Menards continues to release an interesting variety of structures for your O gauge layout, from industrial, to whimsical, and anything else you might see in Anytown U.S.A. This latest structure, called “O gauge Main Street,” fits squarely in that Anytown category.
A sticker on the clamshell box states that this is part of the Main Street Series. This long, narrow structure contains three low-rise downtown businesses that include M. Twain’s Book Store, an “opening soon” building under construction, and a candy shop. It measures 8¼” x approximately 23½”.
As we’ve come to expect with Menards, there are lots of scenic details. Just outside of the bookstore, we see A-frame billboard signs and two sets of shelves with books. You can actually read the billboards! Of course, we see Jack the German Shepherd resting outside of the bookstore.
The middle store contains scaffolding with boards, a ladder, and piles of wood pallets. If you want to get creative, you could add a sign about what the future store might be. A coffee shop might be an appropriate stop after you’ve purchased a book or a magazine from the bookstore.
To the far right is a candy shop, complete with a pony ride, a bench, and several customers. It’s a shame there’s no easy way to access the interior of this structure. It would be fun to add counters and shelves of candy to create a detailed 3-D scene.
There are some neat details in this product, like the trees with gravel near the trunks and the HVAC systems on the roof. The two vehicles are also a nice addition. If you don’t like their placement, remove the two screws on the underside of the street and position them to your liking. A bit of dark gray wood putty would easily fill the screw holes.
The three business interiors and two streetlamps are lighted with LEDs. I love the addition of lit streetlamps and hope Menards will incorporate this idea into future structures.
Please note: Lighting requires power Menard’s 4.5 volt power supply, sold separately. You can use the 279-4061/4361, 4060/4362, or 4050. Connect it through a single plug over the tabletop, or from beneath the station and through a hole underneath the base.
I like the idea of low-profile structures, especially for areas near a backdrop. However, it’s unfortunate that this row of buildings includes a corner, which adds a few more inches of depth. I would love if Menards would make a version without the corner, so the building would be more narrow for layouts with limited real estate.
Despite this quibble, this is a fun and useful item that will find a place on many layouts with either a downtown or Main Street area.
Menards O gauge Main Street (275-9403)
Features: Prelit lampposts, two vehicles, eight figures, and more
MSRP: $112.35
Website: menards.com/trains
