Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Melvin P posted:

I kind of figured that.  Why fantasy??

 

I can only answer for me, but I've been into 2 rail scale (N and HO for many years) and love the freedom and fun of 3 rail semi scale. Fantasy schemes are fun and look great running on my layout. I think of my layout as an idealized post war layout. What I mean is that it has all the things I would have loved as a kid, things like wireless remote control, sound and all the other modern electronic features, but it's still toy trains so fantasy works just fine for me. 

Note, I'm not knocking scale fidelity or even two rail for those who enjoy it. If scale fidelity is how you enjoy the hobby that's great but for me it's semi-scale, semi-toy that gives me the most pleasure.

Why fantasy? It's fun.

david1 posted:

I meant the size of the car themselves. I don't believe they will do scale sized freight cars, close maybe but not true scale. 

I also think Menards has their niche and it is not building scale freight cars.

It's pretty hard to tell the difference David, I think you're really nit-picking here!  The cars are certainly close enough to scale for everyone but the most discerning rivet counter I would imagine.  The biggest difference is about 1/8" difference in width.

Menard's 40' car compared in size to Lionel Vision Line PFE Reefer

Menards%20Car%20Size%20Comparison%20N1Menards%20Car%20Size%20Comparison%20N2Menards%20Car%20Size%20Comparison%20N3

Attachments

Images (3)
  • Menards%20Car%20Size%20Comparison%20N1
  • Menards%20Car%20Size%20Comparison%20N2
  • Menards%20Car%20Size%20Comparison%20N3
david1 posted:
Swafford posted:

Just curious...................What is too big for Menards market?

I meant the size of the car themselves. I don't believe they will do scale sized freight cars, close maybe but not true scale. 

I also think Menards has their niche and it is not building scale freight cars. 

Dave

From what we have seen and much of which has been verified, David is clearly mostly correct.

John Menard, a TCA member, is a tried and true toy train guy, and the Menards product development team is drawing a lot of ideas from him. It really is a slice of Lionel postwar and MPC days brought into the 21st century at very affordable prices.

A lot of the product is either based on or uses old Williams tooling, which in turn was based on Lionel postwar freight cars. It was from the start a cost-effective way to offer new products without stepping into more costly forms of product development.

While there is nothing to stop Lionel from creating all new tooling, Menards has remained conservative in its largely successful train line production. So unless the production factories it is working with have access to scale centerflow hoppers and similar scale products intended for other companies to use, Menards isn’t likely to produce any at this time.

Menards has expanded beyond the old tooling for some of its scale-like freight cars. Those flat cars that use plastic frames and MDF decks are a way for Menards to offer something that doesn’t require extensive injection-mold tooling. And, of course, Menards’ mostly MDF buildings likewise don’t require injection molding either.

I like Frank Stafford’s paint schemes and ideas and hope he continues to present them. But I have to agree Menards won’t have any such scale freight cars, and certainly locomotives, on the market any time soon.

Last edited by Jim R.
AMCDave posted:

The Menard's 40ft box car is larger than a PRR X-29 box car. So it's true scale size car....just a smaller, older box car. It works out to be about 1/8" actual longer and about the same taller......for me I accept it as a X-29.....at under $20 anyway!

That’s just an old Williams boxcar based on Lionel designs. The length is right, but you’re not going to find a matching prototype with the same dimensions. It’s a toy train boxcar, plain and simple.

We can go back and forth all day long on what we would like to see. Maybe with a lot of responses to want a certain type of car Menards could possibly do it, within reason. Yes they do have a nice niche but it is a niche that has caught the attention of a lot of buyers. I may like my scale stuff but I have bought box cars and hoppers from time to time along with buildings because I liked what they make. In my opinion Menards is the Ford model T in the train world, making a twenty dollar freight car that a lot more people who want to get into the hobby can afford without straining their pocket books. Going on to the idea of new freight cars like the 2 bay hopper car if by chance Menards is having dies made maybe they could have them made so with a couple of part changes they could make different type cars out of one die. Then again maybe we should just bide our time. They started off with box cars then tank cars then hopper cars and now gondola cars. what is the old saying.......good things comes to those who wait............Paul

Jim R. posted:

That’s just an old Williams boxcar based on Lionel designs. The length is right, but you’re not going to find a matching prototype with the same dimensions. It’s a toy train boxcar, plain and simple.

True......the Menard's box car is a scale 3 inches to tall.......I'm willing to accept this very minor flaw to get a X-29 for 1/3 the price of 'scale' box. Add to it not a single visitor has called me out as they roll by on the layout!!!! Scale?? we do run on 3 rail track....so 1/8 inch here and there?? not a factor FOR ME.....to each his own...that's why Lionel sells $80 box cars.

Swafford posted:

Good Day,

Why fantasy? My answer…. Why not? I like all the prototypical color schemes but enjoy fantasy color schemes with an inventive style. Fantasy color schemes are not for everyone, and that’s fine with me.  In addition, creating fantasy color schemes are a hobby for me.  

Best Regards,

Swafford

OK, I prefer prototype but I must really admit you have some great designs and color schemes.

gunrunnerjohn posted:
david1 posted:

I meant the size of the car themselves. I don't believe they will do scale sized freight cars, close maybe but not true scale. 

I also think Menards has their niche and it is not building scale freight cars.

It's pretty hard to tell the difference David, I think you're really nit-picking here!  The cars are certainly close enough to scale for everyone but the most discerning rivet counter I would imagine.  The biggest difference is about 1/8" difference in width.

Menard's 40' car compared in size to Lionel Vision Line PFE Reefer

Menards%20Car%20Size%20Comparison%20N1Menards%20Car%20Size%20Comparison%20N2I'm not nit picking any of the cars just pointing out that the larger scale cars are most likely not on Menards list of things to make.

Good point John, I have a bunch of Menards cars and will continue buying them because I like them and they fit into my scheme.  

I just pointed out that the larger scale cars are most likely not on Menards list to produce. The 14.5" flat cars are very nice and are a larger scale car so anything is possible and we can only guess that maybe in the future Menards will produce what Swafford and others has posted. 

Dave

 

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×