Possibly becoming a Transition Era Convert....

[Anonymous]

Yikes, this Model Railroader special 50's mag is really causing me problems (fun problems).

I've been planning a layout for a while, and have always considered the layout being set in 1996, just before SP disappeard forever.

Now I'm contemplating the transition era. Could have steam and diesel.

But I want to stay away from ever thinking about buying brass.

Is it possible to do some nice steam era modeling in plastic?

[selector]

C'mon, you're pulling our legs.

Brass is like very nice, but BLI, Life Like (RIP?), and Spectrum have some very good stuff, and it costs less than a third as much.

Slide on over to our side of the bench, and enjoy the best of both worlds; the golden age of steam, and about 25 solid years into the diesel age. What could be better? You can run everything from the ubiquitous 0-6-0 to Big Steam, and well into the diesel lines of the major suppliers.

[Anonymous]

Alright,

I don't know my diesels much either, but can I run the diesels I saw as a kid in the late 70's, early 80's? Those diesels weren't around in the 50's, were they?

Some of the switcher were though, right?

Good news about the plastic steam!!!

[selector]

Don't think the 70's and later diesels will make it, unless you umpire them in. Sorry.

Transition era really began just after the War, so you could get away with a 1959 or 1960 diesel, but you'd never be able to weather it!!! It'd have to be right out of the factory.
[:D]

[UP Deano]

CARRfan, DO IT! come on over to the transition era side of the tracks! lots of companies are makeing it easy to do the 50"s era now days. tons of good cars, buildings,people,frieght cars, passenger cars, steam and diesels. i"m not really into steam, so i"ll let others more qualified answer that question for you. but i am BIG on first generation diesels, and let me tell you, there are tons of REALLY GOOD quality plastic first gen diesels out there. i"m sorry , i"m not an SP fan, so i cant tell you exactly what SP had for engines, but being a HUGE FM fan i can tell you atlas makes the H24-66 and SP did own some of those(15 of them). if you cant find them in SP, the FM demonstraitors TM-3 and TM-4 were both bought by SP.[;)] thats best i can do to help ya.[:D]