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Got a call last week from my LHS that the Lionel "Renz" Hobby Shop had finally arrived after months of waiting. This accessory was featured in the 2017 Lionel v2 catalogue. As many of you know, it was created after the untimely death of Teddy Renz, an employee of Lionel. It is a highly detailed hobby store building whose main feature is three (3) working and running miniature train layouts inside the building. The exterior dimensions are about 16 1/8" wide by 11 1/8" deep, so it is a large building to be able to fit into a layout. I already knew the dimensions and had intentionally left a suitable space open on my layout for when it arrived. With a bit of work, you might be able to remove the sidewalk platform from the actual structure, itself, and save about 1 3/4" in width and 2" in depth.

It  came in the usual quality Lionel packaging and when opened up, it had a protective plastic shell around the top and bottom. This accessory works off the typical Lionel "momentum switch" which is connected to both the accessory and a power source and was packaged in its own pouch on top of the protective plastic shell. However, unlike many of Lionel's accessories which use this type of switch (Yard Tower, Icing Station, etc.), the Hobby Shop does not have a "momentary" setting. When the unit is powered up the interior lights are always on. When you slide the button on the switch to the "up" position, the three miniature trains start to run and stay running until you slide the button to the "off" position. That way, the building can be lit up, but not have the trains running all the time, which I'm sure will save on wear and tear.

The Hobby Shop is manufactured and delivered as a "plug 'n play" accessory which makes set-up very easy for anyone using this system. The structure has a male "plug 'n play" accessory cable extending out from the rear of the building which goes into a female "plug 'n play" receptacle located on the top of the switch and the switch, itself, has a male "plug 'n play" power cable to plug into your power source.

I don't use the "plug 'n play" system and dislike exposed wiring on my layout, so I removed and cut a 5/8" hole in the switch backing plate and popped out the female "plug 'n play" receptacle and ran it out through the hole. I also cut the "plug 'n play" male end off the power cable coming from the switch and ran the cable out the same hole. I cut an equal size hole in the fascia of my layout and ran the wires through the hole and mounted the switch for a very clean installation (pic's attached). I drilled an equal size hole through my layout underneath where I placed the hobby shop and connected it's male "plug 'n play" lead into the female receptacle I had run through the fascia (it was just long enough to reach - if it doesn't, you will have to add three small gauge wires (red, black and white) and splice them in to lengthen the cable). I then connected the black and red wires of the power cable coming from the switch and through the fascia hole to a new power wire coming from my 14v accessory distribution box with simple butt connectors. Note: the white wire on the power cable is not used in this configuration and can be cut short or taped off - but not on the accessory cable).

I added a few people outside on the sidewalk and turned the power on and the building lit up nicely. In addition to the interior lighting, it also has a large Lionel "L" sign on the front which also lights up. I then slid the switch to "on" and all three miniature trains started running. One of the "bonuses" of this accessory is that it has a clear see-through roof, which allows you to see both the inside of the store and the trains running from above as well as from outside. The interior is highly detailed with the three miniature train layouts (with tunnels and bridges); customer and employee figures; and a "repair center" in the rear with a miniature test track. It also has two front doors which can be manually manipulated to swing open and shut.

I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of this accessory and the detail Lionel has put into it. The key feature of three miniature trains running in a hobby store pushes the needle of the cool factor off the charts as far as I am concerned, but the rest of the accessory also has exceptional detailing and the see-through roof is also very cool.

This is a large and expensive accessory ($ 300.00 suggested retail), but a lower "street" price and not for everyone, but if you can afford it and have the space, I give it a positive recommendation. It certainly is a fitting tribute to Teddy.  

Pic's and a short video attached.

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Videos (1)
HOBBY SHOP VIDEO
Last edited by Richie C.
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MartyE posted:

From the looks of this picture, it looks like they either didn't put the trains on the shelf again or they just don't come with them.  Can you verify that there are or are not trains on the shelves behind the counter?

Marty - there are no trains on the shelves behind the counter and none were included in the package. There are small holes in the shelves that look like they may be for affixing small trains but, alas, no trains themselves.

Train Nut posted:
paulp575 posted:

Any idea where to find the right-sized trains to fit on those empty shelves?

1 800 -   " Lionel world class customer service!"

I have Lionel's 6-19671 (LMS Display Car "6445-01") and 6-19675 (LMS Display Car "6445-02") both of which have a 1:160 locomotive inside that is removable and can be run, but not sure because that's definitely smaller than HO.

paulp575 posted:

I have Lionel's 6-19671 (LMS Display Car "6445-01") and 6-19675 (LMS Display Car "6445-02") both of which have a 1:160 locomotive inside that is removable and can be run, but not sure because that's definitely smaller than HO.

Those are WAY too big for the model shop shelf.  (and I'm pretty sure they can't be run, not sure where that info came from - there is no way Lionel was including an operational engine inside those cars for the price point they were at).

Those are (as you suggest) close to N Scale sized engines (also very similar to the regular sized Hallmark ornament that has been made for the last 23 years or so).  They would be bigger than the people in the store, and maybe not even fit on the floor plan, much less on the shelves.

Now the miniature Hallmark ornaments may be close enough to consider (if for some reason one wants to throw something together on their own that would be unique).  Unfortunately I have ornaments but I don't own a hobby shop to check out if it's a close match size-wise.  I suspect even they may be a little on the large side.

-Dave

Last edited by Dave45681
Dave45681 posted:
paulp575 posted:

I have Lionel's 6-19671 (LMS Display Car "6445-01") and 6-19675 (LMS Display Car "6445-02") both of which have a 1:160 locomotive inside that is removable and can be run, but not sure because that's definitely smaller than HO.

Those are WAY too big for the model shop shelf.  (and I'm pretty sure they can't be run, not sure where that info came from - there is no way Lionel was including an operational engine inside those cars for the price point they were at).

-Dave

Looks like I misinterpreted the description of the LMS cars (those locos probably can NOT be run).

I love this accessory, and expanded my table layout to include it.  There are two additional upper levels that I added a few years later, but I used to have the ZW, switch controllers, and the operating crane controller on that flat space now occupied by the Madison Hardware Shop.  I added a ten X twelve, then mounted the controllers underneath, in a vertical style. It's a bit messy, but is well hidden.

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My Madison Hardware version seems to have the same two cruisers on the back wall.  There are three separate consists of equal size, compared to the three operating consists, that are mounted along the back wall.  At left is a Southern passenger train, then a Santa Fe passenger train, then a mixed freight.  In Marty's pic, the guy behind the counter is holding up a Warbonnet SD 40, while my guy has the blue and yellow SD 40.  I really like that because it was my best runner on the old attic layout, back in the late 80's.

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Adding three tiny operating layouts to my relatively massive three-room table layout was irresistible!

Jerry

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Images (5)
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Richie, Thank you for the great review of the Hobby Shop.  IT has always been an eye catching item on any layout.  While I see there are differences with this one and previous issues, it is a very nice item!!  Yes, I would contact Lionel about no items on the shelves.  It seems like they were left off yours since there are holes at the shelves that would probably secure them.  Have fun with it!!

I received my Renz Hobby Shop several months ago.  I purchased a doll house train set from Hobby Lobby and used the engine as a G-scale engine on the shelf.  I made my own miniature cars from wood, painted them different colors, and they filled the shelves and look pretty much like box cars at a distance.  Not perfect, but look better than empty shelves.

Ron - sounds like you came up with the perfect solution!

Any photos of your Hobby Shop?

@Mark Boyce posted:

Richie, Thank you for the great review of the Hobby Shop.  IT has always been an eye catching item on any layout.  While I see there are differences with this one and previous issues, it is a very nice item!!  Yes, I would contact Lionel about no items on the shelves.  It seems like they were left off yours since there are holes at the shelves that would probably secure them.  Have fun with it!!

Hi Mark,

I can understand how some people might be upset but, to be honest, the lack of miniature trains on the shelves was a non-starter for me, probably because I'm old and couldn't see them even if they were there. Unless you bend down and are able to look through the front windows past all the displays to the rear of the store or look down specifically at the shelf through the lattice work roof, no one would know anything is missing.

OTOH, I don't know how many of these actually got produced and sold, but if anyone has had success getting the mini-trains from Lionel, I'd be happy to contact them.   

I also cannot tell if one of the moving trains is the Polar Express. It could be Polar Beverages for all I can see. When the grandkids with better eyesight come over, I'll ask them if they can tell.

Couple of new pics attached.

RENZ 1RENZ 2

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Images (2)
  • RENZ 1
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Thank you for the good reminder Richie!  That certainly is a possibility with me!    Your board looks great!  BTW, how did you secure the TIU since it doesn't have any mounting holes.  For my temporary setup, first I used velcro, and the weight pulled it away.  I drilled four holes in the board and secured it with wire ties through the board.  I would like to do something neater.

Last edited by Mark Boyce
@Mark Boyce posted:

Thank you for the good reminder Richie!  That certainly is a possibility with me!    Your board looks great!  BTW, how did you secure the TIU since it doesn't have any mounting holes.  For my temporary setup, first I used velcro, and the weight pulled it away.  I drilled four holes in the board and secured it with wire ties through the board.  I would like to do something neater.

Take the rubber feet of the TIU. The screw holes are under them.

Ooohhh!!!  Thank you Marty, Richie, and Curtis!!  Talk about what I highlighted below!    Ooohhh!!! Now I see, you poke a screw through the holes on the front, and they push through the plastic on the back!!  I had to look that up since the plastic was solid under the rubber feet.  I thought, Huh!  I don't get it!! 

Last edited by Mark Boyce

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