I have 2 car dealerships already but will be getting this one as well!! Love everything about it!! Keep them coming Menards!!

@Csxcellent posted:

Too early for my liking. Really awesome, but it needs 60s-70s muscle.

so get it and get your own cars.  tons of 1:43 Mustangs, etc.. out there from the various dealers like Diecast Direct

@EscapeRocks posted:

so get it and get your own cars.  tons of 1:43 Mustangs, etc.. out there from the various dealers like Diecast Direct

Exactly. Very easy to change out for the cars/trucks you want. Put the trucks up for sale on the forum.

Very nice, Mark from Menards from Wisconsin!   Thanks for keeping it going!  I've got an auto dealership and a Harley showroom on my layout.  Now I need to see if I can squeeze a spot for this!  I like that it is fully customizable.  I'm here in Wisconsin so I'm hoping to see my local store, Burlington, have this and the new Arby's on display soon.  I'm thinking "Valley Motors" has everything to do with Eau Claire, Wisconsin being in a valley, right?   I hope to see a small cheese curd store in the future like the family run Widmer's in Theresa, WI, featuring brick cheese.

Mike

In reality many of the showrooms from the 50's didn't look much different on the outside in the 60's.

I bought my first new Ford in 81' and that deanship's exterior hasn't changed much.  The only real difference I see is the newer styled rotating Ford sign.

So this dealership should work for any era actually,  Just dress it up a bit and install the vehicles of choice on the inside and on top!

A very nice dealership - though I have one - this one is a winner for me.   

Thanks Mark of Menards for this new accessory.

Well done! I pass many of these buildings with the curved Art Deco glass in small towns all the time. They are very compact and all repurposed to something else now. All the dealers moved out to the periphery of town long ago. But there was something charming about a dealer right in town. How times have changed!

Great addition to any layout = will be easy to fit into various different scenes.  BTW, that Widmer's brick cheese is the best & you reminded me I have a chunk in the refer that needs attention.  Can’t find it here in CA, but have a cousin in Lomira, WI who ships me chunk each Xmas.

Really like the flexibility of the dealership. I think I'll be buying one.

Just got my VM building; the video is a bit deceiving; I thought from this video that the rotating truck was elevated above the roof on a higher post of some kind.

Kind of looks that way.

NOPE it spins flat on the roof.

Will need to 3D print a slightly higher rotating post!

Alan. Keep us apprised of your fix.

ALSO  this is UUGE.

14 by 15 is bigger than the Police Plaza or the Hotel.

AND the open door should have a little bit of the bottom of the opened door showing.

easy fix just laser cut better garage doors.  The open bay has room for interior repair stuff, hoist, shelves etc. Nice,

@AlanRail posted:

Just got my VM building; the video is a bit deceiving; I thought from this video that the rotating truck was elevated above the roof on a higher post of some kind.

Kind of looks that way.

NOPE it spins flat on the roof.

Will need to 3D print a slightly higher rotating post!

Alan,

If you pay attention to Menard's video, it is clear that the truck rotates at rooftop level.

@Will posted:

Well done! I pass many of these buildings with the curved Art Deco glass in small towns all the time. They are very compact and all repurposed to something else now. All the dealers moved out to the periphery of town long ago. But there was something charming about a dealer right in town. How times have changed!

The Wiggins Hardware store (Estill, SC) is located in an ex-Ford dealership. The dealership only lasted a few years and Wiggins has been there since the late 1930s:

The real reason the I stopped there was this sign that I was told that it had been restored a few years ago:

The store owner lit it up for me:

@AlanRail posted:

Just got my VM building; the video is a bit deceiving; I thought from this video that the rotating truck was elevated above the roof on a higher post of some kind.

Kind of looks that way.

NOPE it spins flat on the roof.

Will need to 3D print a slightly higher rotating post!

Are the vehicle removable.  I like the building but the cars are a little out of my era.  would like to replace them with different vehicles.

@Bossman284 posted:

Are the vehicle removable.  I like the building but the cars are a little out of my era.  would like to replace them with different vehicles.

I was just wondering the same thing but they supply signs for other makers so they probably are.

@Bossman284 posted:

Are the vehicle removable.  I like the building but the cars are a little out of my era.  would like to replace them with different vehicles.

On the Menards website for the O Scale Valley Motors Car Dealership if you scroll down to the bottom of the page under the Description it says:

"Valley Motors is easy to customize. The vertical sign comes with 11 automotive signs that allow you to easily swap out your dealership if you wish. The showroom and sales lot vehicles are easy to swap as well. Remove the screws from beneath the base and replace them with autos of your choice. The showroom may also be customized. There is a removable rear access hatch that allows you to change vehicles and to add office details of your choice!"

There's no mention of how one might swap out the white 1948 Panel Truck mounted to the rotating platform on top of the building.

Fortunately for me, the vehicles represented in this era are perfect for my layout, so I ordered this plus a few extra trucks to go around town.  I'm looking forward to their arrival.

@SteveH posted:

There's no mention of how one might swap out the white 1948 Panel Truck mounted to the rotating platform on top of the building.

Fortunately for me, the vehicles represented in this era are perfect for my layout, so I ordered this plus a few extra trucks to go around town.  I'm looking forward to their arrival.

The truck is screwed on and i'm sure the display lifts off, so it's should be easy to replace the truck. You may need to drill a hole on the bottom of the car you choose. I'm going to order one but since I already have the K-Line Ford Dealer I may do a Chevy dealer for the 57 models.

Looking forward to getting mine. I have a couple of Franklin mint Fords I’ll add to the building.

A  support extension about an inch or so higher is one thought. i think that is too easy

i have an idea for a support based on the depiction of the phantom zone on the very first Superman movie.

or I may just make a simple 1" post!

@AlanRail posted:

or I may just make a simple 1" post!

Alan, that is so super cool that you have the talent and tools do do such a thing.  Have you considered an entrepreneurial role in the hobby offering aftermarket product improvements?

Mine came today! Love it 👍

Just think, if Menards made nice buildings like this all year long. I think it would be great.

Wow, I just can't stop looking at this building.   I was thinking that an adventurous guy could repurpose it as a diner, too.  Fill the showroom with a tiled floor, tables, waitresses with poodle skirts.  Put in clear plastic over the garage doors and fill those, too.  Or cut the garage part of the building off.  Leave the spinning car or replace it with a Porky Pig or some other mascot of the restaurant.  So many things could be done.

unpainted. Will paint it white or silver

Looks great Alan.

Mine should arrive tomorrow and luckily i'll be here to receive it since Menards don't allow there Fed Ex parcels delivered to Fed Ex Access Points like Fed Ex Office or Walgreens. This is the message I got: "Due to shipper restrictions, additional delivery options are not available for this shipment. For more information please contact the shipper". Hopefully Menards will sort this problem since porch pirates do follow delivery vans.

Alan, I noticed the roof Ford is attached to a threaded rod. Did you grip this with a tool and then

twist the van? I don't want to damage the motor and wondered how you removed yours.

Thanks UnclePeteRR

the round base lifts off the motor. the screw is merely screwed into the underside of the car to secure it to the platform.

however the head of the screw is larger than the underside rectangular opening; so unscrewing the screw from the car will cause circular base to split.

since i was 3D printing the round base as part of the rotating platform i didn't care.

also i didn't care about the screw because i designed the base platform with wheel chucks to secure the car.

tomorrow or rather later today, i'll post a photo that shows the platform without the car.

additionally, i thought the platform was way too big; so i made it just large enough for the 4 wheel chucks,

@AlanRail posted:

the round base lifts off the motor. the screw is merely screwed into the underside of the car to secure it to the platform.

however the head of the screw is larger than the underside rectangular opening; so unscrewing the screw from the car will cause circular base to split.

since i was 3D printing the round base as part of the rotating platform i didn't care.

also i didn't care about the screw because i designed the base platform with wheel chucks to secure the car.

tomorrow or rather later today, i'll post a photo that shows the platform without the car.

additionally, i thought the platform was way too big; so i made it just large enough for the 4 wheel chucks,

Could you possibly twist the car off the screw while you hold the screw in place?

Nice job Alan! Looks very good!

Impressive work as always Alan.

John

Alan I can't wait to see a video of your new platform rotating once you've got it painted and installed.

Could you possibly twist the car off the screw while you hold the screw in place?

If you do you may damage the wheels.

CAUTION: before you twist the car make sure your hand are very clean or gloved.

The blue paint design on the car smears!!

new idea; rotating truck with lights.

working on new design where the truck rotates but using a lighted Menard's truck.

Good afternoon Menards,

Any clues as to what comping next?

Alan. How about running the wire down a tube center shaft. Of course, the fitting at the end of the vehicle needs to be cut off.

I am sure you will find a nice solution.

running a wire won't work because as it spins the wire twists see a

i need a 2-wire "rotating wire connection" like the rotor in an E-unit. see b

that's like what I plan to 3D print.