(07/27/20) New! Fire Station No.9 from Menards!

Very cool!

cool.  But it would have been nice to put drivers in the trucks...kind of odd to have them moving without drivers!

@Bossman284 posted:

cool.  But it would have been nice to put drivers in the trucks...kind of odd to have them moving without drivers!

 

Kind of odd to have them moving either way...

Nice!  I am maxed out on real estate but this looks pretty cool.  You might be able to add people to the trucks and also add flashing lights on top of their cabs.  That would be pretty easy.  For the price this offers tremendous value.  I like the lighted flag, too!

Thanks, Menards, for help keeping O Gauge alive!

@Mill City posted:

Kind of odd to have them moving either way...

The fire truck movement seems a little creepy to me...

Rusty

@Rusty Traque posted:

The fire truck movement seems a little creepy to me...

Rusty

Tend to agree, it's like they're dancing with each other.  Would be more believable with two things being different.  Instead of firetruck movement have doors open and close with firetruck lights coming on when opening and off when closing.  Then have the helicopter rotor spinning much faster.

@TexasSP posted:

Tend to agree, it's like they're dancing with each other.  Would be more believable with two things being different.  Instead of firetruck movement have doors open and close with firetruck lights coming on when opening and off when closing.  Then have the helicopter rotor spinning much faster.

Since these are already in stores or will be shortly I doubt this will change.  One thing about Menard's.  They make it, you get to see it, then you decide to buy it or not.  

Personally I prefer the "Engine House 51" type station that came out years ago and have one on my layout.

I was hoping it would have a little older appearance, for my layout. 1919 to 1935.  Helicopter and engines wold have to go.  Older fire engines.  Still it is very nicely done.  Looks like a fun piece.

Very nice but sadly too modern for me.

Ricky

The architecture might be 1930's, but the 'copter and firetrucks aren't, so I'm not sure it can find a place on my layout, but it's a really neat piece.

I also wish Menard's would put switches on some of the moving parts on their structures (I know, I can do it myself if I want). The constant "in n' out" movement of those firetrucks would get a little tiresome for me after awhile. 

The helicopter would have to go, so would firefighters on the roof.  The trucks are too modern for me but luckily Menards has flats with older Firetrucks that will work. Buying the school district bus repair station and renaming it and put a couple of fire trucks in it, might serve my purpose better. 

Nice building but the animations have to go.  Certainly not worth the $110.00.  One thing for sure, Menards keeps it interesting.  Thanks.

Thumbs down on the animation and helicopter overkill. 

Everyone....Stop Complaining!! This accessory offers a tremendous level of animation for the price. I can't imagine young kids or those young at heart not finding this entertaining. Not everything has to offer life-mimicking realism........some things simply have to be enjoyed for what they are.

I agree with Oneonta.  I am thrilled a new company (Menards) is willing to invest in our hobby. Plenty of opportunity for customizing things you want different here. I am getting one!  Capt. John Asklar,  Niagara Falls FD

@Oneonta posted:

Everyone....Stop Complaining!! This accessory offers a tremendous level of animation for the price. I can't imagine young kids or those young at heart not finding this entertaining. Not everything has to offer life-mimicking realism........some things simply have to be enjoyed for what they are.

Everyone else is entitled to their opinions same as you, and so far everyone is giving their own opinions same as you.  Sorry that some of you don't like that these opinions differ from yours, but such is life.

BTW, I have kids, and for both when I showed them this, they were not impressed or interested.

@Richie C. posted:

The architecture might be 1930's, but the 'copter and firetrucks aren't, so I'm not sure it can find a place on my layout, but it's a really neat piece.

I also wish Menard's would put switches on some of the moving parts on their structures (I know, I can do it myself if I want). The constant "in n' out" movement of those firetrucks would get a little tiresome for me after awhile. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orS3G52Oig0

Agreed - at 13:55 in this review video, Eric offers an elementary solution for a switch.   

"BTW, I have kids, and for both when I showed them this, they were not impressed or interested."

That made me smile.  My daughter would laugh at me for asking.  The best thing she likes about my layout is when I turn it off and come up stairs to hang with her.  I guess she grew up with my trains and sees the space as a waisted chunk of our house.

The fire and rescue  plus the helicopter are anxious  to get their new home

For the unjust criticism they receive, IMO Menards shouldn't even participate in this forum.  Especially considering a lot of the criticism comes from people who run toy trains on three rail track. Many on tubular and plastic roadbed no less.

IMO the fire trucks would look better if they just came out and sat parked for a few minutes before returning inside.  That said, I think it's a great addition to their lineup.

"What this country needs is a good 5-cent cigar" and when someone gives us a good 5-cent cigar we complain that it is not a good a $5 dollar Cuban. 

So some guys don't like it.  Is that a crime?  I didn't see one comment I would consider unjust or rude.  Some folks like it and others don't.  Menard's makes a lot of cool stuff but not every piece is going to please everyone.  As long as folks can civilly discuss what they like and don't like then the forum works.  Yes some folks complain and can get downright nasty and rude.  Some folks can complain and offer constructive criticism.  Most if not all of what I see above falls into the later category.

The forum would be painfully boring if we all thought everything was the bees knees.  Then what would we talk about?  

Maybe after Cabinet Bob gets it installed some of the folks here that had some doubts will come around.

Menards is just one company producing animated building products. After MTH finally exits there will be one less.

If you like the fire station buy it, otherwise if you want to see ANOTHER company go away keep up the useless  criticism that will not change an already manufactured product.

What is Menards to do? Redesign and remanufacture a new station? The best we can hope for is that Menards is listening to the comments and improves the Next station.

@AlanRail posted:

Menards is just one company producing animated building products. After MTH finally exits there will be one less.

If you like the fire station buy it, otherwise if you want to see ANOTHER company go away keep up the useless  criticism that will not change an already manufactured product.

What is Menards to do? Redesign and remanufacture a new station? The best we can hope for is that Menards is listening to the comments and improves the Next station.

 

Your third statement and last statement are contradictory.  In the third you are saying this criticism is useless then in the last you are saying you hope Menard's is listening and improves.

So how are they to listen and improve without any criticism?

Why do so many of you get wound up because others fail to agree with you?

MTH has nothing to do with any of this so not sure the relevance there and they certainly aren't going out of business because some of us didn't like some of there offerings.

@AlanRail posted:

If you like the fire station buy it, otherwise if you want to see ANOTHER company go away keep up the useless  criticism that will not change an already manufactured product.

 

Criticism isn't useless. It tells the company what is like and what isn't, it isn't meant to deter them. As they make a lot of great items and know not everyone is going to like everything. As stated above everyone is welcome to there point of view. To me, you're trying to tell me and others how they need to think and respond. 

I think it is an excellent offering.  Menards is to be commended.  I think it will catch a lot of eyes.  Kids should like all the lights and movements.  Sure, any purchaser can doctor it up any way they see fit.  It is a starting point for added imagination.  I'm sorry I will not have a place for it on my small layout set in the hills of West Virginia in the steam-diesel transition period.

Number Nine, Number Nine!😵

Ive got blisters on me fingers 😲

Imagine that 🤔😕  

This Is Very Cool. we will have it on our Display. Kids will love this. We wish that this Covid-19 would go away. T Sr.

I really like it and if they made it in ho I would buy it for my layout. Very cool imo. Not for everybody but it will be a big seller.

Dave

Looking back at my earlier post it may seem like my post was confusing and contradicting.

On the one hand, we as consumers should be critical of items produced badly. I have done that many times. However given our small market we need to be reasonable so that a company like Menards doesn't just decide that we are just NOT worth the effort of producing products.

I look at train products and ask how or can  I make changes or add something to make it better for me. BASHING kits is my way which may not be yours.

I ASK Can I add fireman drivers or change the speed of the helicopter rotors, or alter the engine paths? If I think I can make some alterations then I purchase. And after completing I start a new thread showing what and how I altered it.

Alan, I agree!!!

@AlanRail posted:

On the one hand, we as consumers should be critical of items produced badly. I have done that many times. However given our small market we need to be reasonable so that a company like Menards doesn't just decide that we are just NOT worth the effort of producing products.

Somehow, I think that Menards' train customers extend far beyond the OGR Forums.  How many folks have say they're buying (insert product here.)   A dozen?  Two dozen?? 

Sure, folks here may buy multiple freight cars, but how many buy more multiple fire stations or other structures?

Either way, the population here that buys train stuff from Menards isn't large enough to support continued offerings.  After all, how has Menards responded to the calls from Forumites for locomotives and expansion of the track line?

Rusty

A very nicely done fire station!  Animation of the fire trucks a little odd, but that's ok.  They've done a fine job overall and reasonably priced. 

I'd like to know what is behind door number 2?  Is it possible to open it, move what electronics are there and put something else in that bay?

As some have suggested that you could alter the fire station to meet your own tastes.  I believe it is possible.  

Wow.  Reading this thread is like looking at a microcosm of what’s going on in the world today.  Nobody knows how to “agree to disagree” anymore.  Instead, they beat a dead horse trying to get their point across.  It’s a shame.  Buy it if you think you’ll enjoy it... don’t buy it if you think you won’t.  Simple as that.

11% off  deal before 7/31    Great looking!

Menard's hits another home run!!! I am buying one for my layout and two more as an investment. It looks just my local firehouse where the fire trucks go back and forth a few feet over and over,a helicopter sits on the roof and giant red led bulbs blink on the front of the building. Keep up the fantastic modeling Menard's!!!

Not a bad building, lots of animation and lights (might be a little overkill), but I prefer their original fire station that looks like the one from the 70's show Emergency.  It has just right amount of lights and spinning vent on roof, lighted trucks.   So I'll keep that one over this one.

Looks almost like the firehouse I run out of in Bedminster, NJ - sans helo on the roof

@Sean's Train Depot posted:

Not a bad building, lots of animation and lights (might be a little overkill), but I prefer their original fire station that looks like the one from the 70's show Emergency.  It has just right amount of lights and spinning vent on roof, lighted trucks.   So I'll keep that one over this one.

That's the one I got.  I love it.