Thanks for the heads up. One of the desirable traits of this hobby is the community. I started my current layout 4 years ago and used Menards track. I painted my track and added wooden ties I made from old cedar fence boards and the cheapest sifted clay Walmart kitty litter for ballast. It's less than 5 bucks for a 25 lb bag. I used the leftover larger pebbles for coal loads for my hoppers. The advantage to the tubular track besides the cost is that it's compatible with my Lionel engines with magnetraction, very quiet, extremely strong, and is made to cross spans with minimal support and can be custom cut to any length. I bought the 30" straights and cut them to length to minimize joints and to fit the space exactly. The only complaint I have is the dead spots at joints that formed over time. Fortunately, I discovered this problem before building my permanent layout, and I soldiered all the joints while laying my track, which is another advantage to the tubular track. I would like to make crossovers between loops. What is the minimum center to center spacing between tracks with the switch installed, and is the switch also designed to be operated manually?
@@DRCRailroard Great information and comment thank you . I don’t have the switch anymore I removed it and returned it after about two weeks it would not work by the remote at all . But you can manually switch it
@@pilotren9830Sorry you've had such a bad experience. Menards mechanical/electrical accessories seem to have a less than desirable reliability track record. They have recently came out with a lot of these things so maybe they'll get things ironed out. It's as if they are sacrificing quality in an attempt to make them affordable. I'm sure it isn't an easy thing to pull off, an affordable quality item but I hope they keep trying. FYI: I wouldn't hesitate to take anything back that's defective out of the box. Apparently they have an unknown grace period policy, past an undisclosed amout of time, even with a recipient, where they will only refund in store credit. Ask me how I know. I'm still waiting on my 11% rebate I sent in last October. Which by the way is in the form of store credit even if I ever get it.
I personally added the missing capacitors to the board that the manufacturer left out to make it operate on AC but not sure ur electrical abilities maby if u contact support at manards they would have a replacement board with capacitors
The new Menards Crossing apparently is only for DC Power. They will come out with an AC Power Crossing soon. That might be why you have problems with that new Menards Crossing.
Old Lionel Postwar switches have a good record of still working after 35-60 years. Many times if they have a problem it is a simple fix or just cleaning. The old may not be shiny but we are reliable. Attend a train show somwhere near you. Therewill be plenty of knowlegable people their who can advise you.
I went with o gauge over g gauge and ho and N. It offers perfect accommodations without draining my money. G gauge is too big for me and ho is too small
These switches are a test run so the people that buy them test the switch to find the problems so they can make changes before they make the full run of them. They did the same thing with their diesel locomotives. They were produced very limited until the current run that has all the bugs worked out. They know that the first run of their products will have problems and the best way to figure that out is put some of them in the hands of customers to get feedback back.
@@pilotren9830 This isn't the first time this little over-site happen to Menard's trains. There was the problem with the non-powered Santa-fe blue unit. it seems like the person designing these may not be an O gauge person.
Glad someone besides me figured this out if u look at board under crossing it appears to be standard flasher circuit but right on the board marked for two capacitors but none in the circuit going to add two capacitors to see if it fixes problems on ac power
Im just building me a layout also, and I'm going with the Menards track. I emailed them to see if they were going to have the turnouts in stock soon and I was told they were evaluating the first run and are working to get the bugs worked out. By the way, what diameter curve track did you go with?
@@chtyan I hope the get it fixed I liked it but it played completely out. So I removed it the diameter is 054 . Thanks for the comment and have a lot of fun on the new layout
Thanks for the heads up. One of the desirable traits of this hobby is the community.
I started my current layout 4 years ago and used Menards track. I painted my track and added wooden ties I made from old cedar fence boards and the cheapest sifted clay Walmart kitty litter for ballast. It's less than 5 bucks for a 25 lb bag. I used the leftover larger pebbles for coal loads for my hoppers. The advantage to the tubular track besides the cost is that it's compatible with my Lionel engines with magnetraction, very quiet, extremely strong, and is made to cross spans with minimal support and can be custom cut to any length. I bought the 30" straights and cut them to length to minimize joints and to fit the space exactly. The only complaint I have is the dead spots at joints that formed over time. Fortunately, I discovered this problem before building my permanent layout, and I soldiered all the joints while laying my track, which is another advantage to the tubular track.
I would like to make crossovers between loops. What is the minimum center to center spacing between tracks with the switch installed, and is the switch also designed to be operated manually?
@@DRCRailroard Great information and comment thank you . I don’t have the switch anymore I removed it and returned it after about two weeks it would not work by the remote at all . But you can manually switch it
@@pilotren9830Sorry you've had such a bad experience. Menards mechanical/electrical accessories seem to have a less than desirable reliability track record. They have recently came out with a lot of these things so maybe they'll get things ironed out. It's as if they are sacrificing quality in an attempt to make them affordable. I'm sure it isn't an easy thing to pull off, an affordable quality item but I hope they keep trying.
FYI: I wouldn't hesitate to take anything back that's defective out of the box. Apparently they have an unknown grace period policy, past an undisclosed amout of time, even with a recipient, where they will only refund in store credit. Ask me how I know. I'm still waiting on my 11% rebate I sent in last October. Which by the way is in the form of store credit even if I ever get it.
@@DRCRailroard you make some good points here. Hopefully they will get it right
On your Menards couplers, I bought a bag of small black rubber bands and double wrap it around the coupler arm.
@@OldFrailandDecrepit Thank you for the information I appreciate that. I enjoy watching your channel
Just found your channel. Cool video, thanks!
@@johnknippenberg-LandmarkYards Thank you I certainly appreciate that welcome aboard
You are welcome. It is great to see someone enjoying the hobby of model trains. That way I don’t feel like the only one out there.
Menards is how i got started in oscale some ups and downs but manards dose make things afordable and if u can fix the gaffes or live with them its fun
MPC era Lionel is typically affordable and usually reliable. The MPC and newer cars pull easier with the fast angle wheels.
👍
@@JimAlderson-cn6ek you’re absolutely right
I personally added the missing capacitors to the board that the manufacturer left out to make it operate on AC but not sure ur electrical abilities maby if u contact support at manards they would have a replacement board with capacitors
@@JimAlderson-cn6ek Thank you for the help
The new Menards Crossing apparently is only for DC Power. They will come out with an AC Power Crossing soon. That might be why you have problems with that new Menards Crossing.
@@RABSTRAINS thanks for the information I appreciate that
Old Lionel Postwar switches have a good record of still working after 35-60 years. Many times if they have a problem it is a simple fix or just cleaning. The old may not be shiny but we are reliable. Attend a train show somwhere near you. Therewill be plenty of knowlegable people their who can advise you.
@@jaystuckey4920 thank you for the information the two I have work good smooth and crisp
I Am Working On the Decore in My N Scale Room.
@@elleryparsons2433 I like N scale you sure can add a lot and you don’t need a ton of room
Also I have found out that the crossing is supposed to be used with dc only to the track , but subsequent crossings will be ac/dc…..
@@jamesmorgangunsandtrains7132 thanks again I learned something that I did not know
I’ve thought of starting with new Menards track and making my own switches, I’m just too busy. It can’t be that hard to make a switch.
@@MustangsTrainsMowers its probably not to much involved
I went with o gauge over g gauge and ho and N. It offers perfect accommodations without draining my money. G gauge is too big for me and ho is too small
@@thealexpshow782 thank you for the comment. Excellent points you make . I love all gauges and scales
These switches are a test run so the people that buy them test the switch to find the problems so they can make changes before they make the full run of them. They did the same thing with their diesel locomotives. They were produced very limited until the current run that has all the bugs worked out. They know that the first run of their products will have problems and the best way to figure that out is put some of them in the hands of customers to get feedback back.
Certainly makes sense thank you
The crossing light is DC, not AC They are going to change this in the next update.
Thank you for the information I didn’t know that
@@pilotren9830
This isn't the first time this little over-site happen to Menard's trains. There was the problem with the non-powered Santa-fe blue unit. it seems like the person designing these may not be an O gauge person.
Glad someone besides me figured this out if u look at board under crossing it appears to be standard flasher circuit but right on the board marked for two capacitors but none in the circuit going to add two capacitors to see if it fixes problems on ac power
Im just building me a layout also, and I'm going with the Menards track. I emailed them to see if they were going to have the turnouts in stock soon and I was told they were evaluating the first run and are working to get the bugs worked out. By the way, what diameter curve track did you go with?
@@chtyan I hope the get it fixed I liked it but it played completely out. So I removed it the diameter is 054 . Thanks for the comment and have a lot of fun on the new layout
@@pilotren9830 That's cool! That's what I was going to go with. Do you O42 on the inner?
@@chtyan yes I do
@pilotren9830 Thank you! It's gonna look good.I subscribed and look forward following your layout progress. Chuck
@@chtyan thank you I am looking forward to seeing your layout getting underway and I also hit the subscribe button on your channel
Maybe The Circut Is Weak?
@@elleryparsons2433 thank you for the information
I have 4 videos on this switch , it’s got problems with the wiring…….
@@jamesmorgangunsandtrains7132 perhaps most of them do I guess time will tell thank you for the information
You may have to open it up and check if any of the wire broken or lose. Some other people have had this happening to them.
That’s a good idea thank you