NNJRailfan: That reminds me about the passenger car interiors that I have seen pictures of. I just can't bring myself to make the interiors of the cars I have that garish.
I model during the 1970s. I hated disco (sorry Steve Otte, I had to throw that in there).
This car stops at ALL railroad crossings!
1940's to 1954 - transition era. A second to the motion that all the minor varieties of diseasels sure get tiresome. I want a Wabash 700 series (P-1) Hudson. Beautiful semi streamlined engine, built in Wabash Decatur shops in 1943-44 using boiler and appliances from old 3 cylinder Mikados that never worked out.
Bundy74 I actually quite like the era I model (late 1980's). But as far as modeling it, I wish there were more options for 70's and 80's vehicles. Finding 80's pickups, cars, heavy trucks, and farm equipment is very difficult. But I do get to kitbash some stuff so there's that.
I actually quite like the era I model (late 1980's). But as far as modeling it, I wish there were more options for 70's and 80's vehicles. Finding 80's pickups, cars, heavy trucks, and farm equipment is very difficult. But I do get to kitbash some stuff so there's that.
Hear, hear! I agree wholeheartedly. I model the early 1980's, because short lines proliferated after the Staggers Rail Act in 1980. I also love BN's Cascade Green (and hate orange and black!) and those multiunit lash-ups of SD40-2s.
But finding vehicles of the 70's and 80's--even in HO scale--is a real chore. Yet period vehicles really help to set the era, especially for non-railfans who can't take their cues from the equipment you're running. Let's take a trip down Memory Lane: Station wagons instead of minivans. Volkswagon beetles everywhere. Sedans with long hoods and huge trunks. Almost no SUVs (except Jeeps & Chevy Blazers). Boxy ugly economy cars. Many more European imports than Japanese cars.
But the colors! A parking lot didn't resemble a closet full of business suits, like they do today. Orange, yellow, bright green, light blue, pink(!), really bright red-- the colors of a parking lot looked more like a gumball machine (if you remember what those looked like). Sigh.
Unfortunately, many of the vehicles from that era that are available are sports cars, and there's a real lack of "ordinary" cars and pickups. Sometimes you can get away with later models-- European automakers like Volvo or Volkswagon tended to keep their vehicle styles constant for decades.
Just don't get me started on how much good quality scale vehicles cost--there's a reason why you rarely ever see a parking lot on a layout!
My modeling is set in 1900 for several reasons:
- the West was on the path to recovery from the Silver Crash of 1893 and the follow-on recessions.
- some dog hole lumber ports were still being served by sail, although sail was rapidly disappearing from commerce at this point.
- knuckle couplers and K-brakes were rapidly becoming standard. 1903 was the final deadline for interstate service
- real universal interchange among the railroads became well-developed in the 1890s. LCL and freight services were a part and parcel of the railroad scene in every town.
That said, finding smooth running models of 19th Century 4-4-0s, 2-6-0s, 2-8-0s, and 4-6-0s is not a simple task.
Other hard-to-find item are the variety of wagons and horses needed to complete the scene, especially with the demise of Jordan Models. Figures in suitable attire are likewise scarce. But I still love the era.
Fred W
...modeling foggy coastal Oregon in HO and HOn3, where it's always 1900...
I too model the late sixties, and my only disappointment is the lack of vehicles, would like to see more vans,station wagons, and sedans from all makers represented. My other thing is I'd like to see more advertising from the sixties, billboards representing the time, tobacco,alcohol, tv, food, etc.mh.
GP-9_Man11786 When I modeled South Carolina in the 1950s, I hated Jim Crow cars and hatred and ignorance they stood for. I refused to have any on my layout. Since I was freelancing, I could justfy this by saying the railroad played the interstate commerce card.
When I modeled South Carolina in the 1950s, I hated Jim Crow cars and hatred and ignorance they stood for. I refused to have any on my layout. Since I was freelancing, I could justfy this by saying the railroad played the interstate commerce card.
+1000
Gary
Going to be modeling the mid 1990s to present in southern Minnesota. Since space is limited for running trains presently, my preference is 4 axle locomotives. In the time periods I'll be modeling, those locomotives seem to be relegated to local work only or found on shortlines. Not entirely a bad thing, and my gripe relates to a space issue, not the hobby. Another minor dislike is the lack of variety found on the rails today in terms of freight cars. My hope is by modeling in the mid 1990s, I'll be able to have a lot of variety on my layout. Lastly, finding minor details like vehicles for the mid 1990s has been challenging. Could be I'm not looking in the right place, but a lot of what I see for sale is from the 70s or earlier.
I model two eras, 1948-1973, and 1993-2010. I like the 50's/60's as virtually any transition era freight train can be put together with Athearn Genesis F3's/F7's, the right caboose, and the H15-66's and RS3's can be used for switching cars or to pull short locals. Be sure to throw in at least one or two streamliners. I also enjoy music from 1954-1975 and 1976-1998, with a few 2000's.
I like the modern era because I remember seeing numerous Maxi Well and 57' Spine cars around Los Angeles, Commerce, and Glendale with SD75M's,SD40-2's, ES44AC's, a few SD70ACe's and thought it would be great to combine the old with the new. I also like Amtrak, Metrolink, and Santa Fe, and Union Pacific because those roads were my first exposure to railroading when I was a kid.
The only downside to the 90's is there are only a few cabooses in action. You won't see them on mainline runs, just in yard duties/switching service. And less Red/Silver/Blue/Yellow locomotives to see. I kind of like BNSF's Heritage II Green/Yellow/Orange Scheme, and I can tolerate the Heritage III Black/Orange in small doses.
Belive me, a BNSF train running with all Black/Orange locomotives on the headend all the time with no oddballs in the consist gets boring very quickly.
wjstix ACI labels had to be a certain set height above the rails, so they could be scanned by the ACI readers. Other than that, where they were on the car (left or right) wasn't that important I believe, so there may not have been a set way to do them. I'd bet even cars of the same railroad may have had them on different parts of the car.
ACI labels had to be a certain set height above the rails, so they could be scanned by the ACI readers. Other than that, where they were on the car (left or right) wasn't that important I believe, so there may not have been a set way to do them. I'd bet even cars of the same railroad may have had them on different parts of the car.
If you work with ACI labels, look to the December 1969 MR (whether you find the issue, get a copy of the article, or get access to the MR all-time archive.) pages 86 to 89. It is the MR Clinic edited by the late, great Gordon Odegard and the MR staff. That is what I use for my reference. Your bet on the various locations is correct especially if the car was painted before 1967.
Bundy74 But as far as modeling it, I wish there were more options for 70's ... vehicles.
But as far as modeling it, I wish there were more options for 70's ... vehicles.
I have run into that problem myself. For some of the vehicles, "older" vehicles have worked as the style of the vehicle didn't change for a long period so they can be used. (I have some semi cabs that are from the 50s but the style lasted long enough that I can use it for my era.)
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.
I model the Las Vegas and Tonopah, Bullfrog Goldfield and Tonopah and Tidewater railroads in the Goldfield Nevada area circa 1914.
Things I like: Modeling something different that few people try, Something that is linked to the area that I grew up in and something that requires some historical research. Old west modeling. The area in downtown LV where I work is very close to the original path the LV&T took when it left the UP yard to head for Beatty.
Things I don't like: Getting steam engines to work well. Diesels are so much smoother! Very little new comes out for my era. The obscurity of my prototypes means there are few photographs and they are all in black and white. All were abandoned before WWII. Even the towns they served are going away: see Rhyolite, NV. Temporal anomalies.
I am trying my best to model about a hundred years ago and it is not that difficult, except things that are too modern keep creeping into the scene because I like them. Having old things on a modern layout can work just fine most of the time, however, the reverse is not true.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Since permanently changing modeling eras from 77/78 to 94/95 I find it harder to find prototypical industries found in a industrial park that suits my needs and what complicates that is I don't use whimsical industries or names.
You see my 77/78 era industries would have either converted to truck or closed over those 17 years..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Remember, we're talking about modeling here, not what we like or don't like about the real world today. Some of these posts have strolled right up to the borderline of political topics and put a toe over. Keep it on topic, please.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
I model from the 90's to present, and there is nothing I "hate", (other than the WC take-over), but I can sure nod my head in agreement to Henry's post.
Mike
My You Tube
No that I'm modelling the Pennsy in the transition era, my only major gripe is the lack of steam in N Scale. And Honestly, that situaion has gotten better in recent years with Bachman's K4 and BLI's M1.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com
I'm barely getting into my location and era (California mid 40's-early 50's), so I can't say what I definitively hate. There are some small annoyances every now and again, like the fact that there are no easily acquirable passenger cars for the San Diegan, and I can't find trackplans for the Southern Pacific depot in Whittier, but there isn't anything too bad.
RR_MelI also really miss the 50s. Things have been going downhill ever since.
.
I would not trade living today for the 1950's for anything. I am so happy in today and I believe things will continue to improve. I love my big screen high definition TV, safe over-the-counter medicine, safe drinking water and food supplies, my car starts itself and turns on the A/C for me, I can enjoy any food I want any time I want it, lead-free house paint is great, no asbestos in public buildings is a win, the EPA has clamped down on all the corporate poluters, smoking is fading all the time, the Interstate Highway System is a convenience I really like, not to mention air travel, microwave ovens, craft beers, Russian Caviar (try to get that in 1954), Cuban Rum (still a gray area, but not around here!), all types of music and movies are available to suit your mood, and KATO LOCOMOTIVES! I did not even mention the internet.
If I awoke in 1954 I would be so depressed I could not go on.
As far as the original question and my model railroading goes... I chose 1954 because I love the locomotives. What I dislike about that era is that my favorite freight cars are from about 15 years later. I cannot have both. I made my choice. I modeled 1968 when I was into N scale.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Several liveries of the Kadee PS-1 are a bit modern for my 1950 time period, but I just squint my eyes and mentally stretch the period to about 1952, and happily run them. There are a couple other compromises, including a couple steam locomotives that didn't last quite that long, but not very many; and the compromises aren't very extreme. If I'm going to lose sleep over anything, it won't be this. I'm thinking of adding a PRR N6a caboose. In 1950, the PRR had only one left, and it was used in Indiana, far from my area. So sue me.
Tom
I model 1998-2007 in Union Pacific/ BNSF. I have a nice fleet of cars, but the dislikes are around locomotives.
Dislike: Ditch lights they are installed on older EMD/GE locomotives on active duty. Finding a way with N Scale is impossible. Not enough BNSF Heritage II Dash 9.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I model the late Transition Era, 50s to early 60s, precisely because I have such fond memories of that time.
Modeling is easy, too. It's the "sweet spot" for 18-inch radius curves in HO, with 40 foot rolling stock and 4-axle diesels. And the hobby manufacturers are providing plenty of those, along with trucks and automobiles.
I have a soft spot for fallen flags, so I can keep them alive on my layout.
The one thing I hated (yes, hated) about the real 50s was smoking. I do have a cigarette machine on my layout, decalled for "Laramie" cigarettes from the Simpsons, but no one is buying. Even my locomotives are prohibited from smoking.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
My basic problem is this: I could like diesels, but am not happy with the handrails on most, as they are imo too delicate or just don't look right. I basically prefer steam power the most, and 1960's/1970's brightly painted freight cars, which did not exist at the same time!
So I was attempting to model in the early 1950's, but I don't care for the blah, boring, limited paint schemes on freight equipment.
So I gave up and am running 1970's incentive per diem boxcars behind steam, as though steam lasted a while longer than it even did in Mexico.
John
dknelsonI find myself staring intently at the blurred backgrounds of Kodak Brownie photos I shot back then for information about trackside details.
I just love old photos, Dave. There is so much invaluable prototype information - both railroad and non-railroad related - contained in even a "less than perfect" picture. And sometimes I might see something I hadn't noticed before - even after viewing the photo dozens of times prior to that.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I like my era (late 1960s) but do dislike how many appropriate locomotives have been made by P2K but with paint schemes from an earlier era (Chicago & North Western engines with "Route of the 400s" or "Route of the Streamliners" on the sides -- those slogans were all but gone by the 1960s and just a few switchers out in the boonies escaped the repaint). I also wish there were a few more cars and trucks made for that era, particularly trucks such as GMC. Apart from that I am not unhappy. It has taken time to acquire the resources and photos and information as to how things were, but that is part of the fun. I find myself staring intently at the blurred backgrounds of Kodak Brownie photos I shot back then for information about trackside details.
Dave Nelson
tstageI primarily model the early-to-mid 40s NYC but am slowly widening that gap to include up to the early 50s. Along with Mike there really isn't anything that I hate about the era I've chosen. Handsome looking steamers and early diesels...Classic cars...Houses and structures with character...Great music! - What's not to like!
AntonioFP45 Frrykid, Kartrak labels are available from 3rd Shift Hobbies: http://store.3rdshifthobbies.com/aci-kar-trak-labels.html
Frrykid, Kartrak labels are available from 3rd Shift Hobbies:
http://store.3rdshifthobbies.com/aci-kar-trak-labels.html
It's not a matter of not finding the labels themselves. It's more a case of sometimes not finding a prototype picture of a car I'm modeling. However, having another source for ACI labels is not a bad thing. (Reminds me of the old HK ACI labels, which I have a set of.)
I will change the title somewhat given all the complaints about the use of the word "hate".