Whenever you go to a model railway exhibition in the UK, you would be hard pushed NOT to find a US themed layout there - the fact that the rolling stock available is cheap compared to British Standards, and often superior in detail and running quality makes the whole idea of modelling the states and Canada very attractive.
So with this in mind are there many people in the states who have Briti***hemed layouts and model the UK? I once visited the big model railway exhibition in Springfield MA and there was one chap there who had a British based model, but he was an Brit living and working in the states, are there many home grown Americans who have an active interest in UK modelling?
I suspect most UK modellers in North America are orginally from there. My limitied experience has shown this. There used to be a group of British Model Railroaders in Halifax, Nova Scotia some years ago, but I haven’t heard of them for a while.
I have some British locomotives and rolling stock, which I run on my layout. I was planning a Britiheme for one station, but have not done it yet. I moved to the USA in 1986, so probably don’t count in your survey as I am not “home grown”. I have never come accross a Britiheme model over here, but have seen a few other EUropean themeed layouts, Swiss especially.
I live in the U.S. and model southwestern U.S. railroads…my dad on the other hand is into G gauge and models a European theme and most of his stuff are UK steam locomotives and rolling stock…chuck
If you stretch your imagination…I do. But it is a real stretch. I started with the Hogwarts Hall, but it moved from a partial London, partial 1880’s to Hogwarts Freight and Ferry in the Old West. And the Hall is gone, broken and replaced by an MDC 4-6-0 Kit and accompanied by a 2-8-0, a 4-4-0, a SW1 switcher and a Plymoth Swithcer Hall painted with the Hogwarts Red/Black theme. Along with the red/black rolling stock.
But like I said, its a real stretch. Oh, I still run the Hogwarts Passenger cars
As Paul stated its very hard to find UK models over here in the US, My sister came over for a visit in Feb and I asked her to bring my 30yr old UK locos with her from when I was a kid. I have cleaned and oiled most and they still run great after 25yrs in the attic + the abuse I gave them when I was 7!! I’m still looking for a place to get the Mallard in HO But all I turn up on searches are the ‘Live Steam’ version.
I havent seen any UK based layouts over here, although I am sure there must be the odd 1 or 2.
Karl, you could try www.ehattons.com - they should have the new Hornby DC A4 which is available as Mallard ( R2339), they may also have some of the Bachmann A4s though the Hornby is a better model. Hattons are a reliable supplier and will ship worldwide - I’d have no worries about ordering from them again.
I suspect the problem may well have something to do with exchange rates - US HO is cheaper here than our home-grown models at the moment but to buy European equipment from over there is very expensive.
I think the answer is 4. The major reason is the availability of British equipment, it never was a big seller here and I have no idea where someone could have even purchased anything to do with britrail.
your right about that, but things are a changin, Hornbys new OO gauge stuff is very detailed you even get opening cab door’s, i have never seen that on a US model yet, but who knows what the future holds, as for the cost factor i Will be sticking with my American HO stuff,
On the other hand, British modeling magazines and books are a great source of techniques and advice even if applied to American modeling. I got my facia-bookcase paneling idea from one of Cyril’s books. Futhermore, if you are an American modeler with space constraints the British have lived with that issue long enough to have come up with some great solutions. I email a modeler over there who models a US road and he has been very helpful in sharing information.
Ernie C
You might want to check this link for the British Railway Modellers of North America: http://home.ca.inter.net/~brmna/index.html
Hope this helps.
I have four British goods wagons I picked up on an R&R flight to Upper Hayford and a 1950s era French wagon from a high school pen pal, plus a Dapol J-94 0-6-0 “Warrington” our friends from Sholing gave me as a gift.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
I imagine not many here in the states model Briti***rains, but it certainly would be a different type of train to have on hand during a fair or other special event ( our club is located in our county’s main fairgrounds building.) Something new and exciting to run around the layout for 30 minutes several times a day instead of the same ole UP passenger train or ‘track cleaning’ train…heheheheh
If you check the BRMNA web site, they list Member Dealers who stock British models. There are a couple in the US. Some just carry the best selling RTR brands, others have really specialist and obscure parts.
In the Toronto area we have several active British modelling groups. (Not the US, but…). Every 2 years we put on the Great Briti***rain Show (next April 29-30). We usually have a couple of people up from the US exhibiting; probably even more just attending.
There was a time when all the operating layouts at train shows here were British.
If anyone wants recommended dealers in Southern Ontario, send me a PM.
I’ve been backing into Brit rail due to Bachmann. We started with the HP Hogworts and followed with Thomas the Tank engine. Collection has slowly grown with more protypical rolling stock. Been finding stuff at train shows and Internet.
