Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I model Japanese prototype because:
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I've considered modeling British railroads. The scenery in south central England appeals to me and their passenger service makes Amtrak look like a bunch of amateurs if you're into passenger operations.
Like electrolove I'm Swedish and I model the B&O and I have a small collection of other engines, mostly UP. The reason stated by electrolove is something that I concur with.
Also, I love America and it's culture, I simply love the spirit of the USA. Then there is the scenery, there is so much to choose from. This is important when it comes to structures to, there are so much more available of American buildings and structures then there are of Swedish ones.
Then comes quality, sure there are some excellent European and Swedish engines, but the cost, you guys often complain about the cost but your stuff is so incredibly cheap. I bought a Dm3 this week, a Swedish engine made of plastic. I bought it because it was half price, it was about 700$. Everything is a whole lot more expensive then the American equivalent.
Also, in Sweden, up until recently we had a state monopoly, at least except some very small lines. These engines and cars did not have the most exciting design but looked rather boring in my mind, there are nice ones but there is little to choose from. If you would compare "SJ brun" with the B&O's classic colours I'm sure you would agree.
Though I don't model a European railroad, I've been in Bavaria, Austria and Switzerland enough times to really admire their railway systems, and have even bought some European (mainly Austrian and Swiss) HO equipment to run on my own layout from time to time. So, on occasion, my California Sierra Nevadas disguise themselves as the Alps and I put on my Crocodiles and have just a little brainless fun pretending I'm somewhere between Salzburg and Innsbruck. Funny, at train shows, the European layouts are usually the first that I head for--brings back fond memories.
However, 99% of the time, I'm running American articulateds in the Sierras, LOL!
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Im 15, currently living in Ireland but I am American and have lived both here and there for about 9 years. The reason I didnt model Irish is because Irish RTR locos are practically non-existing, and the reason I didnt model American was because American stock isnt readily available in Ireland. So I model British, though my track plan is loosely based on the Isle of Man railway.
Confusing aint it?
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
I'm living in Germany and have started to model CP (freelanced). In my childhood, we had a model rr (rather a toy than a model) with German locos and trains. When I started a couple of years ago to go "back into the business", I went through several alternatives, starting from a fantasy cityscape inspired by this:
Other ideas were to model the rr I lived by in my childhood - I spent the first four years of my life in a depot where my father was working and our family was living - or a narrow gauge rr in the Harz which carries my name - well, rather it's me carrying the name of the river that rr runs along...
The main reason then was to model something that not everybody else around here does and to which I had some kind of link. So Switzerland was not an option although I believe that to be one of the most interesting prototypes, I have travelled quite a bit of their network and there are plenty of model locos and cars available; but there are too many people around here modelling Swiss railroads. The UK somehow didn't appeal to me; however, today I think would think that over. One of my favourites would have been the Tranzalpine in New Zealand, a country I like quite a bit as you may have guessed from my user name here. However, there seem to be only very few model locos in any scale and no cars at all. Also, the kiwis use cape gauge so that - as far as I could see - I would have had to modify the few available locos extensively, which I wouln't dare.
So finally it was Canada. I have been there twice, once in the West, travelling from Calgary to Vancouver, seeing the marvellous scenery and parts of those great rr lines (although I was not there for watching railroads but for hiking). There are only very, very few models of Canadian locos and cars available in Germany. However, a couple of dealers import them from the US, Canada and elsewhere and with the Internet it seemed to me that more locos and rolling stock would be available than I could ever afford. An finally, there was a bit of "exotic flair" - I don't know of anyone near my place who models a Canadian prototype.
So, to make a long story short: I wanted to do something not everyone else did. At the same time I wanted something I somehow had an emotional link to. That's basically it, I guess.
Harry