Recycling pill bottles - Printable Version +- (https://bigbluetrains.com) +-- Forum: Branchline (https://bigbluetrains.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=45) +--- Forum: Scratchbuilding and kitbashing - All Scales (https://bigbluetrains.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=27) +--- Thread: Recycling pill bottles (/showthread.php?tid=3743) |
Recycling pill bottles - foulrift - 02-09-2011 Aside from using old pill bottles for storing small items I found that they could also be used to make various types of tanks,so I put together a few projects. First is a water tower.The tank itself was made from 2 large pill bottles that I cut to size and glued together.The rest of the tower was made from stuff that i has laying around. The main upright supports are bamboo sticks,the support wires and railings are made from floral wire and the roof on the tank is from and old building. Next are a couple of small tanks.One truck mounted and the other on supports.The truck mounted one was made by gluing two bottles together and when the glue was dry I ran a piece of masking tape approx.12 scale inches wide down the center of the tank on both sides,cut on both sides of the tape and re-assembled the tank yielding the squashed look.This tank is being used to haul water. The other tank will be used to store fuel oil. I want to mention a few things-I found that while building the water tower that AC cement worked the best.These bottles are made from some weird plastic.Also I found that by lightly sanding the bottle,the paint stuck better.Before cutting the bottles,I ran masking tape around the bottle,ran a sharp hobby saw around the bottle,following the tape and then made the final cut. Enjoy- Bob Re: Recycling pill bottles - nachoman - 02-09-2011 Especially nice work on that water tower! Re: Recycling pill bottles - tomustang - 02-09-2011 Nice work on recycling! With the plastic, most pill bottles are made of polypropylene which tries its best to resist solvents, we use to sonic weld PP (polypropylene) for adhesion at a shop I worked at Re: Recycling pill bottles - P5se Camelback - 02-09-2011 Another fine example of "Model Railroader Resourcefulness!" ...and a renewable material resource for many of us!
Nice job on that water tower.I've been using paper towel and bum wad cores and mailing tubes for water towers of years. but I'll have to try a Pill Bottle Tower! Thanks for the tip!
Re: Recycling pill bottles - foulrift - 02-09-2011 Thanks for the replies and compliments.I really appreciate it. Bob Re: Recycling pill bottles - Ralph - 02-09-2011 That's brilliant Bob! I'm a big fan of making railroad model structures from ordinary every day items. Ralph Re: Recycling pill bottles - foulrift - 02-09-2011 Thanks Ralph-I was pleased with the end result although the construction was frustrating at times. Re: Recycling pill bottles - MadModeler - 02-12-2011 Cool! I have a ton of them in a bag! Wife's gonna laugh when I tell her about this! Re: Recycling pill bottles - foulrift - 02-12-2011 My wife doesn't really care as long as I don't leave the mt's laying around. |