Menards Leaning Construction Crane and Billboard

I can see from the picture you are missing a footing on the crane. Check the box again and if you can't find it, email guest@menard-inc.com.

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

@Menards posted:

I can see from the picture you are missing a footing on the crane. Check the box again and if you can't find it, email guest@menard-inc.com.

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

Mark - Yes, I do realize that.  I checked the box first thing.  There is no sign the footing was ever even screwed into the bottom.  I'll wait till I receive the rest of the order next week and then I'll reach out.

Someone emailed me and said I should just make a new foot.  I've spent to much time lately fixing items that are "new".  I'm paying for a new, intact item, with all parts present.  It shouldn't fall on me to fix these items.

Anthony

That little plastic bag in your photo contains the braces that snap on to the four corners of the crane to stabilize it.  It's left of your crane, open it, snap on these braces, and you are good to go.

I LOVE the crane.  It completes my Tampa Towers, which I renamed "Chicago Towers".

Mike

@IRON HORSE posted:

That little plastic bag in your photo contains the braces that snap on to the four corners of the crane to stabilize it.  It's left of your crane, open it, snap on these braces, and you are good to go.

I LOVE the crane.  It completes my Tampa Towers, which I renamed "Chicago Towers".

Mike

Mike, love, those little braces aren't going to make that thing straight   I do like the crane but the issues present when unboxing took all the fun out of the whole experience (there were other issues present which I've already taken care of with some help of Tamiya Cement).  I will probably just print a foot for it and call it a day.  Story of my life!

I get the Container Handler next week.  Did you get that by any chance?  I want to convert it to a Trailer Handler.

A

@IRON HORSE P.S. I was also thinking about printing out another tower section to make it taller.

A.Wells,

Dude, love, fellow train cat, see my photos, dig it, man.    Those little gray braces in that plastic bag just snap on.  I had the same concern -- it seemed sloppy, and the crane was unstable, before I figured out what these braces were for, and snapped them on.    There are no instructions.  But I snapped these little braces on, and it did the trick.  Very cool crane and came included with my "Chicago Towers."

Mike

@IRON HORSE posted:

A.Wells,

Dude, love, fellow train cat, see my photos, dig it, man.    Those little gray braces in that plastic bag just snap on.  I had the same concern -- it seemed sloppy, and the crane was unstable, before I figured out what these braces were for, and snapped them on.    There are no instructions.  But I snapped these little braces on, and it did the trick.  Very cool crane and came included with my "Chicago Towers."

Mike

Gotcha.  I thought you had named the crane "Chicago Towers".

No, but I hereby dub my crane, "Chicago crane".  It looks good in front of my "Chicago Towers", though, doesn't it?  

And for those of you that are interested, Menards just introduced a new hospital.  The police hummer with the flashing emergency lights and the copper with the gang member in hand cuffs in front of the emergency room is PERFECT for your Chicago scene.   Stroger hospital?  But a Catholic hospital is just as relevant, so you can keep the Sacred Heart name, which I will.

Mike

@IRON HORSE posted:

No, but I hereby dub my crane, "Chicago crane".  It looks good in front of my "Chicago Towers", though, doesn't it?

And for those of you that are interested, Menards just introduced a new hospital.  The police hummer with the flashing emergency lights and the copper with the gang member in hand cuffs in front of the emergency room is PERFECT for your Chicago scene.   Stroger hospital?  But a Catholic hospital is just as relevant, so you can keep the Sacred Heart name, which I will.

Mike

My boss lives in Chicago.  Some of the stories she relates to me cause the little hair I have remaining to stand on end.

I just now noticed you were relating truth about the copper with the gang member in hand cuffs at the ER entrance.  I take it that was probably the same building template they used for their police precinct building and they forgot to switch out the vehicle with an ambulance and people pushing a gurney.  I just don't know what to say to that.

I don't do those kind of buildings on my layout but I have a strong inclination tonight to purchase one of those and replace the crosses with pentagons in circles and rename it "Sacred Goat Heart" Hospital.

Anthony

Right on, brother.  That creative thinking is what makes this hobby so special!

When I got mine it was missing a foot brace. I contacted Menards and they sent me 3. Never had a problem with mine leaning. I finally glued all of the counter weights and braces at the bottom so If I ever had to move it I didn't have to play Jenga....

@Michael Hokkanen posted:

When I got mine it was missing a foot brace. I contacted Menards and they sent me 3. Never had a problem with mine leaning. I finally glued all of the counter weights and braces at the bottom so If I ever had to move it I didn't have to play Jenga....

I had to glue the top counter weight back into place.  I'm assuming it dislodged in shipping and bounced around a bit and knocked a few things off. I'll reach out to them next week for a replacement foot.  On closer inspection, the grit gravel in the box appears to be fertilize.  I suspect my crane was involved in some type of accident.  Everything else I got from them is okay.

For what it is, it is relatively inexpensive. I have seen other construction cranes and tower like mechanicals at YORK for a few hundred bucks each.