I'll jump on the 'can't hate' bandwagon. The term is rather extreme, and even if you disagree, I don't hate anything about the transition era. I am fortunate that I am joined by many who have the time, talent, and motivation to bring to the commercial market many locomotives from that era. Scenery is easy, and so is crafting a layout that works for me. Lots of structures and details available, or I make what I must. I think I would only hate it if I couldn't participate at all for some reason.
The only disappointment (I won't use the word 'hate') that I have with my later 50s era is that steam was pretty much gone by then. Of course, there is always the old standby that it is my railroad and I can run what I want. As far as I'm concerned, that is the greatest excuse ever to run whatever the heck I choose!
Cheers all!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I 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!
If I were to pick one thing to hate it would have to be that there are NO surviving NYC Hudsons or Niagras. (Thank you, Alfred Perlman ) Thankfully, there are two 4-8-2 Mohawks still around; one (#2933) having just recently been restored and dedicated at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation this past May:
Would LOVE to see her under steam again but the chances of that happening are pretty much nil. They did a very nice job of making her pretty again though. Definitely on my bucket list as a NYC fan.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Well, it's kinda of sad that billboard reefers were outlawed before the early 50's. But then, I run them anyway.
Paul
I'm late 60's thru 1975. Can't use the word "hate" but I'll say frustrating as no one makes a plastic Amtrak GE P30CH. Brass versions were produced but the last one I saw on Ebay was selling in the $700 range!
Frrykid, Kartrak labels are available from 3rd Shift Hobbies:
http://store.3rdshifthobbies.com/aci-kar-trak-labels.html
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
I love the era's I model, otherwise why model them? I hate the era I live in. few locomotive types on class 1's now. Violence everywhere, the list could go on and on. But on the model side, I think we need to see less repitition of F units, Big Boys ect. And more "work a day" steam models like multipule types of 2-8-0's, 2-8-2's ect. A low drivered version of both of those is needed IMHO. Yreka Western #19, star of the Emperor of the North movie would be a nice choice, low drivered and small prototype would appeal to small layouts and branch line modelers, many different western logging and shortlines had them. Same for a 2-8-0 with small drivers, take the old Tyco model with the tender drive, update it and put a modern drive in the locomotive. Another good small layout steamer or even class 1. Broadway is helping this now with thier non belpair boiler 2-8-0, but its tall drivered. Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
Well, I model the Western Maryland Ry in the Fall of 1954. That gives me spectacular mountain scenery in the beautiful Fall colors, steam & early diesel operation, helpers and great 40' boxcars and tons of hoppers with lots of coal and mines. The structures were neat back then and even the cars (autos) are appealing. These are all reasons I chose to model that place and time. Everything I need is made in HO and photographic evidence is more than adequate.
There's not one thing that I hate about it other than that time is gone and what has replaced it sort of sucks!
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
Title says it all: what are the things (whether it be a challenging detail, a needed engine you can't find, non-existent pictures of your prototype, etc.) that you hate (edit: dislike) about the era you model?
With me, as I model the 1970s, it has to be the dreaded ACI aka "Kartrak" labels. If I'm lucky, I find photographic evidence for the labels. There are other times though where I have to guess at the labels. As a result, though, I've gotten pretty good about making those guesses. But I can't model the 70s without them, so I'm stuck.
I look forward to the responses.