Menards Ore Hoppers

Thanks for the comparisons.

Ditto Ross, thanks for the comparisons.  By studying some manufacturer's pictures awhile back, I surmised in another thread that Menard's and Lionel hopper cars were probably made from the exact same molds, and therefore would be the exact same size, even though each mfgr. had a slightly different width listed.  Your side by side comparison would seem to confirm that.

Can't tell from your pictures if the K-Line and the Atlas cars are from the same molds or not.  But at 2-916" wide, I would say that they are much closer to a true 1/48 scale than the Menard's/Lionel cars.  Due to their approx. 2-1/8" widths, I would rank the Menard's/Lionel cars more towards the O27-sized side of things rather than the scale-sized spectrum.

I just so happen to have one sole little MTH ore car in my collection of O-gauge/O-scale cars.  My MTH car measures 2-9/16" wide.  Since you only have provided top views of your K-Line and Atlas cars, I don't have much to go on, but I'm guessing the MTH car uses a different mold yet than either the K-Line or Atlas.

I have seen some Menard's ore cars now at a couple of my local stores, I may end up getting a pack or two yet.  I think they're decent enough for the price point.

In truth, the 1/4" different in width is not nearly as significant as a difference in length would be for these.  That's especially true if you're running a string of the Menard's cars together.  For the price, it's hard to beat the deal!

The plastic insert on the top looks identical.

The prototype has a couple of manufacturers of ore cars....so you can model a variety.

The M.T.H. O scale ore car is much larger than the LIONEL O gauge ore car.

Andrew

What about the weight of the Menards ore cars?  Also, are the trucks, wheels and couplers all die cast? Thinking about getting the GN 8 car set.

The Menards ore cars have plastic trucks and metal wheels.

The K-Line cars are likely clones of the Atlas ones. Back in 2013 I posted photos showing the mold gates were dfferent between Atlas and K-Line (searches his OGR post archive...)

K-Line is on top. Width is the same.

---PCJ

Paul, sorry, I took a side by side of Menards and Atlas but missed including it.

Jim, I don’t have a scale but the Menards, Lionel and K-Line all feel about the same when I hold them.  As RailRide said, the truck is plastic, the wheels and axles metals. The only detail difference I see between the Menards and Lionel is a rivet plate on each end of the Lionel not on the Menards.

@Ross posted:

The only detail difference I see between the Menards and Lionel is a rivet plate on each end of the Lionel not on the Menards.

THERE it is........................... That's probably the main "all new tooling" feature.     Good catch.