JUst received an email from Menards announcing the arrival of new Beta F units. They will probably be sold out in a few hours. Better order now if you want one.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Same SF F unit........pass
I have always ordered them. I'm getting tired of them now. They don't let you know what they improved.And they keep using the warbonnet shell. They have no imagination. Dave
Seriously? 
Well I ordered one, still pre production units will be worth the price. Been wanting one and never could get in on time. So I am happy.
Is the "beta" designation wearing out?
Seems like folks are catching on. I'd have less of an issue if they listed the "fixes" and "changes" rather than just advertise another Beta version. At some point they have to release a finished product. The engine doesn't seem all that sophisticated that is should take this many Beta versions.
I guess if folks keep buying them though, why not.
Attachments
Images (1)
No link??
Although I have absolutely zero interest in buying one, I took a look and saw that it was still available 4 hours after I got the email. Maybe Menards has finally saturated the market for a buggy product for which the only warranty support is to send it back for a refund.
I'd like to see Menards be able to successfully market a locomotive. However, I'm guessing that by the time they work out the bugs, their price advantage will be minimal.
Still available as of a minute ago.
Here’s a link to it:
Due to an extremely busy schedule, I have basically been absent from this site for almost a year.
Now that I'm back, . . . I can't believe that this is still going on! :-O
Mannyrock
@Mannyrock posted:Due to an extremely busy schedule, I have basically been absent from this site for almost a year.
Now that I'm back, . . . I can't believe that this is still going on! :-O
Mannyrock
You haven't missed much Manny......
An interesting post. Is Menards paying attention?
Well Beta 4.5..... they're getting close to perfection!
I'll let all of you buy one and let us know.
Wow, it’s been a few hours and 219 are still available! Usually these are sold out within an hour.
Yawn....
@Keith Crook 020419 posted:Wow, it’s been a few hours and 219 are still available! Usually these are sold out within an hour.
That's what we call Exhibit A. 
My Beta 1 is increasing in value as we speak.......
Did Menards even make a post here about this? I got an email but they usually make a post here about "new" stuff. I guess not... though it would have been nice of them to explain what this one has going on. I am not in the market for these, but I get the aggravation from folks.
WOW you guys are a tough group. Yet your the same guys that will spend $500 to $700 more for a LionChief that has no better quality or detail and after just two years you can't get replacement parts for them or a refund. Case in point my LionChief + BNSF GP20 #2050 with the non-replaceable control board less than two years after it was made and I got NOTHING back from them.
You know what they say,,,if you can't say something good,,,,,,,
I was too slow on the first 2 Betas, then I didn't even see the message on the following ones. I noticed there wasn't much information on the fixed features and I don't know if the advertised features are new or not. Regardless, I decided to go for this one. I was thinking like KRM just posted above, it has to be a better deal than a LionChief + (At least I hope so)
Another point, it's been tough going for lots of companies and projects these last 3 years. I would kind of like to send in my feedback. Maybe those of us who take the hook on this one will push the product over the edge to put the product on the market in different road names and different models. We can keep our fingers crossed. 
I never bought any other Beta from Menards so I went and bought this one. If it works, it will be good value. I'll put it on track with another Lionchief plus that I have.
A future thought would be a matching "B" unit.
@KRM posted:WOW you guys are a tough group. Yet your the same guys that will spend $500 to $700 more for a LionChief that has no better quality or detail and after just two years you can't get replacement parts for them or a refund. Case in point my LionChief + BNSF GP20 #2050 with the non-replaceable control board less than two years after it was made and I got NOTHING back from them.
You know what they say,,,if you can't say something good,,,,,,,
Not bashing Menards at all. I'm happy with my beta 1 model. I rewired the motors in series to slow it down and its a solid engine. I even added a Lionel B unit to pull behind it.
I'll buy more when/ if they start making different models. At $149.00 they are a great value.
Bob
Ordered it so I can compare to my Beta 1.
@RSJB18 posted:Not bashing Menards at all. I'm happy with my beta 1 model. I rewired the motors in series to slow it down and its a solid engine. I even added a Lionel B unit to pull behind it.
I'll buy more when/ if they start making different models. At $149.00 they are a great value.
Bob
Bob, I remember you got one of the first and your small project rewiring the motors. I'll have to take a look at my Beta XYZ and see if they took your advice! A B-unit would be nice. The only B's I have are lettered for Western Maryland and B&O. Surprised???
I have my 11% rebate form printed and ready to send in.
Does Menards think many of us will buy multiple versions? Are they tweaking them and waiting to hear reviews on each tweak? Or is it a marketing campaign to dupe us to sell more volume?
Call me duped, but I spontaneously purchased one this morning. I have an earlier version. Thought it might be fun to compare. When I'm done, at some point I may sell one at auction and I'll bet my time, fun testing it and the time it takes to list it and sell it will be covered. I can say for sure that I wouldn't be beta testing if it were a Lionel or MTH engine at $350 or $700 or more.
I bought the new matching Warbonnet hopper to go with it. I bought the Santa Fe caboose a few weeks ago. It's cute and reminds me of an MTH bobber caboose. I'll have no problem running it with any of my other O gauge trains.
I'm enjoying the experience. Lionel and MTH Warbonnet cars sell for higher than their normal prices on the used market because you don't see many new releases in this scheme and the used market seems tight. Why is that? Popular? Perhaps Menards recognizes the popularity. I, for one, welcome every Menards' release, mostly their buildings, but buy them selectively like I do with all O Gauge stuff. Their 14 1/2 inch flat cars are a tremendous value IMHO.
I would love a B unit, and wish I had got in on the Blue Bonnet AA set. At least Menards asks for input on it. Some may not give any and I am sure there are the E-Bay vultures looking for the flip. I am for the hobby, not the profit. Lionel just looks at where they can price it and then run away if it sucks. JMHO
IRON HORSE I agree. I don't ever recall Lionel asking the people who buy the trains to review let alone give advice to them. If they had with the Lion Chief early products maybe they would of been better off. I will never buy another after the $570.00 hit I took on the BNSF GP20
RSjB18, I rewired the all the motors in series to slow them down in my K-Line and Williams engines and love them now.
@Mark Boyce posted:I have my 11% rebate form printed and ready to send in.
I thought those were only good in sfore?
That's what the fine print says.
A friend bought one of these a few hours ago and decided I needed it. Seriously, I have an AB and it runs well for train club events pulling five premier passenger cars. Great looking after toning down the shiny trucks..
I slowed down the earlier A (3.0 ???) And fixed the capacitor issue on the B. For this one, I hope to reverse the motors and am praying it runs on the same remote so now I have a 4 motor ABA at a good price. Wish me luck!
@Train Nut posted:I thought those were only good in store?
This is new to me too. I have never cashed in before because I live too far from a store. On my order email, it had a mail in rebate attached. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks. Reminds me of the days of sending 2 quarters and 4 box tops. I would forget about it by the time my decoder ring arrived. 🙄 I’ll see how it works.
@KRM posted:WOW you guys are a tough group. Yet your the same guys that will spend $500 to $700 more for a LionChief that has no better quality or detail and after just two years you can't get replacement parts for them or a refund. Case in point my LionChief + BNSF GP20 #2050 with the non-replaceable control board less than two years after it was made and I got NOTHING back from them.
You know what they say,,,if you can't say something good,,,,,,,
Well if you are going to release multiple "Beta" units, typically there is a list of improvements and changes to test through. I have no issues with Menards having a test group but again this isn't a rocket they're sending to the moon so I would hope by now it would be out of Beta. I'm not sure there is enough there both mechanically and electrically to require more than a couple of "Beta" runs.
I certainly think as long as we are constructive and respectful any opinion should be heard.
By the way I really like the offerings from Menards. They have some great products. This one is a bit of an enigma.
Could someone please point me to a post that contains instructions on how to rewire Beta 1's motor to be in series?
Thanks.
@AlanRail posted:Well Beta 4.5..... they're getting close to perfection!
You assume facts not in evidence Alan! 
@BwanaBob posted:Could someone please point me to a post that contains instructions on how to rewire Beta 1's motor to be in series?
Thanks.
Here's pix of my Beta 1 wired in series.
Clip off one blue and one white from motor 1 (L).
Connect the white from motor 1- to the blue from motor 2
White from motor 2 back to the board.
Insulate the ends of the clipped wires.
Attachments
Images (3)
Videos (1)
The locomotives are good value, but the repetitive beta testing "concept" is now well beyond weird 
.
