(02/15/16) O Gauge Release from Menards!

CBQer posted:

When I go into my local Menards store, I have to wonder about their commitment to O gauge as the counter is a mess, they have only Christmas leftovers. Do they plan to make trains a permanent part of the store? Sioux City has a metro area of about 140,000.

Dick

Dick,

If it was up to me, we would have trains year round. Hands down, they are my favorite things to look at when I go to my local store. The reality is, unfortunately, as warmer weather approaches, our market shrinks significantly. Thusly, we currently market trains (in stores) during the holiday season.

The consolation is all of our train items can be ordered at the hardware desk year round. Simply bring in the SKU numbers and they will give you a special order slip. The icing on the cake is you can pay for your special order trains by using rebate checks! Plus, shipping to the store is free!

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

Ordered the set last nite, can't wait to see it in person. I will order on for my son too, he's a Captain in the United States Army at Fort Knox..

J Daddy posted:

I am going with something patriotic related....

  Great Pics.

Alan

That picture of Uncle Sam and the steel mill was the defining RR picture of WWII, from the PRR 1942 or 1943 calendar.  Thanks for posting

GUYS

how about some USAF cars or ARMY air corps flats with fighter planes.

GG1GUYY

In the states did they ship planes by train or just ship parts and fly the units from airbase to airbase? I know my Dad flew his bombers airfield to airfield!

Fighter planes had to be shipped broken down to ship to Europe or Pacific theater.

The willow run airport in Michigan that built the B-24 Liberators revolutionized the manufacturing process. Large parts of the plane were shipped in from suppliers as pre-manufactured and pretested modules. This sped production up by over 150% with very low defects. An amazing feat at this time.

Planes where fully assembled and tested on site before being shipped to Europe and the Pacific theater. And yes the railroads shipped in many parts, tools, paint, fuel, and even workers to make this happen.

The railroads shipped bomber assemblies to the factory for final assembly but they were flown from the factory to the airbase. It's still done that way. Smaller planes like fighters could have been shipped in pieces like RJR stated.

Why I love this forum! Can learn lots of neat stuff and not just about trains either!

Pat Kn posted:

The railroads shipped bomber assemblies to the factory for final assembly but they were flown from the factory to the airbase. It's still done that way. Smaller planes like fighters could have been shipped in pieces like RJR stated.

Yes, bombers fully assembled where not shipped by rail... that would be quite amusing... Even today shipping Boeing airplanes for assembly has its issues.

Pat Kn posted:

The railroads shipped bomber assemblies to the factory for final assembly but they were flown from the factory to the airbase. It's still done that way. Smaller planes like fighters could have been shipped in pieces like RJR stated.

Pat I live in Mankato and was just wondering what it takes to join the club . I have just started back with model railroading. Just love to work on and run trains 

The consolation is all of our train items can be ordered at the hardware desk year round

That's little consolation to me, Mark.  There are no Menards hardware desks, or even Menards stores, here in the Cradle of American Democracy, and shipping is costly.

RJR,

You can call the store.  That is how i get some of the nice train items.  There are no Menard's anywhere in NYC and Tri-state area.   

True, Randy, and I have bought a couple of items, but the shipping is significant.  I will make an exception if they market WM hoppers.

I always wait and put a sizable order together to save shipping and handling. From EauClaire to upstate NY, I find the shipping very reasonable! That plus the low cost of the items, and it's still a great deal! Just sayin!!

We don't have Menards in NC, but I have bought a few items from them over the years, mailorder.  I just got 4 flat cars from them to put Caterpillar tractors on that my grandson gave me for Christmas,  better them riding on the cars than the neighbors wondering why I was in the yard playing in the dirt.  Was curious about the company, search Menards and read about their shenanigans, doesn't sound like one of the best places to work, but you can get a good deal on stuff from time to time.

Waynestrains,

Email me. My email address is in my profile. Send me your email address so we can take this off the forum.

According to Google Maps I have 5 850,13 miles to Eau Claire As the bird fly. In reality as I ship via Florida the distance is longer. I won't tell you more than that shipping is expensive. 

But as Sheldon says "It's O-gauge or no gauge"

But it's a great trip, Berra, you ought to come visit us some day.  Especially in mid-winter, southern US is a bitr warmer.

Mine is on the way plus some other cars.