Menards 1:48 Scale Diecast Auto Promotion

I've bought a few things from Menards, however, I would buy WAAAAAAAAY More if you would consider offering PayPal as a payment option.  That way I could transferALL of my Ebay monies directly to Menards through Paypal.  What could be easier?

Chief Bob (retired)

Martin, you miss the point here.  I'm not objecting to them having modern stuff, I'm just suggesting that the market would be quite a bit expanded if they had models that were more into the era that many here, and elsewhere, model.  One of the benefits of a forum like this with lots of users is that manufacturers get valuable feedback about what products would be popular and add to the bottom line.

You, OTOH, are suggesting that they ignore the many suggestions for "old-timey" stuff and just produce what you would like to buy.  However, you are not the only customer they have in the forum, something to consider.  I would hope there's room for both products...

Here's my point John:

You have already won.  There are gobs of pre-1980 diesels, buildings, rolling stock, 1:48 vehicles, whatever.

The sheer fact is that, in this thread alone, there are more people asking for older-era diecast cars than there are responders praising Menards for making current-day stuff.

You will always have more RTR stuff to buy in the old era, than the current era.  This will  always be true.  Why not accept it humble, when you got all you want?

Great deal for modern guys -  lll be hoping for a similar late 60s - early 70 deal 

Greetings All,

Well, I pulled the trigger on the 16 for $39.00 MENARDS Die Cast Deal.  I decided it was cheaper (so I have more money for other cool stuff from MENARDS) just to have 'em delivered.  Sooooo, even with the delivery charge, handling charge and applicable sales taxes the total per unit is $3.21 ($3.209 actual cost per unit shipped to my door).  Can you say, SMOKIN' HOT DEAL?  I can't wait for round 2.  BTW, I like the "Oldie Stuff" too!  I'll submit a brief review after receipt and inspection of my new vehicular acquisition.

Chief Bob (Retired)

It depends on where it is located.  The MENARDS in Massillon is right off Rt. 21 (Alternate I-77) which makes it very convenient.  If the Warren MENARDS is located in the western part of Warren, it would be about a 1 1/2 hour drive via the Ohio Turnpike and Exit 193 (SR 44) into Warren.  Not a bad drive though.

Chief Bob (Retired)

As someone who only wants 1990's and up vehicles (with a few exceptions) on his layout, this is great news.  Maybe there is a chance that I could use 1:48 modern vehicles on my layout instead of the 1:43.

Not to upset anyone here, but my preference (in real life and in modeling) is for Asian and European cars, my love for Trans Ams and Jeep Wranglers not withstanding 

I would like to see ordinary cars from the late 30s,40s and 50s,early 60s. No more convertibles. No tuckers,etc, just cars people bought and drove which would be on the street in a given era. However it is nice they are offering cars and buildings of interest to the hobby. Perhaps they will expand. Not sure what dies exist. Plastic bodies would save money and would not be objectionable to me. Atlas as I remember started to make a 50 Ford,then canceled.

Dale H

I've got to agree with Martin H.

There is definitely a large percentage of O gauge railroaders into the transition and earlier eras. But, I do believe that there are many of us who are interested in the modern stuff.  I love the modern diesels and modern rolling stock.  Finding scale cars for the modern era is very challenging.  I am very happy to see the Menard's offering.  I am sure they will offer vehicles from different eras in the future.  I would like to see them expand beyond cars and offer other types of vehicles like 18-wheelers, fire trucks, buses, etc.

Thanks for thinking of us modern era railroaders, Menards.

I like this set.   There are not enough modern cars in O Gauge.  I just ordered the 16 car set and the flatbed truck for our club layout.    I will have to buy more seated figures to put in the cars.  VBG

I will be ordering this set and I would hope they put together a older car selection also, 40', 55's, 60's, and some 70'. That would fill in a lot of holes in my layout.

I am in the minority with you, all modern (well just about). I have a couple of older diesels, but I do have only diesels, no steam. Menards stated this is only the first set of more to come. We got lucky this time and got to go first. As you know, there are a LOT more folks modeling the older eras than there are folks modeling the modern era as we do. I am actually kind of surprised they did the modern vehicles first, as they would have probably sold a TON more sets of the older eras, but I'll take it and am happy about it. Actually, I imagine at these prices any era set would sell very well?  

Agreed.

I also agree.

I could not agree more rtr12. Having said that,  I realize there are many modern era modelers ( I'm a transition era modeler myself ) and there should be a good amount of contemporary vehicles offered.  Perhaps Menards can offer all eras.  There certainly seems to be buyers ready to part with their $$, especially at these current advertised  prices. 

I do see a good representation of contemporary vehicles ( cars, trucks, buses, and fire engines ) when I visit my favorite train store.... of course they are selling for a higher price than the Menards fabulous current price .... however the ones I see at my local train store are very reasonably priced.

If Menard's could reproduce Classic Metal Works models in O gauge 1/48th scale I'm sure they would corner the market. The new postal trucks Classic is producing is just one of dozens classic vehicles I would buy if produced at a reasonable price point.

Oops didn't see that competitors truck on the page. 

HUH?  What in the world does that mean?  How do you figure I "got all I want" when 1:48 cars are scarce as hen's teeth?  If they're so plentiful at these prices, please just point me to the source, and then I'll try to be humble.

Got a notice this morning that mine are on the way. All these other little items kept popping up at the bottom of the screen when I ordered. I am now expecting either a much larger package or multiple packages, some of those little pop-up thingies were just irresistible, not my fault, I couldn't help it...  

GRJ is right about he 1:48 scale vehicles, they are very scarce. I think others in this thread were referring to our normally available sized 1:43 vehicles that are much more common on our layouts. Wonder how these 1:48 items are going to look with all the 1:43 items I already have?

I have a couple of the Mini-Metals vehicles in 1:64, S scale. Those are really very nice vehicles and reasonably priced as well. I liked the looks of some them so well I got them anyway even though they are not my correct scale. It would certainly be great if Menards or Mini-Metals (or anyone else) could/would make those in O scale. I would be happy with 1:48 or 1:43, whatever they wanted to make as long as it is near in size to our other O scale stuff.

Greetings All,

Well, the Menards package arrived today.  Nice sturdy box with the words" FRAGILE Handle With Care" on 4 sides.  The cars themselves are packed very nicely with 4 rows of 4 cars in each row.  The individual packaging for each car consists of a nice window box with the car held very securely in place on what appears to be some type of stand that is incorporated into the packaging itself.  Very nicely done overall, however, there is no scale designation whatsoever on the packaging indicating the stated (1:48) size.  Here are a few quick PIC's

Chief Bob (Retired)    

Looks great, did you measure one against the prototype dimensions to see what real scale they are?

Looks pretty close to 1:48, thanks.

I tried to go look at these again, but the site refuses to bring up the login screen, I think that's telling me that I don't need them.

GRJ,

Our train stuff page is a little slow sometimes but it's worth the wait! Here is a direct link to the die-cast cars. I know you're a vintage guy but it doesn't hurt to look!

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

I went back and it all worked.  You sucked me in, even though I'm more interested in vintage, for that price I figured I didn't have much to loose!  I picked up a few more Reading cars while I was there.

I don't get it, I must just be easy.

For anyone interested, I posted a review of these on the 2-rail scale forum here

Went to Menards today to pick up a few things and

they had these cars in stock in a huge bin. Maybe 200 or more.

They are marked at $2.99 each. Got a few.

I'm a bit concerned about the 1/48 scale products here.  Realizing that 1/43 is a compromise, it's what I have on my layout and, with somewhere around 200 cars on display there, I also realize that I'm stuck with the 1/43 scale.  To my eye, it even looks correct.

Atlas announced a series of vehicle models that were 1/48, quite a few years ago but they never brought them to market.  Before Menards introduces a bunch of 1/48 car models, I think that they ought to do a bit of research on market acceptance, first.

Paul Fischer

Same here.  I would buy a bunch if 1/48 cars from the 40's and 50's were available. 

The question is "Is Menards producing these cars, or selling cars made by others?".

Made by others in China, imported by Menards. I just got a case and the box says 'Made In China', just like all our other train items these days.