Menards York Royale Hotel

That seems right. I think the windows on the main entry doors are black, so they are not lit. The entry way with the bellman and red carpet should be well lit though.

George

It clearly shows what it is supposed to look like on the product video on Menards’ website. Like George said, dark.

https://www.menards.com/main/g...66862296-c-13318.htm

Yea, I hear you; but it's a definite blunder in my opinion.

Those windows just beg for lighting and inside decoration; even it's pictures on cardboard.

What I would really like to see is something like Dept 56 - Fezziwig's Ballroom that has dancers moving in the window. 

An animated Department 56 building of this immense size and this much lighting would cost you something like $500. The Menards building was $120. A great bargain, by comparison. 

Well actually the  Fezziwig's Ballroom was less than half that. The other thing that comes to mind is the Hallmark Christmas ball from the late 80s early 90s. It had a train running around inside and ran off the tree lights. it cost about $12. It was probably a lightweight mold on a disk; but nevertheless the technology was there 40 years ago to produce a low cost moving scene.

Fezziwig’s ballroom was nowhere near the size and lighted detail of Menards’ York hotel.

You’re comparing this:

To this:

The York Hotel looks great and would be terrific on a layout. The Fezzwigs Ballroom also looks great but would look terrific in a display case.

@pennsyfan posted:

I just received my hotel yesterday and set it on the layout. The tower lights and the canopy lights; but the first floor is dark. There are no inside lights behind the entrance doors or the large windows. Is there something wrong or is that the way it mas made?

I believe that this is the way it comes, as others have indicated. You could remove the bottom of the hotel, if that is possible, or cut an opening in it, if it cannot be removed, and install lights for lobby level. If the windows on the lobby level are clear, you could also install figures, decorations, pictures on cardboard, etc., as you have indicated. I don't believe that would involve much additional expense, and it would certainly enhance the look of the hotel. 

If the bottom of the hotel cannot be removed, and needs to be cut, you should probably check first with Menards before proceeding, to ensure you are not doing anything that might potentially compromise the structural integrity of the building, be cutting through wires, etc. 

Good luck, and please let us know how it turns out.

Pat  

fwiw: It's not terribly hard to add lights to the lobby of the York Hotel; I did it by removing the "tunnel" section, and then reaching inside and hot gluing some Model Power light bulb fixtures.

The LEDs Menards uses in all its structures are pretty hideous...the entire hotel looked like a poltergeist was inside. I painted parchment paper with yellow paint, and again reaching inside, managed to wrap the sheets of paper around the LED column, this was a PITA due to really tight space, but now the lights are subdued and have a warm glow - a marked improvement.

I also removed some, not all, of the stock figures from the outside and replaced them with Arttista. Now, the hotel has gone first-class.

The pictures below shows the subdued lighting, more natural looking and the upgraded figures. Lobby lights are on but a bit subdued due to overhead LEDs shining down, but they can be noticed and are another necessary improvement for a 1st Class hotel

@Jim R. posted:

Fezziwig’s ballroom was nowhere near the size and lighted detail of Menards’ York hotel.

You’re comparing this:

To this:

Jim,

You're missing the point. I cited Fezziwig’s ballroom  as an example of a moving display within a building. Forget the building and focus on the window with the dancers inside. I also gave the Hallmark ornament as an example which cost $15 retail. In mass production that mechanism wouldn't cost 25% of that. 

@Paul Kallus posted:

fwiw: It's not terribly hard to add lights to the lobby of the York Hotel; I did it by removing the "tunnel" section, and then reaching inside and hot gluing some Model Power light bulb fixtures.

The LEDs Menards uses in all its structures are pretty hideous...the entire hotel looked like a poltergeist was inside. I painted wax paper with a yellow tint, and again reaching inside, managed to wrap the sheets of paper around the LED column, this was a PITA due to really tight space, but now the lights are subdued somewhat. This is a marked improvement.

I also removed some, not all, of the stock figures from the outside and replaced them with Arttista. Now, the hotel has gone first class.

The pictures below shows the subdued lighting, more natural looking and the upgraded figures. Lobby lights are on but a bit subdued due to overhead LEDs shining down, but they can be noticed and are a necessary improvement for a 1st Class hotel

Paul, thanks so much for posting. I was also not happy with the LEDs but the darkness is more of a problem to me. Your modification of the tower lights is a great improvement. Did you just add lights to the lobby or the front rooms as well? You didn't mention the black paper; I ***-U-ME that you cut it away.

I've said it before but I'll say it again, you're downtown with the double tracked streets is awesome. I barely had room to put in one track.

@irish rifle posted:

I believe that this is the way it comes, as others have indicated. You could remove the bottom of the hotel, if that is possible, or cut an opening in it, if it cannot be removed, and install lights for lobby level. If the windows on the lobby level are clear, you could also install figures, decorations, pictures on cardboard, etc., as you have indicated. I don't believe that would involve much additional expense, and it would certainly enhance the look of the hotel. 

If the bottom of the hotel cannot be removed, and needs to be cut, you should probably check first with Menards before proceeding, to ensure you are not doing anything that might potentially compromise the structural integrity of the building, be cutting through wires, etc. 

Good luck, and please let us know how it turns out.

Pat  

Pat,

Thanks for the encouragement.

It’s one of the best buildings Menards has produced. That one, and the Red Owl store, are among my favorites of all the buildings I have from various manufacturers.

The MDF construction design means no tooling is needed to produce these buildings, enabling Menards to create new designs with a smaller investment. That’s a major reason the price is so low.

That's how mine was.  I added an LED light bar to the lobby - it was fairly easy.

Bob, I had forgot about the black panels, I just removed them, they're just little cut out pieces taped or glued in. I recall I only added two Model Power light bulbs...probably towards the front windows, but am not certain exactly where.

Thanks for the compliments.

Menards includes two 4" LED strip in their 9-piece Accessory kit.  So with an included multi-way splitter/adapter you might be able to add lobby level lighting without fussing with wire stripping, soldering, calculating resistor values, etc.

Re: Menards York Hotel:
I’ve asked this before, but no answer was received:

The turbines on the roof are supposed to rotate. Mine never did.
I’m certain that it’s a simple matter of reattaching one wire, but there’s no apparent access.  I’ve had several Menard items arrive needing adjustments, most likely from handling during shipping. Any suggestions about how to look inside to see what’s going on?

Possibly a small cut out on the bottom?

cpasam:

I would be happy if mine were not working.  Mine do work but they are very very noisy!  I have tried to get to them from the bottom which is the only open part of the building and gave up for fear of destroying the lights in the building.  No one ever notices that the vents rotate but most ask about the gear noise.  They are laser cut wooden gears by the way.

Happy railroading,

Don

@cpasam posted:

Re: Menards York Hotel:
I’ve asked this before, but no answer was received:

The turbines on the roof are supposed to rotate. Mine never did.
I’m certain that it’s a simple matter of reattaching one wire, but there’s no apparent access.  I’ve had several Menard items arrive needing adjustments, most likely from handling during shipping. Any suggestions about how to look inside to see what’s going on?

Possibly a small cut out on the bottom?

You just going to have to get creative and, frankly, brave, because there is no standard answer. The buildings are made of MDF glued together, creating a thoroughly sealed shell. Cutting a hole to go in through the bottom of this tall building is fine if the wire is detached at the base. But what if it’s detached at the roof? You may end up cutting into the building in several places.

If my turbines stop turning, I think I’ll let them stay still. This building doesn’t lend itself well to internal repairs. It’s obviously a drawback, though, honestly, even a tall styrene building that’s completely glued together offers little chance for internal fixes.

I don’t recall if they’re DC. If so maybe reverse the feed.