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@Menards posted:

The first hint I posted looks like it was missing something… I fixed it now. Everything is better with SMOKE!



@CAPPilot posted:

That looks like a design similar to the one on the box the Marx Tin Windup Buck Rogers Rocket Ship from 1927 came in, but without the smoke and "25th Century".  Is Menards going tinplate?

My guess is a copy of Marx' rocket on a flatcar.

Looks like they added the "sparkling flint action" or something similar for the smoke so I am sticking with my original guess.

Glad to see Mark back posting. Whatever it is, if it involves smoke that’s great news. Because if I know Menard’s, if they’re putting smoke in something that means they’re putting smoke in a LOT of stuff - just like what they do with LEDs. No idea what it is but I’m on the edge of my seat!

I’m also looking forward to the Menard’s 1966 Chrysler Newport convertibles!!

Meet you at The Rocket: The Rocket Diner from Menards! Click here to shop now!

Dimensions: 18"W x 8-3/4"D x 3-3/4"H

For decades, old railroad gear has been utilized for many non-transportation purposed. Dining cars and trolley cars have become eateries; cabooses have become tourist information offices, coffee shops, or craft stores. The Rocket Diner combines an iconic piece of railroad equipment with a trendy spot for a burger. The Rocket turns sitting trackside and having your breakfast into big-time fun!

The basics: This is a fully assembled and decorated restaurant with a difference. The main structure is a diesel locomotive body! The accessory’s footprint is 18 x 8-¾ inches with a height of 3-¾ inches. The locomotive has an illuminated headlight and markers and an electronic sign on the front side. There is also an operating smoke unit (to simulate frying those burgers) utilizing water vapor (no smoke fluid needed).

A service area for the wait staff wraps around the side and rear of the building. The patio is equipped with tables, chairs, customers, a waiter, and even menus.

The accessory is designed for use with the Menard’s 4.5-volt power supply sold separately (Menards SKU nos. 279-4061/4361, 4062/4362, or 4050). Power may be applied through a power connection on the back of the building, or by a drop-down pigtail plug from beneath the building.

Why you need this: For an outdoor bistro, the landscaping is attractive and designed to make customers linger! The base is decorated with grass and 22 bushes. The L-Shaped patio has planters on four sides, and yes, the flowers are in full bloom. The patio has timber plank-style flooring. You’ll find four brown round tables and white chairs for eight customers. Each table even has a menu mounted in the center.

The main structure is the body of an Electro-Motive F-unit diesel. Alas, the once majestic locomotive has been gutted of its diesel engine and now serves up tasty food for hungry patrons. The model is decorated in homage to the iconic Rock Island graphics, with subtitle "GOOD FOOD" emblem on the nose. In years gone by, Rock Island and its passenger service was once dubbed "The Route of the Rockets."

The nose of the locomotive features an illuminated headlight. Both sides of the nose have number boards bearing the word "ROCKET." About mid-structure you’ll see chase lighting for the word "DINER." This sequences as D-I-N-E-R and then flashes twice, and restarts again. This is positioned just above the name "The Rocket."

The locomotive is clearly the kitchen now. A smoke unit is placed in the middle of the body. The "smoke" is water vapor poured into the unit through a hole plugged with what looks like a fan with a filter to catch grease! It generates a nice wisp suggesting the cooks are in action.

A side extension has been added to the building. It has gently curved lines and darkly tinted pass-through widows and doorways serving patrons on the deck.

The patio has four seated customers and a waiter on standby. Jack the German shepherd rests near a doorway - no doubt hoping someone will trip and drop an order of cheesy French fries at his paws!

Parked nearby is a die-cast metal 1957 Dodge Sweptside pickup truck. This officially licensed model is a throwback to an era when pickup trucks could have fins and non-traditional colors. Two pleased customers are making their exit from The Rocket.

The Rocket Diner ups the ante in the passenger car-turned-eatery category is concerned. The cab unit has plenty of "Wow" packed into it, and the layout of the serving area is actually very pleasant, and just what your O gauge town folk will appreciate!

This diner is certainly inventive and looks sharp, but here is a cautionary tale about turning on the smoke feature....

About 25 years ago at York, ultrasonic atomizers to create smoke from water were sold by several dealers in the Silver Hall. It was a neat effect and I bought one. But it didn't take too long for me to realize that effectively putting a humidifying source smack dab in the middle of the layout in the basement was a bad idea in terms of promoting mold and rust.  On the plus side, water vapor is safe to breathe!

@Bruce Brown posted:

several dealers in the Silver Hall. It was a neat effect and I bought one. But it didn't take too long for me to realize that effectively putting a humidifying source smack dab in the middle of the layout in the basement

Wouldn't your basement de-humidifier solve that problem?  And don't we run our trains in the basement more in the winter when it's dry?

I noticed Lemax just added the same sort of water smoking unit to their Halloween line-up this year.  Menards carried Lemax until this year.  Perhaps there's the influence.  Seems like a pretty nice solution to those that don't like mineral oil smoke.

Cool diner.  Thumbs up!

Last edited by IRON HORSE

The smoke/mist unit is along the lines of those small water mist machines you can buy anywhere.

The pic here is of a really small one.

Now for scents, they make all kinds of essential oils in many varieties.  A few drops in the water each time you fill up.  You could probably just add a few drops of your favorite smoke fluid too.

61Ljup81UeL._AC_SL1500_

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Last edited by Soo Line

Brought my "Rocket Diner" home this afternoon.  Overall size is close to the footprint of the Jeep Stealing UFO.  It appears that when the water level gets low it auto shuts-off the mister (smoke unit), most likely water sensor activated/deactivated.  Found no switches.  Does not appear to have any outside lights for the patio or outside areas.  Have not plugged it in yet, will do that tomorrow when I place it on the layout.  My overall opinion is that Menard's did a great job on this building (Diner).  Definitely glad I purchased it.

@B rad posted:

I like the water vapor system. They should do that in more accessory items and have the smoke units for the locomotives. That would require much less maintenance. You don't need to worry about corrosion in most accessory items.

Now if they spit water all over the place like some fog machines do than thats another story.

Brad

Had mine running for about 30 minutes and didn't see any "water spit".  The mist is very fine, but a lot of it coming out.  I added lighting for night time dinning (a street lamp near the dining patio).  I looks great on the layout!

The front view is night operation and the rear shot is day operation on the layout.

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@DMASSO posted:

Keep nit picking with your obvious comments. Menard's is trying to give you a reasonable product at a reasonable price. Be thankful.

I usually remain silent on this forum because of the attacks posters receive from others.    As for me I will again revert to being silent so my posts don't become a focus for sarcasm, chastising or critical comments.

Signing off!

@Retired posted:

I usually remain silent on this forum because of the attacks posters receive from others.    As for me I will again revert to being silent so my posts don't become a focus for sarcasm, chastising or critical comments.

Signing off!

Not sure if those comments about your comments are warranted.  I appreciate getting product user information because my Menards near me has them in stock but I'm not sure if they have one plugged in on display and I'm not going to see the smoke in action.  So I appreciate the detail, @Retired, as you operate the one you bought.   Just because the windows are darkened, doesn't make the product bad.   And the bleeding engine lights provide some exterior light, which can be a good thing.  So thank you for the info.

Menards  does a Great! Job , filling in a nitch , that other Mfg.'s have forgotten, making toy trains for kids.   For the price dad ,mom or the grand parents, can pick  a car ,track . and structures, for that up coming Christmas holiday .  I personally dont use their cars or track ( run 2 rail scale) . Their building, I have a bunch of them, love them ! was lucky enough to get the Betta 2 SF FP9, for a future project.  Kudo's to Menards for helping get a new generation into toy trains

its a toy

I don't think this was a complaint but an observations.

Most of the comments here have been rather positive.  A few constructive comments as well about the smoke generator and sounds but I don't see any posts that are out of line.  The smoke unit being water is an interesting choice and probably is a better cost option for the price point.  Now some will try to make this thread out to be negative and try to make drama but I think we can all agree it's a good product at the price point.  Anyone making suggestions is just that.  I really don't see anyone seriously criticizing the product. 

@MartyE posted:

I don't think this was a complaint but an observations.

Most of the comments here have been rather positive.  A few constructive comments as well about the smoke generator and sounds but I don't see any posts that are out of line.  The smoke unit being water is an interesting choice and probably is a better cost option for the price point.  Now some will try to make this thread out to be negative and try to make drama but I think we can all agree it's a good product at the price point.  Anyone making suggestions is just that.  I really don't see anyone seriously criticizing the product.

wasn't meant to be a complaint, it not a scale museum piece,  Its a toy , (If You dont like the term, toy please feal free to look up the definition.)  for kids of all ages.    As far as the smoke unit using water, thats been around since the 70?s , you may want to use distilled water , it wont leave a white residue on the model

wasn't meant to be a complaint, it not a scale museum piece,  Its a toy , (If You dont like the term, toy please feal free to look up the definition.)  for kids of all ages.    As far as the smoke unit using water, thats been around since the 70?s , you may want to use distilled water , it wont leave a white residue on the model

OK where is the disconnect here?  @Retired described what he observed about the building he purchased and you said it's a toy.  I'm not really sure what you were getting at.  He didn't complain.  Yes it's a toy.  This is a forum.  We can comment on a product and even say what we like and don't like it doesn't make it bad.  Dave I think you are reading into comments something that's not there or maybe I'm missing something.

I think we can all agree that Menard's is offering some pretty cool stuff and a good value.

Last edited by MartyE

wasn't meant to be a complaint, it not a scale museum piece,  Its a toy , (If You dont like the term, toy please feal free to look up the definition.)  for kids of all ages.    As far as the smoke unit using water, thats been around since the 70?s , you may want to use distilled water , it wont leave a white residue on the model

Distilled water is a great idea. It may also keep the smoke feature working well for a long time.

10 years ago I bought a gallon of distilled water for my Postwar #38 water tower, which has worked flawlessly ever since. I still have plenty of that distilled water left. Arnold

@MartyE posted:

OK where is the disconnect here?  @Retired described what he observed about the building he purchased and you said it's a toy.  I'm not really sure what you were getting at.  He didn't complain.  Yes it's a toy.  This is a forum.  We can comment on a product and even say what we like and don't like it doesn't make it bad.  Dave I think you are reading into comments something that's not there or maybe I'm missing something.

I think we can all agree that Menard's is offering some pretty cool stuff and a good value.

not directed at you,but rather a statement of fact

wasn't meant to be a complaint, it not a scale museum piece,  Its a toy , (If You dont like the term, toy please feal free to look up the definition.)  for kids of all ages.    As far as the smoke unit using water, thats been around since the 70?s , you may want to use distilled water , it wont leave a white residue on the model

Good point about the distilled water. Still, it seems counter intuitive to use water around electronics and/or metal items that are prone to rust. Marklin did this a few years ago with one of their loks. The same concerns were raised. Frankly it is a neat idea, but water? I think they offered one or two loks and that was it.

Steve

Good point about the distilled water. Still, it seems counter intuitive to use water around electronics and/or metal items that are prone to rust. Marklin did this a few years ago with one of their loks. The same concerns were raised. Frankly it is a neat idea, but water? I think they offered one or two loks and that was it.

Steve

its a structure, not an engine and water has been used for well over 45 years and I don't remember an issue ever being raised in any publication.  This is not a new concept, would you rather have smoke fluid (oil )dripped on the carpet or  water. and as every thing else ,if you don't like it, don't use it

Last edited by Dave Koehler

Good point about the distilled water. Still, it seems counter intuitive to use water around electronics and/or metal items that are prone to rust. Marklin did this a few years ago with one of their loks. The same concerns were raised. Frankly it is a neat idea, but water? I think they offered one or two loks and that was it.

Steve

When my son was little he was sick a lot. We had the humidifier running in his room almost every night for probably about a year. His train, the MTH SP 2-8-0 starter set, was basically coated in the white film from the humidifier. Nothing rusted. I was never able to get all the white residue out of the realtrax road bed though.

@John Ptak posted:

Very nice looking building!  I personally just wish you could use smoke fluid with it.  Would love to have JT Mega steam bacon, baking bread, grapes, etc. coming out of it.  Still, a nice building for a good price.  Maybe I will pick one up if they ever put a smoke fluid unit inside.

You could always add a fluid unit if you desire. It looks great and I sure wouldn't pass it up because of a smoke unit. At 1/48 how much smoke does a restaurant actually generate?

I thought the diners could use some lighting to see what they are eating, so I added a couple LED self adhesive strip lights. One on the front and one on the side. Turned out nice, I think.

Photo 1 is the Diner as it came from Menards on my layout with the room lights on. Photo 2 is with the added LED lights on with the room lights on also. Photo 3 is with the added lights on and the room lights off.

Rockert Diner 01Rockert Diner 02Rockert Diner 03

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UnclePete, I used: DD01WM Pre Wired White Strip LED 3528 I got from Amazon. Came in pack of 10 as I recall.

They use 12V-18V.  I have used a lot of them to light up old Lionel buildings. I use an old K Line transformer from a set to power all of them up around the layout.

The Diner itself uses the Menards 4.5V power supply.

Comment for Retired and for JamesR ... Ref your photos of your lighting mods.  Your added LEDs provide a very nice night time illumination.  I like 'em.  Thanks for posting them.

Question for Cabinet Bob ... When I play your above video, I hear a noticeable humming sound.  Is that coming from the Menards diorama?  If so, from the vapor delivery or general sound from the diesel?

Question for anyone who now has one of these Menards dioramas.  I am interested if one can access the diesel cab area and / or the inside of the diner add-on building in order to add LED lighting/interior furnishings.  In same vein, are the diner add-on double doors and double windows transparent or solid/opaque? It is a nice diorama, but with interior lighting and a few interior furnishings, it'd be exceptionally nice.  I don't mind doing the lighting/interiors mods myself; just want to know the diorama is accessible to do the mods before buying the diorama.

Regards,

Tom

Last edited by S-Runner
@UnclePeteRR posted:

What the correct adapter to use? They show 3 different Amps at bottom of the listing. I know the hotel needs

the 5000 Amp version. UnclePeteRR

According to the information on the Rocket Diner Webpage, any of those listed adapters will work, but the 5000mA one can supply way more power than needed for this accessory.  The 1000mA one should be fine.  For a couple dollars more you could get the 2000mA adapter with 3 connectors on it for accessories like this one that draw little power (lighted autos for example).

Last edited by SteveH

This accessory by Menards resonates with my life-long interest in the Rock Island (CRI&P) and the O-gauge collection based on RI trains  I gathered over 25 years - Lionel, MTH, Marx, Williams, Weaver, and other brands.  To complement the trains, I framed a RI DINER art poster and a puzzle based on that same image -- it's shown as an attachment.

I already have STELLA'S DINER (by K-Line) on my layout, but I intend to remove it and install the new Menard's ROCKET DINER in its place.

Thanks for the tips about adding an ON/OFF switch for the smoke feature and a lamp post.

Mike Mottler   LCCA 12394

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Last edited by Mike H Mottler

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

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