from the upper box to the lower box?

I unfortunately don't have the Pacific Fruit Express Second Edition book which would answer my question which is why I asked.

Thanks, Ray

Gary Bechdol wrote:

"Can someone provide me the contact information for the PUBLISHER of Railway Prototype Cyclopedia No. 35?"

Try Ted Schnepf at Rails Unlimited - railsunl@...
126 Will Scarlet
Elgin, IL 60120-9524
Price:$65.00

George Corral

I just wish it had higher definition.  Wondering if the original was copied to a digital file at higher quality than is on the Youtube site.  

Assuming one had a spare IMWX/Red Caboose underframe available, would it be more straightforward to swap it under the Intermountain carbody, or would that add new problems?

Regards,
Andrew Jeanes
Kingston, ON

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