Are you rivet counters ?

No. We like to run models together that are built to a consistent scale, ran on the the same full size gauge, and if possible are of the same period, but how much detail you add is up to you. We don't make any judgements on the approach that others take.

Is your approach only for skilled people who build everything themselves?

No, though building things yourself is often rewarding and apart from locos most narrow gauge garden modellers have to rely heavily on kits anyway. Leaving live steam to one side there are some excellent and reasonably priced models available that are suitable, for instance from Coopercraft and the Accucraft models based on real prototypes. 

Do I have to throw away everything I've built so far?

No, but you may end up replacing or upgrading things over time, so that you achieve a cohesive look. On our own lines we find it is often one element not built with the same skill as the rest of the scene that jars.

Isn't it better to have a non scale railway that works well than a scale line that is high maintenance and unrealistic in operation? 

A railway can be to scale without being fine scale, and some aspects of our approach also make for better running. For instance we we prefer to run our trains at the slow speeds typical of narrow gauge railways. Non-scale railways can also be high maintenance if not properly built. Realistic railways are not necessarily bells & whistles finescale.  Think impressionism.

Won't scale details get broken in the garden?

Indeed a possibility,  however locomotives or rolling stock can be dimensionally to a constant scale without being festooned with fragile detail.  Most modelling involves some form of compromise, we accept that ours does; it is where the compromises are made that may be significant.

What are you trying to achieve

As individuals our aim is to model a real railway in miniature with realistic operation in a realistic landscape. 

Can I join your group?

The wiki in itself does not constitute a group. If you wish to post a comment on it, you need to create a PBworks account at their website, select to join this group, and then you can post comments. GRRG, the group behind the wiki is a by-application group. It is open to people who are activley practising the kind of modelling we showcase here, and who are prepared to contribute to the wiki as part of that activity. More details can be found here.

Do you all model in 16mm scale?

No, we  model in whatever scale and gauge combination we think is best for our purposes. Hence one of us models in 20mm scale to represent 2'3" lines. If starting out it could well be worth considering 7/8ths scale, or even 1/12th scale. 15mm scale is popular with those modelling 3ft gauge. Equally, while we are all mostly Narrow Gauge modellers, we have no prejudice against Standard Gauge.

Why don't mananufacturers build models to a consistent scale?

Are you lobbying manufacturers to encourage them to supply models to a consistent scale?

Not at the moment.

What about freelance models?

Our approach includes models of freelance lines, locos and stock that could feasibly have existed in real life, though we find freelance models based on a combination of unusual prototypes less plausible than those that borrow features frequently found on real railways.

You are rivet counters, really, aren't you?

If you can find mine I will let you count them.