While this is good in many ways, it also presents a problem for the GWR modeller: Our models risk becoming nothing but clichés - charmless reproductions of what others have built or bought a thousand times before. If you are content with that, no problem - it is your choice. However, there are several good reasons why we as modellers should make an effort to avoid the GWR cliche:

For one thing, historical facts tend to become "corrupted" if we uncritically copy others, rather than research things ourselves. Moreover, our layouts may loose the atmosphere and “personality” that forms an important ingredient of any good model and layout. And finally, we may in the long run experience less personal satisfaction if our modelling does not reflect individual choices and interpretations.

To make a GWR layout that is just that little bit different from all the others is really not that hard. There are many variables that can be changed or tweaked a little, and you don't need to be an elite modeller to do it. All it takes is a bit of dedication and a little research.

The tables below briefly outline examples of how various variables can be worked on to come up with something a little different from the GWR cliché. Some of the examples given do require kit-building of stock to varying degrees (ie 6,9,10,11 & 12), while the rest should be possible with RTR items. It must be emphasized that these are examples only, and that such tables tend to have their own inherent generalizations and clichés!