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.
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
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.
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...
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!
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.
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!
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.