How do you choose which loco to buy?  I was told once that I shop like a girl, which is ok because I am one! What they meant was that colour and appearance are important to me when deciding which loco to buy.

It's absolutely true, I have bought locos because I like their colour and shape and even decided against rollingstock with unattractive liveries and typography.

Once I have the locos I do try to put the correct coaches or wagons behind them, so my trains ( at least ) though varied are mostly prototypical.

I've heard people say "I would really love one of those but I don't model that era" but with me it's I like the colour I think I'll get one 

Regards

Veronica

I guess we've all seen the email joke that went round a few years ago. Youl know the one:
1) picture of a street with car dealers for blokes - Merc, Land Rover, VW, Renault, etc.
2) picture of same street with car dealers for women - white, pink, silver, blue...

My bus collection has several girly purchases, bought because they're pretty*. Trains are too expensive for such frivolous nonsense, so I wouldn't dream of it (Liar! Ed.).


*relatively speaking, that is, we're talking buses here! 

I must be a bit "girly"then.

I've got black,green and maroon steam locos and I want a blue one next.Sometimes wish I'd modelled American or some other country because they seem to be more colourful in the main.
Think it might have to be a blue Deltic though or a Minitrix blue Mallard because the last two older Farish models I've converted to DCC,a Hall class and a Duchess of Hamilton don't really like my gradients.

Allan

Hi Ronnie

If you want an eclectic mix, that's fine.

As for me I'll stick to a cohesive look - in my case BR's corporate blue. There are enough variations within it to keep the vigilant interested. I just like the look of a complete railway even if I'm just doing a little bit of it.

BobB

Hi Ronnie

As its your layout there is nothing to stop you running anything model you like. If you wish to persist with a particular area or period whether a true scale model or fictional your choice is limited to suitable models of the correct livery.

Dodger

As one of the eras I model is 'Green' diesel, I have the availability of all the variations in liveries such as Westerns/Warships in maroon and green, Westerns also in Desert Sand, class 31 in bronze, to say nothing of the sheer variety in the classes themselves - Hymeks, class 33's etc.
Everything in various shaded of blue just wouldn't cut it for me but, hey, each to their own.
It's just as well the manufacturers cater for us all (well, mostly)

Hi newportnobby

My own experience suggests there was a bit more than the degree of fading and muck that caused variations in the fleet during the blue era ! I admit that the variations were probably less than for the old steam eras but I'm guessing because I never looked that close - to busy admiring the diesels, nice and shiny and generally green.

As the rolling stock got older, the variations increased. My trouble is that I've never built a layout big enough for everything I would want to include !

My perception is that the transition to diesel and electric and the first few years after steam was all but eliminated did give the most variety and is the most popular modelled British era. An intriguing question comes to mind - is this because we have more models to choose from for those times ?

The usual rule of thumb for period is 'childhood of current 50-60s'. You see it with heritage railways too - they used to all be running big four, now its all maroon, and diesel is no longer a rude word.

I try and pick stuff that fits the location, which isn't to say that the degree of 'fit' isn't determined by whether it's otherwise neat or not. For scratch building and some kit stuff I tend to favour the unusual - hence M79900, pre-grouping, the SR ex SECR push pull pair, and now the Gresley dia 28 all steel third.

Alan

I buy locos that fit my eras and location mainly. BR blue and FGW.  But i also buy girl-style too. I have a cl 66 in kids livery just because it is groovy, i have other locos because i like them, like my Eurostar. The Dapol Silver Link is on order too. If i like it, i just think why not... It doesnt have to make sense.

What i run will depend on how i feel at he time.

Quote from: tadpole on March 04, 2012, 06:43:30 AM
I guess we've all seen the email joke that went round a few years ago. Youl know the one:
1) picture of a street with car dealers for blokes - Merc, Land Rover, VW, Renault, etc.
2) picture of same street with car dealers for women - white, pink, silver, blue...

The #1 case always seems to me it should be

'Does 150mph, eats petrol, uninsurable, you can only go at 70 anyway'
'Does 150mph, eats petrol, uninsurable, you can only go at 70 anyway'
'Only does 80mph, but looks like the 150mph one so you can buy it'
...

My choices of loco's is largely governed by looks as well. For example I'm not a fan of Diesel loco's and always considered myself a steam only modeller. But then I came across EWS livery and ended up buying 5 EWS diesels including Dummy. I've even bought DMU's despite my irritation of them because I liked the livery and realised that a modern day themed layout would have a mixture.

Several of my wagons have been bought because of whats written on the side, such as if they have the same name as one of my friends or an area I'm fond of.

At the end of the day, you like what you like so buy what you like. Anyone that tells you otherwise is taking the "hobby" too seriously. Some people enjoy modelling a particular era with precludes certain loco's from being chosen while others prefer the come as you please approach.

Yep, I'm in touch with my feminine side too 

Although I've stuck to the late 80s - early 90s period my choice of wagons is dictated by what colours and typefaces I like. Even some locos have been avoided because the 'face' isn't right 

Then again being an almost-teetotal sport-hating male who'd rather be in the kitchen cooking than down the pub I don't fit your average stereotype anyway! 


Paul

My stock is mainly BR 70's-80's stuff.

But I have bought the 2 prototype Deltics, just because I like them.

I am going to purchase the Class 70 when it appears, a Blue Pullman. Also hopefully someone will do the LMS twins in N, and I'll get them as well.

Regards

Neal.

I mostly model the GER/LNER area and era, although I do dabble in early BR too - but I love the GWR 'Flying Banana' diesel railcars so, although I felt that I couldn't quite justify having one in GWR colours running with LNER stuff, I did get one in BR 'blood and custard' which looks great and also runs very well!  I also loved the look of the Dapol Terrier, so got one in black with the early BR crest, as that fits with my other few bits of BR stock.

SO - I may not be buying just for the colour, but just 'coz I want that item! 

Quote from: Sprintex on March 04, 2012, 01:37:04 PM
Then again being an almost-teetotal sport-hating male who'd rather be in the kitchen cooking than down the pub I don't fit your average stereotype anyway! 

Huzzah!  There's another one!