johnarcher

I suppose that's it, it's a matter of one's own priorities - you can do the big main line in P4 but it will take a lot longer, if that sort of scene is your main interest and you don't expect to live to 150 maybe you will trade off some appearance for the chance of getting it made - EM or 00. Personally I would prefer to trade the other way, if I could only have the look of finer flanges and flangeways etc by settling for a much simpler prototype that's fine. As you'll see on the left my current interest is Irish 00n3, that's using basically EM standards, but only because I can't find an 8mm P4 spoked wheel (anyone know of one?), if I could I'd accept I might only produce 2 or 3 locos rather than 5 or 6 and go for P4. Just a personal choice of what's most important to you.

First three that have inspired with regard to subject matter - light/narrow gauge, eccentric, with realised surroundings and story (helps when the maker writes well too) - Augher Valley as mentioned before Tregarrick - Iain Rice long ago and the daddy of this approach - Madder Valley and three that inspired by sheer quality, especially of scenic modelling - Petherick Hursley and of course Pendon As this thread has sprung to life again, now a few years on I would add Lydham Heath Pempoul