how do you model? From childhood memories or what you see now

[Rheneas N Gauge]

do model from what you grew up with or whats around now

[Fratton]

from what i grew up with, 3rd rail electrics from the southern region and br blue from the highlands region traveling to and from my grandads, i also lived next to a paper mill that used to be served by silver bullets but i havent planned how to have a rake of these yet and what use to make of them,

[Flakmunky]

I'm modelling from when I was aged about 8 - 10...

[Zunnan]

Definately not from whats around now, I don't find constantly changing vinyls and franchises in any way inspirational!

With British outline I prefer site visits to long out of use places and research, then go from there, all heavy industry based...back when Britain actually had heavy industry on a scale worth talking about. When I scratch build something it is usually based on what can be found in the local area (well, within 20 miles of home), but is usually of subjects that fell out of use when my mom was still in a pram.

With the US stuff its stuff I remember from when my dad moved to North Carolina back in the '90s; ageing second gen EMDs and the then new wide cab stuff starting to come on line...I still can't answer why I model the West coast and not the East though

[Mustermark]

I'm modelling from when I was about 10-12 and was trainspotting at Reading in 1973-75, BR-Blue.

I also have modern stock from whne I was commuting from Reading around 2006-08, but the station and surroundings will be modelled on 1970's.

[brbluewill]

sadly i was not stomping about when steam was on the go so its books,internet and other layouts for inspiration.dunno why i model steam era but diesel just doesn't excite me

[Newportnobby]

As a young kid of 8-10 I used to spot steam. From then until girls came along it was green diesels. When I was travelling back and forth to school it was those (yeuch) electric things - mainly clapped out AM10 units.
I therefore model steam and green/maroon diesel.

[moogle]

do model from what you grew up with or whats around now

I was born a few years after steam ended which is what I like to model so the short answer is neither! 

[Portpatrick]

My earliest memories were on the Met/GC Joint in the 50s.  Early morning going to school  the London bound trains included a steam for Marylebone and an Electric loco for Baker Street.  So I initially had a bias to suburban passenger.   Then there was some early 60s loco spotting with Dad at Euston, Kings Cross and Paddington.

however my location tastes have moved from S&D to Cumbria to North Wales and now Scotland (land of my paternal Grandmother).  But my era has remained firmy steam with some green diesel.

That said I now have enough early 2000 era Scottish to run Portpatrick Town with that era of stock.

[Flakmunky]

I'll expand on what I said previously... I'm modelling what I remember from when I was about 8 - 10! I may not be prototypically correct in everything I do but what I am trying to model is the spirit of what my period...

[4x2]

My memory is a bit hazey - many books help ! 

[weave]

Am modelling from memories of about 12/13 yrs old when my dad was writing a magazine for french railways and took me with him. I live in Surrey so thought the french trains were so much bigger and more magnificent than (sorry) the trains that I got/get to Fratton to watch Pompey (hello Pompey fans!).

Travelled on 'L'Aquitaine' , the Paris - Bordeaux TEE which I think was the fastest train in the world at the time (about 1981 - my memory not great) and then stayed for 2 days on the spanish border where changing trains and gauges, the dirtiness, lateness and general manana manana attitude of RENFE over SNCF got me hooked.

Still like travelling on SWT but wouldn't recommend it on Sunday 18th in the south Hampshire area. Big dangerous footie match for unaware Xmas shoppers.

Note to Tank  - am not a hooligan, just warning others. I'll watch it at home.

Cheers Weave.

[tadpole]

Yeah, teens ish, I suppose, Before that I was mad on planes (hundreds of Airfix kits).
Spent most of my teens in Surrey/Hants, Birmingham and Germany, and this is reflected in my fleet.

[Oldman]

Definately the past.
Thank goodness for books and the web to fill in those hazy memories. :computersmile:

[Southernboy]

I model the 1920s/1930s, well before I was born, so plenty of research by book and internet.

For me the research is half the fun, there's always something unexpected/new/surprising/delightful that turns up