Tangent Scale Models is proud to introduce our next production of HO Scale General American 8,000 Gallon 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 produced a new general service 8,000 gallon non-insulated tank car.  Built in East Chicago, IN, these cars were easily identifiable by their circumferential rivets that surrounded the tank body, with notably different heights between the courses.  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 mostly monochromatic box cars plying the rails, most consumable products and oil shippers proudly displayed their company markings on the tanks.  The GATC 1917-design prototypes were the most prolific tank cars built during this period and were found everywhere from 1917 to roughly 1970, including across the border in Canada. 

The Tangent Scale Models GATC 1917-Design 8,000 Gallon General Service 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.  

Whether wearing “plain” UTLX, CONX, or VENX black lease colors or the colors of a lessee, 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 October 2022 release includes the following SIX paint schemes that are good for the RealSTMFC eras of interest, listed in (ascending) starting era order:

- DMSX "Dunbar Molasses New Orleans 1919+" is the first of two offerings for the early steam-era modelers out there.  This model is offered in the attractive “Dunbar Molasses and Syrup Company” scheme with classy white stenciling on the side of the car.  Also, NEW ORLEANS, LA. is proudly stenciled on the car.  As always, this scheme comes directly off of a prototype car that matches our model.  Molasses was a common 8000 gallon tank car commodity even if it “sounds” unusual!  It was a core ingredient in foodstuffs, animal feed, vinegar, citric acid, etc.  Our Dunbar Molasses 1919+ cars come with era-correct K-brakes and are available in two all-new road numbers for 2022. 

- CONX "Continental Oil 1923+ Lease" is an all-new “plain black” offering for the early steam era modelers out there.  Continental Oil tank cars were found all over the USA with oil initially sourced from the mountain west states of NM, CO, WY, UT, ID, and MT, and in later years sourcing oil from the plains states.  Destinations for the oil were far and wide around the United States, with cars photographed from California to Baltimore, MD.  In later years, some of the fleet was stenciled “CONOCO.”  Our CONX Continental cars from 1923 include era-correct K-brakes installed and are available in six road numbers. 

- CSOX "Cities Service Oil (Penn)" 1937+ is another company that shipped oil from the plains states, and they distributed oil in tank cars nearly everywhere due to having an enormous distribution and retail network, which was especially strong on the east coast.  Our Cities Service cars were built in 1920, however we have modeled them from the photo shown on our website, depicting the cars with their new lettering as applied in 1937.  This white stenciling was applied to the black tank cars.  These gorgeous cars are available in six road numbers – so don’t miss out!     

- DRX "Deep Rock - Cushing" 1940+” in the attractive “DEEP ROCK” scheme with the properly rendered gold stenciling.  These cars also feature the “CUSHING OKLA.” spelled out with white stenciling. The Deep Rock fleet was a large fleet numbering in the thousands and virtually all of them were this GATC prototype painted this way. Many of the tank cars during this era were painted in billboard schemes like this one.  These tank cars delivered oil nationwide, making them broadly applicable to almost every railroad in North America.  Our Deep Rock 1940+ stunners are available in six all-new road numbers for 2022!

- UTLX "Black Repaint 1948+" is an example of one of Union Tank Car Company’s UTLX lease fleet cars.  Numbering in the thousands, the fleet of Class Z 8,000 gallon tank cars (that match our GATC 1917-Design models) was part of the backbone of the large Standard Oil-owned fleet and are very relevant cars for those that need UTLX tanks.  These nationwide service cars include 1948 repack and paint dates on the underframe and the sides of the car.  The car has appropriate and era-correct UTLX stenciling, and an era-correct AB-brake system.  This UTLX lease scheme is available in twelve road numbers.

- GATX " Union Starch and Refining Company 1950+" in the attractive “Union Starch and Refining Company – Quality Products From Corn” bright red scheme with accompanying white stenciling with black border.  These cars also feature “GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS” spelled out.  This transition-era tank car is another great nationwide roamer, seen on all corners of the North American rail network hauling corn products. These models come with an AB brake system, and are available in six all-new road numbers for 2022!

- Undecorated RTR Black cars are fully assembled and RTR, and ready for decaling! 

- 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. 

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 $46.95.  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, Founder