I cannot believe CABINET BOB did not already know what the cars would look like. I have to agree with MIKE G that Mark and BOB are one in the same LOL. The video shows off the cars really good. I think I could possibly know who's layout that is but I do not want to say. But thanks to Mark and the crew plus the video I am off to the web site to order the dealer pack. And just one small observation. I wish for myself there was at least one set of decals for Canadian roads. Now I just have to save up my money for the brewery down the road.............Paul
paul 2 posted:I cannot believe CABINET BOB did not already know what the cars would look like. I have to agree with MIKE G that Mark and BOB are one in the same LOL. The video shows off the cars really good. I think I could possibly know who's layout that is but I do not want to say. But thanks to Mark and the crew plus the video I am off to the web site to order the dealer pack. And just one small observation. I wish for myself there was at least one set of decals for Canadian roads. Now I just have to save up my money for the brewery down the road.............Paul
I also think I know whos layout but I didn't want to just throw it out there! My question to you Paul is if you get the dealers pack that sure is a lot of cars to dump! LOL I am sure with all those cars you will get down to Bryan on the list! LOL
Johnny Winkler posted:Is it water slide decals or peel and stick stickers?
Johnny,
They are peel and stick decals so they can be easily swapped out if you want to change road names.
-Mark the Menards Train Guy
I just got off the Menards site. Dealer pack ordered. I had a balance on a gift card so that made the total even better. Mike you are right that is going to be a lot of cars...24. But somehow I do not think any will trickle down to Bryan. LOL. What I am thinking of doing is getting a few more of the 48 Menards' truck and put them on there or just leave them running empty.....................Paul.
coach joe posted:Very nice Mark. That's some layout those auto-racks were cruising on. Moving traffic on the highway is great.
One question about removing the cars. I know you said they're held in place by screws so I assume the bottom tier are easy to remove by turning the auto-rack over to access those screws but how is the access to the screws holding the cars to the top level?
Thanks Coach Joe!
You are correct, the bottom screws are easy. Once the bottom cars are removed, the upper screws are easier to get at. I was able to remove the upper screws using a Phillips screwdriver with a long shank. I'm guessing, however, that there are other ways.
-Mark the Menards Train Guy
The video sure makes them look good!
paul 2 posted:I just got off the Menards site. Dealer pack ordered. I had a balance on a gift card so that made the total even better. Mike you are right that is going to be a lot of cars...24. But somehow I do not think any will trickle down to Bryan. LOL. What I am thinking of doing is getting a few more of the 48 Menards' truck and put them on there or just leave them running empty.....................Paul.
Paul, do you have an Auto Ramp for the auto cars? if not let me know, we might be able to swing a deal. If interested e-mail me, address is in profile!
mike g. posted:Mark Great video! Sure makes one want to run out and get a couple dealer packs right now!
But there is a big question I know many people want to know! WHO'S layout is that?
Mike,
It's a private layout owned by one of our friends. I took the video though!
-Mark the Menards Train Guy
Menards posted:mike g. posted:Mark Great video! Sure makes one want to run out and get a couple dealer packs right now!
But there is a big question I know many people want to know! WHO'S layout is that?
Mike,
It's a private layout owned by one of our friends. I took the video though!
-Mark the Menards Train Guy
Well thank you for the video and Tell your Friend they have a great looking layout! Thanks for everything you and Menards is doing for this Hobby!
Love the video, nice layout!
This was basically answered by the video, but: if you order multiple pieces, any chance of getting different-color cars? Would hate to see nothing but yellow and red cars. Like 'em, but a train wouldn't have only those colors unless being delivered to fleet customers.
Mark, Those auto racks really look good running. Short enough to run well for almost everyone....long enough to look realistic. That layout is cool too.....love the moving hiway!! Please think about selling them less vehicles!!!! Promise I'll buy some!!! thx
Menards posted:Johnny Winkler posted:Is it water slide decals or peel and stick stickers?
Johnny,
They are peel and stick decals so they can be easily swapped out if you want to change road names.
-Mark the Menards Train Guy
Thanks Mark,that is what I hoped to hear.
MArk, is there any way to find out which, if any, stores carry trains year round, other than phoning?
Mark the auto carriers look great and fit right in with 50's & 60's era but the modern cars kill the deal.
Knock $20.00 off and ditch the vehicles and I bet you'll sell more in the long run. OR offer them both ways.
wild mary posted:Mark the auto carriers look great and fit right in with 50's & 60's era but the modern cars kill the deal.
Ditto
rtraincollector posted:wild mary posted:Mark the auto carriers look great and fit right in with 50's & 60's era but the modern cars kill the deal.
Ditto
Ditto ditto
AMCDave posted:rtraincollector posted:wild mary posted:Mark the auto carriers look great and fit right in with 50's & 60's era but the modern cars kill the deal.
Ditto
Ditto ditto
Yes I am afraid I would have to agree. The auto carrier car is very nice, but I would rather see '57 Buicks on it.
Well, the way it looks to me is Menards already have the Buicks in Inventory. China now makes Buicks over there (sad) ...but, the retail price of 2.99 each at the store, this brings the price down to about 30.00 bucks.. another way of thinking about this ?? Just my thoughts...Bob
And something else for that flat car.....since Mark has so much free time!!!! TOFC........
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cabinet Bob posted:Well, the way it looks to me is Menards already have the Buicks in Inventory. China now makes Buicks over there (sad) ...but, are the retail price of 2.99 each at the store, this brings the price down to about 30.00 bucks.. another way of thinking about this ?? Just my thoughts...Bob
I agree Bob! Menards will sell a boatload of these! Buicks in high volume makes good business sense. I'll even buy the auto carrier as I do stretch my rules sometimes. , it's cool no matter whether they are '57s or '17s.
RJR posted:MArk, is there any way to find out which, if any, stores carry trains year round, other than phoning?
Hey , RJR if you use the web-site and set "my local Menard's" to the ones you are looking for, you can see their in-stock inventory. It show's up as a "My Store" tab when you look at the products. Typically this time of year the train (seasonal) products are on the upper floor. Just ask anyone where the Christmas seasonal items are at.
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AtoZ Lewis posted:RJR posted:MArk, is there any way to find out which, if any, stores carry trains year round, other than phoning?
Hey , RJR if you use the web-site and set "my local Menard's" to the ones you are looking for, you can see their in-stock inventory. It show's up as a "My Store" tab when you look at the products. Typically this time of year the train (seasonal) products are on the upper floor. Just ask anyone where the Christmas seasonal items are at.
And just so everyone is clear on this, the train stock in those stores is leftover stock from Christmas. None of Menards stores adds new train stock year-round. So the auto rack cars have to be ordered online, but can be shipped to the store of your choice.
Mark you could d no wrong into doing a military transport car with jeeps or some small military gear, guns ...this car can also be a 50' evans type car and on Halloween you can put a bunch of hurses on them and paint it black and red. a few REA trucks, (HINT)
Love the auto-racks! I'm thinking someone from OGR needs to go see this layout and shoot a video.
I'm tempted to get one and repaint the Buicks colors that are generally available in North American dealerships.
RJR posted:MArk, is there any way to find out which, if any, stores carry trains year round, other than phoning?
Thanks for your help, Jim R!
RJR,
Jim is correct. You may also try the following tip.
If you were looking to purchase an item that is sold out online, we recently made some improvements to our website that, hopefully, will make it easier for you.
As you can see from the image below, the "Check Another Store for Availability" option is now more prevalent on our website.
By clicking that button, a list of stores with stock are provided. Unfortunately, you will still have to phone the store, but at least your search will be narrowed down. If the first stores on the list show zero in stock, you will know that this particular item is completely sold out.
I hope this helps!
-Mark the Menards Train Guy
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I'm surprised (or maybe not) that no one seems to have caught on to the reality that this new "innovative" flat car is "constructed primarily of wood, this innovative flatcar is the first construction of its kind." Of course, this is not entirely true, as at one time if you wanted scale pieces or items that had less broad sales appeal, you might have purchased wood craftsman kits with cardstock sides... which do not seem to be very popular these days.
Be it wood or even brass, the larger more important factor is that there were no expensive dies or costly tooling required for the creation of this car. People often complain upon seeing a new catalog that there are no new items other than re-runs or re-issues. BUT when you own a company that has invested tens of thousands of dollars into tooling (more for locomotives), you NEED to make that investment back.
Which would be exactly the case as with Swafford's suggestion of a 50 ft. box car. Not only has that item been produced by other companies, but it begs the question, how many will they need to sell to make back a die/tooling investment? And as painful as this might be for some, a semi-scale or traditionally sized 50 foot box car is going to sell in far larger numbers than will an accurate scale version.
I was at a show where someone requested a new product to a rep. He smiled and answered "if you want to pay for the tooling and buy the entire first few production runs, they would consider it." (There's a potential avenue Frank, to get your requested 50 foot box car made 
). I guess this culture has gotten spoiled by the drive-thru where you get the burger or cup of coffee YOUR way and also immediately. Manufacturing doesn't work that way.
No doubt Menards knows this well and their building line up proves it. No expensive tooling which enables smaller runs which suits the reality of the small O gauge market extremely well. And it makes the probability of success for Menards all that much more possible.
So it is interesting to see Menards incorporate the principle behind the practicality of small run constructed structures into their rolling stock line. And it will be interesting to see how well received (meaning actual sales) this particular item will actually be.
Gotta give Menards credit for looking around for alternate avenues to create new products. Obviously Lionel has had similar thoughts with the recent announcement of the brass body steam engine.
Hey Mark, care to look in the corporate crystal ball and see if ther are any plans to open a store further East. Like in New Jersey. Lots and lots of customers here would welcome a decent store like Menards (especially us train guys)
Brian,
Those are some great thoughts about tooling, manufacturing in general. I own 4 Menards buildings and was right away impressed with the good looks and "old fashioned materials". Yes I have had to glue a couple pieces back on, but so what! It may be well worth it to buy the auto carrier if for nothing else to see the construction. Takes me back to some kits I built in the 1960s
There have not been 50' box cars with both Exterior Posts and Dreadnought Ends representing box cars built between 1960 and 1980.
The auto rack cars aren't completely made of wood. The frame of the flatcar is plastic, but the deck and rack assembly are wood. The flat car was previously use for a cable spools load version. Cabinet Bob showed a photo of the under frame in another thread. Regardless, as brianel_k-lineguy noted, it cuts down on tooling costs.
cabinet Bob posted:China now makes Buicks over there (sad) ...
Well, they build one small SUV there. But GM doesn't think there's anything sad about Buicks and China.
"General Motor's Buick brand is flying high -- all because of China.
Buick is now selling more than eight vehicles in the Asian nation for every one that leaves a showroom in the U.S.
As a result, Buick surpassed 1 million in global sales by the end of September, the earliest date in its history, thanks largely to the 860,384 vehicles it sold in China.
The global total of 1,046,746, is up nearly 200,000 from the first nine months of 2015. So China accounts for 82% of Buick's total sales, or five times as much as its U.S. sales."
The flat car with auto racks should be produced in a red-brown color and have KTTX or RTTX reporting marks with a yellow TTX logo, to look like classic 1960's auto rack flat cars.
Anyone have thoughts on where to find stickers for railroads not provided with the auto carrier? (Other than home printing them, which I do not wish to do).
And as an aside, with regards to new dies/retooling costs, has anyone heard of any manufacturer seriously considering 3-D printing of car bodies?
BwanaBob posted:Anyone have thoughts on where to find stickers for railroads not provided with the auto carrier? (Other than home printing them, which I do not wish to do).
And as an aside, with regards to new dies/retooling costs, has anyone heard of any manufacturer seriously considering 3-D printing of car bodies?
Stickers - find logo needed om the imternet, print on self stick paper sold at any office or big box store. cut and apply.
3D printed O scale bodies. a 40ft box car could take 15 hours to print.....$2 a minute cost....do the math. Until cost comes way down....no.
AMCDave posted:BwanaBob posted:Anyone have thoughts on where to find stickers for railroads not provided with the auto carrier? (Other than home printing them, which I do not wish to do).
And as an aside, with regards to new dies/retooling costs, has anyone heard of any manufacturer seriously considering 3-D printing of car bodies?
Stickers - find logo needed om the imternet, print on self stick paper sold at any office or big box store. cut and apply.
3D printed O scale bodies. a 40ft box car could take 15 hours to print.....$2 a minute cost....do the math. Until cost comes way down....no.
$2/minute? Where is that number coming from. I've seen 3-d printers here at work printing the occasional plastic part, and true, it takes time, but I cannot believe that's what it's costing .
Go to the website Shapways and look at the parts for sale. They own the fastest and cheapest printers that the public can use. High def printer and GOOD media (plastic) will cost you that from a vendor. Buy your own printer and do it yourself but the part will not look like a Shapeways part......$1K desktop printers are very limited in size and definition.
Laser cutting ( I own a laser and commercial cut) cost $1 a minute and only use electricity and no media.
