Tom F wrote:It's amazing how things in your private life can knock your modelling thoughts.
I'm generally in the mind of getting rid of baggage in my life which is someway connect to 1950 era I model. I've had a lot of upset from some people and partly thinking of doing a full move over to 1938 as a fresh start.
What holds me back is the thought of 6 months down the line, I would really regret it. A friend has suggested while I focus on 1938, I store the 1950 stock until I need them..... maybe that is an idea.
There's a point Tom where you have to ask yourself "am I getting what I want out of this hobby?" I'm not sure the question you're asking yourself is the right one. Is it the era, the models, or that you associate them with the difficult period in your life you're describing. I absolutely agree that extra emotional baggage is not something anyone needs, but I would agree with your friend that you'd regret selling on or having rid of your 50s era models.
Storing them is a good idea, but I don't think you need to go as far as, say, I've done (which is pack up the whole bally lot until I can do something with them!) but to perhaps cement in your mind better what you want from your modelling, which includes layout/stock/era/etc.
Frankly Tom, I'd be sorry to see your 50s collection broken up and disappear (there are some stonking models in there and the collection as a whole is one you'd never be able to repeat in quite the same way). In any event, you should definitely showcase more of your 50s models on your blog before you make a final decision. They've proven inspirational to a lot of people (myself included) and will continue to do so in your writing, long after the models have departed if you take the time to catalogue them now.
Can't really say more other than I think having lots of interests within railway modelling (era, gauge, etc) is a positive thing so I wish you well with 1938 and hope to see more of that and the former era in future from you.