we love models for the satisfaction of construction, modification, tinkering. But I bet we all wanted to get models in the first place to run our own trains, put Connolly station dublin or Thomas the tank into our living rooms or owning miniature of the real thing.
I grew up in a house falling down. And with far less technology then most of my counterparts my age. It was only when I moved in 2012 that I got access to a computer and other fabulous technologies.
with computers come simulators. Once you have a standerd PC. A train simulator will cost you next to nothing compared to a singular model. On the kids game “Roblox” which I played when I was young and just turned on for the sake of nostalgia. There are some superb train simulators. There was even an unfinished one based on the translink network in Northern Ireland. And where layouts come pre-built, pre decorated run for miles where you can go into the cab itself, or be a bystander.
nothing beats the tagable object. But you can pick up a PlayStation 4, PS+ and a few of these free simulators cheaper then a singular model!!!
That being said, I met enough young model enthusiasts on cork to know that there might still be a future