Cylindrical Sectional Water Tower - OO Gauge / 1:76 Scale

This is a high quality reproduction of an elevated cylindrical water tower, designed specifically for OO Gauge (1:76 scale) layouts. Featuring a flat-roof design and heavy-duty support structure, this model represents a generic sectional design common during the steam era, making it a versatile addition to any UK-based railway depot, station yard, or mainline service point, regardless of the specific railway company being modelled. This comprehensive kit includes essential trackside details like a Fire Devil and Drain Cover, making it a complete scenic solution for any depot or station yard,  a perfect "Hero" piece for any layout.

Key features:

• Poseable Water Crane: The delivery boom is designed to be fully rotatable, allowing you to position it horizontally at the perfect angle to suit your track layout.
• Fire Devil Accessory: Includes a prototypical Fire Devil (brazier/stove) used during the winter months to prevent the water in the crane and pipes from freezing.
• Trackside Details: Features a separate Drain Cover to place beneath the crane boom for realistic water management.
• Mechanical Realism: Includes the water release valve at the top of the tank with its associated hanging pull-chain and external pulley system with a sliding counterweight.
• Access Details: Includes a full-height access ladder leading to the flat roof and maintenance platform.
• Intricate Rivet Work: High-resolution sectional plating and vertical structural support bracing for a museum-quality finish.

Dimensions (at 1:76 Scale):

• Height: 150.76mm
• Width: 138.8mm
• Depth: 53.67mm

What’s Included in the Download:

This download contains 20 STL files, offering a flexible workflow for all skill levels:

• All-in-One Supported Plates: Water Tower 02 - A_supported and B_supported contain all the necessary model components to build a complete water tower in two convenient print runs.
• Individual Supported Components: Every part (Tank, Base, Ladder, Fire Devil, etc.) is included as a standalone pre-supported file for individual replacements or batch printing.
• Unsupported Files: Raw STL versions of all components are included for users who prefer custom orientations.

20 STL files total:

1. Water Tower 02 - A_supported.stl
2. Water Tower 02 - B_supported.stl
3. Water Tower 02 - Base v1.0.stl
4. Water Tower 02 - Base v1.0_supported.stl
5. Water Tower 02 - Cover Chain v1.0.stl
6. Water Tower 02 - Cover Chain v1.0_supported.stl
7. Water Tower 02 - Drain Cover v1.0.stl
8. Water Tower 02 - Drain Cover v1.0_supported.stl
9. Water Tower 02 - Fire Devil v1.0.stl
10. Water Tower 02 - Fire Devil v1.0_supported.stl
11. Water Tower 02 - H v1.0.stl
12. Water Tower 02 - H v1.0_supported.stl
13. Water Tower 02 - Ladder v1.0.stl
14. Water Tower 02 - Ladder v1.0_supported.stl
15. Water Tower 02 - Tank Cover v1.0.stl
16. Water Tower 02 - Tank Cover v1.0_supported.stl
17. Water Tower 02 - V v1.0.stl
18. Water Tower 02 - V v1.0_supported.stl
19. Water Tower 02 - Water Tank v1.0.stl
20. Water Tower 02 - Water Tank v1.0_supported.stl

Printing & Assembly:

• Tested settings
• Machine: ELEGOO Mars 3 Pro.
• Layer Height: 0.03mm is highly recommended to capture the fine chain links, Fire Devil grating, and pulley wheels.
• Workflow: Use the A_supported and B_supported files to print the entire kit efficiently across two build plates.
• Assembly
• Poseable Boom: The water crane boom (H v1.0) fits into the vertical column (V v1.0). Do not glue this joint if you wish to maintain the poseable rotation feature.
• Fire Devil Placement: Prototypically, the Fire Devil should be placed near the base of the water crane column to keep the internal pipework warm during "frosty" periods on your layout.
• Drain Cover: Position this directly under the spout of the water crane in its "parked" position.
• Finishing
• Fire Devil Detail: Paint the Fire Devil in a burnt iron or rusty metal tone. Use a small amount of orange/red paint in the centre to simulate a glowing coal fire.
• Chain & Counterweight: Paint these in a dark "oiled steel" to make them stand out against the main tank colour.
• Weathering: Apply lime/calcium deposits on the drain cover and below the tank valve to simulate the realistic effects of hard-water usage and overflow.

Show Off Your Layout! I would love to see how this model looks on your layout! If you print and paint this model, please consider uploading a 'Make' and sharing your photos here. Seeing these designs in a real railway setting is the best part of being a designer!

I used my ELEGOO Resin 3D Printer, Mars 3 Pro and SUNLU ABS Like Resin for 3D Printer. I use solid grey resin, 0.03mm layer height and 2.9 second exposure time.

You'll need to use your setting based on your printer and resin.