[Gary]

Which period of railway history is your preferred period for modelling/collecting​

British Modern Privatisation Period	27	11.20%
BR Blue Corporate Blue Period	20	8.30%
BR Steam/Diesel/Electric Transition Period	57	23.65%
BR Early Steam Period	25	10.37%
LNER	17	7.05%
GWR	26	10.79%
LMS	6	2.49%
SR	10	4.15%
Pre 1923	8	3.32%
Continental and Overseas	10	4.15%
Other	5	2.07%
All and any	30	12.45%

 

[Gary]

Which is the preferred modelling period of Model Rail Forum members?

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Dennis David]

My favorite period is the Deutsche Reichsbahn but heck I'll buy just about anything even those cute little coloured locmotives you Brits have.

 

[Gillwyn Junction]

Hello folks
This is my first time so be gentle with me. I started with the intention of specialising in GWR but became hooked on all sorts of stuff that came up on ebay. My collection now includes British and Continental locos and stock from all periods and I have around 70 locos and lots of stock. I have a loft layout with about 500 feet of running. I am still in the process of ballasting and landscaping but it's a bit warm to do too much indoor work at present so roll on winter. (I don't mean that really)

 

[Gary]

Interesting result so far.

We have had 37 hits and 6 members vote.

Does this mean that 31 of you model something else?

Now I thought I had covered everything but clearly not.

I did not appreciate that modelling narrow gauge was so popular.

Maybe Simon Kohler of Hornby should put plans for the development of a new narrow gauge model system forward at the expense of a new rebuilt Battle of Britain/West Country class loco!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Doug]

I'm in a quandary over this...

I live in France so I'm interested in French locos although the older Jouef locos that I have don't run that well and aren't much fun. They look good though so they sit on the shelf.

I live close to an old abandoned railway that I'm keen to model. In it's heyday (1876 - 1939) before it was bombed in the war, it was an interesting line. So I'm hunting older pre 1900 locos and rolling stock for that.

I love the new Hornby locos with their fantastic detail and very good running characteristics. These are the ones that you'll find on my layout. I mainly have LNER, NE and a few Southern locos. I don't seem to have any GWR - no particular reason for that.

My kids like Thomas the Tank Engine and Harry Potter so you will find Thomas, Percy and James with their coaches and waggons next to the Hogwarts express on our family layout too. The kids' locos are all chipped with DCC decoders too so they can integrate with the others on the mainlines.

To finish off, I was born in South Africa and my family was involved in the railways there so there is an aspect of my hobby that is related to the old RSA steam and Diesel Electric locos. I have some Garratt kits waiting for a rainy day (or two) and some other locos that would look good on a Karoo desert scenic track.

 

[MRE]

I guess most people will model a period, but like many others I know my own preferences are a bit eclectic, like Doug.

I like unusual items, such as the Lima military train and the old Triang Wild West engine and some (not all) of the Battle Space range.

I have real experience of diesels and electrics, so have some of the locos I drove and would probably have a sample of each if they were all available. But, I prefer the hypnotic effect of watching valvegear and motion on a moving steam loco.

I have an interest in the historical part of railways, so I like the landmark locos such as City of Truro, Stirling Single, 10000-10001 etc. Prototypes are fascinating, so Princess Anne, DP2, Fell, etc are also favourites.

So, even though I don't focus an any particular time period or area, I still get fun out of model railways. As its supposed to be a hobby for enjoyment, you play with what you like and I'll play with what I like !!

PS. If anyone made Duke of Gloucester I'd be first in the queue - 90 mph shovelling coal is an experience I'll never forget !

 

[Doug]

QUOTE (MRE @ 15 Jun 2005, 00:20)...
PS. If anyone made Duke of Gloucester I'd be first in the queue - 90 mph shovelling coal is an experience I'll never forget !
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

DJH make one - although you have to put it together yourself.

Click here for the product info

 

[MRE]

Thanks for that, Doug.

Although I have built hundreds (maybe thousands !) of slot cars, I have never built a loco. Maybe I should add that experience to the firing !

I am aware of one other Duke. Some years ago, maybe in the late 1990's, there was a large scale model available as a limited edition. It must have been Gauge 1 because I have a vague memory of it being around 2ft long with tender. I beleive it was hand built and electric powered, and cost around £5000. Does anyone have any further information ?

 

[Doug]

Building locos is relatively straight forward. I have a couple of DVDs from British Railway Modelling on Locomotive Kit Building featuring Tony Wright. Very informative DVDs that help you build enough confidence to get the job done.

You can find out more about them and order them here

 

[Dennis David]

Can I play these DVDs in the States?

 

[Doug]

QUOTE (Dennis David @ 16 Jun 2005, 01:34)Can I play these DVDs in the States?
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Dennis,

There is nothing on the boxes that indicate weather they are region specific, but I doubt there is region encoding as they are of the homebrew variety.

They're interesting in that you have 120 minutes then 180 minutes of Tony Wright sitting at his workbench soldering away. Initially you think that what he's doing is all logical and obvious - and a little repetitive, but you realise that this is a guy that has been doing this for years and has mastered his craft. Doing it yourself is another matter, but the advice and techniques given in the DVDs are very useful. It will most likely prevent you from wrecking that nice brass model you've been saving for so long.

 

[Chuck]

As I live in Australia and as such cannot view the different regions I tend to model what I like, apart from the obvious favourite, like The Flying Scotsman and due to family allegencies, I have a collection of LMS Locos and rollingstock, however that does not make me one eyed and basically I model what appeals to me as one should.
Regards
Steve

 

[bobknee]

I am more of a collector than modeller and collect anything taking my fancy. I have Gauge 1 down to Z gauge, including HOe.

My preference is German outline, maily for the quality of the models available, but also for the wonderful liveries of Epoch 1, i.e. before the DRG in 1923. The colours and variations of the Bavarian, Baden, Prussian, Wutttenberg etc models are really superb.

I would happily collect British outline models pre 1923 grouping, e.g. Caledonian, SECR etc, again the liveries being intricate and colourful. Some of the locos are great as well, such as the Stroudley Terriers which carried numerous liveries over many decades. Dapol, then Hornby, have issued Terrier variations.

Other than the Terriers, there has been little in the way of pre grouping offerings. Now the quality of British outline models is as good as continental ones, I would be easily persuaded to part with money for good quality pre grouping British outline models.

 

[LisaP4]

I said pre-1923 in the poll, but this isn't strictly true. I model pre-group S&DJR, which wasn't grouped into the LMS till 1930, so my models are '24-'26 but still pre-group.

This gives my the widest range of liveries on my models, with LMS and SR running next to S&DJR and wagons in LSWR/LBSC/LNWR/etc. which haven't been repainted into their big four liveries.

 

[bobknee]

The Lima military train has been mentioned in this topic. I too like some of the more unusual items. I have the same train, but it is quite crude in its quality. It does look quite magnificent when on display, especially the Leopold gun.

I have started a collection of WW2 items. The Bachmann Liliput HO range has some fantastic offerings. These include an ME 109 fighter on two flat trucks, camouflaged wagons and coaches, plus locos with armoured plates along the boilers. There are also versions of an armoured train, both in ordinary and camouflaged liveries. There are standard and camouflaged versions of a flak coach, with four AA guns at each end.

I'm sure there would be considerable interest in British outline WW2 models, if only a manufacturer would be brave enough to issue models other than locos in wartime black livery.

 

[Doug]

bobknee, Roco have a large range of military trains and transports. I'm not sure if their products go back to WW2, but they are very popular with current military era enthusiasts.

 

[John Webb]

As a relatively new member I've not yet voted in this poll. I'd probably tick the 'Other' entry if I did. Returning to railway modelling after 40 years I decided to build a layout representing a small country station on a preserved railway line - this will allow me to run almost anything I like. And I hope some of my old Triang models and others, currently preserved in boxes in my sister's loft, will eventually make an appearance - when I can persuade her to find the said boxes.
For operational interest the station is a passing place on a single line with a small goods yard. The whole layout is also a tribute to those many people who've done so much in 12inch to the foot scale to preserve and give enjoyment to young and old in the past 50+ years - long may they carry on!

John Webb

Test image:

 

[julesmail67]

Hi
I would just like to add another point of view not really touched on previously.

There are alot of people that will model different companies/ times/ locos etc all at the same time on the same layout.

I like BR Blue (my personal timeline for trains in my youth) but I own mainly BR transition steam loco's, mostly shunting smaller ones.

I also like LMS stock as most of the preserved stock I had experience of on the Carlisle - Settle was loco's like Leander and Duchess of Gloucester Black 5's etc.

Am I the only one who tried to click more than one button?!?!?!?!?!!!!?

best wishes,
Jules

 

[Doug]

QUOTE (julesmail67 @ 29 Sep 2005, 13:36)...
Am I the only one who tried to click more than one button?!?!?!?!?!!!!?
...
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I tried to press 4 buttons