Price: $49.99
Manufacturer
Menards
5106 Menard Dr.
Eau Claire, WI 54703
menards.com/trains
Era: 1930s to present
Comments: Kids on the porch swing, a dog in the front yard, and a neatly manicured yard. Those are just some of the highlights of Grandma’s House, a new HO scale structure from Menards.
The two-story house has laser-cut siding detail; separate, factory-applied corner trim; multi-piece windows with curtain detail behind the glazing; and a front door with a sidelight. Octagonal gable vents are located on the front and right sides of the structure.
Tabs on the bottom of the house fit into slots on the plastic base. Attached to the base is a static grass mat, sidewalk, eight shrubs, and a tree. The edges of the base are painted green and gray to match the scenery above.
Next to the tree is a motorcycle and a figure kneeling down to pet Jack the German shepherd, a regular detail on structures from Menards. On the porch, Grandma is taking a freshly baked apple pie over to her grandkids on the swing.
Propped against the house is a yellow ladder. It’s a bit oversized for HO scale. Since the ladder is attached with a clear, tacky adhesive, it can be removed with minimal damage to the house or scenery.
Similar to many other structure offerings from Menards, Grandma’s House features light-emitting-diode lighting. It requires a 4.5-volt power source, sold separately. The power source can be connected to a jack on the back of the structure or the drop-down pigtail.
Grandma’s House measures 4-3⁄4” x 4-1⁄2” x 3-7⁄8”. It could be used as part of a farm scene or in a neighborhood with houses of similar vintage. The ready-to-install structure can be purchased at your local Menards store or online.
