I know most of us model a chosen location and period, but how many actually model and collect stock on a particular theme?

As an example, over the years, I've read in the Railway Modeller someone who modelled all 34 BR liveried A4s.

In my case, I've modelled named locos based on where I and my family lived over the years: towns, cities and counties, in steam, diesel and electric.

It's been very absorbing, especially during the BR sector era, I found it was possible, purely based on this criteria, to assemble a fleet that could handle nearly every prototype duty.

I hasten to add, I also own 47283 Johnnie Walker and 86504 Halley's Comet, both surnames of former schoolteachers!

It was harder to apply the same formula with steam locos as by and large only the more important locos were named.

I'm also fascinated with wooden bodied private owner coal wagons for the same reason, currently I concentrate only on the Bachmann Blue Riband, and their Hornby and Dapol equivalents.

Modelling in this way means one has very clear limits and one isn't tempted to stray too far.