As Promised Menard's WWII Commemorative Box Cars on the Tracks!

Looks good 

Thank you for those photos, Dave!   They look very nice! 

Got my set they are very nice. I hope they do another set of six. There is so many different Nose Art they could keep this series going for a long time. Maybe a 3 car set from time to time. But I would like to see it grow to more than six cars.

Dave they are really nice. Doc is right with the amount of nose art from WW II they could easily do sets for ETO, the Pacific AOR, and the China/Burma Theatre.

Got mine on Friday! Terrific, nice weight, and real quality! The box said 453 of 500 I think. Wonder if they are limited to 500 or if that's just the first run! In any case glad I didn't wait!

Just another thought. If they do offer other sets of nose art, think of the teasers! Much cheaper than certain pharmaceuticals!! Lol

They could have Adult set and Family Friendly sets.

Gentlemen,

    I could definitely get into collecting these Menard's WWII Commemorative Box Cars, decent Quality and Coloring, no doubt about it.  I agree they could make an entire line of Nose Art Box Cars, and it would sell big time, especially to us Viet Nam Vets, who had Fathers in WWII.  They could even back up and do some WWI Dough Boy Box Cars also.  All kinds of Commemorative Box Cars could be produced and they would sell big time. They do make a real nice rolling consist on your layout, Menard's might want to consider  production of a couple different lighted WWII Commemorative Caboose also, to go with their set.

PCRR/Dave

Got to say Menard's did this one Right! -  Looking FWD to more - Military Nose Art!

These would be cool B24 nose art There is also a lot of B52 nose art out there too.

I agree with you Dave on wanting more of these cars.

This is my first order from Menard's and received it yesterday box 488 of 500???

I will be ordering more military train items from them in the future.

I did  a very hard inspection. I did not have any problems what so ever with these 6 cars.

I may , as some have suggested do a clear coat  to protect the art work a little more  .

Larry

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

I could definitely get into collecting these Menard's WWII commemorative boxcars, decent quality & coloring, no doubt about it.    They could make an entire line of nose art boxcars, & it would sell big time, especially to us Viet Nam vets, who had fathers in WWII. PCRR/Dave  

Dave, out of curiosity, what type of packaging were these shipped in, individual, plain cardboard boxes?   I've ordered several Menards things of late.  Some came in plain cardboard boxes & others, the 027-sized flat cars, were packaged in large, see-through plastic "blister"-type holders.

rad

Here is the way mine came 6 cars boxed individually and in a shipping container box. 6 cars to a case.

I was impressed with the individual boxes. Wouldn't mind having a couple dozen empties for other train items.

Larry

as well

This was my first order from Menards. Won't be my last. The packaging was Super. I don't keep very many rolling stock boxes. I don't think I will keep these either. They are very nice boxes.  I might hold onto them for shipping when I sell something.  

Looks good. I would definitely consider a clear coat of some kind to protect the decals from handling.  A whole series would be cool.  I think  Menard's has stolen a march on the other companies with these. See what happens.

Jim

A whole series would be cool.  I think  Menard's has stolen a march on the other companies with these. See what happens.

That's a very good point .

I spent about a K on the 18 Lionel Military cars that came out about a year or so ago. 3 type of cars for each of the 6 Military branches.

Being a TOY train type these are very nice for the price.

Actually, a test for me  I just ordered two more 4 packs of their other Military flat bed cars with loads. I'll see how long it takes me to run the wheels off.

Larry

Toy trains are so much fun

RadioRon,

   All my deliveries form Menard's have been in either Single Card Board Boxes with the Molded Safety Plastic in side, or 6 in a bigger box, set up in the same manner.  Got to admit nothing has been damaged in shipment when coming from Menard's

Thanks Larry SR for posting the pictures!

PCRR/Dave 

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Got to say Menard's did this one Right! -  Looking FWD to more - Military Nose Art!

Odd. One is named for the "Liberty Belle" which was a name used on several B-17s and 24s. However, they seem to have used the fictional nose art for a warbird circuit B-17 which was destroyed in 2011:

You'd think they would have used a real  WW2 bomber's nose art instead of a fictional  one from the airshow circuit (especially one that's nothing but some bits of melted and twisted metal now), that's all I'm saying.

FYI, the Memphis Belle car used the nose art writing from the plane in the 1990 movie for it’s art, not the actual B-17 from the 91^st BG that completed its tour in 1943 (actually, it’s a 4^th general copy. It’s a copy of the Hollywood painter’s copy of the 91^st Bomb Group’s famous nose art painter Tony Starcer’s copy on the real B-17 of the 1941 George Petty pin up painting). But at least it’s sort of the nose art from a real B-17 airplane…

Toy, Toy , Not real, Toy. For the price it's cute, military looking , not authentic , not suppose to be, It's a Toy.. That's all.

If you want authentic then break out the check book. Not a problem. These are not made to meet that requirement.

Lee ,

A  bunch of us know the real thing from the toys. I guess my point is we don't really care about it, it's the fun not the realism of toy trains.

I know you are very articulate about you layout. I personally appreciate that and admire modelers that go to the extreme effort to do that.

A bunch of are not and if you see it in you heart cut us some slack on this being perfect stuff unless of course it is a asked question.

Some of your remarks seem like you just want to argue about Military correctness.???

Larry

Larry

Larry,

I get that they're toys. But seriously, you don't find it sad that they couldn't use a real  WW2 airplane's nose art for their toy cars and instead used a fictional one from the airshow circuit from a few years ago instead? How is that honoring vets?

With the countless examples of nose art from the war, it's pathetic that they were so lazy that they instead used a fictional one instead, toy or not.

And it's even sadder that I even have to explain that... twice!

Nobody here should have difficulty understanding that point.

it's not a WW2 commemorative; it's a former airshow plane commemorative!

A lot of the ones that fought are melted and twisted metal,....like my father's! I don't care if it's air show or not, it's a tribute that I for one really appreciate!

The poor tread heads could only paint their girl friends name on the front of the tank  !!  Nose art is cool, no matter the source.

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Ladies & Gentlemen,

     The Menard's WWII Military Commemorative Box Cars arrived early this afternoon, and I had time to put a little Red & Tack on the Trucks, and take some pictures for the OGR as Promised.  1st the Trucks and Couplers are definitely nice and work very well pulling a big heavy consist of my military rolling stock.  3 hrs of running on the 2nd level of the layout and not one bit of problem with any of them, so you guys asking about the Truck & Coupler quality of these New Box Car, can be assured you will not have to up grade them.  The Commemorative WWII Girls are not painted, however they are high grade decals, and very nicely done, with beautiful colors and nicely detailed.  Taken care of they will last a long long time, upgrading with an over coat could be an option, to safe guard the decals for many life times.  The OD Green color on the full Box Car is definitely seriously nice, and realistic.  The Cars are not absolute Scale, however they are close.   The 1st  2 pictures are of one of the WWII Box Cars, hooked with one of my Scale Atlas PRR Box Cars, for visual comparison, they are identical in Length and width, the Menard's Box Car is shorter in Height.  IMO the WWII Menard's Commemorative Box Cars are worth adding to your Military Train, the 6 Menard's Box Cars alone with a Brunswick Green GG1 Engine make a nice Train set on their own.

PCRR/Dave

 

 

 

 

Well I fill that the cars are very well done . I do not care if it is fictional or not. These are toys and many of us have fun with the hobby and do not care to have a perfect world.  Playing with trains for 60 years now everyday. I have not seen a layout  that I did not like.  I have got many ideas from many people.

Keep them coming Menards . I guarantee when I take these to shows there will not be a Veteran that does not like them. Real or Not. They are beautiful.

I also don't care that the Freedom Train did not have the water tender that MTH made.

P51 would probably save himself and others some exasperation if he would never open a thread that had Menards in the title.  Not trying to be mean Lee, but it is true. It is for sure to create anxiety. I appreciate Lee's knowledge and his determination for detail and historic accuracy, but most of us realize that our train world for the most part is a fantasy. For each of our layouts, it is only by what degree. The exasperating part for him is that we are okay with that. And for us is that we are overjoyed to have a fun product that is a half to a third of the cost of other products out there that may be more accurate, but maybe not worth $50.00 more accurate. 

Rick

Very Nice Dave!! I will have to check these out on their website.

JoeG

Great post and photos. Thank you. These guys make stuff for me to spend money on much faster than I can earn it. (love it)

P51,

    It maybe that Menard's did not know their WWII history, and believed the nose art on that particular plane to be original WWII vintage, or maybe they just chose it because it looks mighty cool, and these are Toy Trains that they are producing for people to run and have fun with.  I would like to see some more of these type Menard's Commemorative Box Cars made, with say Pappy's WWII fighter Pilot nose art, and some of the Viet Nam Copter Art, right down to the skid skulls.  This was a great idea Menard's invested in, and IMO they got it absolutely right, for the TOY Train Market.

PCRR/Dave

Dave and Larry

Thanks for sharing your pictures and comments.   In another thread, there was a comment suggesting that the decorations were paper stickers rather than decals.  Is that true?

The cars really look nice.   

Bob

Bob

The best way I can describe them is the high explosive and graphic girls pictures are decals. Like the ones you would put in water and then remove to place on a model.  I would say plastic coming off a paper. They seem like good quality decals compared to some I have used on other models.

Most all of the rest of the car painted. The car number, danger explosives and menards name are also decals. Personally I think that's why some are suggesting clear coat.

Once again, toy and cost. Using that as a guide I think they are respectable as stated prior.

Maybe Dave can add and even explain better.

Larry

Thanks Larry.  I am glad that they are decals.  It would be such a shame if they were paper stickers.

P51, I always appreciate your knowledge of the prototype.  Keep your comments coming.

While hobbyists vary considerably in their interest in models being prototypical, it seems to me that with all the effort required in bringing a product to market, it would make sense for a manufacturer to diligently research the prototype.   Many hobbyists won't care, but there is still a significant part of the market that would make their decision based on accuracy.  You would think that a manufacturer would jump at an opportunity to increase sales by, say, 20%.

It's not that hard to locate knowledgeable individuals, thru historical societies or forums.  Most would love to help out for FREE!

Of course these cars are fantasy (I'm pretty sure nose art went on airplanes, not boxcars).  But they are fantasy that gives homage to history and that is cool.

Bob

Larry Sr. posted:

Here is the way mine came 6 cars boxed individually and in a shipping container box. 6 cars to a case.  I was impressed with the individual boxes. Wouldn't mind having a couple dozen empties for other train items.

Larryl

Larry, thank you for the photos.  Yes, those are the types of boxes & blister liners my Menard's PRR flatcar with bulldozer load... & pick-up truck load came in.   Not pretty, but nice & sturdy, not like the paper thin exterior boxes Lionel & MTH use.

Thank again for the great pix and report.  I finally decided to purchase this set and am very pleased with their quality and appearance.  I also added the available, additional car with the set.