This might be a good place for some selective compression....

That's really a big structure. To visualize it, take 3 355ml (12oz) soda cans and stack them atop one another. It's just about the right width, but a tad short.

Plastic pipe is probaby your best option. The ladder looks straight off a Walther conveyor leg ( https://www.walthers.com/grain-conveyor-kit) or wet/dry bin ( https://www.walthers.com/wet-dry-grain-storage-bin-kit-2x-each-3-5-8-x-3-5-8-x-12-quot-8-6-x-8-6-x-30-5cm-pkg-2).

How close to 2 5/8” do you need it?

Hi D,

This is $19/foot and they should cut it for you.

If you dig you can probably find it cheaper.

Nick

A possibility

A BT-80 model rocket body tube has an OD of 2.6". It would be much less expensive and a whole lot lighter!

Jeff, Tichi makes a ladder

Jeff, Tichi makes a ladder like that also, but not as long.

Pipe seems to be the way to go.

It would be a big structure; would live temporarily close to my staging area until the layout hopefully expands some day.

Nick, I may pay Home Depot a

Nick, I may pay Home Depot a visit tonight.

Jay, what are those rocket

Jay, what are those rocket tubes made out of?

what are those rocket tubes made out of

They are rigid paper tubes, similar to the center of a roll of paper towels, but less porous and with a finer finish.  Here is a website listing them with pictures. https://www.hobbylinc.com/estes-bt-80-body-tubes-2-model-rocket-body-tube-303090

standpipe

The size of a standpipe depends on how much water is expected to be consumed and how much pressure is needed. A standpipe of about 100 feet gives a pressure of about 43 pounds at the base which is pretty good for most uses. If this was high on a hill it could be shorter taking the elevation into account. If it is servicing a large population it may be wider giving more capacity at the higher portion which would provide the pressure. a standpipe only half full would only have half the pressure. For a model railroad you can do what looks good and suits you.

Further thought...

Canadian Tire or a local muffler shop on the way to HD???

Nick

Balsa Machining Service for Rocket Tubes

Balsa Machining Service, or BMS, sells white body tubes 34" inches long:

http://www.balsamachining.com/#

A T80-34 is $6.  They're easy to cut with light pressure from an xacto knife.  

They take paint very well.  Most people use spray paint, but some are bothered by the tube spirals, so they fill that with thinned carpenter's wood filler, then sand for a smooth, spiral-free finish:

https://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter448.pdf

That said, I suppose I would just cut a piece of 2" PVC pipe, though.  The OD of 2" PVC is 2-3/8", so I think I would say close enough and call it good.

Technical question?

what's the difference between a large stand pipe and a tall tank? On my Grandpa's farm we had irrigation standpipes but they were relatively small diameter and open topped .......DaveB

No difference

"Standpipe" appears to have multiple different regional meanings. Those you saw on Grandpa's farm are commonly found at row ends of citrus groves as well and have been discussed quite a bit in various citrus modeling and Southern California modeling email lists.

standpipes

A standpipe with an open top would not be used for drinking water but probably irrigation. A tank on legs or a circular pedestal, simply takes advantage of having more water at a higher elevation ( more Pressure ). There could be a multitude of reasons why a tank is a certain size and a standpipe is probably an older type but my town still uses one from 1917.

Inner Diameter

bring a tape measure... most pipe is sold by "Inner Diameter".

Thank you all for your great

Thank you all for your great ideas and information. Decisions, decisions to be made; I'll think it over the long weekend.

Well it has been well over a

Well it has been well over a weekend. And now that I'm staying at home more often and have learned how to mask and airbrush, I think it's a good time to revisit this project.