Is there a spot to add the water without taking off the plastic shipping cover? Where is the water
added? The Rocket Diner had the spot labeled. Thanks UnclePeterRR
Ironically I am in the middle of a Saturn V build and the launching pad. It is not true O scale but large enough that people who have seen it are just wowed. I had originally planned to build a refinery, but since my NASA items have grown quits a bit, I decided to dedicate that area to NASA, rockets etc.
The second pic I placed an O gauge boxcar so you can see a size comparison.
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So what scale is that behemoth?
It's 1/96 scale. Measures 48 inches which is not bad at all.
@Menards posted:Hi Everyone,
Check out our newest "O scale" structure. It is packed with cool details, lights and even smoke! This is fun and fantastic!
And, yes, before everyone chimes in, we are using "O scale" in quotes!
3, 2, 1 … Lift off! The Rocket Launching Tower by Menards
The mightiest rocket of the American space program was the majestic Saturn V of Apollo fame! Rising 363 feet into the air, the 6.2-million-pound giant could produce 7.6 million pounds of thrust - more than enough to transport three Astronauts to the Moon! Thirteen Saturn Vs propelled thirteen trips to the Moon!
The Rocket Launching Tower salutes the American space program and allows you to include a rendering of this technological marvel on your own O gauge layout.
The basics: This is fully assembled and decorated. There is illumination of the launch tower and red flashing warning lights on top of the structure. At the base of the rocket platform you’ll spot rapidly flashing red LEDs. Below the platform is a grate that house Menard’s water vapor "smoke" system. Carefully add water, and when power is applied, a visible torrent of vapor can be seen - simulating launch!
The Rocket Lunching Tower requires a 4.5-volt power supply sold separately (Menards SKU nos. 279-4061/4361, 4062/4362, or4050). Power may be applied through either a rear table-top plug in, or from below the building with a pigtail connector.
Why you need this: Okay, this is pretty cool in its own right, but if you have a military or space theme anywhere on your railroad, this is a natural addition to it.
The Launching Tower has an 8-¾ by 8-¾ inch foundation with a height of 16-½ inches. There is a complex array of structural support beams as well as conduits for electrical line or fuel for the liquid-powered rocket motors.
It has a massive tower structure with six levels. Five feature support arms reach out to the rocket. The rocket itself is a good model of the real thing. It is white, and decorated with black striping and an American flag. An Apollo capsule is up top, and you’ll find rudders and engine nozzles at the bottom.
The four rapid-flashing red LEDs warn folks that something big is about to happen. Then water vapor flows out at a rapid rate, suggesting the countdown is almost complete! Next stop, the Moon!
The Menards Rocket Launching Tower salutes our space program and a project for which every American can be proud!
It passes the four foot test for me, fantastic……….
So where does the water get added?
So here's mine with some of the other rockets at my space center.
She's a bit smaller than I expected, I mistook overall height for rocket height. Well the prototypical Saturn V is no longer the biggest most powerful rocket as it has been surpassed by Artemis so neither is my O gauge Saturn V. This launch vehicle will be placed down range of other rockets at the space center providing some of that wonderful forced perspective we employ. The only disappointing thing is I forgot to order the power pack for it so I have to wait for a second order to arrive to test it out. Plus I had to pay a second shipping and processing fee. Bad job on my part. Overall I am happy with it. A memorable part of our younger days on our layouts.
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I’m very impressed with the “steam” function. Just add a little water in the grate and it produces a good smoke effect even though it doesn’t show up well in the photo. This is one of my favorite accessories.
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I think its a nice piece.
If anyone needs a power pack search on ebay. A seller has them for $8.59 with free shipping. I offered $6 each when buying 2 and they accepted. 2 wall warts for $12 ain't bad. I've purchased 4 now and no problems.
AC To DC 4.5V 1A 1000mA Power Supply Charger Converter Adapter 5.5mm x 2.1mm New
I love mine as well, the smoke feature is really cool. The only complaint I have is the red blinking led on to top of the tower have already failed. Not a big deal just wondering if it has happened to anyone else.
Just ordered mine with a host of other items, too.
Any thoughts about using distilled water versus regular tap water ?
@Richie C. posted:Just ordered mine with a host of other items, too.
Any thoughts about using distilled water versus regular tap water ?
Distilled water won't gum up the works. I'd use that.
I believe I remember reading use distilled water in the product description.
Good to know - the above description just says add water, but I thought distilled would be better.
As a kid, I remember a small plastic bottle that came with a dual, open-ended filter. You would pour water in the bottle, push the filter on and then squeeze the bottle and distilled water would come out the other end of the filter. Mom used it to fill her iron. Wonder if they still make something like that ?
@Richie C. posted:Any thoughts about using distilled water versus regular tap water ?
Well, I suspect it uses an ultrasonic transducer rather than a heated element to produce the mist (they're really cheap -- I have one on "slow boat" order to play with), so you will not *necessarily* be condensing any minerals in the remaining water, leading to deposits in the unit. At most, the evaporating mist might leave some deposits around the exit vents, especially if you have really hard water! Nonetheless, I'd be inclined to use distilled water -- at a buck or two per gallon, it'd be cheap insurance to extend the life of the unit.
So, who will be first to rig up a wire for it to launch off the pad with a rocket roar from under the table? This needs a little more excitement.
@CAPPilot posted:So, who will be first to rig up a wire for it to launch off the pad with a rocket roar from under the table? This needs a little more excitement.
Piece of cake:
(Probably a good idea to *only* do this with a garden train set, outside! 
)
I’m taking my postwar 175 rocket launcher which shoots up and adding smoke ala Menards with a fan blown locomotive smoke unit. Should be fun!!
I finally got it onto the layout and it fits in perfectly in the space themed area of my amusement park. Thanks Menards!
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@BwanaBob posted:No one said "don't make it if it isn't full scale". Just don't call it O Scale if it isn't (especially if it's not even remotely close).
I like the pictured flat car with the scale Command/Service Module. That would be an interesting offering.
I think they call it that just to differentiate what size would be most appropriate for O scale layouts. But, yes, it is misleading. A lot of their vehicles seem undersized. Will not buy their train cars because of the unreliability of their couplers.
Well as far as it not being scale, if they produced one in scale it would be over7 1/2 feet tall , dont think they would sell many!.
"Will not buy their train cars because of the unreliability of their couplers." Lionel has had the same problems over the years
@Action Jaxon posted:I finally got it onto the layout and it fits in perfectly in the space themed area of my amusement park. Thanks Menards!
Great idea, it fits right in!
@Michael Hokkanen posted:I think they call it that just to differentiate what size would be most appropriate for O scale layouts. But, yes, it is misleading. A lot of their vehicles seem undersized. Will not buy their train cars because of the unreliability of their couplers.
I agree, the whole use of O scale vrs. O gauge, thing is misleading . Be it what may, the 13year old me ,back when we landed on the moon , would have done just about anything for this model
I thought O Scale Railroading Magazine solved the O Scale problem several years ago by changing their name to the more inclusive O Gauge Railroading.
What is the distance between the wheels of a rocket or rocket launching pad mean anyway, if they have any wheels?
Charlie
How long does it take for the steam to kick in after you pour water into the grate and turn it on?
@UnclePeteRR posted:How long does it take for the steam to kick in after you pour water into the grate and turn it on?
I'll of course defer to anyone with hands-on experience, but I'd be very surprised if Menards didn't use an inexpensive ultrasonic transducer to produce a mist -- no boiling water, no need to warm up, and most importantly, cheap! -- and if so, there'd be a near-instant "blast off" upon activation!
Yes - The steam starts instantly
@baltimoretrainworks posted:Here's 2 videos of a launch of the Saturn with pretty cool audio you could possibly use:
And this one with sounds I never heard until I found this video, like the turbo pumps winding up at about 12 seconds:
I just might get this one Menards, no real place to put it on a layout but it will look cool in my home office. I know it has be de-throned as the most powerful rocket ever built or flown but it's always been my favorite and like they say, "You dance with the one that brung ya.".
And for the "nit pickers" here is Menards quote on the size...
And, yes, before everyone chimes in, we are using "O scale" in quotes!
Jerry
Great video. It would be a knockout on an IMAX screen. When I visited the Kennedy space center I saw the Saturn V displayed laying on its side. Totally huge. I saw an imax there of a space shuttle launch with kickbutt sound. Totally awesome. It shook me
Alan
@ajzend posted:Great video. It would be a knockout on an IMAX screen. When I visited the Kennedy space center I saw the Saturn V displayed laying on its side. Totally huge. I saw an imax there of a space shuttle launch with kickbutt sound. Totally awesome. It shook me
Alan
and to think I had to watch it on my 15" B&W
And just think...All that was done WITHOUT a computer.
@Jayhawk500 posted:And just think...All that was done WITHOUT a computer.
Uhh, not exactly.
I'm sure a lot of time was logged on the "big iron" of the time -- IBM mainframes, etc. -- for the design, construction and mission operation of the Saturn V, and the actual Apollo capsule and lander even had primitive (by today's standards) computer systems built in. I've heard it said there is more computing power in a modern smartwatch than was to be found in the entire Apollo payload, but the Saturn V and related Apollo missions were hardly "done WITHOUT a computer". Just sayin' . . .
@ajzend posted:Great video. It would be a knockout on an IMAX screen.
Alan
I'm still kicking myself for not going to DC for the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, they did an almost life size projection of the Saturn V on the Washington Monument.
Jerry
That must have been astonishing!
Will the smoke unit be damaged if no water is added?
Thanks,
Mike
@MJ53 posted:Will the smoke unit be damaged if no water is added?
It appears they've used an ultrasonic transducer to produce the 'smoke', which is really just a fine mist, like a humidifier, propelled upward by mechanical action -- the giveaway is that the mist settles downward after only a few inches, rather than rising as the smoke from a thermal smoke unit would produce. If I'm correct, I don't think running dry briefly would cause any significant damage, but I wouldn't recommend it for extended use, since the water may also provide needed cooling for the transducer while it's in operation.
