(08/25/16) Flatcar with Container and Gun from Menards!

Sorry, Menards, the US Army is a mobilized army, it doesn't trade in deck guns.  Was this unit stored by the Army for the Navy?

I love it !

This is awesome!!

Basil, did you ever play the older Call of Duty Games? I swear that there was one of these in one of the tougher segments of the game defending the bridge from a German onslaught. Just did a bit of research. Aha....it was a German Flak 88.

I did play Call of Duty.  Loved that game.  I was going to point out you were thinking of the German 88, but you beat me to it! lol

I believe the Wermarcht also mounted some guns in Normandy, but that doesn't matter as this is supposed to be a US artillery piece.

It would have been cool if they had simply put a howitzer on the car. Then spoil sports like me wouldn't be spoiling this.

Menard's,

   Great stuff will order one at the end of the month and maybe a MASH also.

PCRR/Dave

Basil,

I don't think you have spoiled anything. This flat car from Menard's will sell very well. The reason, I say this, is because most people see this item, as a freight car for a toy train. I don't know how many they made, but they should sell out.

I get that.  It doesn't escape me that these are toys.    

Hi Mark, is the container screwed down to the deck from the underside like some of the other items in the Menard's collection? Can we remove the container if needed for other Army supplies to be transported? Thanks!

P.S. I love the free shipping to my local Menard's, what a great reason to "have to go to Menard's".

Buy two cars change out the loads. One flat for the cannons and then repaint it for the US Navy the other one with the two covered loads can stay Army...........Paul

I'll buy this flatcar... But I'm still patiently waiting for an Army caboose to be released... soon.... I hope. Lol!

This is a great car- but some people...smh

I'm going to be awake all night wondering how many rivets are on this toy...lol

While your getting picky there wasn't a Military Transport Command. There was a Military Air Transport Command which was a combination of the Navy and the Air Force. Which finally came to be Military Air lift Command ( MAC ) But to me i say 1 paint the Gun Haze Grey and then do the same to the box and put United States Navy on the side in black decal. Navy used Haze Grey and Black Printing. 

Bottom line it's another nice addition to the layout. Now those that are exact scale I guess this isn't going to work either for you, but for most of us there are so many options for this. Heck find a big enough deuce and a half and mount the gun on the back of that lol. ( maybe that flatbed Mack truck on the flatcar might be big enough. Who says it really has to be accurate it's a toy.) I like it and may do the haze grey version. 

Remember they sold that hybrid tank that looked half German half U.S..  Hmmmmmm!!!!!!!

Rick

Matt Kramer posted:

I'll buy this flatcar... But I'm still patiently waiting for an Army caboose to be released... soon.... I hope. Lol!

Keep waiting I hear there's a Navy one coming first then U.S.M.C. 

one to repaint to match zombie apocalypse  

Just bought two with the 2 free flats with the ambulances on them make my total after shipping a big $18.18 each  if I sell the two flats with ambulance just for $20 each I will have basically $33 in the two flats total. 

Very cool! Should make a lot of folks very happy as they build their army trains!!

rtraincollector posted:

Just bought two with the 2 free flats with the ambulances on them make my total after shipping a big $18.18 each  if I sell the two flats with ambulance just for $20 each I will have basically $33 in the two flats total. 

Does the container open ?

U.S. Army flat with deck gun and conex box...oh so close, yet so far (just my two cents worth).

That gun would work my truck to scare tailgaters!

They should have an animated MASH hut.  Jack the dog cashing Hot Lips, while Radar says:  Incoming Wounded!

Andy O posted:

U.S. Army flat with deck gun and conex box...oh so close, yet so far (just my two cents worth).

About 3 have already said that

TShearer posted:

rtraincollector posted:

Just bought two with the 2 free flats with the ambulances on them make my total after shipping a big $18.18 each  if I sell the two flats with ambulance just for $20 each I will have basically $33 in the two flats total. 

Does the container open ?

no idea but I would bet not.

I know I have been negative about this car but had a thought. Buy two cars and remove just the guns and place them on the newer Army flat and cover them with a tarp looking material. This way just the barrel projects out a bit and you cannot tell it is a deck gun. What do you think?

Don, for all of the anal retentive folk that we have on this board, I think that is an excellent idea. Or of course, folks could just ignore this car and any other that any manufacturer puts out that is in some way fanciful or imaginary and vote with your wallet. Just do not buy it. I am sure Menards will soon get out of the train business when their products just start piling on their shelves rather than keep getting sold out. 

I keep reminding myself that Menards is not a train store, not even a hobby store. They are basically a home improvement center that has expanded in many different areas. They have food, jewelry, baby supplies, pet supplies and many other non-hardware items. For some reason, the CEO of the company decided to venture out in the most unlikely of products, O-Gauge trains, and has hit a market for well-made (though not factually accurate) items that are very reasonably priced. The last two words in that sentence is what has struck a chord with most of us. As a matter of fact, compared to some of the others, I actually feel they are practically offering these items at cost. How they are doing that, I do not know, since it seems that many of these items are new ideas or concepts. I have not seen them before and I have been in the hobby awhile (I am 66). 

So, for us thrift-conscious hobbyists who accept fantasy and pocket friendliness to historically accurate expensive modeling, Menards has found a market. And yes, I did order one of the flats with the artillery gun. And I will not feel guilty perpetuating a myth, a misinterpretation of historical fact. 

There definitely is a place for historical accurate modeling that would be fit as well in a home as in a historical museum and it is admired, greatly admired. But, not all have the same skills or desires to model to that extent or to that cost.  Finally...and this is where I get a bit snarky.....I can't figure out if folks post on these train items to show their extensive knowledge about real trains and real history or if they are so envious that some of us are willing to accept certain principles for value. It sort of reminds me of the following dialogue:

Buzz: Don't talk to me about importance! Because of *you*, the future of this entire universe is in jeopardy! 

Woody: What? What are you talkin' about? 

Buzz: Right now, poised at the edge of the galaxy, Emperor Zurg has been secretly building a weapon with the destructive capacity to annihilate an entire planet! I alone have information that reveals this weapon's only weakness. And *you*, my friend, are responsible for delaying my rendezvous with Star Command! 

Woody: [pauses, then screams] YOU - ARE - A... *TOY*! You aren't the real Buzz Lightyear! You're a... aw, you're - you're an action figure! 

[holds hand up to eyes indicating something small]

Woody: You are a child's play thing! 

Buzz: You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity. (Buzz could have been saying that about me!)

Rick

There are no words 

What I find interesting is the response to the people who pointed out the inaccuracy of mixing the US Army with naval equipment.  It isn't "yeah, good point, but you can vote with your wallet", it's "anal retentive", "IT'S A TOY", etc.  That reaction makes me sad.

This is a forum, a place for people to share thoughts and ideas.  I'm one of those "anal retentive" people that shared my observation of the mixture of equipment.  I also acknowledged it's a toy.  But my view on Menards is that they are trying to be accurate.  Menards has come nowhere close to making something as fantastical as an aquarium boxcar.  They strive for accuracy in their buildings and cars.  Sure, it's not necessarily the "scale modeling" some folks go for in this hobby, but they have certainly avoided the fantastical.  This offering is not meant to be fancy or whimsical.  And that brings me to my point:  If striving to achieve some semblance of accuracy (heck, they make "weathered" cars!), then make sure that effort translates to every offering where intended.  

I've enjoyed the suggestions of how we can reconcile the issue.  I especially liked the idea of buying two, remove the deck gun from one and the container from the other, paint the guns grey and put them both on the same car.  That makes great sense.  Deck guns had to get to shipyards some way!

I have tremendous respect for Menards.  I've been a customer for over 15 years.  My house is a "Menards" house.  It's been nearly exclusively remodeled with Menards goods, including the roof and siding.  My layout framework: Menards lumber, wire and foam, even.  That it offers train stuff is great and much appreciated.  I own several pieces and will most likely continue to purchase offerings. My criticism on this item is simply a critique based on what I've seen in the consistency of their offerings.

As for myself: I'm a rambling wreck!  I'm willing to lash up my Soo Line SD40-2 with my CN ES44AC.  I've got stock that rolled in the 1940s in a consist with modern stock.  Good gravy, what a mess! But that's me, buying what I like, ignoring what I don't and then enjoying the things I have all the while recapturing the little boy in me that loved trains and that I could have one in my house.

The gun is an example of a piece of small caliber coastal artillery that were common along the Gulf coast and in and around harbors during WWI and WWII.  Here's a picture of such a piece.  More can be seen at the displayed link.

The gun is simply being transported by rail to its fortification.  A more appropriate container should have been selected.

Jan

Basil, I humbly disagree that the Menards product is trying to be accurate or correct. And to me, that is okay. That was the whole point of my previous post.  Accuracy has not been an emphasis to any of their releases no matter how often we try to berate them into it. Not since the first Army release. They caught all kinds of flak over their imaginary tank flat and they willingly printed on the literature that it was not meant to mimic the real thing. Their World War II Commemorative Box Cars were not real, nor were many of the other releases as shown by the response of posters complaining about the accuracy. Yet, with each release, there is always a post about what is inaccurate about the item. The vetting of such inaccuracies has not shown a tendency for Menards to produce more accurate pieces, but again for many of us that is okay. I, for one, was not interested in having an army train until some of the Menards items came out. Now I do. I have created my own flats and even took an older Pennsylvania caboose and made it into an army caboose. 

 I will agree that Menards has responded to folks about certain quality control issues whether it be with the rolling stock trucks or couplers and such. They have done a great job with that. I also appreciate Mark monitoring the forum for feedback and his quick replies to questions and clarification to things listed. His responses can be seen by all and we get solid feedback quickly.

I also humbly bow to those who served and take such matters to heart about the accuracy of their experiences and their memories. My intent was not to make you or anyone else defensive about those memories. The bottom line is that I doubt (and maybe I assume too much) that Menards is going to hire a historian to monitor accuracy in their offerings and then do the retooling to produce those models and still be able to offer a piece that sells for less than $30.00 and to offer a free whole flatcar along with a van to boot. 

I am not an expert as you can read into my post, but those of you who are, how many army pieces released by Menards is an accurate representation of a period war item?  I counted 18 offerings (I am cheating I know since I am counting all 6 Commemorative Box Cars as separate pieces). I am offering proof that it is not about accuracy, but about what sells and at a very affordable price. By pointing the inaccuracy out at each offering may help to get a nagging feeling off one's chest, but will probably not alter Menards production line a whole lot

Rick

Put me in the column of gratified customers that are happy that a home improvements store is offering O Gauge items at all. I am also happy that I live where I can walk into the local Menards stores and see and buy these items around the holidays. Kudos to Menards. 

AtoZ Lewis posted:

Hi Mark, is the container screwed down to the deck from the underside like some of the other items in the Menard's collection? Can we remove the container if needed for other Army supplies to be transported? Thanks!

P.S. I love the free shipping to my local Menard's, what a great reason to "have to go to Menard's".

Hi AtoZ,

Both pieces can be removed by unscrewing a few screws. I believe another member asked whether or not the container doors open. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

I agree about the free shipping to store! I take advantage of that excuse quite often.

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

jay jay posted:

Put me in the column of gratified customers that are happy that a home improvements store is offering O Gauge items at all. I am also happy that I live where I can walk into the local Menards stores and see and buy these items around the holidays. Kudos to Menards. 

You are absolutely right John.. I for one can only wish that Menards would have a store in South Carolina!!!!

I salute Menards for creation of fun and interesting items.  I have the flat with battle tank (btw, how do I change the battery?).  About two weeks ago, I placed an order for several flat cars- the lighted ambulance, (2) Coast Guard helicopters, and some Army trucks.  Very cool stuff.

Garrett76 posted:

I salute Menards for creation of fun and interesting items.  I have the flat with battle tank (btw, how do I change the battery?).  About two weeks ago, I placed an order for several flat cars- the lighted ambulance, (2) Coast Guard helicopters, and some Army trucks.  Very cool stuff.

Take the tank off the flatcar and you will see the battery compartment

I am part of the hobby that cares very little about accuracy.  I buy what looks good to my eye. But I also greatly admire the work of the other part of the hobby that strives for accuracy and prototypical layouts.

FWIW - I was in the Army for 2 years and I have never even seen an Army train much less one carrying both artillery and ammo.  Other then an M-16 and 50 cal. I couldn't tell one artillery piece from another or what branch of the service used it. Being a non- prototypical train guy the Mennard's  cars look fine to me.

One thing I wish would not be said in these discussions is the multiple references to "reasonably priced trains".  Somewhere there is a Mennard's bean counter who just might see some of these pricing references and get the idea that hey maybe we are being "too reasonably priced" and should increase prices.  

Thanks,

Ed

Basil posted:

What I find interesting is the response to the people who pointed out the inaccuracy of mixing the US Army with naval equipment.  It isn't "yeah, good point, but you can vote with your wallet", it's "anal retentive", "IT'S A TOY", etc.  That reaction makes me sad.

It's not even Naval... It's German. Kind of flies in the face of the WW2 vets to 'commemorate' the "Red Legs" of the US Army by using a German WW2 88MM FLAK 18 gun on what appears to be a partial 88×571R mm cartridge.

Mind you, there was a US Army unit that used all German artillery in the winter of 1944 due to almost crushing ammo shortages, but I doubt this is what Menards had in mind.

I didnt think to look at the 88. Wow. Just wow.  

Basil, yes we did.....remember the Call of Duty game we discussed???? We already had it pegged as such.