Got my Menard's Power & Light building....

Best built (sturdiest) Menards building yet. Tricky to find space for it, though.

Used an aluminum 'clamp' to hold the button.

Alex

pretty neat Thread

Alex, since my package will not be opened for a bit,   are you direct wiring , the building, and not using the Menards

wall wart.  ????

I wired it directly using the 12vDC I already had close by, and through a Buck Step-down LM2596 Power Converter Module DC 4.0~40 to 1.3-37V LED with Voltmeter ($2.45). Shipping was $2.80, but it covered all five units I ordered. Besides accepting various voltage levels and reducing them to almost any level you want, it will display the input or output voltages. BTW, I checked the voltage displayed for input and output using 12vDC as input and 4.5vDC as output, and as received it was off by just 0.1 volt - not bad; and yes, it can be calibrated as well.

Actual installation (under the layout):

Alex

Tricky to find space for it, though.

Very true. Mine is still on the shelf. May be a project waiting for next winter. I'll have a major project of land clearing a area.

BUT, it's going on this layout.

Larry

Larry Sr. posted:

Tricky to find space for it, though.

Very true. Mine is still on the shelf. May be a project waiting for next winter. I'll have a major project of land clearing a area.

BUT, it's going on this layout.

Larry

You wont be disappointed.  Would normally never say this but its going to be a long spring, summer and fall if you wait till next winter to install this!  Its that good!

Jim

Yes your correct. But, I have so many mickey mouse things to do on my layout and that don't count what I might drag home from York this month .

Maybe at least I can find the parts up there for the smoke stacks and get that part done.

Never ending. That's why I love this hobby.

Larry

WOW. Most of you know I'm no fan of all the stuff they make, but that's a really cool looking structure.

Stuff like this sometimes makes me wish I'd decided to model the modern era...

Mine arrived!  It is awesome.  I just wish that there was someway to make the sign flash after the power supply has been turned off and back on again.  I was going to use a push button on my fascia to turn the building lights on and off as I do for every other building and now can't because I've got to reach the back anyway.  I placed it against a backdrop and cut out an access so one may access the button that makes the sign flash!  It's a great building! 

John C. posted:

Mine arrived!  It is awesome.  I just wish that there was someway to make the sign flash after the power supply has been turned off and back on again.  I was going to use a push button on my fascia to turn the building lights on and off as I do for every other building and now can't because I've got to reach the back anyway.  I placed it against a backdrop and cut out an access so one may access the button that makes the sign flash!  It's a great building! 

John,

On the second page of this thread, Dale Manquen posted (3/26 at 12:53 PM) how to modify the pushbutton switch so the sign will flash when first turned on. 

Also, on my post, above, I  wrote and showed how I  "Used an aluminum 'clamp' to hold the button." so the sign will flash when first turned on. Any method you can use the hold the button pushed in will work.

Alex

Got my power and light in today!!! My first "purchased" building. 

Has anyone run "power lines" from it yet? What did you use for the wire and how did you attach it to the building? I've got 4 high power towers to run wires on!

Looks great on your layout! I wish I was that far along!

  This member used spandex thread here.

Where's all the catenary lines for the electric coal shuttles ...

Don't mind me I'm just jealous  

I have used a product called Stretch Magic for wires. Any craft store that has beading products should carry it. It does come in different thicknesses. It's proper use is for stringing necklaces and bracelets, but makes great wire and is stretchy so is forgiving. Here is some I strung for telephone poles, transformers, and buildings.

My question is, where do you get the poll wire insulators and transformers ?

Mike,

     The transformers are homemade. I took thick doweling and cut them to what I thought was proper size. I painted them gray and then took very small wood screws and screwed them in the doweling at one end. I then cut off the screw heads. The end result was good enough for my eye. The insulators are also from a craft store in the same section as the beading. I used two small beads for one insulator and chose colors that sort of matched what I remember the insulators to be. The telephone poles are homemade. I drilled small holes where the insulators were to be placed in the cross sections and stuck thin wire in the holes. I then slid the beads onto the wire held in place by a little glue. (Maybe all of that is overkill). Here is a better picture. You might also note that there is two different thicknesses of the Stretch Magic threading material. One I used for the electrical wires (smaller gauge) and the other for the telephone wire (thicker gauge). If you look closely too, you can see the thin wire protruding just above the insulators that I was talking about.  I know that you can buy transformers and probably insulators from vendors somewhere, but it is kind of fun using your imagination and making your own.

Rick

Here is a recent "how to" for building telephone poles - Telephone pole article

I prefer to see some sag in the wires.  Looks more realistic to me.

Electrolytic capacitors with radial leads are a good starting point for pole-mounted transformers.

I've used the power plant on a module at one show, but it is too nice a structure to sit boxed up for weeks on end. I have to find some place on the layout to squeeze it in. the place has to be reachable, so I can easily remove it to go to a show. Here's my first idea.

Looks good there!! Only thought is whether it blocks view of other things behind it? Hard to tell from the picture. Layout looks great!

Rick, Thanks for the information. Also like you I like to build it if I can, Plus when you can't afford everything like me your kinda forced to improvise.

Just a heads up on this cool building. Menards as of this post has only has 40 left on their website. When I bought mine 3 weeks ago they had close to 300. So if your on the fence do not wait to much longer. Otherwise you will be at the mercy of eBay. I am glad to have mine. Fits great on my layout.

Ranger Rick posted:

I have used a product called Stretch Magic for wires. Any craft store that has beading products should carry it. It does come in different thicknesses. It's proper use is for stringing necklaces and bracelets, but makes great wire and is stretchy so is forgiving. Here is some I strung for telephone poles, transformers, and buildings.

Looks good, but it doesn't look like they sag like real wires do...

That's a nice building. 

This is too funny: My brother, who used to work for the Electric Power Research Institute had this to say after seeing the Menard's structure:

"Must be an old power plant.   In today's world -- and the world for the last 30 years or so -- a plant with stacks that short, relative to the surrounding buildings, would not be permitted, due to excessive building downwash.  Google "PRIME dispersion model" for more information on what modifications might be required to bring the building complex into regulatory compliance."

OK, who is going to make the stacks higher?

BANDOB posted:

This is too funny: My brother, who used to work for the Electric Power Research Institute had this to say after seeing the Menard's structure:

"Must be an old power plant.   In today's world -- and the world for the last 30 years or so -- a plant with stacks that short, relative to the surrounding buildings, would not be permitted, due to excessive building downwash.  Google "PRIME dispersion model" for more information on what modifications might be required to bring the building complex into regulatory compliance."

OK, who is going to make the stacks higher?

GREAT NEWS!!!!! I thought the building was a little to modern for my layout and now I have PROOF that it's an older building......or as I said before I'd tell folks it's a brand new power station in my little world!!!! thx

I'm actually thinking about that.  I grew up with a power station on Long Island where I live.  Always amazed at the size of the stacks.  As years went on I got into listening to music and I especially liked pink Floyd.  And on there album cover was the Battersea power plant.  I always thought it was pretty cool looking at the various power plants and the stacks that accompany them.  I had a small power plant on my layout and purchased some HO gauge stacks and made a miserable attempt at painting the candy stripe red/white/red avaiation warning scheme.  Might have to redo this.

Dan VM posted:

Just a heads up on this cool building. Menards as of this post has only has 40 left on their website. When I bought mine 3 weeks ago they had close to 300. So if your on the fence do not wait to much longer. Otherwise you will be at the mercy of eBay. I am glad to have mine. Fits great on my layout.

Thanks for the "heads-up" - ordered one today and they emailed it has shipped - so still some on hand.

Btw, since many industries today use sodium lamps in the exterior lighting fixtures on their buildings, has anyone else tinted any of the bright white led bulbs on this building an amber color to give a softer pseudo sodium feel lessening the bright harshness of its many led bulbs? I've done it and the results are fantastic. The coloring dramatically subdues the harsh glare of the LEDs and heightens the realism of the building when viewed at nighttime.

That today, ORDER, which I assume was Friday. 04/29/2016,  available,  HAS JUST CHANGED !!!!!!!!!!!!This building is NOW< on page 11 and NO LONGER AVAILABLE , ONLINE<   the SNOOZERS HAVE LOST<

if not in a local store, area !!!

I got this building a while back. Where do you find out when buying an item how many are left. I never saw that when browsing the pages for trains. Thanks ...............Paul

ogaugeguy posted:

Btw, since many industries today use sodium lamps in the exterior lighting fixtures on their buildings, has anyone tinted any of the bright white led bulbs on this building an amber color to give a softer pseudo sodium feel lessening the bright harshness of its many led bulbs?

Get a bottle of Tamiya clear yellow paint.....should do it!

Hi Paul, What I did was to add a 1000 to my shopping cart and it told me then what they had available. Whenever I checked back on to my cart it automatically updated to how many they had left. Hope this helps. Dan

Dan VM posted:

Hi Paul, What I did was to add a 1000 to my shopping cart and it told me then what they had available. Whenever I checked back on to my cart it automatically updated to how many they had left. Hope this helps. Dan

Wishful thinking, but, what if what it helped....

was triggering an order for another run?!

It is too late for this item but will work on the other items in stock.

what to do waiting for O'CHARLEYS  

it works, there are 615 , military trucks as of today !!!!!!!!!

what did I try,  the Alaska Tanker car  ,  there's  642 of those , 94 Alaska Helicopter flats

BLDgs ,  Dakota factory - 104 , Menards Feed - 216 , Menards Power & L - 175, Milw Maint shed 298,

Ogauge farm - 219, Grandpa house 350,    time out ,  soup on the table 

This afternoon we went to my grandson's elementary school spring fling. He won an alien at the games. Of course he brought it over tonight. However, be aware: these aliens may be looking for new power sources to feed on. The Menard's building may be the main course. Photo by my 6 yr. old grandson, Floyd.

Awesome Alex, What is the foot print for this? I am wondering how difficult for me to change the sign? I would like to change it to GE Energy.

JoeG

arrsd90 posted:

That today, ORDER, which I assume was Friday. 04/29/2016,  available,  HAS JUST CHANGED !!!!!!!!!!!!This building is NOW< on page 11 and NO LONGER AVAILABLE , ONLINE<   the SNOOZERS HAVE LOST<

if not in a local store, area !!!

 

I must have gotten lucky, got one of the last available OR something - as I did order on 4-29-16 and received an invoice showing the building, adapter, and truck had been shipped - we shall see.

arrsd90 posted

 

   the SNOOZERS HAVE LOST

arrsd90 posted:

   time out ,  soup on the table 

Watch out, I think he went for salt to throw on out wounds too....

Heres a quick pic of my modified building with the longer stacks and built in smoke units.....the smoke is a fun mod but it does fill up a room fast...not a crowd pleaser in a small area.

-Pete

Hi Pete,
Could you give detailed How To instructions for adding smoke units? (photos would be appreciated too.)

• what smoke units are used, manufacturer, model number, etc.
• where are they added (in the stack extension, etc.)
• how are they mounted
• how is hot smoke unit insulated from building and stack
• is there plastic tubing going from smoke unit fill opening to top of smokestack to make filling easy and keep it off inside of stacks
• Thanks.