Menards New Feed & Seed

Mark,

thank you for addressing Lee's concerns.

Great update Lee!!!!

All the signs would be replaced if I get one so thats not an issue...(RC Cola sign too modern!!)

Lots of good info.....again thanks

Lee I took mine out for the 3rd time again to find the switch to turn it on. I also passed it a number of times after I knew from Marks earlier reply on the matter. But I did find it. so hear it is pluged in with their 3-outlet power adaptor.

Paul,

 

Please be careful when you try to convert the Seed & Feed building to layout power. The lights are intended to run on 4.5 volts and there is a plugin on the back side to convert to a 4.5 volt wall-mounted transformer (SKU#289-4005). Any more volts than 4.5 will burn out the lights and possibly the wiring. We'll try for better labeling and instructions on future buildings.

I have other menards building, can I power more than one off of the 4.5 volt transformer?

rboatertoo,

 

I recommend Menards SKU# 289-4002. It's a couple dollars more but it can power up to 3 buildings!

great to see the concern from Menards, the building looks nice to me.

I think two things to keep in mind from this review.

 

1) He did get a flawed unit at least with respect to the wall.  Perhaps also in some of his other criticisms as well, but we will have to wait until more guys get theirs to see what is common across them all.

 

2) It's helpful to know the guy doing the review.  Lee is the guy who took two IGA buildings and combined them together within a matter of days to create a great structure.  He has the talent and so has a discerning eye and demands the same detail out of the built ups that he puts into his own buildings.  So remember to take that into account when reading any forum member's criticisms.  I have been happy with the other Menard's buildings and expect similar out of this building.  While I expect great detail too, I am more the target market for these built-ups in the first place -- guys who lack the skill to do it on their own. 

 

Thanks for the detailed review.  This forum is just such a great resource.  It's incredible the amount of information sharing that takes place here.

This is a very refreshing thread. Lee's review was honest and candid. Menard's response was courteous and very professional. The more I look at this building, the more it looks like it would be a great micro brewery; something to give the big boys on my Beer Line a run for their money. It looks like I'll have to motor on over to Massillon. Thanks, guys.

If I may add, as one who frequents these old structures, especially the wall the slightly bent or warped wall, you will see this a lot on these type structures, from age, being run into by trucks and trailers, etc. To be honest, I hope mine comes a little bent or warped at that wall, if not, I'll probable do it and then weather more. I have to plead guilty as one that has hit these wall, turning in to quickly pulling 3 trailers of grain to be sucked out and bagged.

I have the Menards resin Store and the resin Garden Center.  They are both huge and weigh a ton.  But, I love the way they light up, operate, and sound.  They are great conversation pieces.  The Garden Center came in with so0me damage, including broken base.  I notified Menards and they made a nice price adjustment.  I was able to fix most of the damage with crazy glue and paint.  You cannot see any of it.  I use the 3 wire 4.5 Menards power supply to power both.  It works fine.  I expect to order the Seed and Feed. 

Menards should have been contacted first. 

If you are a fan of Bar Mills kits this is a really good deal.

Pretty amazing thread.  Lee supplies a very comprehensive, articulate, and well-documented review striking the right tone IMO about the good and bad elements of a sponsor's product.

 

Within ~4 hours, the sponsor responds with an excellent solution--FREE replacement!

 

Good for Lee; and, good for Menards.--one for each.

Yeah, if I'd got one of these (I won't as I don't room for anything that big on my layout) all the signs would have to go. Beats me why they can't include the signs in an envelope to let the owner place them where he wants (or in the trash). Same problem with the Woodland Scenics ones, I had to put in a lot of time and effort removing all the signs from the Ethyl's Gas Station as none of them were from the era I model.

Yeah, everyone else said it, but once again, Mark the Menards Train Guy - that's a standup response to Lee. Thanks for quickly addressing the issue (even if he doesn't take you up on it...) AND for monitoring the forum.

 

Lee, as always, you gave a very sound analysis of the product, without introducing animosity or snarkiness.  Thanks for all of your contributions to the forum and the hobby in general.

Wow.... Here... Here... Kudos for the Mernard's train guy... they will be seeing allot more of my business.

Imagine if they started making scale rolling stock? 

 

 

 

To add to Josef's comment, if you have explored some of these aged structures, the

old wooden elevators, you will see them bowed out from the tons of grain bearing down, enough to make you nervous walking by too close. This discussion has made

this structure appealing.  If somebody figures out how to get the base off, please

post the info?  I got my Walther's feed mill out of a junkbox, so I can be patient,

although this one won't show up there for a while.

I gotta be honest- even after the review, for my needs, this building would be fine. I would ballast the driveway anyhow, covering up the garage floor epoxy coat look, the signs would be customized to my locale and it WOULD make a pretty cool microbrew. The fact that Menards manned up and stood tall is a selling point for me. 

I said it before, get the Warren Ohio store finished!

Good review, great response from Menard's.

 

But, and it's probably just me, that truck just looks way too new and shiny to go with a building that 'scruffalous'.

 

Where's the dents from bending that wall? Where's the scuff marks from bags being dragged over the edge of the bed? Where's the grain chaff powdering the hood and cab top??

 

It just doesn't look natural. Especially if that cool dog belongs to the truck owner.

 

Speaking of the dog, it should be made available as a 'seperate sale' item. Love it.

 

 

I think most agree with that but look at their website and look at how many Die-cast trucks and other vehicles they have.  They are all modern trucks and vans and construction equipment.  Because these are sold on their own for kids to play with outside of a model train context.  So my guess is that their supplier already had the tooling for this truck (looks to be a Ford 250/350/450/etc).  And maybe Menards will sell it separately down the road too as a standalone toy.

 

And remember that these buildings are really targeted for the average model train guy who wants something easy and quick to put on their layout and are not obsessed about the details and prototypical accuracy.  They allow the average guy to put together a layout cheaply and easily.

 

The rivet counters and more serious guys would either never buy this building at all or buy it and totally customize it to make it their own.  So I fully expect people to replace this truck with something else.  Regardless, it's a great price for a great building even if you have to tweak it to your liking.

 

Also, look at any small town and look at how many old, old buildings are still being used today.  And new trucks pulled up to them.  So many farmers I know today trade in their trucks every couple of years.  Many are just as concerned about their image as many others are these days.  And if people do repurpose this building to be a brewery or some other building, a newer vehicle makes sense there too.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing how people customize this and integrate it into their layouts.

Thanks Len.  I agree about the truck, and will replace the truck cab with a 1950s cab that is suitably beat up and worn. 

 

In the process of following up on this review, I corresponded with Menards by e-mail.  the dog is so detailed i asked about it. Turns out it is a model of the Menard's owners dog.  I agree: they should sell it separately.  it is a cool dog.

 

I have and like those buildings as well.  I often wondered just who they had make these because they are really unique and nothing like them.  Many people complained about the thick base these came on as well but I remember reading how people cut out an area in their layout and sunk it in to make the building flush with the layout.  These were released before Menard's really got the focus it has today on train products, but I think if they were release today, while people would appreciate them, they probably wouldn't sell well because they are too modern, too large, and hard to customize into something else.  Although if anyone wanted a moden, large grocery store, Costco, or really any big box store, these would be perfect.  Nothing from Bar Mills or Woodland Scenics or any other structure manufacturer is of this size.

 

Regarding the truck, I know a seed dealer and a couple of farmers, and they make sure their equipment and truck are cleaned and the latest models. Their barn might need a paint job, but if the equipment isn't taken cafe of, they don't make money.

 

Thinking about it they just finished the week, had a couple of beers and are played with the dog. 

My son in law owns a garage company and they wash their truck every day!!!!!!

 

 

The only negative to the earlier resin Store building is the Menards jingle music which replays over and over, several times  each minute.   After a few hours,  you begin to run around the house singing it, and while you are sleeping.   Fortunately, there is an on off switch.  My wife cannot stand it, so when she comes down to the basement, while I am busy with the layout, I turn it on.  She does not stay very long. I never showed where the switch is!

If that was a 77 Ford F250, the bent frame would be realistic for this vehicle.

LOL.... Like I posted before If I had known a little old bat was going to scare her away, I would have bought a fake rubber one!

You guys, ROFLMAO!!!

Guys, I think my feelings are hurt! I haven't gotten any e-mails about this building or the flat cars with real wood loads. The first I knew about them was from this forum ! I have several Menards buildings and 9 of their box cars. Is it because I live in New York? Or is it something I said? Used to get e-mails all the time! None now in over a month! Should I be hurt? Or has Menards received a letter from my dear wife?

Nice Review….Excellent Thread.
I think I am going to order one…next week.   I Never order anything on a Friday! 

K.C.

Cheers to Menards!   Great review Lee, many thanks.

 

I have a couple Menard's buildings on my layout.   After this thread, I am ordering this one.    -Ken

 

Done, one on the way.

Took mine out of the box today. Overall pretty nice for the price. Whoever weathered it was a little heavy handed and inconsistent with the whitewash on the roof but from around 3 feet away it looks ok. But then I'm not concerned with small details anymore. I'll change the truck but that's probably it. This will stay out of the box.

Done and on the layout.  I had to move it across the lake from the original site both for size, and because of its weight.

 

 

I made it a Burma Shave factory.  I have no idea what one looks like, or even how they made Burma Shave, and in fact I've never used Burma Shave.  But I like their sign sets - I have two on the layout - and they had to make it somewhere.  So, on my layout, they make it here.

 

I hand-painted the roof galvanized steel, rather than sprayed it, then dusted it with maroon-red spray to dull and weather it and added some rust runoffs and all.  Also,  the siding on the elevator looked the texture of ribbed galvanized metal, not wood - and I've seen a lot of rural buildings like that: wood with a galvanized steel elevator or tower, so I painted it steel and rusted/weathered it a bit, too.   Then used dry pan pastel powders to dull, further dirty everything, including moss green along the foundation, which adds alot, surprisingly.  Graveled the drive, did the grass and plants, put Jack the dog and some people on.  I mounted the original truck's stakebed on an early-50s Chevy truck (no lights, I think they are distracting while its parked there) and saved the rest of the original truck.  A nice addition although my once-beautiful lake is fast becoming an industrial area.

 

 

I think it looks great!!! The older truck really helps for me!

Looks Great Lee -  Very creative solution to the sign, and I like the truck.. Were you able to use the lights from the original truck on the replacement?

Should you ever decide to try Burma Shave…. I found you some directions




Great Thread…Thanks

K.C.

Ours just arrived. Everything attached and works. The truck is slightly bent as Lee noted.

 

We will change a few signs, weather a bit more, and replace the truck.

 

if we could, we would prefer to add lights, etc to the interior. Most of our buildings are lighted/interior addded. Seed and feed businesses often open early and close late. The owner of this one keeps his deer hounds out back and the Club meets here at 5:00 AM during deer season. The owner's wife has an area in the store where tracking collars, boxes, etc are sold and two signs on the building will advertise these. Gotta have lights and interior access.

 

If someone figures out how to get into this one, please add it on here. We will do the same.

 

Paula and I recommend this one. It has plenty of potential.

Wow, great job as always.  I'm assuming you kept it on the base and just built up the gravel around it?  It looks great next to the door factory too.

 

This will be great inspiration to others.

Lee are you going to add a couple of sets of Burma Shave signs near your factory? Many people don't know about them. I remember several in North Carolina growing up. I think there was one set between Tarboro and Snow Hill.