Very nice. The doors on the side and all the detail has come out very well, that's what I like about TT. I have some friends into TT over here in the UK, the 3mm society has a big following and produce some fantastic layouts. My friends layout has a fully functioning signal box with all the working point/turnout rodding and signal wires coming out of it, I actually think it's a fantastic scale, it's big enough to see lots of detail with out taking up to much room. The stuff I am producing with Shapeways, like the DD35 and the UP water bottles etc. would anybody be interested in TT scale ones? I haven't seen a lot of American TT but by the sounds of it there is more than I thought. -James
Here is my BIG question though about TT. Where does one aquire the chasis? Are these completely scractbuilt? Ryan
Not a chance. They sound lke a dentists drill and i dont see a way you could ever gear them otherwise Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Various routings to get chassis, but yes, the options are challenging. At the moment, as in the UK, Bull Ants are the most likely route, or cutting up Tillig or Piko chassis to give something with the right wheelbase. I am not pretending for a second that this is anything other than a challenge.
I think there is probably a little interest but some TTers' experience of Shapeways has been less than fantastic. It is weird that there used to be a DD35 shell sold in TT ... Ben
Haven’t there been a couple of attempts in recent years to resurrect TT Scale? If a consortium of smaller companies banded together to push TT scale, say one producing the track and one the locomotives with yet another dedicated to rolling stock, hopefully they could leapfrog over all the mistakes made with N-Scale. Entering the market with fine scale track and wheel sets and a real working coupler bypassing N-Scale’s “Rapido” years. They could begin right out of the box with body mounted couplers and locomotives designed from the ground-up with DCC in mind. As opposed to N-Scales cut down chassis first established before DCC arose. Maybe they could actually have some weight on the wheels. Do I think it could happen? No. Would I switch if it did? No; and I don’t think I would be alone in that decision which would make the road er, track to success for TT all that much harder. The only way I can think of for TT to become prevalent is for the Chinese to decide they aren’t going to make any new stuff for all the manufactures currently in the business and for them to announce that from now on all we are going to get is TT Scale stuff that they have been working on in “Double Secret” locations deep within the Mongolian deserts. I’ll admit that the above is highly unlikely.
Cool idea, but unlike the Russians and Eastern Europeans, I do not think the Chinese have a tradition of TT scale trains. One of the attempted revivals resulted in the establishment of the TTnut forum which those who want to keep an eye on the scale can join. Google it, five minutes and you're in. 'Challenges' in TT, well, they are legion. Wheels can be a trial. Decals ... they are an issue for everyone at the moment, but in TT it's compounded by production issues that mean no run is worthwhile unless you order 25 sets. Mechanisms. They could be an opportunity for aftermarket manufacturers, utilising HO or N scale mechs. To give you an idea of what is theoretically possible ... get an N Alco C628. Add NWS 28" (HO) dia wheels on stub axles set to the wider gauge, lose the centre wheelset, and you have a mech for a TT RS1 or RS11. Reverse one truck and you have a mech for an AAR-trucked GP35. We do have bespoke mechs for Fs and GP7/9/18/20 from Lok N Roll of Germany.
PS / remember that there is the RTR SW1200 in TT in many roadnames, if you really want to get an idea of TT's size ... or just want to own something no one else in the gang has: http://sazmodel.myshopify.com/collections/locomotives http://www.zeuke-tt.com/en/brands/mtb/page2.html
