I would like to see the following.
1. Ice depot
2. Cement plant
3. Fueling depot (several variations)
4. Lumber yard.
5. Scrap yard.
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i'd like see some smaller buildings - one story with a smaller footprint - something like a used car lot office or a pawn shop. For larger buildings a bank or a movie theater would be great. Maybe a funeral home.
Any type of plant or station that requires the train to go through
Well, the feed mill is close, but I would like to see a grain elevator (or maybe not, as
I would not be able to resist buying it). I would like to see a good model of a two
story station, of the type once common on some roads in the prairie states (with
operator family quarters upstairs). A coaling tower, of a different design would be
good, as would a small coal mine facility such as a breaker and loader for a couple of
tracks. (I can think of two stations that required the "train to go through" the building, one on two foot Maine narrow gauge, and the other part of a hotel in a mining town in Idaho) A small meat packing plant with the attached yard (corral) for receiving livestock, would justify reefers and stock cars. And the list goes on.......
!/48" scale modeWelcome to the Village of Zachow History Websitel of the village of Zachow Wis
Small farmhouse or the type of house made from Sears build-it-yourself prewar home. Hardly anyone makes a simple, low-key, single-story 30s-40s farmhouse that isn't a laser kit.
1. Drug store w/ recessed entry.
2. Hardware store w/ recessed entry.
3. Sonics-style drive-in burger/milk shake spot where we can park our 1/43 cars and call-in the food orders, and have it delivered to the car.
4. 5/10 store.
5. Harly-Davidson store.
Rexall drug store
corner luncheonette
rat
3 Bay fire house with opening doors, warehouse with docks for trucks and for a rail siding for boxcar unloading.
Like bagelman stated:
Any type of plant that requires the train to go through
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An out building in my back yard big enough to house a 40' x 90' layout.
Must have kitchen, heat, air and close circuit security system.
Must have kitchen, heat, air and close circuit security system.
2 and 3 story downtown Art Deco style buildings. We have plenty of turn of the century buildings.....
Maybe a 'Menards' of 1930!!!
For the space-challenged among us: any kind of building that is low-relief or flats, even a hybrid in two back-to-back halves that can be a complete structure or two low-reliefs.
A piano factory.
Originally Posted by p51:
Small farmhouse or the type of house made from Sears build-it-yourself prewar home. Hardly anyone makes a simple, low-key, single-story 30s-40s farmhouse that isn't a laser kit.
That's a great idea!!! The Sears one is iconic, and still often seen. It would go great with the barn.
Originally Posted by p51:
Small farmhouse or the type of house made from Sears build-it-yourself prewar home. Hardly anyone makes a simple, low-key, single-story 30s-40s farmhouse that isn't a laser kit.
Atlas has a nice 2 story farm house. A very simple kit. It was sold by Bachmann for a few years but now Atlas has it. Not cheap but a LOT less than a laser cut kit.
A brewery in the ornate style of the old Pabst brewery, but downsized to fit on a layout. That could have a run through enclosed loading dock.
Everything that Walthers HO Cornerstone Series ever made in H.O.
Or another idea that they copied from me 
Originally Posted by AMCDave:
Originally Posted by p51:
Small farmhouse or the type of house made from Sears build-it-yourself prewar home. Hardly anyone makes a simple, low-key, single-story 30s-40s farmhouse that isn't a laser kit.
Atlas has a nice 2 story farm house. A very simple kit. It was sold by Bachmann for a few years but now Atlas has it. Not cheap but a LOT less than a laser cut kit.
I know about that one, but one in real wood and using the Sears design would be really cool and different from Atlas & MTH ones.
A replica of Jim's Train Shop in Homer City would be a wonderful addition on many train layouts featuring a rural setting.
Coal flood loader with working chute
Oil loading platform
Grain
Cement
Loading platforms
- Craftsman style or bungalow style home.
- Masons or Moose lodge.
- Art deco style professional building
- City schoolhouse
- Plant nursery/greenhouse
a roundhouse, with the menard's price on it...
Edit... Always amazed when someone has the same idea while you're typing a reply^^.
I'd go for a roundhouse that doesn't look the same as every other one on every o-gauge layout. Besides that I second the firehouse.
I would personnally like to see them produce a "Poor House". That way whenever I see it on the layout I can keep being reminded of where I am headed if I stay in this hobby.
Only kidding, I don't need an actual Poor House on the layout to remind me. Luckily, my wife is quite happy and willing to remind me every now and again just how close we are getting to said house.
On a serious note, I would like to see any type of an industry building where a freight car passes thru.
Ed
A Feed Mill, modern Grain Elevator, Paper Mill or a Concrete Plant would be good structures.
My next house
Just wanted to say thank you, to all you that have provided Menards with some wonderful ideas for structures to be built. All of you had some great ideas. I'm sure someone or several people from Menards has read this post. Hope each of you have a wonderful and safe weekend.
Jim, "Mark the Menards train guy" "liked" your topic.
Also, I'd like to see this topic again with directions to include photos of the buildings desired--plenty of images on the net, etc.
TV & Radio Store from the 50s.
Western Auto Store.
Small Town Newspaper building.
Small Barber Shop.
Ben Franklin 5 & 10.
An old Radio Shack
Funeral Parlor.
In corresponding with them recently I suggested a pet store/dog-training academy. I'd do it a bit humorously with a yard behind/next to the building with dogs being trained: all sitting patiently watching while "Professor" Jack gives instructions from a black board. I doubt they will make it, but it would be cool and give them a reason to feature Jack, which I know is important at Menards.
I too would like to see any building that trains have to pass through! Love the meat packing plant with corrals etc. Also a nicely detailed country church, graveyard etc would be different than what is offered now for churches. Like to see a smaller type power station and a nice coal mine or tipple or a mine complex!
I like the ideas of:
Lumber Yard (How has this not happened yet?)
Scrap Yard - big enough to drop a gondola or two off via a siding.
a Western Auto Building (I don't know if it would happen, since most buildings have been Menards branded) It'd get extra points for having a curved shape and rooftop sign like the one here in Kansas City.
A "Chicago Bungalow".
Years ago, LifeLike did a mainline station in HO which was a great model to kitbash. It was brick and looks entirely different from the MTH depot. But, since there are so many stations on the market, it's unlikely a new one will come out. So, I second the idea of a brewery. To paraphrase Bob and Doug Mackenzie, I'm sure sales would take off, eh?
I also like the idea of the old DPM building panels.
There is probably a market for a competitively priced coal loading tipple.
BTS Model pictured. The Menard business model seems to be; out of the box, on to the lay out. Larger structures, like the tipple pictured, or the Korber 304 engines house, this becomes difficult. I've seen some of the Woodlands Scenics models arrive at a local LHS needing a lot of re-assembly. Tough to figure these types of models to be shipping friendly. IMO.
I'd like to suggest a STEEL MILL......produced in modules, similar to The Walthers ho line. Components could include: a roller mill....a blast furnace...BOF(Basic Oxygen Furnace)...etc. A modeler cold use some or all components depending on available space. I would guess that many of my Pittsburgh area modeler pals would incorporate these buildings.
