From reading topics on the forum it would seem that the majority of members model periods from the start of nationalisation to present day; only a few doing grouping era, even fewer pre grouping.
A number of reasons get quoted for this,  mainly the following:-
It's what they remember from their own experience, - only us ancient ones can recall having seen SR, LMS, LNER and GWR stock
Or there isn't much grouping stock RTR (particularly SR) even more so for pre gouping !

I suspect that experience counts in most cases, but how many would model earlier periods if there was a better variety of RTR available?

I model grouping GWR and SR (two layouts).
It's almost impossible to find something earlier than 1930 with what is available rtr and if there would be pre grouping GWR rtr stock I would certainly buy it. Most available locos that would fit have details of later periods (whistle shields, top feed, cab window shutters etc.)
For my SR layout I wouldn't because the station I'm building was opened in 1932.
A further problem is that there is no branch line SR stock except for the birdcages.

Edit: I have never seen steam locos in real use and since I don't live in the UK I don't have any memories of British railways and its predecessors.

As an American who was born in the 80s I focus on the BR transition era simply because that gives the widest variety. I feel that there's just more attraction to those periods because they are more accessible. Nostalgia is also not necessarily based on what people grew up with, but can also be based on what historical media exposes one to. In my case, It's just what I think of when I think classic UK railways.

I still find other eras and prototypes interesting (Welsh narrow gauge is really fascinating) but I can't possibly model everything I like, so I have to choose one period to focus on.

I am very eclectic in my modelling, but even though I have a large collection of ready to run grouping and modern image, my true love is pre-grouping and before, even though very little is available.

I have started trying a couple of newman miniatures kits, including a broad gauge offering, and to that end, I have started developing my 3d printing skills with a view to being able to do some of my own development in the future.

To my mind, if it were available, I would certainly do a pre-grouping layout of some sort, somewhere.  Having said that, it is only in recent years that because of lack of new subjects, we have really seen development of pre-grouping in "Orribly Oversized".

For those that perhaps remember, my favourite layout of all time was built by the wonderful Mike Sharman.  I was lucky enough to see part of his layout at an exhibition in the 70's before he built it all into a permanent home layout.   

Here is a video of his home layout with all 3 gauges on it.. narrow, standard and broad    


Regards

Graham

My own layout is set in the '50s/early '60s (but with a few swaps could easily serve as the LMS in the era of the big four) and I wasn't born until '66, so it's not familiarity that dictates my choices.

If I ever have my current layout "finished" and enough time and money coincide, I may build another layout and I certainly like the look of pre-grouping - if there was enough RTR or even conversion kits for existing chassis.

When I started my models of  the Coniston Railway, I decided to go for just pre-WWII - primarily because I didn't like the horrible flat roof that went on the loco shed at Coniston after a fire during WWII. I was able to get sufficient suitable locos RTR, albeit with a little bit of rule 1 since both the Fairburn 2-6-4T and Ivatt 2-6-2T weren't introduced unto after the war.

However, now I'm getting to grips with 3D printing, I have the potential to make some Furness Railway locos and stock so the plan is to run the layouts as either pre or post grouping. I already have Pettigrew's steam railcar, a 4-6-4T "Jumbo" & a handful of FR 6-wheeled coaches and I'm working on an L2 0-6-2T and a D5 0-6-0, as well as some bogie coaches. Freight stock might be a little problematic to find many photos of suitable stock but I'll have a go.

I might even have a go at an ex-L&Y 2-4-2T "radial tank" too, some of which worked the Coniston line under the LMS.

I can only just remember BR steam, but my main BR memories are of blue diesels with their pre-TOPS numbers without the 'D' prefix.

My main modelling interest is pre-Hogmanay, 1938.  I've never been especially enthusiastic about modelling what I remember.  I'm not at all interested in modelling the present-day main line scene although, of course, I enjoy seeing and reading about the layouts of those who do.  Many of these are absolutely splendid.

With best wishes.

John

@Moria  thanks for posting that video! I've seen it before, but ages ago. Mike Sharman was a genius. Way ahead of his time back in the seventies. 

For me, the years of my childhood are the least interesting era and the era I'm most unlikely to ever model. - I.e. the 1970s & early 80s BR 'Blue' period.

Currently the two main periods are both eras of change.
Firstly, LMS in the 1920s, i.e. mainly pre grouping types in a mix of pre and post grouping liveries, prior to Stanier influenced modernisation and standardisation of the mid-late 1930s. This is to a large extent wanting to be a bit different and move away from the classic 1930s & 50s which dominated exhibitions at the time, but with the RTR stock and kits at the time was about as early as I could then go.

Secondly, BR North Eastern region c1955-65, the ever popular BR steam-diesel transition. In this case a club project, and actually with a collective desire for a local subject, the location came first, then the choice of era based on potential interesting scenarios and non-availability of rolling stock for earlier periods...

I'm very much a late 50s to late 60s sort of chap as far as my main real railway and modelling interests go.
I can clearly remember the end of WR steam in the period 62 (I was 8 then) to 66.
My main spotting locations were Trowbridge (my home town), Westbury and Bristol.
By 67 I was venturing further afield with frequent trips to Salisbury and Eastleigh to witness the end of SR steam.
This period inevitably coincides with the introduction of green diesels and dmus so I have a bit of a soft spot for eg hymeks, warships, westerns, peaks and Cromptons in particular.
Now living in Cornwall my modelling (if you can call it that)  tends to reflect my local area but still with a 58-68 theme by and large.
However, I'm happy to help out modelling more modern image layouts at our club.

I mostly grew up around aeroplanes rather than trains. So other than the odd rail trip on classic blue-grey BR and trips to a couple of places like the Keighley and Worth Valley and Didcot heritage railways most of my influence for my railway modelling is from other railway modelling and model rail catalogues and magazines when I was a kid.
As that was peak chocolate box layouts in the mid 70s and a school visit to Didcot and family trip to Pendon railway museum had a big influence that means I've generally gone for GWR steam as my primary focus. My first trainset was the Hornby Flying Scotsman set though, so there's a bit of LNER and 'classic train set' trains in there too.
Since I took up the hobby again a decade or so ago, I've learned a lot more about the real thing and of course there's a lot more information that's easier to access, so things have got a bit more detailed but I've also learned a lot about other railways and eras, so Rule 1 has definitely applied as I've found interesting stuff I want to play with

I've noted before that I have no real idea why I choose to model quite a specific time and place - the Eastern and Central section of the SR in South London in the period 1955-62. I've no connection with the area, don't remember steam trains much (a couple of tank locos running past me at Southend Central when I was very young is about all I can reliably say I remember.), but have always loved railways of almost any type. However, I have found being a bit more specific about when and where keeps me from buying too much. I can do a bit of rule 1 when I operate James Street, but that's still BR in an area.

As a Civil Engineer a lot of the interest comes from seeing how railways got where they are, so perhaps it's that that points me to an area with a lot of railways in one place. I don't like to model pre-BR as I don't find it as interesting. A lot of my favourite locos, coaches and wagons came out in BR days so that is another tie in.

Dave

Well @Dorsetmike you've just added another thought to my 2/3rds finished layout. It started as a steam only in BR black exclusively - then i decided to pitch the period wide enough to use 'green' diesels 'cause I like diesels. My son modelling GWR in 0 gauge asked why i hadn't thought to use EX-LNER steamers and so I've bought 3 Union Mills locos relevant to the layout location.
All this is because i well remember steam in and around Leicester where we had LMS and GCR lines close by and the 'M&GN' up in the city. This gave rise to a wide range of locos being 'spotted' including Breyer-Garrets!
We also used to take trips to Rugby and Nuneaton 'Spotting' - the south end of Rugby platform gave a view of the GCR line on the bridge over the WCML so you could spot two different regions.
It's likely i will graduate to more LNER stock but the cost is not small as Gresley & Thompson coaches especially in teak seem to be at a premium but you need them to look truly 'full of Eastern promise' Got Mallard in store already so if I add FS in Green 60103? It's an excuse to look for coaches?