I really get frustrated with HO vehicle manufacturers. When producing a vehicle you just know they have done a reasonable amount of research to get it done. Why, then, not include the year(s) of the vehicle? Some do state the model year but quite a few leave that up to you to research.
I try to be era specific so it just makes things difficult. I have very poor internet service in that my amount is limited plus transmission here in the Ozarks is sporadic so it makes it tough.
I really don't want to spend time searching and looking up information to justify buying something that has already been researched and verified. Why not just include the information with the product or on the package?
Seems easy to me.
My 2¢
oldline1
If I had to gamble a speculation, I'd say two reasons.
The first is that it is a generisized approximation of the vehicle rather than a specific mode year. Sort of a "this is a mid 50s Chevy sedan" than "this a 56 Bel Air."
The second is that assigning a model year is moot. I have a Honda Accord packaged as a 1982. Well, the 82 model was identical to the 81s, 83s, 84s, and 85s. Calling it any of those years would have worked.
Nittany,
If an offering - like the '82 Honda Accord you referenced - fits a time window rather than a specific year then why not just state it as such? Classic Metal Works did that with their '41-'46 Chevy trucks. Seems to me that it wouldn't be that big a deal for a manufacturer to add that to the package to help out potential customers who are era-specific. I always appreciated Branchline doing that with their rolling stock kits, as the label specified both the BLT date of the car and its paint scheme year.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I find it easier to guess or research era and make for vehicles than I do for freight cars (where admittedly the industry is doing a better job at giving dates at least in a very general sense).
If the OP is referring to Woodland Scenics's vehicles, my understanding is that they are all rather carefully crafted to look "sort of" like this or that model from this or that year, but not exactly like - and thus they avoid the risk (real or imagined) of having to fork over license fees or have other copyright/trademark and perhaps even patent issues with the actual manufacturer. Perhaps they have been advised to be similarly generic in their descriptions to maintain their posture as regards originality versus copying.
There are other generic or quasi generic vehicles out there and long have been.
For the most part where other vehicles are in fact actual models of specific prototypes it seems to me they give the specifics.
Dave Nelson
Heck, I'd be glad if they just put the scale on the bottom of the vehicle!
I'd bet that you can find auto and truck identification info at your local library.
Genesee Terminal, freelanced HO in Upstate NY ...hosting Loon Bay Transit Authority and CSX Intermodal. Interchange with CSX (CR)(NYC).
CP/D&H, N scale, somewhere on the Canadian Shield
Keep in mind that before WW2 cars didn't always change from year to year. Some successful models like Ford's Model T or Model A were kept pretty much as they were for a number of years without changes.
BTW I believe the Chevy "'41-'46 pickup" relates to there not being car manufacturing during 1942-45 due to WW2. When they started making cars again in 1946, many manufacturers "1946" products were basically the same models put out before the war.
Some cars change a lot, some change very little. This was true in the past, it is still true today.
In the 50's/60's, the big auto makers generally used the same body for 2-3 years, with only minor changes to grills, tail lights, etc. Underneath they used the same chassis for 6-12 years in many cases.
Examples of cars that did not change much:
FORD Model T - 1908 to 1927
FORD Model A - 1928 to 1931 (with some minor changes in 1930)
Checker Superba, Marathon, and taxi models - 1956 to 1982 (only a few noticeable small body changes in 28 years, dual head lights and new tail lights 1958, new grill 1963, larger windshield 1968, ugly safety bumpers 1974)
Chevy Astro Van - 1985 to 2005, only one true redesign that dod not really change the loook much.
FORD Flex - 2009 to present - same body, only grills and badging have changed from year to year.
Historicly, pick up trucks change much slower than other private vehicle types.
I have no doubt that copyright issues are at the heart of the lack of labeling on the Woodland Scenics vehicles.
Sheldon
wjstixKeep in mind that before WW2 cars didn't always change from year to year
.
The only time that many automobile models changed from year to year was approximately 1953 through 1962. Even then, not all models changed all that much, but automobile marketing was in its heyday.
That is when we got the 1955 Chevy 150, the 1957 Chevy BelAir, the 1958 Plymouth Fury, the 1959 Cadillac ElDorado, and so many more iconic cars identifiable by thier model and year.
Not "Fox Body Mustang", or "Second Generation Ram", etc.
Unfortunately, my model railroad year, 1954, is in the beginning of this mess. There are no 1986-1991 LeSabres for me. Model specific years, and I can't have a 1955 Chevy or a 1956 Dodge.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 wjstix Keep in mind that before WW2 cars didn't always change from year to year . The only time that many automobile models changed from year to year was approximately 1953 through 1962. Even then, not all models changed all that much, but automobile marketing was in its heyday. . That is when we got the 1955 Chevy 150, the 1957 Chevy BelAir, the 1958 Plymouth Fury, the 1959 Cadillac ElDorado, and so many more iconic cars identifiable by thier model and year. . Not "Fox Body Mustang", or "Second Generation Ram", etc. . Unfortunately, my model railroad year, 1954, is in the beginning of this mess. There are no 1986-1991 LeSabres for me. Model specific years, and I can't have a 1955 Chevy or a 1956 Dodge. . -Kevin .
wjstix Keep in mind that before WW2 cars didn't always change from year to year
Sure you can have a 1955 Chevy, just say it is September 1954......
I look at it this way. If it looks right, then it's good. If someone wants to nitpick a couple of years here and there, that's fine, too. If they want to make a big deal of it, then I'll be honest and say I just don't care that much. If you don't know what it is, then maybe you're just trying to avoid those "gotcha" moments, in which case remember "I just don't care that much."
But if you do care, then it's worth doing the research. Lots of reasons why the mfgs don't get more specific, just the way that is since it's tied up in copyright legalities and lots of really smart people have slightly different opinions and thus advise their clients to do somewhat different things to deal with the issue of needing to produce something that people want to buy, but which wn't lead to exobitant fees that would kill it as a project for our niche hobby. I think expecting uniformity is somewhat too optimistic uder these circumstances.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Also keep in mind that the vehicles on your layout should span a time period of around 20 years. If you look around in real parking lots, most vehicles will be in the 2 to 7 year old range, with a sprinkling of new cars plus another assortment in the 8+ range with fewer and fewer examples the older they get. If you Google "cars of the (type in your layout era)," you should find lots of photos and useful information.
Hornblower
Now if the Model Manufactures call the vehicle a "1970 Dodge Charger" on the package, it better be an exact copy of that specific year and model or can someone say "false advertising"? So generally calling that vehicle a "Dodge Charger", they have no problem. I pick up old newstand copys of Auto Trader, Truck Trader, Classic Auto and the likes and just look though them and get a general idea what the vehicles look like for my era I model.
ATLANTIC CENTRALSure you can have a 1955 Chevy, just say it is September 1954......
Sorry, it has been August 3rd, 1954 for so long now that I am sure the calendar will never change.
SeeYou190 ATLANTIC CENTRAL Sure you can have a 1955 Chevy, just say it is September 1954...... . Sorry, it has been August 3rd, 1954 for so long now that I am sure the calendar will never change. . -Kevin .
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Sure you can have a 1955 Chevy, just say it is September 1954......
So rewrite history a little, advance introduction of the new models.....
Like Mike said above, if they look the era, its close enough.
I play a little fast and loose with the facts/time line of early piggyback as well, kind of a "what if" the government had gotten ouf of the way sooner.....
It's fun......
To each their own, but I wouldn't quibble over a few months. When I started in HO 30 years ago, there weren't very many US automobiles available, particularly pre-WW2 'steam era' cars. I ended up buying a fair number of models of German cars that were pretty close to typical US cars. A big 1930's Horsch sedan isn't that different than Dad's old 1938 "straight 8" Packard.
wjstixA big 1930's Horch (note sp.) sedan isn't that different than Dad's old 1938 "straight 8" Packard.
Leads me to propose this for the Foxworthy thread:
If you say that 'a big 1930s Horch isn't all that different from Dad's old Packard' ... but scream 'that's an F5, not an F3, because the grills and fans don't match' ... you might be a model railroader.
At the risk of being accused of changing the subject, some of us more (ahem) "seasoned" members of these Forums recall when there were half year models.
So my dad purchased a 1957 1/2 Mercury. It was the 1957 body but had interior and perhaps drive train features that Mercury was tooling up for 1958. As I recall the manufacturers explicitly used the "1/2" terminology.
You might just be a model railroader if you instead insist on referring to a "Phase 2" 1957 Mercury.
Add ons..
The Ford "C" cabover..in production from late 1956 to the early 90s, with minor variations in headights and trim.
The CMW 60' Ford pickup..body style started in 1957, variations in grille and trim each year.
This may be of some help to the OP. Or it might not.
https://www.1-87vehicles.org/index.php
This is another case where I had to manually insert the hyperlink. Thread on how to do this was moved to the community assistance forum section of the site.
dknelson At the risk of being accused of changing the subject, some of us more (ahem) "seasoned" members of these Forums recall when there were half year models.
Don't worry about being seasoned, Mazda still does half years. For example, http://www.motortrend.com/news/2017-5-mazda6-gets-new-standard-features/
ATLANTIC CENTRALSo rewrite history a little, advance introduction of the new models..... Like Mike said above, if they look the era, its close enough. I play a little fast and loose with the facts/time line of early piggyback as well, kind of a "what if" the government had gotten ouf of the way sooner.....
The closest I come to this is a car hauler with four 1955 Buicks on board. The Oxford models were just too nice not to get.
I don't know if 1955 Buicks would have been being shipped in early august, 1954, but I played a little fast and loose to make it happen
Looking at my vehicle collection I would say that half of my vehicles do have a specific year. I guess it depends on the maker. All of my Micro Machine Corvettes have a year. And many of my Malibu Internationals, Model Power Minis, and Motor Max Fresh Cherries have a year.
I'd like to add a thought to this discussion. Model vehicles are available for many time periods, but with a glaring exception. It's possible to find vehicles to fit almost any time period from the 1930s to the 1960s, and it's possible to find vehicles for post 2000. But there are virtually no vehicles available for the period from the 1970s to the 1990s. I've spoken to manufacturers at different train shows and suggested this is an opportunity, but have seen no products yet. Athearn's excellent open-sided auto racks are just begging for loads, but none are available at any price. Vehicles, like Sylvan's with excellent detail, could be produced for placement around the layout. I believe there's also an excellent opportunity for less expensive, but still accurate vehicles for auto rack loads or placement on the layout in background locations.
Does anyone else see this opportunity?
Blackhawk Lines
Looking on EBay shows a company called Brekina making some vehicles that are late 60's and maybe some early 70's. Busch used to have US vehicles in the 90's like the Crown Victoria, but they're nowhere to be found other than EBay.
rm7blake I'd like to add a thought to this discussion. Model vehicles are available for many time periods, but with a glaring exception. It's possible to find vehicles to fit almost any time period from the 1930s to the 1960s, and it's possible to find vehicles for post 2000. But there are virtually no vehicles available for the period from the 1970s to the 1990s. I've spoken to manufacturers at different train shows and suggested this is an opportunity, but have seen no products yet. Athearn's excellent open-sided auto racks are just begging for loads, but none are available at any price. Vehicles, like Sylvan's with excellent detail, could be produced for placement around the layout. I believe there's also an excellent opportunity for less expensive, but still accurate vehicles for auto rack loads or placement on the layout in background locations. Does anyone else see this opportunity? Blackhawk Lines
I've found a couple on eBay. Honda Accord, VW Passat, Ford Escort, most were from Busch, I believe. But of the Gen X-familiar vehicles I find, there tend to be way more Ferraris and Porsches than you'd expect to see adjacent to an American railroad. What I really want is a Chrysler Cordoba with rich Corinthian (by way of New Jersey) leather. There are some diverse offerings to be had on Shapeways if you don't mind painting, but they seem a tad expensive. And most I've found don't have open windows and detailed interiors.
ATLANTIC CENTRALI play a little fast and loose with the facts/time line of early piggyback as well
So do I. The STRATTON & GILLETTE is a very early user of trailers on flatcars. By August, 1954 they are accounting for about 5% of all traffic on the line.
SeeYou190 ATLANTIC CENTRAL I play a little fast and loose with the facts/time line of early piggyback as well . So do I. The STRATTON & GILLETTE is a very early user of trailers on flatcars. By August, 1954 they are accounting for about 5% of all traffic on the line. . -Kevin .
ATLANTIC CENTRAL I play a little fast and loose with the facts/time line of early piggyback as well
In my version of 1954, the government has already corrected unfair rates and tariffs for piggyback, and piggyback interchange is in full swing, several years before TrailerTrain.
So even though I model the east, you can see piggybacks from roads all over the country.
Fact is most modelers don't even understand the complex growth of piggyback in the early 50's because of the restrictions and complexities of federal rate and territory regulations on both trains and trucks.
Regulations that might have made sense in 1900 or 1930, but were outdated long before the 50's, and not fully repealed until 1980 with the Staggers Act, Motor Carriers Act, and the 1976 Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act.
The ATLANTIC CENTRAL sports a fleet of nearly 100 piggyback flats covering nearly every railroad who had piggybacks in 1954, as well as a few "foobies" who did not really get into piggyback for a few more years (those roads may have gotten in earlier with the improved regulatory climate).
Here is a typical ATLANTIC CENTRAL car:
And a few others:
Look closely, these are not just stock Athearn piggyback cars.....
And these are just a few samples of widely varied fleet.
dknelsonIf the OP is referring to Woodland Scenics's vehicles, my understanding is that they are all rather carefully crafted to look "sort of" like this or that model from this or that year, but not exactly like
I never noticed this about Woodland Scenics vehicles.
I only own one, this log truck.
I think you are correct. It looks kind of like a 1930's truck, with features similar to several, but not exact as far as I can tell.
Neat.