Any sightings of Menards box cars?

When I read the story, my interpretation was that all of the units were going to be produced and sized as Standard 0 Scale and not Traditional 0 Scale. Can anyone help confirm the actual sizing?

I believe these cars are the same as those offered by Williams.  They are larger than traditional sized Lionel 6464 cars. But they are not full scale.  At around $20 they are a good deal.  

I received an e-mail from Menards stating that the delivery of the boxcars has been delayed until June.

George Brown of OGR did a story on these boxcars in the current run of OGR #271. In his article he said that the cars were scale sized. I also got a letter from Menards saying that the boxcars were going to be shipped in June.

I wondered if these were out yet. About 2 years ago I started a post about why if we have highly detailed 1/24 scale die cast cars for $10 why can't we get a good $20 o 3R box car. I got roughed up pretty good for my hypocrisy of comparing apples and oranges. BUT....maybe Mr Menard saw my post as now we have decent box cars for UNDER $18.....below my projection!!!!

I read the OGR article again as I missed that it said the cars were scale! It says the cars are scale X-29 box cars....which makes sense as the X-29 is a rather small car by modern standards. I also think these are WbB units....which is FINE as I like them and Menards going the extra mile to make each car a different number AND under $18.....a great effort!

I got to thinking.........

I pulled a Roco scale 40ft box car two rail,  WbB 40ft 3R box car and an Industrial Rail 40ft box car.

The WbB box car matched up to the Roco car in length, width. It also matched in height but only because the 2 rail scale Roco car sat down on it's trucks while the WbB X-29 box car sat rather high. The IR could run with the other two but is more narrow and shorter.....but being about 3/8 inch shorter is hard to see....the narrow you can see. 

So I'll buy some of the Menards cars for my scale locos.......

As I stated in my first post, it will be interesting when these arrive to have someone tell if one side has what looks like a Menards advertisement while other side has what would be expected to see on box car as far as lettering and logo.

I'd hope the magazine review would have pointed that out if it was going to be on production models.....

Wish our local Menards was finished! I would bring home 15 of the PRR box cars...

I believe it is just the Chicago & Northwestern car that has the large Menard's logo.  The rest of the cars have a small "built by Menards" label.

Every car made has a different number.

Just got an email from Menards saying they expect the cars in late July.

They will ship to your house.  

BTW, the Camaraderie Bar is on sale now for about $81.00.  I have one, it is a really nice model, and is made of wood.

Beware if you order now they hit your credit card now. I thought they wouldn't charge until they shipped.

The 11% off sale ends on the 14th, so get them now.  Especially if you want 15 cars!

I believe the 11% rebate is in the form of a Menards Store Merchandise Card which is only redeemable "in-store."

A great deal if there are Menards stores near you but no value to me in South Carolina.

Trade your rebate certificate to a Yankee for a O scale box car!!!!!

Yeah, you're right.  It would only help you if you ordered something else from them on line.  I think they used to send checks, but I guess this would make business sense.  Works OK for me since I live only 4 miles from one.

I'm a bit late on the thread, but on the topic I had to share this as it made me pretty homesick. Menards added a dairy barn with attached silo. Even a video show a bit more view of it:  http://www.menards.com/main/p-2349221-c-13318.htm  

Looks like they have it available to ship. Gotta add this to my set.  

Nice looking.  Wonder who makes it?  Woodland Scenic?

I have mixed feelings about this one.  I think I'd like it more if it were a different color than the prototypical red.  As is, with the red and the cows, and even the tree, it looks too cartoonish to me.  It's the typical caricature of what a barn should look like.

I think I'd like it better if it had a side storage area attached like the one banjoflyer posted.  Just something that makes it more realistic.  Or if they had bags of feed out back or something extra like they have done on their other buildings.  Maybe an old tractor tire leaning up against the side.

I am just used to the quality in some of their other buildings, like the motorcycle shop that provides a lot of interest with a lot going on.

I am also trying to think of ways to repurpose this.  With the side windows, I can totally see this on a dock alongisde a harbor if you took the silo off. Maybe have it a boat builder's shop with a under construction boat poking out the front door.

I don't know, I'm going to think about this some more.  It has great weathering as always.  I just have to see if I like it enough and can make it work on my layout.  I think part of my problem is that in order for it to be realistic as a barn, it needs to have a lot of land around it to really get a rural feel.  And few of us have a layout big enough for that.

Looking forward to seeing what the other Menards buildings will be this year.

Wow, that's cool!  Kind of makes sense....Menards=Wisconsin=dairy cows.

I just received my PRR boxcar from Menards today.  For the price it is a very nice looking car.

Thanks for the heads up that these are shipping. I ordered 4 PRR cars. I think I will remove the "Built by Menards 2014."

I may do the same myself, but I have bigger projects at hand, so it may never happen.  In a way maybe it is a tribute to Menards promoting the hobby.

I just saw those boxcars in OGR looking for another ad.  If it says "Lionel" visible on the side, I won't buy it, so "built by XXXX" is a deal killer.  Tired of having to repaint

everything.  Fire engine models in 1/43, with NYC on them, same problem...be a lot

smarter to leave the lettering off and throw decals in the box to add or NOT!  That

barn, if it has "Menards, Wis." on the roof, same problem.  In HO there is a kit for

a "Baker's Country Store" that I was unable to get plans for to blow up to O.  If

Menards/Woodland Scenics made THAT, or similar,  in their building series, I'd work to get the lettering off. 

Received the Northern Pacific and Wisconsin Central boxcars a few weeks ago. At $20 bucks a pop the best buy in O Gauge rolling stock. Had them delivered to the local Menards so no shipping charges, I am in the store about once a week.

BTW, I stopped into my first Menards about a month ago while driving to Vegas and they had nothing. I asked and they looked at me with a strange look.

"I asked and they looked at me with a strange look."

Hey Charlie, I'm guessing that happens at alot more places than just Menards.

Milwrd

Banbjoflyer is not the only one getting strange looks....I went into one to see what

the noise was about, and there was noting to be found, the "toy" section was given

over to Halloween stuff, and I got strange looks when asking about trains....as though

the store employees, when I could track a couple down,  were clueless...(oh, well, that's modern big box retail, but....)

As a previous poster mentioned, the O Gauge trains are seasonal in a Menards store. Otherwise the trains are available on line.  I recently bought the flat car with tank with sounds. I've had a problem with the last few purchase of rolling stock from Menards. The wheels are often out of gauge. The couplers are also a very tight fit with Lionel couplers. Tight to the point that I've had to do some filing to get them to fit and work.  I also hope Menards does a Lionel train set this year.  They didn't do one last year.  I think they were trying to clear out old stock.

For what they're asking, why not just buy one and customize it to your liking?  Plus, I'm not sure how much business you do with them, but they're always chasing after me with rebates..  You could save even BIGGER money at Menards!  I received my boxcars and the MILW takes the prize.  They're very solid for the price.  My only quibble is, the metal wheels squeak quite a bit, but once I juice the rest of the layout up, I don't hardly notice.