Taking the Menards Plunge! 8 GN hopper cars....

Good deal!  I just saw the OGR video of your layout this weekend.  The ones you have look great!  I have not seen the Menards hoppers, but I am happy with the few Menards boxcars I bought!

I ordered a hopper (PRR) and tank car (Quaker State) for my grandson's birthday and decided to order two of the boxcars for myself (Frisco and Milw).  Figured if I didn't like the box cars, he would get them for Christmas.  I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the hopper and tank car look.  I was happy with the box car and ordered one more (B&O) and got the free flatcar with tractor for my grandson.  Is the detail on the same level as an Atlas O box car - no, but at under 1/3rd the price you definitely get your money's worth. 

On  a side note:  I did the "ship to store" to save shipping (there is a Menard's only 5 miles from my house) and they had some of the train stuff in the seasonal "toy" section of the store.  I noticed one flatcar that I haven't seen in the fliers/website -- it has two pickup truck cabs on the flatcar (picture just the front half of a pick-up truck with no wheels).

The Menards boxcars I've bought are so close to scale sized that only a rivet counter would see the difference.  Here's some pictures where I compared them to my Lionel Vision Line PFE Reefers.  Other than slight difference in width, they seems close to scale to me.

I'll pull the trigger once M imports some SP or REA cars.  (Hint, Hint!)

Mark Boyce posted:

Good deal!  I just saw the OGR video of your layout this weekend.  The ones you have look great!  I have not seen the Menards hoppers, but I am happy with the few Menards boxcars I bought!

I wish that I could see it!  Rich informed me about a complimentary copy, but I haven't seen it yet.  I'm really curious.  Connie and I hoped to not look stupid.  Everyone always said Rich makes you look good.  His work was cut out for him with me.  I imagine if I try to reach him it will be very difficult.  He's either in or going to York I assume.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The Menards boxcars I've bought are so close to scale sized that only a rivet counter would see the difference.  Here's some pictures where I compared them to my Lionel Vision Line PFE Reefers.  Other than slight difference in width, they seems close to scale to me.

John;

I'm glad that you posted.  I got the idea in my head that the Menards boxcars were/are undersized.  Thx for the pictures.  I know that my local store just put the trains out again.  I'm going to go closely inspect.  The Menards cars look GREAT!  I wonder about the weight?  How much does your boxcar weigh PRIOR to you adding weight?

John C. posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Good deal!  I just saw the OGR video of your layout this weekend.  The ones you have look great!  I have not seen the Menards hoppers, but I am happy with the few Menards boxcars I bought!

I wish that I could see it!  Rich informed me about a complimentary copy, but I haven't seen it yet.  I'm really curious.  Connie and I hoped to not look stupid.  Everyone always said Rich makes you look good.  His work was cut out for him with me.  I imagine if I try to reach him it will be very difficult.  He's either in or going to York I assume.

John,

I think you and Connie looked fine!  If anything you both looked like experts telling us about your wonderful layout's conception, construction, and operations!  Rich's comments cemented the image that you and Connie did well, and there is much to admire and be inspired by!  I will watch it again soon!!

John C. posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The Menards boxcars I've bought are so close to scale sized that only a rivet counter would see the difference.  Here's some pictures where I compared them to my Lionel Vision Line PFE Reefers.  Other than slight difference in width, they seems close to scale to me.

John;

I'm glad that you posted.  I got the idea in my head that the Menards boxcars were/are undersized.  Thx for the pictures.  I know that my local store just put the trains out again.  I'm going to go closely inspect.  The Menards cars look GREAT!  I wonder about the weight?  How much does your boxcar weigh PRIOR to you adding weight?

I added no weight, they are pretty good out of the box.  They have a pretty heavy shell, and with the steel frame and all metal trucks, they don't need additional weight.

I've posted at least 3 times a comparison of real PRR X-29 box cars (operated through the 1950's and later) VS the Menard's box car. The Menard's car is just a little bigger than a SCALE X-29 would be....so to me they are 100% a scale car. 

I'd like to see a side by side photo of the Menard's hopper with the Lionel, MTH and Industrial Rail of the same design. I might order some too.....

gunrunnerjohn posted:

John C. posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The Menards boxcars I've bought are so close to scale sized that only a rivet counter would see the difference.  Here's some pictures where I compared them to my Lionel Vision Line PFE Reefers.  Other than slight difference in width, they seems close to scale to me.

John;

I'm glad that you posted.  I got the idea in my head that the Menards boxcars were/are undersized.  Thx for the pictures.  I know that my local store just put the trains out again.  I'm going to go closely inspect.  The Menards cars look GREAT!  I wonder about the weight?  How much does your boxcar weigh PRIOR to you adding weight?

I added no weight, they are pretty good out of the box.  They have a pretty heavy shell, and with the steel frame and all metal trucks, they don't need additional weight.

John,

If you saw GunrunnerJohn's train of what was it (32 Menards Reading boxcars) travel around the North Penn O Gauger's club layout, and have no trouble with the curves and the steep grade on the back wall like I did, you would be sold right then and there.

 I have a train with about 8 Menards cars and a few others on my Ceiling Central RR, with its track yet to be fastened down to the shelf and cork roadbed.  They track wonderfully, and look right at home with some MTH and Lionel cars.

Other than having to fix some couplers, they did well.  I think they've probably improved the couplers, other folks with more recent orders of boxcars haven't seen as many issues with the couplers.  I got a dozen flatcars as well, and those worked 100%, no coupler issues. 

For the prices, it's pretty hard to beat these, and they're great for carrying around to shows.  Some decry the lack of "added" detail, but for stuff that I take to shows, that's a plus.  I don't take Atlas cars or stuff like the PFE reefers to shows, too many very delicate parts to break packing and unpacking.  I don't have to treat the Menard's cars like fine china, I can pack them all with reasonable care and be pretty certain they'll look as good when I take them out of the box as when I put them into the box.

I just got in a batch of 24 menards cars all look great but 3 of them have one coupler on each that is sticky GRJ how did you fix your couplers, other than those 3 couplers they are very nice cars, If i can sneak the purchase past my wife I will be ordering many many more.

Check out this thread, I detailed the issues and fixes there.

Review: Menards Reading Boxcars

Thanks bending the tab looks like thats the problem I will try it tonight after work Gunrunner you are the man

Takes less than a minute.  if you pop off the wheels, I think you’ll see a piece slightly bent that if bent back will fix the problem.