During Target clearances, I picked up 10 of the 3180 set for cheap. I don't really need 10 tank trucks, but I could use some new train cars. So I made this:

I also tried replacing the solid 6 wide black plates under the tank with wedges (6 wide at the ends of the car; narrower in the middle) but I only had dark grey handy and didn't like the color. I might try again with black wedge plates.

Right now there's only 1 ladder - I might leave it that way, or I might get some more and add a matching ladder to the other side of the car. I'm also not sure I have enough of the large steering wheel for the top, but I can always bricklink some more.

I figure it'll be a while before our basement layout gets built, so I have time to play around and tweak the design before making 10 of them :)

Edited August 22, 201113 yr by mostlytechnic

Looks great so far mostlytechnic!

Octan cars are one of my favorite train cars.

I think it would great with the wedge pieces when you obtain them in matching black.

I can picture 10 of these beauties in a long freight train.

Very cool, I was thinking of doing the same but over here 3180s aren't that cheap.

One thing I was thinking of doing, was making the wagons two slopes long instead of three and have one pair of wheels at each end, basically similar to the tank wagon in 7939, it'll be cheaper to get a long rake too :)

Ooooohh very nice. I like this much better than the one included in the last cargo set. Much more prototypical. Nice work.

I think there were more people who had this idea but, like myself, i didn't try. It looks really nic, but for me it would be a pity to break down the 3 3180 Octan trucks that i have... It is one of the best recent trucks. I added an extra white fender and now it looks even nicer!!

But thanx for sharing...it made me smile!

Greetz, LegoSjaak

You mean like these

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=53064&st=0

Yep, roaminstudio, I like your shorter wagons too. Decided for my layout though, I'd rather have the longer cars w/ double axle trucks than the short style tanks. I especially like how you used the license plate stickers on the tanks - might have to do that to mine. Just a nice extra touch of detail.

Thanks... I like the 24 stud long ones as well.

Someone on ebay is also selling something similar where the hose is mounted under the main wagon body.

For my 'Fire Trains' I also implemented the hose underneath, and used some minifig chainsaw with wheel above to simulate the hose attachment point (bottom left of the picture below). It makes a 3 stud wide solution; which sits neatly between the hose and cupboard. However in real life most tankers have two hose outlets; one under each tank.

Lego Fire & Rescue Train (Lösch- und Rettungszug) by roamingstudio, on Flickr

The chainsaw piece is kept in place with two 1x1 plate with clip (vertical). There is actually sufficient space between the two chainsaws to have a 1x1 round brick mounted onto a 2x1 plate with single stud (spacer) placed between them, simulating the output pipe (not clear on my photos). I should remember to upload the LXF files oneday.

Edited August 23, 201113 yr by roamingstudio

Excellent version of a 3180 tanker car 'mostlytechnic'. I to prefer the double axle trucks over all of TLG's single axle cars. Seems like you and 'roamingstudio' have made better versions than those by TLG. Great job