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.
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 and I are eye to eye on this one, I also really miss the 50s. Things have been going downhill ever since. There wasn’t any graffiti and violence is going in to warp speed.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
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
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:
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! [Y][:P]
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 [8o|][N]) 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.
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!
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.
It’s not a matter of not finding the labels themselves. It’s more a case of sometimes not finding a prototype picture of a car I’m modeling. However, having another source for ACI labels is not a bad thing. (Reminds me of the old HK ACI labels, which I have a set of.)
I will change the title somewhat given all the complaints about the use of the word “hate”.
Absolutely! I model the same era for many of the same reasons. There really are only a couple things that frustrate me about modeling that era, the biggest being that I would like to have more ready to use 1930’s vehicles readily available.
I like my era (late 1960s) but do dislike how many appropriate locomotives have been made by P2K but with paint schemes from an earlier era (Chicago & North Western engines with “Route of the 400s” or “Route of the Streamliners” on the sides – those slogans were all but gone by the 1960s and just a few switchers out in the boonies escaped the repaint). I also wish there were a few more cars and trucks made for that era, particularly trucks such as GMC. Apart from that I am not unhappy. It has taken time to acquire the resources and photos and information as to how things were, but that is part of the fun. I find myself staring intently at the blurred backgrounds of Kodak Brownie photos I shot back then for information about trackside details.
I just love old photos, Dave. There is so much invaluable prototype information - both railroad and non-railroad related - contained in even a “less than perfect” picture. And sometimes I might see something I hadn’t noticed before - even after viewing the photo dozens of times prior to that.
My basic problem is this: I could like diesels, but am not happy with the handrails on most, as they are imo too delicate or just don’t look right. I basically prefer steam power the most, and 1960’s/1970’s brightly painted freight cars, which did not exist at the same time!
So I was attempting to model in the early 1950’s, but I don’t care for the blah, boring, limited paint schemes on freight equipment.
So I gave up and am running 1970’s incentive per diem boxcars behind steam, as though steam lasted a while longer than it even did in Mexico.
I model the late Transition Era, 50s to early 60s, precisely because I have such fond memories of that time.
Modeling is easy, too. It’s the “sweet spot” for 18-inch radius curves in HO, with 40 foot rolling stock and 4-axle diesels. And the hobby manufacturers are providing plenty of those, along with trucks and automobiles.
I have a soft spot for fallen flags, so I can keep them alive on my layout.
The one thing I hated (yes, hated) about the real 50s was smoking. I do have a cigarette machine on my layout, decalled for “Laramie” cigarettes from the Simpsons, but no one is buying. Even my locomotives are prohibited from smoking.
I model 1998-2007 in Union Pacific/ BNSF. I have a nice fleet of cars, but the dislikes are around locomotives.
Dislike: Ditch lights they are installed on older EMD/GE locomotives on active duty. Finding a way with N Scale is impossible. Not enough BNSF Heritage II Dash 9.
Several liveries of the Kadee PS-1 are a bit modern for my 1950 time period, but I just squint my eyes and mentally stretch the period to about 1952, and happily run them. There are a couple other compromises, including a couple steam locomotives that didn’t last quite that long, but not very many; and the compromises aren’t very extreme. If I’m going to lose sleep over anything, it won’t be this. I’m thinking of adding a PRR N6a caboose. In 1950, the PRR had only one left, and it was used in Indiana, far from my area. So sue me.
ACI labels had to be a certain set height above the rails, so they could be scanned by the ACI readers. Other than that, where they were on the car (left or right) wasn’t that important I believe, so there may not have been a set way to do them. I’d bet even cars of the same railroad may have had them on different parts of the car.
I would not trade living today for the 1950’s for anything. I am so happy in today and I believe things will continue to improve. I love my big screen high definition TV, safe over-the-counter medicine, safe drinking water and food supplies, my car starts itself and turns on the A/C for me, I can enjoy any food I want any time I want it, lead-free house paint is great, no asbestos in public buildings is a win, the EPA has clamped down on all the corporate poluters, smoking is fading all the time, the Interstate Highway System is a convenience I really like, not to mention air travel, microwave ovens, craft beers, Russian Caviar (try to get that in 1954), Cuban Rum (still a gray area, but not around here!), all types of music and movies are available to suit your mood, and KATO LOCOMOTIVES! I did not even mention the internet.
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If I awoke in 1954 I would be so depressed I could not go on.
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As far as the original question and my model railroading goes… I chose 1954 because I love the locomotives. What I dislike about that era is that my favorite freight cars are from about 15 years later. I cannot have both. I made my choice. I modeled 1968 when I was into N scale.
I’m barely getting into my location and era (California mid 40’s-early 50’s), so I can’t say what I definitively hate. There are some small annoyances every now and again, like the fact that there are no easily acquirable passenger cars for the San Diegan, and I can’t find trackplans for the Southern Pacific depot in Whittier, but there isn’t anything too bad.
