Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Nitpicking

3463 views
51 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, February 17, 2020 7:17 AM

 Get lots of those, as there is an ever limited set of operational period locos available. And even then they have to find some way to cover the air pump. That one Sierra Railway loco has a bigger filmography than some actors.

 One that really jumped out at me and was totally missed by my railroad employee ex father in law was in the move Ray, when they are on their way to a gig, riding in a period correct car on a street lined with period correct cars, and they go under a railroad bridge - and a modern stack train passes over!

                                        --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Monday, February 17, 2020 1:05 AM

My favorite is the Civil War scene in Virginia with a Virginia & Truckee train.

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Richmond, VA
  • 1,890 posts
Posted by carl425 on Sunday, February 16, 2020 10:34 PM

The classic movie screwup is filtered cigarettes in WW2 movies.

My favorite model railroad screwup was a layout set in 1927 with a rail-served brewery. 

I have the right to remain silent.  By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, February 16, 2020 9:40 PM

One of my favorite movie screwups are Checker cabs. Having owned several Checkers in my lifetime, and being a bit of a Checker buff, I can identify the model years, which are often incorrect in many films.

The film will be set in 1963, and they have 1969 or 1970 Checkers as cabs.....

Yes, the car changed very little from 1959 to 1983 when production ended. But they did change, and given a good look, I know most all the spoting features.....

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, February 16, 2020 9:37 PM

Enzoamps
And the famous wrist watch on a Roman soldier in some gladiator flick.

.

I have always heard that was in Spartacus, but I have never seen the wristwatch.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Sunday, February 16, 2020 9:18 PM

Speaking of fifty-star flags:

Churchill (2017):

Churchill meets Eisenhower for the first time in 1944 and there is a fifty-star flag in the background.Dunce

Another favorite, Pearl Harbor (2001): shows a train station in 1941 with the bright, shiny 1949 California Zephyr on the next track over Indifferent

I'm sure we could fill a whole thread with these. 

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    April 2015
  • 469 posts
Posted by Enzoamps on Sunday, February 16, 2020 9:09 PM

And the famous wrist watch on a Roman soldier in some gladiator flick.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Potomac Yard
  • 2,767 posts
Posted by NittanyLion on Sunday, February 16, 2020 8:40 PM

gmpullman

 

 
SeeYou190
For me, it is flags with the wrong number of stars.

 

Even the big-money "Hollywood" productions make mistakes like this. I usually find at least half a dozen or more anachronisms in what are supposedly "researched" movie shots. Even when they have a team of "advisors" on hand I catch quite a few.

 Union-Station_old-crop by Edmund, on Flickr

 

Regards, Ed

 

I've met some people that have worked as advisors on films and there's a lot of "well too late now" and every other tradeoff you can think of. 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, February 16, 2020 6:31 PM

gmpullman
Even the big-money "Hollywood" productions make mistakes like this. I usually find at least half a dozen or more anachronisms in what are supposedly "researched" movie shots. Even when they have a team of "advisors" on hand I catch quite a few.

.

You know, that is amazing.

.

When I watched the Disney animated film Pocahontas, I was amazed that as far as I could tell, all the maritime flags for the English ships were period correct.

.

But, in the live action Sharknado 6, they had a Confederate States of America national flag in a Revoltionary War Camp. That is a mistake there is no excuse for. Hey, the stars were in a circle, close enough.

.

The scene in Toy Story where Woody almost gets run over by the truck in the gas station is incredible. The underframe detail in the class 8 tractor is almost spot-on. However, in Twister, the trucks are just solid blocks underneath. Pitiful.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Sunday, February 16, 2020 6:21 PM

SeeYou190
For me, it is flags with the wrong number of stars.

Even the big-money "Hollywood" productions make mistakes like this. I usually find at least half a dozen or more anachronisms in what are supposedly "researched" movie shots. Even when they have a team of "advisors" on hand I catch quite a few.

 Union-Station_old-crop by Edmund, on Flickr

 

Regards, Ed

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, February 16, 2020 6:01 PM

Mark R.
that 1955 Chevy is clearly visible in numerous photos.

.

For me, it is flags with the wrong number of stars. I go bonkers every time I see a "early 1950s" layout with 50 star flags. 

.

SoapBox

.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Sunday, February 16, 2020 5:11 PM

I'm "blessed" with severe OCD, so that's almost a hobby for me .... looking for discrepancies in articles. I seldom (if ever) bring them to anyones attention as I know it's just me for the most part. 

I've seen layouts where the article states numerous times that the layout is set in 1943, but that 1955 Chevy is clearly visible in numerous photos. I could go on and on, but again, it's clearly MY issue alone and probably explains why I'm still working on the same layout after 25+ years ....

Mark. 

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    April 2015
  • 469 posts
Posted by Enzoamps on Sunday, February 16, 2020 3:47 PM

Oh I saw the trailer right away, but generally don't want to point out stuff like that.  One thing my eye cannot ignore is structures sitting atop the ground.  You know, that gap underneath.  I appreciate the replies.  I was aware ther were multiunit locos with one number in prototype, but I was curious about this specific prototype, merely because the number is such a large bold presence on the side.  If it had been a number box on the front of an F7, I doubt I'd have seen it.

I do look for anachronisms, like red stop signs in 1934.   For that matter, all the movies of that era lead me to believe everything was black and white then anyway.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, February 16, 2020 11:12 AM

Now when I look at that picture, the first thing I see is the trailer.

It sure is a huge layout!

Mike.

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Heart of Georgia
  • 5,406 posts
Posted by Doughless on Sunday, February 16, 2020 10:48 AM

Sheldon is correct.  The modeler has two copies of the same Atlas loco, which was the only road number offered.  I own one and its an excellent loco.  I have toyed with the idea of getting a second and making one of the 2's into a 7....for my home road shortline.  I'm confident that a bit of razor blade scraping of the blue and dabbing some matched paint would work close enough (maybe some strategeric weathering) to turn it into a 1527.  A little work on the number boards too.

The blue and yellow C&NW-ish paint scheme is derived from the 50/50 ownership structure the A&S had when it was owned by MOPAC (the blue) and C&NW (the yellow, and the shape of the logo).  Of course, UP acquired both RRs so now it belongs to them 100%. 

Its a sharp looking scheme when cleaned up.

http://archive.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLocomotives/mp15/0409/9980_TQ.jpg

 

- Douglas

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, February 16, 2020 10:23 AM

The locomotive was made by Atlas, it was a very limited production paint scheme, back in 2009, and was only offered in the one road number.

http://archive.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/arc-homp15dc.htm

So short of custom decals and a custom paint job, the owner apparently settled for both locos having the same number.

Maybe he has a plan to attempt a renumbering.........not sure I would try that on that paint scheme.........

As for the tractor trailer......opps!

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Sunday, February 16, 2020 9:59 AM

BRAKIE

 

 
Enzoamps
Both had the same number - a large 1522.

 

After the railroads dropped the drawbar each locomotive received its own number so,no after that time.. 

I have notice photos of great layouts that had freight cars that didn't fit the era being modeled and the biggest laugh is cabooseless trains in the 50s,60s and 70s modeling era. The conductor and rear brakeman rode the caboose while the engineer,fireman(yes diesels had fireman) and head brakeman rode in the engine cab.

The left hand seat in earily diesels was for the fireman and after the fireman's job was eliminated the head brakeman took over the left hand seat. After the demise of the caboose and the crew size was cut to two then and only then did the left hand seat become known as the conductor's seat.

 

For what it's worth, I have an ABBA set of P1K Erie F-3 diesels, numbered 714A/B/C/D.  The A units are A&D and the B units are B&C. I run them as seperate AB sets coupled by a drawbar. Right now they are seeing duty running my coal trains with the A/B units handling eastbound loads and the C/D units handling the westbound empties. Since they are permanantly coupled with a drawbar, rather than doing an MU on by DCC system, I assign both units of the 714A/B set as address 7141 and both units of the 714C/D set as 7142. I have the option of MUing them into a single ABBA consist and I have in the past but for now, they are handling the coal trains seperately.

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, February 16, 2020 7:09 AM

Enzoamps
Both had the same number - a large 1522.

After the railroads dropped the drawbar each locomotive received its own number so,no after that time.. 

I have notice photos of great layouts that had freight cars that didn't fit the era being modeled and the biggest laugh is cabooseless trains in the 50s,60s and 70s modeling era. The conductor and rear brakeman rode the caboose while the engineer,fireman(yes diesels had fireman) and head brakeman rode in the engine cab.

The left hand seat in earily diesels was for the fireman and after the fireman's job was eliminated the head brakeman took over the left hand seat. After the demise of the caboose and the crew size was cut to two then and only then did the left hand seat become known as the conductor's seat.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, February 16, 2020 7:01 AM

I looked up the roster for the A&S, and I'm thinking it's an oversight by the modeler/author.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=26988&Page=1

The A&S is a wholly owned subsidiary of the UP.

Mike.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, February 16, 2020 5:42 AM

The STRATTON AND GILLETTE has several sets of A/A Alco FAs in special paint for NIghtbird Freight Service that are drawbar connected and numbered as a single unit.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Huntsville, AR
  • 1,251 posts
Posted by oldline1 on Saturday, February 15, 2020 10:40 PM

I saw that and was curious too.

 

Did you see tractor-trailer sitting there without the cab off to the right side of the picture? Might be hard to get it up to hook up.

oldline1

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Richmond, VA
  • 1,890 posts
Posted by carl425 on Saturday, February 15, 2020 10:22 PM

Enzoamps
Is that a prototype where two units are permanently drawbar connected and sport the same number because the railroad considers it one locomotive?

Yes.  Some railroads had permanent sets that had the same number.  I can't say it was never done on others, but I've only seen it on F & and I think E units.

I have the right to remain silent.  By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.

  • Member since
    April 2015
  • 469 posts
Nitpicking
Posted by Enzoamps on Saturday, February 15, 2020 9:40 PM

In my recent MArch 2020 MR, I see some fine layouts.  One of which is St.Louis Junction on page 54.  But what struck my eye in the first photo was the two locos.  Both had the same number - a large 1522.  I admit I know little of such details, so I ask in honesty.  Is that a prototype where two units are permanently drawbar connected and sport the same number because the railroad considers it one locomotive?  Or was it an oversight/planned correction?  A visitor's loco making a guest appearance?

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!