Menards Johnson’s Texaco Station is the latest structure release from the home-improvement chain. Many of its structures are made of wood and a few out of resin. This one is plastic.
It isn’t the first one made of the material; previous low-relief buildings like Dave’s Garage, Ray’s Wreckers, and current-production Sinclair Garage are also plastic. This one, though, is a full-depth structure and the first of this design.
Menards Johnson’s Texaco Station
The first thing I noticed, other than the material it’s made of, is it’s lighter than recent structures. While not really heavy, the previous buildings did have a certain density with wood bases, walls, and other parts.
Two other things stand out: there are no figures – Jack the German shepherd is conspicuous in his absence – and no landscaping. That said, previous service stations didn’t have those either.
Usually Menards buildings come with a jack in a wall, in the back or on the side, for connecting a 4.5-volt power supply (Menards SKU 279-4061, 279-4062, or 279-4050, sold separately). There is typically also a pigtail connection underneath to connect the wiring under the layout.
This model has a hole in the side wall as well as one in the bottom. Gone is the jack but the pigtail remains. The wiring can be connected through either portal. The building is lit inside and under the canopy by LEDs. Johnson’s Texaco is certainly a bright, safe establishment.
Checking out the vehicles
On the lot are a die-cast 1958 Plymouth Fury and a 1957 Dodge Sweptside pickup, the latter in Texaco livery. The tonneau cover on the bed of the latter wasn’t affixed with glue; if yours is loose just snap it back in.
The gas pumps are well executed with filling nozzles and advertising globes. The graphics are crisply applied; I particularly like the stars along the top of the building and the “Fire Chief” logo on the side. I’m sure if you could open the restroom door it would be spotlessly clean, too. There are also parts representing heating and air conditioning equipment on the roof.
Fill ‘er up
There’s one thing missing that the other garages have, and that’s a sign. My eye wants a big, round Texaco logo perched atop a post on the corner of the lot.
Overall, though, I like the building. It’s well modeled and every 1950s or ’60s town can use one. At the price point I don’t mind adding figures and a sign myself. In fact there are a lot of other little details a modeler can add if they want.
Johnson’s Texaco Station from Menards
MSRP: $49.99
Website: Menards.com/trains
I saw this O gauge, Texaco, assembled, service station the other day at Menard’s. Looked pretty realistic and it nicely represents the so called “Teague” design (designer Walter Dorwin Teague) that goes back to 1937 (though the Menard’s version seems to represent one from the 1950s). About 20,000 Texaco stations “clean across the nation” … to borrow words from the “You Trust Your Car” song, had this architecture. I too wish it had a Texaco sign atop a pole (an aftermarket company can make a bundle producing one!). Nonetheless, it’s a bargain at $49.99.