German Tank Cars

Unlike most other classes of dry goods or bulk commodities wagons, tank cars (Kesselwagen or Zisternenwagen) were not manufactured on demand of the Reichsbahn. Instead, they were privately built to the specifications of various industrial concerns for the specific needs of various liquids and gasses. Often, these companies used as many of the same standardized parts as possible. These wagons were then borrowed or rented by the German railroad or military to haul fuel supplies to the battlefield.

A typical fuel supply train comprised 20 tank cars, carrying 400 cubic meters (116,000 gallons) of gasoline- or approximately enough to sustain a Panzer Division for four days.

This is a model of a German railway car suitable for wargaming in 15mm scale. It has been designed to be printable on any standard FDM printer, such as the Ender 3. For rails, it is compatible with TT-scale 12mm gauge track, which is the same dimensions used by Battlefront Games’ railway scenery. Derivation from any real-world prototype has been done for ease of printing or durability in handling for tabletop wargaming.